dog breeds · Portugal
Dog breeds from Portugal
This list covers 12 dog breeds from Portugal, including island breeds from the Azores and dogs from mainland regions. It includes hounds, pointers, herding dogs and livestock guardians.
Use the entries to compare each breed’s Portuguese origin, working type and recorded height. Figures are shown as Wikidata records, and the list runs from A to Z.
Portuguese Cattle Dog Portugal Height 55 cmWeight 25 kg Photo: Deke · Public domain 
Portuguese Podengo Portugal Height 20 cmWeight 4 kg Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Portuguese Sheepdog Portugal Height 42 cmWeight 17 kg Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Portuguese water dog Portugal Height 43 cmWeight 16 kg Photo: Silke Hollje-Schumacher · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Rafeiro do Alentejo Portugal Height 64 cmWeight 35 kg Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Copyrighted free use 
Terceira Mastiff Portugal Photo: Falecido · Public domain Photo credits11 photographs on this page
- Azores Cattle Dog — Summer05 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Barbado da Terceira — Andre Heuzer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Cão de gado transmontano — CARLOS · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Estrela Mountain Dog — Traceywashere · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Portuguese Cattle Dog — Deke · Public domain · file page
- Portuguese Podengo — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Portuguese Pointer — Afonso Silva · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Portuguese Sheepdog — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Portuguese water dog — Silke Hollje-Schumacher · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Rafeiro do Alentejo — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Copyrighted free use · file page
- Terceira Mastiff — Falecido · Public domain · file page
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.
Start with the place
Portugal’s breeds come from distinct regions. The Azores Cattle Dog comes from São Miguel Island, while the Barbado da Terceira comes from Terceira. The Portuguese Water Dog comes from the Algarve, and the Estrela Mountain Dog from the Serra da Estrela range.
A breed’s recorded place can help you understand which regional type you are comparing.
Compare recorded height
The list records heights from 20 for the Portuguese Podengo to 64 for the Rafeiro do Alentejo. Other entries include 42 for the Portuguese Sheepdog, 52 for the Portuguese Pointer and 62 for the Estrela Mountain Dog.
Use these figures to compare the size information available for each breed.
Match the working type
The list includes warren hounds such as the Portuguese Podengo and Barrocal Algarvio, a pointer, herding dogs, and livestock or flock guardians.
Read the recorded role beside each breed before deciding which type fits your plans.
Check the breed’s status
The Terceira Mastiff is recorded as an extinct Portuguese dog landrace. Treat that entry differently from the living breeds when making a shortlist.
Breed lists are arranged A to Z. They are not ranked and have no paid places.
The listed height figures come from Wikidata records. Where a breed’s role or place is recorded, it is stated plainly without adding other claims.
Questions
How many Portuguese dog breeds are listed?
This list contains 12 dog breeds recorded as coming from Portugal, including breeds from the Azores and mainland regions.
Which Portuguese breed has the lowest recorded height?
The Portuguese Podengo has a recorded height of 20.
Which listed breed is from the Azores?
The Azores Cattle Dog comes from São Miguel Island, and the Barbado da Terceira comes from Terceira in the Azores.
Which breeds are warren hounds?
The Barrocal Algarvio and Portuguese Podengo are recorded as warren hounds.
Is the Terceira Mastiff a living breed?
The Terceira Mastiff is recorded as an extinct Portuguese dog landrace.