Can de Palleiro

The Can de Palleiro is a traditional Spanish breed of shepherd dog from the autonomous community of Galicia in north-western Spain. It was recognised by royal decree in 2001, and the stud-book was established in the same year.^{[1]: 525 [3]} It is named after the palleiro [gl] (Spanish: pajar), the hay-barn where it traditionally sleeps.^[2]

Can de Palleiro
Other names	Can do gando Can das vacas Can da casa Can lobo Lobeiro[1]: 525
Origin	Galicia, Spain
Traits Height Males 59–65 cm (23–26 in)[2] Females 57–63 cm (22–25 in)[2] Weight Males 30–38 kg (66–84 lb)[2] Females 25–33 kg (55–73 lb)[2] Colour sand, cinnamon, chestnut-brown, wolf-grey or black
Kennel club standards Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, Spain standard Xunta de Galicia standard
Dog (domestic dog)

Puppies

History

The Can de Palleiro is a traditional shepherd dog breed from the autonomous community of Galicia. It was officially recognised by the Xunta de Galicia in April 2001, and a stud-book was established;^[4] it received national recognition by royal decree in May the same year.^[3] A breed association, the Club da Raza Can de Palleiro, was formed in 2002.^[5]

The breed had come close to extinction in the years before it was officially recognised. In 2009 its conservation status was reported as "in danger of extinction", but numbers were increasing.^[1]: 526 In 2022 it was listed by the Real Sociedad Canina de España among the breeds in the process of recovery.^[6]

It was formerly distributed throughout Galicia. In the twenty-first century it is found principally in Allariz, in A Merca, in Celanova, in O Irixo and in Xinzo de Limia in the Province of Ourense; in Agolada, in Dozón, in Lalín and in Rodeiro in that of Pontevedra; in Os Ancares and elsewhere in Lugo; and in some parts of the Province of A Coruña.^[1]: 525

Characteristics

The Can de Palleiro is of medium size: bitches stand some 57 to 63 cm at the withers and weigh between 25 and 33 kg; dogs are on average about 2 cm taller and weigh from 30 and 38 kg.^[7] The coat is thick and dense, particularly in the winter months. It may be of any of a wide range of colours, among them sand, cinnamon, chestnut-brown, wolf-grey and black; pied dogs and those with extensive white markings are not eligible for registration in the stud-book.^[2]

Use

The dogs were traditionally kept to work both as shepherd dogs and as household guardians. In the twenty-first century some have found use as rescue dogs and in police and related work.^[2]