Basque Shepherd Dog

Infobox Dogbreed
name= Basque Shepherd Dog


image_caption= A young Basque Shepherd Dog
altname= Euskal artzain txakurra
Basque Herder
Perro de Vasco
Basque Sheepdog
nickname=
country= Spain/France
notrecognized = yes|

The Basque Shepherd Dog ( _eu. Euskal artzain txakurra) is a breed of dog originating in the Basque Country and traditionally used by the local shepherds to help them taking care of the cattle. It is believed that originated from Central European shepherd dogs.

These dogs are well proportioned, with strong, rectangular bodies and trotter features. They are well covered with a typical coat of gold or copper rustic hair, longer over the trunk than over the head, which never covers the eyes. The relation between height and length is about 1/1.2. Although they are not purebred, they are great dogs.

ee also

*Basque rural sports (contests of shepherd dogs are a popular tradition among Basques)

External links

*en icon [http://www.dogomania.com/breed/breed352/ Dogomania: "Euskal Artzain txakurra"]
*es icon [http://www.pastorvasco.com/ Portal: Euskal Artzain Txakurra]
*es icon [http://www.pastorvasco.com/ Portal: Euskal Artzain Txakurra, Euskera]
*en icon [http://www.akc.org/events/herding/articles/2007/aussie_history.cfm Basque Sheepdogs in America]