My Catalan Sheepdog

Due to the crass stupidity of some people, who think nothing of dropping litter and smashing glass, in public areas, known to be frequented by dog walkers, Lulu has injured her leg.

We were taking the girls on their usual walk through nearby woodland. About half way round our daily circuit, we noitced Lulu's leg was bleeding. We hurried home by the quickest route. It didn't seem too serious, she wasn't limping and still tried chasing a train, but we took her to the vet just to be sure. He told us the cut was not a serious one, thank goodness, but a few centimetres further over and she would have sustained nerve damage.

Lulu is also starring in her own squidpaws lens where she will tell you all about her sad history, her likes and dislikes and share her wish list.
Check it out at:

dreams of a sheepdog.

Catalan Sheepdogs are believed to be related to the Portuguese and Pyrenean Sheepdogs. The Roman Empire was very good at assimilating local culture and gods, they also assimilated local dogs, crossing thier own dogs with them. This resulted in a rugged, hardy breed, ideally suited for the diverse climatic conditions of the Iberian peninsula.

The decline in agricultre after WWII meant people were moving to the cities to look for work; this resulted in a sharp decline in the number of Catalans, and though a breed standard was formulated in 1929, they almost became extinct. Then in the early 1970's four men and women worked together to restore the breed, concentrating on ability rather than appearances. The qualities they looked for in a Catalan were good health, endurance, strength, loyalty and the herding instinct.

A Cataln is not the dog for everyone. Being working dogs they require stimulation, lots of interaction with thier human, and lots of walks, so they are not ideal for families out at work all day. Nor are they are suited to be city dogs who never get a chance to run free - Lulu is never hapier than when she is racing through the woods, chasing deer, rabbits or trains (our regular walk runs beside fenced off railway lines.) They are obedient, easy to train and very loyal to their human family.

The coat is thick with a long top coat and downy undercoat so they require a lot of grooming, and if they are anything like Lulu, who is a mud magnet, even more washing and grooming is involved. She has discovered a muddy pool in the woods and wallows daily then rolls in dead leaves to dry off and you can imagine the mess she comes home in. So, if our Catalan is typical these ladies, and gents, are high maintainence in the coat department.

There are a few curious breed characteristics.. Firstly, still on the subject of the coat, they moult in two distinct halves, first the back, then the front - so lots of shed dog hair all over the furniture for several weeks, and that is with daily grooming. Secondly, they have double dew claws on thier back feet ( an extra big toe is how our vet descirbes it.) Thirdly, they have dark pigment on their tounge, making it appear as if they have dipped their tongue in an ink pot.

Lulu loves love, so if you wanna make a sheepdog happy leave her some fan mail in the guest book at the end of this lens, (we'd like to hear your opinions too)

SquiDirectory - Visit the SquiDirectory Squidoo directory, and find something interesting to read about!

If anyone thinks they could offer the kind of home a Catalan needs there is a Catalan Rescue society that sometimes needs homes for dogs like Lulu. You can find out more about the society at Brandycarr Kennels, where there is a link to the rescue society, this is where we found Lulu

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