Portuguese Sheepdog Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Cão da Serra de Aires, Monkey Dog
A small-medium shaggy Portuguese herder nicknamed "monkey dog" for the expressive face and goatee. Vulnerable native breed status in Portugal, very rare in NZ.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children dog. On the practical side: minimal drool.
About the Portuguese Sheepdog.
The Portuguese Sheepdog is a small-medium shaggy Portuguese herder, nicknamed the “monkey dog” for an expressive goateed face. The breed was almost extinct after WWII and survives today thanks to a coordinated Portuguese rescue programme. NZ numbers are essentially nil and the breed is on the vulnerable native list in its home country.
Personality and behaviour
Affectionate with the immediate family, polite with strangers, a watchful presence rather than an outright guardian. Smart and biddable for a herding breed, less driven than a Border Collie, slower than a Pumi. Suits a household that wants a small medium working dog with a quiet personality.
Care and exercise
60 minutes a day of off-lead activity plus mental work suits the breed. Brush twice a week, more during coat blow. Working dogs go ungroomed beyond a brush; show dogs are neatened. Diet is straightforward, 250-330 g of quality dry food a day.
The Portuguese Sheepdog, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 2.3Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 3.3Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 3.8Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Portuguese Sheepdog.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Portuguese Sheepdog costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Portuguese Sheepdog costs about
$271per month
$63
$9
$46,528
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$97 / mo
$1,160/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$75 / mo
$896/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$39 / mo
$470/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$23 / mo
$280/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $3,750 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Portuguese Sheepdog compare?
This breed
Portuguese Sheepdog
$46,528
13-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$4,200
- Food (lifetime)$15,080
- Vet (lifetime)$6,110
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,648
- Grooming (lifetime)$3,640
- Other (lifetime)$5,850
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Portuguese Sheepdog costs about $7,608 more over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly higherother and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Occasional
2 conditionsHip dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Portuguese Sheepdog. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An occasional condition in the Portuguese Sheepdog. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
The Portuguese Sheepdog in NZ.
- Popularity: Extremely rare. Few or no NZKC registrations annually.
- Typical price: NZ$3000–4500 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Suits Wellington/Christchurch climate; manage Northland heat.
- Living space: Lifestyle block with daily off-lead access.
Who the Portuguese Sheepdog is for.
Suits
- Active families with lifestyle block setting
- Owners who want a rare-breed shaggy herder
Less suited to
- Apartment-only households
- Sedentary owners
Common questions.
Why is it called the monkey dog?
Are there any in NZ?
If the Portuguese Sheepdog appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Catalan Sheepdog
A medium shaggy herding dog from the Pyrenees foothills of Catalonia. Smart, hard-working and rare in NZ, with under 20 registered with Dogs NZ in any recent year and most examples imported by serious working-dog or sport-dog homes.
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
A medium shaggy Polish herder, often shortened to "PON" in NZ working-dog circles. Built on roughly the same template as the Bearded Collie and Old English Sheepdog, with a shorter back and a sharper protective edge.
Bearded Collie
The shaggy "Highland Collie", an older Scottish drover and the long-haired cousin of the Border Collie and the Old English Sheepdog. Bouncy, vocal, sweet-natured, and a more popular NZ family dog than its registration numbers suggest.
Briard
A large French shaggy herder, often described as a "heart wrapped in fur". Affectionate to family, watchful of strangers, and one of the heaviest grooming commitments of any working breed kept in NZ.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.