Patagonian Sheepdog
# Patagonian Sheepdog

The Patagonian Sheepdog or Spanish: Ovejero Magallánico is a Chilean breed of sheepdog. It was bred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for sheep-herding work in the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region of the southern part of Chilean Patagonia. It has a long rough coat and is well adapted to the harsh climate of the area. The Kennel Club de Chile publishes a breed standard.

## History

The Patagonian Sheepdog was bred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for sheep-herding work in the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region of the southern part of Chilean Patagonia. It derives from European working dogs brought to Chile by settlers from Europe; among its ancestors may be the Old Welsh Grey Sheepdog, which could have been brought by Welsh settlers to the Chubut Valley in Argentinian Patagonia.

## Characteristics

It is dog of medium stature, with a long thick coat which provides protection from the harsh weather of the Patagonian steppes and mountains.

