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| Pastor Garafiano | |||||||||||||||||
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| Other names | Pastor de Garafía | ||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Spain | ||||||||||||||||
| Distribution | Canary Islands | ||||||||||||||||
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| Notes | recognised in Spanish legislation[2][3]: 13431 | ||||||||||||||||
| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||
ThePastor Garafiano is a Spanishbreed ofsheep dog native to the island ofLa Palma in theCanary Islands.[1]: 562 [4] The name derives from that of thecomarca ofGarafía, in the north of the island, where the breed was most common, although specimens can be found throughout the island. The breed was officially recognized by theReal Sociedad Canina de España in 2003.
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This is a distinct canine population, it is a native to thecomarca ofGarafía, on the island of La Palma, where it was used by shepherds to bring the herds ofgoats. Because of this, the animal thrives well in steep and rocky areas. It has very heterogeneous characteristics, because there has only been performed a functional selection. Its core competency is the grazing of goats and sheep in rugged terrain, by the geography ofLa Palma. Its origin lies the pre-Hispanic times, although the crossings with other races (most importantly the Belgian shepherds) after the conquest contributed to the development of the Pastor Garafiano.
For a time, this breed was on the verge of disappearing due to out-breeding with other dog breeds. Successive crosses, especially from 1960s with other breeds of shepherd dogs, demonstrated the necessity to work for its recovery and selection from the few pure specimens of the race that kept the shepherds of the island. A working group for the conservation off the breed was formed in 1980; this later became theAsociación Española del Perro Pastor Garafiano.[1]: 563 [5]
The Garafiano is of medium size: bitches stand between50 and 56 cm at thewithers and weigh from18 to 25 kg, dogs stand some4 cm taller and weigh about6 kg more. Height at thecroup may be up to3 cm greater that the height at the withers.[4]
