This is Caballo from Venezuela (South America).
The Mucuchies is not quite as large as its European ancestors. Its color is either all white or white with spots of other colors. These spots are honey colored, or any shade of gray all the way to black.
The Mucuchies is a very active breed. It is brave, trainable, affectionate, intelligent and trustworthy with those they know, but will act as a guard dog with intruders. Training and socialization are a must. The objective in training this dog is to achieve pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in its pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success.
Height: 22 - 28 inches (56 - 71 cm)
Weight: 66 - 110 pounds (30 - 50 kg)
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These dogs are not recommended for apartment life and would do best with a mid-to-large sized yard. They need space, but adapt well to family life. They are not really active indoors, but need regular exercise outdoors. This breed prefers cool climates.
This breed needs to be taken on a daily, long, brisk walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. In addition, your dog will benefit from a large, safe area where it can run free.
About 10 to 12 years
About 3 to 8 puppies
The smooth, medium-haired double coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, paying particular attention to the dense undercoat. Dry shampoo regularly, but bathe only when necessary. This breed is a seasonal heavy shedder.
The origins of the Mucuchies are unclear, but it traces back to the 1800s. It is thought to descend from various Livestock Guard Dogs brought to Venezuela by the Spanish. It is thought that these Spanish owned dogs included the Spanish Mastiff, Great Pyrenees and Pyrenean Mastiff. Most of these breeds were very variable at this time in their history and mixed together with each other and possibly some native Venezuelan breed, and created the Mucuchies. By 1926-27, the Mucuchies could be found throughout the Venezuela Andes and beyond, particularly in Caracas. After this widespread distribution the breed began to fall prey to bad breeding and over-inbreeding. To combat this degeneration, a group of concerned breeders got together in 1961, forming a club. Together this club began breeding for improved type and uniformity. In 1964, the Mucuchies was designated the national dog breed of Venezuela. Since that time the breed has become standardized and much improved. Recently, however, the club formed in 1961 dissolved. How this will affect the future of this breed, only time can tell. There is a famous painting of Simon Bolívar mounted with the Mucuchies dog given him when he was crossing the Andes near Mérida, Venezuela.
Working
A purebred Mucuchies dog.
A purebred Mucuchies dog.
