Collection: Personalised Estrela Mountain Dog Gifts

The Estrela Mountain Dog is one beautiful pup. While rare and not common at all in any part of Europe (currently ranking around 216 out of 244th in the Kennel Club ranking list as of April 2021), that doesn’t mean these dogs aren’t completely lovable. They’ll win over the heart of any owner, although they definitely will try to keep their independence.

It’s not particularly well-documented as to where the Estrela Mountain Dogs come from, except that they originate from the Estrela Mountain in the Iberian Peninsula, which can be found in Portugal. These are said to be one of the most ancient dog breeds in the area and have even been recorded as being around as far back as Ancient Roman times.

There was never really a breeding standard to Estrela Mountain Dogs and were usually chosen on how well they could herd sheep flocks, never for their looks. However, these pups were accepted and recognised by organisations like the American Kennel Club around 2004 and have been companionship dogs since.

There’s absolutely no denying that Estrela Mountain Dogs are one of the most affectionate and loving breeds around, especially towards its pack, which is of course your family. However, Estrela Mountain Dogs do have a tendency to be protective and can be a little defensive and suspicious of strangers. When it comes to your dog’s toys as well, they can be very protective.

This is, of course, because Estrela Mountain Dogs were bred to be guard and protection dogs, so they are simply following their instincts. You just need to make sure you’re training them properly, socialising them, and being firm yet gentle with your approach for the best results.