Does anyone know if the breed of dog called serre de aires (or cao de serre de aires) - rough
translation - Portuguese Sheepdog actually exists in the UK? A friend of mine has seen a picture of one on a foreign website and has fallen in love with the breed. Doesn't seem to be anything on them in the UK, although she reckons she has seen one where she went on holiday in Devon recently. She's besotted with it and would like to find out more.

This is a bit of a longshot, but I said someone on this board may know.

Hiya
I think i have vaguely heard of the name. I had a quick look for you and found these websites, if they are any use to you. Good luck with your search.
http://dogs.yellopet.com/dogbreeds_a_to_z/dogbreeds_c/cao_da_serra_d_aires.htm
http://www.dogsontour.com/eurobreeds.cfm
x

There is the Estrella, and also the Pyrynean Sheepdog. What does the breed look like?

Cao da Serra d'Aires appear to be very rare. Only 40 in France.

FCI'S CLASSIFICATION : Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs.
COAT : Very long, smooth or slightly wavy, forming long beards, moustache and eyebrows, but not covering the eyes. HAIR : The colours are yellow, chestnut, grey, fawn and wolf grey, with shadings from light to ordinary and dark, and black, more or less marked with tan with or without mixed white hairs, but never with white patches, except a small patch on the chest; hair very long on the head, body and legs, including between the toes. Hair of medium thickness and of goat like texture; dense and evenly distributed all over the body; there is no undercoat or wool. SIZE : Males 45 to 55 cm, bitches 42 to 52 cm. WEIGHT : 12 to 18 kg.

Standard FCI No 93 / 27.02.1996/ F

Thanks for that. I did see a photo of the dog they saw on holiday. I have to admit it does look remarkably like the one in the website picture except it's coat is smoother and shinier. It almost looks like a stockier version of a bearded collie, and it was mainly black with some dark tan colouring as well. I'm wondering if it's possible one could be in this country if they are so rare. I can't help feeling they won't have much luck finding a breeder, if they do decide this is definitely the breed they want.