77-88 lbs
22-23"
Uruguay
The Uruguayan Cimarron is a multi-purpose working dog that is the only native breed to Uruguay. He will be called by a different name depending on the region you are in, but he as been designated by the Uruguayan government as the Uruguayan Cimarron. Today, this multi-purpose dog is mainly a family companion but in some areas he is still used for hunting, cattle driving and herding. He is known to be a wanderer and will need a secure fence to keep them from getting into mischief. The Uruguayan Cimarron has a high prey drive and will need to be closely watched around other pets in the home.
The Uruguayan Cimarron came from dogs that were imported from Europe and is believed to have come into existence hundred of years before any written records were kept. These dogs were used in several different capacities including cattle driving, herding, hunting and guarding. However, the Uruguayan Cimarron was released into the wild when times became too rough for villagers to be able to care for dogs. He reverted into a feral dog. Much of the history of the Uruguayan Cimarron is lost and researchers can only put forth theories that unfortunately cannot be verified. There are certain facts that are known about Uruguayan history have helped researchers in piecing together the history of the Uruguayan Cimarron. It is known that Spanish explorers and conquistadors were the first Europeans to settle in Uruguay. These settlers used dogs for many tasks and even Christopher Columbus was believed to be the first European to bring dogs, Mastiff-type dogs, into the new world. Columbus used these Mastiff-type dogs in battle against a group of Jamaican natives. After that, dogs were used extensively by the Spanish to keep native people subdued because the natives had only seen smaller dogs, not the massive dogs that the Spanish brought with them. The Uruguayan Cimarron is believed to have developed from the dogs brought over by Christopher Columbus but the dog was feral for several centuries. He was found most prevalent in the Cerro Largo region of Uruguay. The Uruguayan Cimarron is thought to have been a large factor in the diminishing number of large cats such as cougars and jaguars, making him one of Uruguay’s top predators. The road to domestication has been long and written records have been diligently kept throughout the process. The Uruguayan Cimarron is becoming popular in Argentina and Brazil with breed clubs and breeders importing dogs from Uruguay and using them as their foundation stock. There is a small group of breeders in the United States that have imported the Uruguayan Cimarron and began breeding and working towards recognition with kennel clubs within the United States.
The Uruguayan Cimarron is a large Mastiff-type dog that is very muscular and athletic. He should be agile and have a lithe appearance. His head is large, but not massive. His face is more refined than other Mastiff-type breeds and his skull must be proportionate to the size of his body. The Uruguayan Cimarron has a broad nose with wide nostrils and is always black in color. His eyes are almond shaped and medium sized. His eye color may be any shade of brown although darker eyes are preferred. For conformation showing, a black mask or black shading on his face is favored. His overall expression should be confident and inquisitive. The coat is smooth, short and dense. His undercoat is dense, short and soft to the touch. His topcoat is also short and dense, but it should be smooth and slightly harsher to the touch. There are only two acceptable colors of Uruguayan Cimarron; a brindle or a fawn. Brindle means that the dog’s primary color is brown or fawn with black striping throughout. All shades of fawn are acceptable.
The Uruguayan Cimarron is considered to be a low maintenance breed. He does have a dense coat that requires regular grooming; he does shed and produce enough dander that he is not hypoallergenic. Expect to have his hair floating around the house and attaching to your clothes or furniture. He will shed his undercoat excessively once or twice a year. Because the Uruguayan Cimarron is a large dog and can be somewhat stubborn, he should be trained early to accept regular grooming including brushing, nail clipping, bathing and ear cleaning. If he has not become accustomed to grooming practices, weekly grooming sessions will become a trial for you and for him. When brushing, use a slicker brush. A deshedder may also be used when he is shedding heavily. Check his ears weekly and clean them as needed to keep any foul smell or infection to a minimum. Check his nails weekly and trim them as needed.
The Uruguayan Cimarron is not a dog for first time dog owners. He must have a solid fence to keep him contained. The Uruguayan Cimarron loves to wander and if allowed to do so, he can easily become an aggressive dog towards people and other animals. Your fence will have to be examined every few weeks for any weaknesses since the Uruguayan Cimarron is an intelligent dog that will be able to find a way to escape through a weakened spot. Training and socialization will need to be started at a young age and be continual. He will try to dominate family members; therefore, he must understand his role within the family. Expect the Uruguayan Cimarron to challenge you for the alpha role if you are not a strong leader. Generally, he is not a good choice for families with children. The Uruguayan Cimarron should be closely monitored around children and other pets within the home.
The Uruguayan Cimarron is an intelligent dog that will need a lot of attention, training and exercise. He is high energy and will require a strong leader to take him on walks and teach him how to be a socially acceptable dog. When walking your Uruguayan Cimarron keep him fully under your control and do not allow him to pull you. Because he descends from dogs that were feral, he does tend to have a more aggressive personality and exercise is imperative to keep him from becoming unmanageable. When playing with him, never allow play games that challenge your authority over him such as tug-o-war.
Written by a Rough Collie lover Holly Ramsey
Published: 01/25/2018, edited: 02/24/2021
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