Living in Portugal for many years, we were often impressed by the majestic native breed of guard dogs called Portuguese mastiffs or Rafeiro do Alentejo. After acquiring a 10 acre farm in a rural area of Northern California, we were determined to acquire one of these magnificent animals to guard our property. Our first Portuguese mastiff, Tejo, arrived from Portugal in 2021 and quickly became a beloved family member. We fell in love with his serene personality, his natural guardian instincts and his imposing appearance. He immediately took his protective role seriously while always tending lovingly to our other dogs and cat, and to children. We thought it would be a great idea to bring this rustic breed to the United States and so Mountain Mastiff Kennel was conceived. Our second beautiful mastiff, named Rainha, meaning Queen in Portuguese, came in 2022. Both Rafeiros are from one of the most renowned kennels in Portugal, Forte d’Elvas.