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Saint Miguel Cattle Dog

Saint Miguel Cattle Dog

FCI standard Nº 340
Origin
 Portugal
Translation
 Mrs Pamela Jeans-Brown, revised in 2006 by R. Triquet in collaboration with Jennifer Mulholland
Group
 Group 2 Pinschers and Schnauzers, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle dogs
Section
 Section 2.1 Molossoid, Dogue type
Working
 Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI
 Monday 21 May 2007
Acceptance on a provisional basis by the FCI
 Friday 10 March 1995
Publication of the official valid standard
 Monday 21 May 2007
Last update
 Wednesday 20 June 2007
En français, cette race se dit
 Fila de Saint Miguel
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar
 Cão Fila de São Miguel
En español, esta raza se dice
 Fila de San Miguel
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd
 Cão Fila de São Miguel

Usage
Cattle dog.

Brief historical summary
A cattle dog originating in the island of Saint Miguel in the Azores, also known as the « Cow Dog ». Its history is linked to that of the now extinct Terceira Dog. The existence of the Saint Miguel Cattle Dog has been documented since the beginning of the 19th century.

General appearance
Robust and hardy.

Important proportions
Slightly longer than high.

Behaviour / temperament
A cattle dog par excellence, it is equally a good guard dog for properties and people. A very determined character towards strangers but docile with its owner. Very intelligent and very receptive. While carrying out its duties driving dairy herds it bites low to avoid harming the cows’ udders. However when dealing with stray cattle it may bite higher.

Head

Cranial region
Head
 Strong, with parallel longitudinal axes of skull and muzzle.
Skull
 Broad, square-shaped, top slightly convex, only slightly visible occipital protuberance. 
Stop
 Pronounced.

Facial region
Nose
 Wide, black in colour.
Muzzle
 Straight top line, a little shorter in length than the skull. Slightly rounded lateral faces.
Lips
 Well-pigmented, overlapping and firm. Lower profile slightly rounded.
Jaws and teeth
 Very powerful and well-developed, correctly fitting. Good wide mouth. Complete dentition with either scissor or pincer bite.
Eyes
 Oval shape, expressive, set slightly sunken and horizontal, of medium size. Dark brown in colour.
Ears
 Set above the level of the eyes; when not cropped they are of medium size, triangular and dropping but not touching to the cheeks. They are cropped with rounded tips in countries where ear cropping is not forbidden.

Neck
Straight, strong and of medium length, well set into the shoulders. No dewlap.

Body
Body
 Strong, well muscled with ample forechest.
Back
 Straight.
Loin
 Medium length, broad and well muscled.
Croup
 Medium length in relation to body, slightly higher than the withers.
Chest
 Broad and well let down.
Underline and belly
 Lower profile rising, belly and flanks well-proportioned in relation to body.

Tail
High set, thick, medium length and slightly curved. Docked at the 2nd or 3rd vertebra in countries where tail docking is not forbidden.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality
 Strong, set reasonably apart and upright.
Shoulders
 Slightly open scapular-humeral angle.
Upper arm
 Strong, medium length, well muscled.
Forearm
 Thick and well muscled.
Carpal
 Strong.
Pastern
 Strong, medium length.
Forefeet
 Oval with strong nails and toes.

Hindquarters
Generality
 Strong, set reasonably apart.
Upper thigh
 Long, muscled; coxo-femoral angle open.
Lower thigh
 Medium length, muscled.
Metatarsus
 Medium length. Dewclaws permissible.
Hind feet
 Oval, with strong toes, not too arched. Strong nails.

Gait and movement
Free and easy. On the move the dog rolls slightly at the rear.

Skin
Thick and pigmented.

Coat
Hair
 Short, smooth, dense, of harsh texture, lightly fringed on the tail, in the anal region and the back of the thighs.
Colour
 Fawn, pale fawn with black overlay, grey, going from light tones to dark; always brindled; white mark permissible on the forehead and from chin to chest; can have small white marks on both front feet or both hind feet or on all four feet.

Size and weight
Height at withers
 Males : 50 - 60 cm. Females : 48 - 58 cm.
Weight
 Males : 25 - 35 kg. Females : 20 - 30 kg.

Faults
• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Serious faults
 Head : Converging axes of skull and muzzle.
 Jaws: Slightly over or undershot mouth.

Disqualifying faults
 Aggressive or overly shy.
 Diverging axes of skull and muzzle.
 Seriously over or undershot mouth.

NB :
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography
https://www.fci.be/
Details
Also available: Français (France) Deutsch (Deutschland) Español (España) Nederlands (nl-NL)
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