Saint Miguel Cattle Dog

Fila de San Miguel breed dogs are brindle, large and robust. They are a very intelligent working dog breed and protective of their herds.

General details

The breed has a medium size, with a weight ranging between 20 and 35 kilograms and a height varying between 48 and 60 centimeters. Life expectancy is between 10 and 15 years. The Fila de San Miguel breed belongs to Group 1 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which groups shepherd dogs and herding dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs).

Breed history in brief

The origin of this breed of dog is located on the island of São Miguel, an island in the Azores region of Portugal in the early 19th century. Experts claim that this dog breed is a descendant of the now extinct Terceira dog. Fila de São Miguel are working dogs that are dedicated to guarding livestock on farms. They can also be good watchdogs because of their hostility to strangers.

Breed characteristics

The Fila de San Miguel are large, robust and resistant animals. Their heads are broad, their necks are straight and they are muscular. They have triangular droopy ears, although they are usually cropped and acquire a rounded shape. The type of hair these animals have is short, smooth and dense with bangs on the tail and on the back of the thighs. These dogs have a brindle coat containing shades of black, beige and gray. The breed standards allow white markings on the forehead, on the underside of the legs or from the chin to the chest. The Fila de San Miguel are intelligent, hard-working dogs, protective of both livestock and family. They can also be territorial. In terms of training, they are obedient dogs. These characteristics indicate that they are a good choice for people who have experience with dogs.

Common health problems

This breed of dog is strong and hardy, so it usually enjoys good health. However, it may be predisposed to common dog diseases such as hip dysplasia or volvulus-gastric dilatation.