Pastor Garafiano
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{{Infobox dog breed
| name = Pastor Garafiano
| image = Ch-Rasti.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image2 =
| image_alt2 =
| image_caption2 =
| altname = Pastor de Garafía
| stock =
| country = Spain
| distribution = Canary Islands
| height =
| maleheight = {{right|57–65 cm{{r|guia|p=564}}}}
| femaleheight = {{right|55–63 cm{{r|guia|p=564}}}}
| weight =
| maleweight = {{right|30–40 kg{{r|guia|p=564}}}}
| femaleweight = {{right|24–30 kg{{r|guia|p=564}}}}
| coat =
| colour =
| litter_size =
| kc_name = Real Sociedad Canina de España
| kc_std = https://www.rsce.es/images/rsce/RREE/Standards/Standard_Pastor_Garafiano_ingles.pdf
| kc2_name =
| kc2_std =
| fcistd =
| notrecognised =
| extinct =
| note = recognised in Spanish legislation{{r|boe|boe2|p2=13431}}
}}
File:Cachorros-de-pastor-garafiano.jpg
The Pastor Garafiano is a Spanish breed of sheep dog native to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.{{r|guia|p=562|rsce}} The name derives from that of the comarca of Garafía, in the north of the island, where the breed was most common, although specimens can be found throughout the island. The breed was officially recognized by the Real Sociedad Canina de España in 2003.
History
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This is a distinct canine population, it is a native to the comarca of Garafía, on the island of La Palma, where it was used by shepherds to bring the herds of goats. Because of this, the animal thrives well in steep and rocky areas. It has very heterogeneous characteristics, because there has only been performed a functional selection. Its core competency is the grazing of goats and sheep in rugged terrain, by the geography of La Palma. Its origin lies the pre-Hispanic times, although the crossings with other races (most importantly the Belgian shepherds) after the conquest contributed to the development of the Pastor Garafiano.
For a time, this breed was on the verge of disappearing due to out-breeding with other dog breeds. Successive crosses, especially from 1960s with other breeds of shepherd dogs, demonstrated the necessity to work for its recovery and selection from the few pure specimens of the race that kept the shepherds of the island. A working group for the conservation off the breed was formed in 1980; this later became the {{lang|es|Asociación Española del Perro Pastor Garafiano|i=no}}.{{r|guia|p=563|ass}}
Characteristics
The Garafiano is of medium size: bitches stand between {{val|50|and|56|u=cm}} at the withers and weigh from {{val|18|to|25|u=kg}}, dogs stand some {{val|4|u=cm}} taller and weigh about {{val|6|u=kg}} more. Height at the croup may be up to {{val|3|u=cm}} greater that the height at the withers.{{r|rsce}}
References
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{{Spanish dogs}}
{{Pastoral dogs}}
Category:Dog breeds originating in the Canary Islands
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