Description of a Rafeiro do Alentejo.

The dogs are descendants of Tibetan Mastiffs, believed to be the oldest breed of dogs. They are closely related to Anatolian Mastiffs, known also as Anatolian Shepherd Dogs. Rafeiro do Alentejo have been used, for centuries, to move sheep, during winter, from mountains in northern Portugal to the plateau of Alentejo and back to the mountain. Gradually they adjusted to living in Alentejo province. The breed was threatened with extinction but survived largely due to an organized effort by a few dedicated people. It is likely that this breed is an ancestor of the big and gentle Newfoundland dog. Mastiffs bred with the indigenous St. John's Dog when they were brought to the island of Newfoundland by the many generations of Portuguese fishermen who had been fishing offshore since the 1400s.

At present there are very few registered and recognized breeders but the number of dogs is steadily increasing. The breed is recognized by the Continental Kennel Club and, recently, the Rafeiro do Alentejo were admitted to the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club.