Bardino Majorero

by Kate Barrington

Published: June 15th, 2016

About Bardino Majorero

Weight

75-90 lb

Lifespan

10-12 years

Group

not applicable

Best Suited For

experienced dog owners, house with a yard, families with older children

Temperament

loyal, noble, strong, protective

Comparable Breeds

Perro de Presa Canario

Height

22-26 inches

Bardino Majorero Basics

Many dog breeds experienced a period of rapid decline surrounding the two World Wars but the Bardino Majorero is one of the few that continues to struggle. In fact, it is in real danger of extinction, even in its native land. It is unfortunate to see this breed in such danger because it is a beautiful dog and excellent family companion. Hopefully through concerted breeding efforts, this breed can be brought back from the brink of extinction.

The Bardino Majorero was traditionally used as a cattle dog and livestock guardian.

Origin

The Bardino Majorero originated on the island of Feurteventura in the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. Popularly known in-country as the Perro Bardino, the Bardino Majorero was traditionally used as a cattle dog and livestock guardian. The first dogs of this type arrived on the island of Ferteventura in the 1400s but the process for officially recognizing the breed wasn’t even begun until 1979. The breed was finally recognized by the Royal Canine society of Spain in 1994 but, unfortunately, no specific breeding plan was enacted to protect the breed and it continues to decline rapidly toward extinction.

Pedigree

The Bardino Majorero is descended from Spanish cattle dogs that were brought to the Canary Islands during the 1400s when they were colonized by Spain.

Food/Diet

As a large-breed dog, the Bardino Majorero requires a high-quality commercial dog food diet that is formulated to meet the needs of larger dogs. It is important to feed your dog a large-breed puppy formula to keep him from growing too quickly – overgrowth can predispose the dog to musculoskeletal issues in adulthood.

This breed can sometimes be aloof or even aggressive around strangers.

Training

Because the Bardino Majorero was bred as a livestock guardian it has a tendency to be fairly independent and a little bit stubborn. This breed can respond to firm and consistent leadership, though it will always be a bit independent. The Bardino Majorero can sometimes be aloof or even aggressive around strangers, which is why early socialization and training is absolutely essential for the breed. Because this breed is large and sometimes difficult to handle, it is not recommended for inexperienced dog owners or for those who do not have the time to devote to training.

Weight

The Bardino Majorero is a large-breed dog that stands between 22 and 26 inches tall and weighs between 75 and 90 pounds at maturity.

Temperament/Behavior

The Bardino Majorero is a noble breed that is generally fairly independent by nature – this is due to its development as a livestock guarding breed. This breed can be gentle and affectionate with family, though they tend to be pretty aloof or even aggressive around strangers. This breed requires plenty of socialization from an early age to prevent these tendencies. This breed does get along well with children, though it is best for older children due to its size and interactions should always be supervised. This dog does not do well in small condos or apartments.

Common Health Problems

Because there is limited information available about the Bardino Majorero, its predispositions to inherited conditions are largely unknown. As a large-breed dog, however, the Bardino Majorero may be at-risk for musculoskeletal conditions like patellar luxation and hip dysplasia. As a deep-chested breed, these dogs may be at risk for gastric torsion as well.

Life Expectancy

As a large-breed dog, the Bardino Majorero has a somewhat short lifespan averaging 10 to 12 years.

Exercise Requirements

The Bardino Majorero was trained for livestock guardianship so it is not an overly active breed. Due to its size, however, this breed does not do well in an apartment or condo. The breed needs only a moderate amount of exercise and it enjoys spending time outdoors.

The Bardino Majorero is a noble breed that is generally fairly independent by nature.

AKC

The Bardino Majorero was only recognized by the Royal Canine society in Spain in 1994, but it has yet to be recognized by the AKC.

Coat

The Bardino Majorero has a wolf-like appearance in some cases with a medium-length coat of dark hair. Many dogs of this breed exhibit a brindled appearance with a base color of jet black and beige or grey for the brindle pattern. It is fairly common for Bardino Majorero dogs to exhibit white spots on the extremities as well as the belly. The hair is generally soft and the skin is thick and loose.

Puppies

The average litter size for the Bardino Majorero breed is unknown since the breed is still so rare. If you do manage to get your hands on a puppy, you will need to start him off with socialization and training as soon as possible. Because these dogs grow large (up to 90 pounds) you will also have to be careful about what you feed him. A large-breed puppy formula is recommended to make sure that your Bardino Majorero puppy doesn’t grow too quickly – overgrowth can put excess strain on his bones and joints, increasing his risk for musculoskeletal issues as an adult.

Photo credit: Asmodiel/Shutterstock; E.S.Photo/Shutterstock

Kate Barrington

Kate Barrington is the loving owner of two cats (Bagel and Munchkin) and a noisy herd of guinea pigs. Having grown up with golden retrievers, Kate has a great deal of experience with dogs but labels herself a lover of all pets. Having received a Bachelor's degree in English, Kate has combined her love for pets and her passion for writing to create her own freelance writing business, specializing in the pet niche.

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Chubby kitties might be as cute as it gets, but that doesn’t mean that their extra fluff isn’t leaving a mark on their health. Coincidentally, it seems that the effect obesity has on feline health can be compared to humans dealing with the same condition – a recent scientific study claims that fat cats can help researchers better understand the way gut bacteria influence conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.The study focused on food-related changes in the gut microbiome of chubby cats. The results showed that there are striking similarities in the way diet affects the gut of humans. The study’s results were published in the journal Scientific Reports, and are revolutionary in many ways. In fact, the researchers say that it is cats that could be the ideal source of information about the human microbiome, and whether changes in gut bacteria can help fight obesity.“Being able to see changes in cats that come up in the context of obesity and type 2 diabetes in people makes them a really good model to start looking at more microbiome-directed therapeutics for obesity in humans if we’re seeing a similar shift,” said lead researcher Dr. Jenessa Weston, an assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at Ohio State University.“Animals share our beds. They share our ice cream. There are all these things that people do with their pets that highlight they are a naturally occurring disease model with similar environmental exposures as humans,” she added.During the course of the study, the scientific team fed seven obese cats a specially crafted diet for 16 weeks. Gradually, the diet progressed: from free-feeding of commercial cat food to feeding a special weight-loss diet, and finally to a calorie-restricted feeding on the special weight-loss food. It was subsequently discovered that a short-chain fatty acid, called propionic, increased significantly in fecal samples of cats who were losing weight on the calorie-restricted diet. It was shown that propionic acid can help regulate appetite in other mammals, and reduce fat accumulation, as well as protect against obesity and diabetes. The team concluded that the increase in propionic acid was connected to the increase in the gut bacterium Prevotella Copri. “When the cats are on the special diet formulated for weight loss, propionic acid goes up and stays high, and then goes back down when they’re put back on the maintenance diet. So, it really is a dietary change,” Winston said.“This paper highlights that when we calorie-restrict cats that are obese, we can alter their microbial ecosystem - and those community shifts that we see likely correlate with some metabolic outcomes,” she added.What these results show is that the observed changes in the gut bacteria of fat cats can provide important insights into how diet affects the human gut microbiome. “Microbes we saw in this study also come up again and again in human studies - and clearly, people aren’t eating cat chow, right?” she said.

Recently Discovered “Salty Licorice” Cat Coat Linked to Gene Mutation

A new kind of kitty just dropped! Well, not exactly “just” – the unusual coat dubbed “salty licorice appeared as early as 2007 in Finland. And now, almost two decades later, a team of researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland has discovered the true source of this unique color: a rare genetic mutation.Fans of the pattern described it as similar to a tuxedo for cats, but with striking similarity with Finnish salty licorice, hence the name. These cats usually have dark markings on the face, and black dots over the body, with the back portion of the body and the tail often being totally white. At first, not a lot of thought was given to the source of this odd pattern, but now a team of scientists finally got to the core of the matter.In their research, it was discovered that the pattern is connected to the variation of the KIT proto-oncogene gene, which is "associated with an absence of melanocytes in the skin and hair follicles". What is more, the variation commonly causes the white coat in many domestic cats.Upon discovery, the research team named this trait “salmiak”, after the popular Finnish salty licorice treat. It was also concluded that the odd coat pattern appears most often in black cats, although this is not exclusive.During the research process, the team studied DNA samples from five “salty licorice” kitties, and over 180 regular Finnish domestic cats. This was done under the supervision of the Animal Ethics Committee of the State Provincial Office of Southern Finland. Early in the testing, there was little success, as no variants of the KIT gene were revealed. But with hard work and dedication, the team revealed a large deletion of the gene, which could link it to the truly unique cat color. All of the five “salty licorice” cats that were tested had two copies of the gene mutation. In stark contrast, none of the other cats had this, and only three of them had a single copy of the gene mutation. "Our research approach is community science.” Hannes Lohi, a research team member said. “Often, the research ideas also come from cat owners and breeders having found something interesting in their pets."

Penalties for Harming K9 Officers Gets a Lot Tougher in Some States

Longer prison terms and stiffer fines hoped to discourage would-be shooters.

UK Law Commands Serious Jail Time for Pet Theft

Recently introduced private member's bill received Royal Assent to make it a law.

How Do I Get My Dog Used to Car Rides?

Getting your pooch accustomed to car rides can make travel more enjoyable and less stressful for both of you. Whether it’s simply running errands, a trip to the vet, a visit to the park, or a longer journey for a vacation, you will need to make sure that your pet feels comfortable and at ease while driving around with you. Whether you’re looking to train a puppy to be calm and well-behaved during car rides or to help your adult dog feel less anxious when you are driving him, here are some general guidelines you should follow.How Do I Get My Dog Used to Car Rides?First and foremost, you want to take things slow and steady. Begin by allowing your pooch to get used to the car environment while the car is not running. Let them sniff around, explore, and sit in the car when the engine is off. This will help them get familiar with the car’s smells and space without the anxiety of movement. After this, you will want to create positive associations with the car itself, by offering treats, praise, and toys when your dog is in or around the vehicle. This positive reinforcement will help your dog associate the car with good experiences – and nothing says a good experience for a pooch like a yummy snack or being told you’re a good boy (or a girl). Once your doggo is comfortable just being inside a car that’s not moving, it’s time to start driving – but start with short trips first. A quick drive around the block or a short journey to the nearby park can be a good start. Keep these initial trips short to prevent overwhelming your dog.

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