The , also known as the Majorca Shepherd Dog or , is a Spanish breed of shepherd dog indigenous to the island of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain. It is used as a shepherd dog, or as a watchdog or guard dog for rural property. It is one of four recognised dog breeds of the island, the others being the Ca de Bou, the Ca Mè Mallorquí and the Ca Rater Mallorquí.
It is of medium size. The coat is usually short, but may also be long; it is entirely black, either with or without a white patch on the chest.
History
The Ca de Bestiar is a traditional shepherd dog of the Balearic island of Mallorca; its origins are unknown. While it is mentioned in some earlier texts, the first descriptions of it date from the nineteenth century.
In 1980 a breed standard was approved and the Ca de Bestiar was recognised by the , as the national kennel club was known at that time. The breed was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1982. In 2001 it was recognised as a national breed by the , the Spanish ministry of agriculture. A breed association, the , was recognised by the government of the Balearic Islands in 2002.
In 2024 the total number of the dogs was reported to be 507, more than twice the number of the other large dog of the islands, the Ca de Bou, of which there were 243 examples. In 2026 both were among the sixteen Spanish dog breeds considered by the Real Sociedad Canina de España to be vulnerable.
Characteristics
It is of medium size, with a body weight in the region of . Heights at the withers are usually in the ranges for bitches and for dogs; the height at the rump is equal to the height at the withers.
The dogs are usually short-haired, with a close-fitting smooth outer coat about in length, and a thin fine undercoat. Both the national and the international breed standard also describe a longer coat, with outer hair about long; this variant is rare or possibly extinct.
The only recognised coat colour is black, in various shades, either with or without a white patch on the chest. Other coat colours may occur in working dogs, as may brindled patterning. The skin is pale grey. The ears are triangular in shape and hang close to the head.
Use
It is a traditional working pastoral dog, used principally in the management of sheep, but also with cattle and goats. The dogs may also be the fierce guardians of estancias or rural dwellings; male dogs in particular are highly territorial and often combative among themselves.
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