[quote=Carla] The Cão de Gado Transmontano-Transmontano Mastiff- is now a breed officially recognized by the Clube Portugues de Canicultura. The official standard has been published and the breed is now on a limited registration venture sponsored by the CPC and the ICN. This dog is very beautiful and totally functional. It can be found guarding heards of sheep and goats against wolves, and usually more than one dog (up to 6 or7) follow the heards . It is a sound dog in mind and body and a terrific companion, once it links to his human master.Playful full and very active. Very sensitive to kindness, he will not accept to be roughly handled. Males are dominant with strong character and can reach 84cm at withers, females are smaller (up to 76cm) and highly intelligent. They are outdoors dogs, not kennel dogs! At present there are 150 dogs identified by microchip and registered with the CPC. We foresee about 300 registrations until the end of 2004 The special breed points are: A square body, heavy bone, chest not too deep nor wide , visible tuck-up, paralel lines on head. Eyes slighlty oblique brown in colour, skull moderately wide, medium set ears , pendant, mobile and rather heavy and large, medium to long neck with single dewlap. Lightweight in movement with plenty of drive and extention. Tail reaching hock and held high in movement." [/quote]