The Patagonian Sheepdog (AKA the Magellanic sheepdog, Barbucho, or Ovejero Magallanico) hails from Chile, where it has been used as a herding dog for years. Developed from sheepdogs brought from Britain in the late 1800’s and early 1900s (particularly the now extinct Old Welsh Grey), the breed was developed over time specifically to work sheep. At that time, breed standards weren’t as important as working qualities and therefore the Patagonian was lumped into the general group of “working collies”. This said, the Magallanes region (the specific region of the breeds’ origin) is somewhat of an island geographically, which kept the gene pool of this breed relatively untouched and intact. Today, the breed is recognized by the Kennel Club of Chile but otherwise is rare and unknown in most of the world. According to recent DNA research, the Patagonian is the most closely related modern dog to the original sheepdog of the United Kingdom.
Patagonian Sheepdogs are wickedly intelligent and have loyal natures – both qualities that lend themselves well to obedience training. While they have natural and innate abilities to herd animals, they learn other tasks quickly and enthusiastically. Furthermore, they tend to be submissive and soft when working with their human counterparts. This is a dog that needs a job to do in order to be happy!
The Patagonian Sheepdog was developed to withstand the sometimes-harsh climates of their region which means they aren’t fazed by snow or cold weather. They also have enough endurance to allow them to work long hours. In fact, it was common for small groups of these dogs to travel alongside their horseback-riding owners on long expeditions. Not only were they expected to keep up, but they also had to manage and guard up to a thousand sheep in the process! Furthermore, it was common for meals to be served only every few days so these dogs would be working tirelessly with little calories. While this situation would be frowned upon today, it has forged a breed that is exceptionally hardy and resilient!
The Patagonian Sheepdog is a medium sized dog. The coat can be either medium or long in length, but always hard to the touch and with an abundant undercoat. Most have a beard of hair on the chin. Long haired dogs were frequently sheared in the summer along with the sheep! Coat color can include black, bay, gray, gray tricolor, merle, various shades of brown, and various shades of blue tricolor. Any of these colors can appear with or without white. The eyes can be either dark, blue, mottled or marbled and should have a “lively look”. The ears normally hang to the sides of the head although a semi-erect ear is also allowed.
Patagonian Sheepdogs are agile, active and playful. They are affectionate to humans and especially loyal to their human families, and they prefer to stay close to their owner’s side whenever possible. They have a natural confidence and an innate curiosity about the world. While they make great pets to those whom can meet their needs, their herding instincts are unmistakable and they will try to herd other animals, children and full grown adults! Patagonians have a medium to high energy level, depending upon how much exercise they get each day. This is a great dog for an outdoor adventurer as they will be up for just about any physical activity you can throw at them! This said, when given proper exercise they iare content to lounge around the house. The smaller the home or the yard, the more exercise they need.
Photo By Gernikatar