Mucuchies

This article is about the Venezuelan dog breed. For the town in Venezuela, see Mucuchíes.
Mucuchies

Mucuchies in the Venezuelan páramo, their natural habitat in Sierra Nevada de Mérida
Other names Venezuelan Sheepdog
Páramo's dog (Perro de los Páramos)
Origin Venezuela
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Mucuchies (Venezuelan Sheepdog) is a dog breed from Venezuela (specifically from Sierra Nevada de Mérida). They have a short coat with feathering along their limbs. The coat color is either white or white with splashes of colors such as honey or tan, or shades of black and gray.

Appearance

It is a large dog, sturdily built, like all mountain dog, of pleasant appearance and a certain grandeur, brown eyes of kindly expression, although it is an animal of great energy and despite having developed the instinct of monitoring, which always keeps it on alert, it is deliberate and safe movements, as befits its strong body.

Origin

The Mucuchies is believed to be descended from the dogs introduced by the Spanish conquerors at the end of the 16th century as watchdogs and herders. It is possibly a descendant of the Spanish Mastiff, the Pyrenean Mastiff, Algerian Mastiff, the Atlas Shepherd Dog or Aidi, and the Great Pyrenees. Over the years these dog breeds mixed, ultimately creating a powerful and versatile working dog. Others suggest that the Mucuchies was deliberately bred by veterinarian Dr. Wilender Ferrari.

Its importance in Venezuelan history came after Simón Bolívar reached the town of Mucuchíes in Venezuelan Andes of Mérida state during his struggle for Venezuelan independence and subsequently adopted a dog of this breed.

During 1926-27 the Mucuchies was found throughout Venezuela. After the wide distribution of the breed, its purity and quality was a serious decline in the early part of the 20th century. In 1961 a club was created to preserve the breed, and by 1964 was declared the Venezuelan "National Dog". The club then appears to have disbanded, which would mean an uncertain future for the breed.

In 2008, in order to preserve the national breed, the Ministry of Popular Power for Tourism, led at the time by Titina Azuaje, approved the creation of the Fundación Nevado (Funev), which has six of these dogs to be transferred to Waraira Repano Cable Car System in El Ávila National Park, where similar environmental conditions to the Andes exist, at the request of former President of the Republic Hugo Chávez.

Qualities

The Mucuchíes was originally a shepherd dog and a guard dog. The first quality was lost due to a shortage of cattle in the Andean moors, but it retained is guardian aspects. It has a strong character, is very active, gentle and loving towards its family, but may react violently against strangers unless trained and socialized properly. It should always have double spur on the hind legs and a single in the front.

Temperament

The Mucuchíes is a very emotional, intelligent and active dog. Socialization and training are necessary. It can be aggressive with strangers.

Care

It should be taken for a walk every day, with a long walk or jog. It requires a wide area where to run and play. Not much grooming is required.

Famous Mucuchies

View of the monument to the Nevado dog, representing the delivery of this breed to Libertador Simón Bolivar.

When arriving at a local mansion, the Hacienda Moconoque, Simón Bolívar was received by "Nevado", which despite being a puppy was not intimidated before the weapons and threats of the army men. De Mendoza explained that Bolívar was surprised at the courage of the dog, who did not miss his men to the hacienda until it got his master. Nevado accompanied him throughout the campaign, fought in several countries and often saved his life. One popular story tells that Nevado was abducted by the royalist army, which did not kill him because they thought the dog would lead them to Bolivar. However, the dog escaped and reunited with Bolivar. Nevado was killed by a spear during the Battle of Carabobo on June 24th 1821, which sealed Venezuela's independence from the Spanish Crown. Nevado also appears in various historical paintings and a known statue in which he fatures alongside the Indian Tinjacá in Mucuchíes.


See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.noticias24.com/fotos/noticia/7640/en-fotos-asi-de-grandes-estan-esperanza-y-progreso-las-mascotas-de-henrique-capriles/ Así de grandes están Esperanza y Progreso, las mascotas de Henrique Capriles

External links

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