Cimarrón Uruguayo

The Cimarrón Uruguayo is Uruguay's national breed, and it descends from dogs that went feral and were then hunted as vermin.

History

Dogs brought by Spanish and Portuguese settlers escaped into the countryside and bred freely — cimarrón means feral — until packs of them took enough livestock that the colonial authorities put a bounty on them in the eighteenth century. The ones that survived were the ones people caught and put to work, guarding estancias and holding cattle. Uruguay recognised the breed in 1989 and it is the mascot of the national army.

Temperament

The breed is known for being confident, territorial and closely bonded to its own family, calm at home and decisive about intruders.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise, secure boundaries, early socialising and an experienced owner. The short brindle coat is easy.

Health

Generally robust, with hip dysplasia among the known tendencies for a heavy-boned breed. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.