The León Shepherd Dog, also known as the Carea Leonés, is a herding dog that originated in the mediaeval Kingdom of León in northwest Spain.

It is a working dog that has a wonderful temperament for handling grazing flocks and herds. It is notable for its intellect, strength, and psychological toughness, qualities that enable it to perfect its talents over long and hard days with the herd, putting up with the most extreme weather conditions on several times.

These canines are typically employed to work with sheep, although they can adapt to any sort of livestock. They are also employed to herd cows and mares in some areas. The Carea Leonés is a cow dog who is bold and obstinate, attributes that earn the respect of animals and keep it under control. The shepherds of León prized and favoured dogs with "a good mouth" that would not hesitate to grab the cattle when necessary, a quality that became ingrained in the León Shepherd Dog's bloodlines. All of this becomes clearer when we consider the Spartan selection process to which the shepherds subjected this breed.We can say with certainty that the Carea Leonés is a dog whose morphology and personality have been shaped through time by its surroundings, functionality, and human interaction (the shepherds).

Carea Leonés Highlights
Breed Size	Medium
Nature	Gentle, Friendly, Playful, Outgoing, Willful
Energy Level	Active
Intelligence	High
Barking Level	When Necessary
Coat Length	Short
Breed Group	Working
Droll Amount	Low
Good with	Familes, Children, Dog
Feed Level	Medium, High
Colour Type	Black, gray and white mixed, sometimes with tan markings.
Other Facts	Easy to groom, easy to train, easy for outside temprament, easy to kept at home.

Dog History

Without understanding the geographical, social, and economic factors around the world of livestock that occurred in the nation, and the impact of which shaped the evolution of the breed, we would not have the dog we have today.

The precise date of the Carea Leonés' arrival in flocks in León is unknown, although it most likely correlates with the expulsion of the French and the restructuring of Spain in the early nineteenth century. This resulted in the collapse of the Mesta Royal Council (1836) and the gradual fall of transhumancia, or seasonal migration.

Three of the most significant "drove routes" for merino sheep (Caadas Reales) started in the highlands of León, which was a key element in the growth of livestock in this region and the León Shepherd Dog. Many huge groups of animals belonging to the nobility and clergy going between León and Extremadura had a considerable number of shepherds from León, who were native to the highlands, on their staffs. Owners of migrating flocks preferred to hire individuals from the highlands because they were more familiar with the region and could withstand the harsh circumstances in the mountains better than those from the south. Many of these shepherds opted to start their own farms as transhumance began to diminish. These new herds began to stay closer to home, in the provinces of León and Zamora, instead of spending the winter in Extremadura. Transterminancia, or staying in a territory, is the name given to the new grazing system. This method consists of a little transhumancia that ran from the plain to the mountain for roughly 100 kilometres in a week or less.

The herds that travelled from León to Extremadura did not have shepherd dogs, contrary to common perception. They were unnecessary since the Mesta privileges offered Merino sheep flocks travel privileges. For passing sheep, these rights led to the formation of Caadas (extremely broad roadways along which the sheep strolled while feeding) and cordeles (branches smaller than the Caadas). These flocks had no difficulties with the grass since their owners owned wide swaths of land in Extremadura, where the sheep could graze freely and pose no threat to crops or arable land. The major owners rented exclusive pasturage for their animals as the flocks moved up into the northern highlands.

As a result, we must conclude that the migration had nothing to do with the Carea Leonés. In reality, the Mesta had enacted a regulation prohibiting the presence of canines other than Mastiffs. The most serious threats to the herd, both on the plains and in the mountains, were wolf attacks and cattle thieves, and the Mastiff (Mastn Espaol, also known as Mastn Leonés) was used to defend them.

Health and Care

• When it comes to the Carea Leonés, one of the most important elements to consider is its nutrition. Its food must be of excellent quality, balanced, and with the proper number of specialised nutrients for its wear and tear, since it is a very energetic dog that must conduct a lot of daily physical activity.
• Excess weight or malnutrition can only be avoided if the calories are set ahead of time and monitored. This dog's portions will have to be split if it becomes agitated during meals to avoid stomach torsion.
• If you decide to have a Carea Leonés, one of the breed's most important care requirements is to plan ahead of time where it will reside. As previously said, it necessitates an open location in which to conduct several sports and workouts.
• As a result, it's unusual for this dog to live in cities, where it's more difficult to provide it with all of the stimulation it requires. Even yet, if this animal lives in the city from the time it is a puppy and walks and runs for hours every day in wide places, it may become accustomed to it.
• This dog is a tough creature who has grown accustomed to living in a foreign land where genetic ailments aren't acknowledged. However, because of its size and quick growth, it is susceptible to disorders including hip and elbow dysplasia.
• These problems give the animal a lot of discomfort and make it difficult for it to move, which may prohibit it from carrying out its herding duties and lower its quality of life. In order to identify these or other issues, regular checkups and veterinarian treatment are required.

Dog Breed Care Tips and Important Instructions

• The Carea Leonés is a great working dog, although it is not normally a popular companion. Because of their emotional characteristics, these animals aren't a good fit for households with children, and they also don't perform well in homes with other pets or individuals who live a sedentary lifestyle.
• This dog's owner must have great leadership qualities, since this animal will obey you without question. If the caregiver isn't sure, they may exhibit a variety of behaviours, however their shepherding instincts will stay intact.
• Are you trying to figure out which dog would make a suitable shepherd for your cattle? The Carea Leonés is an excellent choice. You can enjoy their services and devotion for 12-14 years if you offer them with the attention they require.
• The Carea Leonés, as a guardian, is extremely faithful and obedient to the person it perceives to be its main guide. As a result, it's critical that the same human gives it directions, invests time in its education, and assists them in social situations.
• When the animal is a puppy, socialisation is essential since the dog will be exposed to a variety of scenarios and spend time with a variety of people and animals. Negative behaviours, such as fear or aggression in the presence of strangers, will be avoided in the future.
• Carea Leonés are very clever and quick learners by nature. Nonetheless, you should constantly provide the essential time to their teaching, as well as positive reinforcement.

Carea Leonés Unique Name

Male Name	Female Name
Bo	Alexis
Bruno	Chance
Brutus	Jenna
Bubba	Leia
Buster	Maggie
Charlie	Mattie
Gunner	Nellie
Murphy	Nola
Oakley	Pepper
Ollie	Rose
Pablo	Sally
Simba	Sandy
Willy	Snickers
Tex	Stella
Truffles	Abbie
Turner	Bridgett
Violet	Cameo
Waddles	Ladybug
Winnie	Tess
Yaka	Maple