Following the growth of the puppies has allowed us to appreciate the qualities that make this breed so special.  They are a contradiction in many ways.  As the reference books state, they are “active, yet patient”.  On a walk, they are tireless, but around the house they are relaxed.  They are extremely intelligent and respond well to training, but show a lot of initiative on their own.  An owner must be willing to spend the time necessary to understand the instincts that drive a herding dog.  Wonderful with children, a friend to other pets and a devoted companion, the Catalonian Sheepdog can be a part of any social situation, as a beloved pet or working dog.

Gos d'Atura Català history

The history of this breed is so old that it goes back to the time of the Romans, when they conquered the Iberian Peninsula.  Most experts agree that during the expansion of the Roman Empire the ancestors of the Italian Bergamasco were taken throughout the country and crossed with local breeds.  Influenced by climate, the mountain terrain and the demanding work required of dogs, the result was the foundation of various breeds that are found today throughout a large part of Europe and are part of the heritage of the Gos d’Atura Català.  This includes the Ca de Serra d' Aires from Portugal, the Petit Berger from the Pyrenees, the Briad from France, the Nizzins from Poland, the Bearded Collie and the Old English Sheepdog from Great Britain.  The Gos d'Atura Català thrived for centuries and is still seen today as a versatile working dog, prized herder and guardian of livestock in Catalonia and the Pyrenean Valley regions, but it remains relatively unknown outside Spain.  It is believed that there is less than 200 Spanish bred Catalonian Sheepdogs in the US.

The first movement to set the standard for the breed was made at the beginning of the 20th century.  In the Spanish Book of Origins (Libro of Origins Espana (L.O.E.) a dog named ‘Piar’ was listed in 1914 as having similar features of the dog we know today as the Gos d’Atura Català.  In 1923 at the International Exhibition of Canines in Barcelona a dog known as ‘Milan” was shown and is considered the precursor to the Gos.  In 1926 “Milan" was given the breed name Gos d’Atura.  As a result in June of 1929 at the Canine Exhibition of Barcelona, the Gos d'Atura Català was recognized by the International Canological Federation (FCI) and given the number 87 based on Tac and Iris; two exceptional dogs of the breed.

However, after WWII this breed almost disappeared as the need to secure livable wages forced people to leave their farms to move to the cities.  Large production farms replaced the small farms and the need for shepherds.  The Gos d’Atura breed as a guard and stock dog was no longer in strong demand, so in the 1950’s and 60’s dogs were either destroyed or rarely bred and their numbers dwindled.  In the 1970’s a group of four men and women collaborated their efforts to go out into the fields and purchase dogs from shepherds that had continued to follow the breed standard, were aware of the bloodlines and bred the Gos d’Atura for ability, not physical looks.  Qualities of health, endurance, loyalty, strength and, most importantly, herding instincts were valued and sought out.  This dedicated group began the breed recovery process and kept true to the inherited genetics of those shepherd’s dogs and their efforts can be seen in the modern pedigree of this dog.  The Gos d'Atura is one of the few breeds that have remained faithful to its origins and are not being bred for physical appearance alone or on personal whims.  Because of this true form to function breeding, a dog from the beginning of the 20th Century could be shown at a present day Dog Shows and would look the same as those born recently.

Today this dog not only excels in herding, it is successful in agility, competitive stock dog trials, search and rescue and of course as a loyal companion.

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