Basque Shepherd Dog

Coat and looks how to spot one

medium-length coat, smooth or rough

A medium-sized, agile sheepdog in two varieties: the Gorbeiakoa with a smooth, soft coat of moderate length, and the Iletsua with a rougher, coarser shaggy coat.1

Personality what they are like

A hard-working farm dog used both to move and to watch over flocks, so it is attentive, alert and keen to have a job.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A working herder that needs daily physical exercise and enjoys tasks such as herding or sheepdog trials.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Regular brushing suits both coat types; the rough-coated Iletsua benefits from a little more attention.1

Home where they are happiest

Best in rural or active homes with space, as the breed was shaped by life on Basque hill farms.1

Company who they like around

Bred to work closely with shepherds, so it bonds with its people and does well with steady involvement.1

The story where it all began

Dogs of this type have worked with Basque shepherds for centuries and appear in 16th-century church frescoes and later paintings. Some travelled to the United States with Basque shepherds in the 1950s, and Spain's kennel club formally recognised the breed in 1996.1

Recognised by the official bits

Real Sociedad Canina de España

Both varieties (Gorbeiakoa and Iletsua) recognised in January 1996.1

Spanish government

Officially recognised as a Spanish breed: Gorbeiakoa in 2001, Iletsua in 2002.1

How many 5001