Catalan Sheepdog Care

The Catalan Sheepdog is a medium-sized herding breed that has the typical shaggy coat of many sheepdog breeds. These dogs, true to their herding nature, are active, intelligent, and protective. Overall Catalan Sheepdog care and maintenance won't take too much work, but will need to include some daily exercise.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Catalan Sheepdog including puppy development, exercise needs, shedding and drooling tendencies, and more. Find answers to your questions about raising a Catalan Sheepdog in the following sections!

As an active herding breed, Catalan Sheepdog exercise requirements are pretty extensive. These dogs are very intelligent and task-oriented, so they'll need a variety of activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They make good jogging companions as well.

Adult Catalan Sheepdogs, depending on their age and overall activity levels, will need about 60 minutes of dedicated exercise each day. You can start exercising your Catalan puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Catalan Sheepdog exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• Strong herding instincts mean a leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off

Exercising your Catalan Sheepdog every day is a must. These herding dogs are used to running in the fields all day protecting livestock, so without consistent activity they'll become frustrated, disobedient, and destructive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few Catalan Sheepdog exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Catalans enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These dogs can excel at agility or herding trials and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, give your Catalan Sheepdog access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular daily exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These dogs will need moderate maintenance overall. Catalan Sheepdog shedding is seasonal: fair for most of the year, and heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling isn't really an issue.

Catalans have medium- to long-haired, shaggy, double-layered coats that shed moderately most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall, the shedding is heavier. Owners can brush their Catalans 2-3 times per week to minimize the amount of shed hairs, and to keep the coats from matting and tangling. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more often during shedding season.)

A Catalan Sheepdog doesn't drool much at all, though. If your Catalan Sheepdog is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.