#sheepdog

The Catalan sheepdog (gos d'atura català in Catalan) is a dog breed originary from the Pyrenees mountains of Catalonia, spread through all the shepherding areas of Catalonia.

It's a shepherd dog that accompanied the shepherds in their transhumance routes. They are considered very smart dogs, who don't only follow the shepherd's orders but also take their own decisions to make sure no sheep get separated from the group. Adults typically measure around 50 cm tall, they are friendly and loyal and they like being trained. There are two varieties: the long-haired one and the short-haired one.

According to its creator, the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games' mascot Cobi was a Catalan sheepdog, though its simplified Cubist-inspired shape isn't detailed enough to identify the breed:

Source details and larger version.