The Cani Pertiatzu is believed to be a very ancient autoctonous sardinian breed of dog.
Small statues of clay (from nuragical age) suggest that this type of dogs have existed in Sardinia already 3000 years ago, 800 years before the Roman invasion.

3000 years old Sardinian bronze statues.
Used with permission, from the book "Canis Gherradoris" by Roberto Balia.

The exact origin of the Cani Pertiatzu is a mystery hidden in the mist of time, just like the origin of the sardinian people, the only people in southern Europe that is not Indoeuropean (genetically we are far from every other european and north african people). It is very interested that we have a lot in common (in example many words in our vocabulary) with another isolated, and not indoeuropean, group of people; the innhabitants of the Basque countries. Another interesting fact is that their national breed of dog, the genetically pure Villano de las Encartaciones, looks much like our Pertiatzu.

In the middle ages name the name Jągaru was used on the breed, and we can find this name in “Carta de Logu”, the first modern code of laws of Europa, written in sardinian language in the XIV century (1300's) and used untill the first half of the XIX century (1800's).
Carta De Logu, chapter 30
De Cani “Constituimus et ordinamus ki si alcuna persona furarit alcunu cani de loru o jągaru et esseret dessu rennu et indest bģnkidu paghit infra dies XV decat esser juigadu pro s'uno X (deghe), et si esseret de eclesia over de atera persona paghit pro s'unu V (kimbe) et de makģtzia liras V.”

The painting "Deer Hunting" by Giacinto Satta (Orosei 1851 - Bosa 1912), where you can see two Canis Pertiatzus.

The Jągaru (Cani Pertiatzu) was a very important breed in the sardinian society, which can be understood when we learns that there was a fine for stealing a Jągaru
During the Napoleon invasion of Sardinia, the sardinians won battles much thanks to the Pertiatzus. At the "Is Axolas Battle" at the beach of Cuartu (near the sardinian capital Casteddu/Cagliari), dogs were used in the fight. The dogs operated two and two; one of the dogs were trained to bite the enemy in the neck, while the other dog did bite in the testicles. This treatment created of course panic in the french troops who ran away from their positions (end of 1700).

Sardinia became a part of the italian state in the second half of the 1800's and the Pertiatzu has been used during the italian colonial wars in Libya. Rumour has it that it is still possible to find Pertiatzus looking (just a bit smaller and lighter) dogs in the countryside of libia.
In the end of Second World War, german soldiers stole a lot of our dogs, that they used to “change blood” in their own native breeds.

Cani Pertiatzu 1950.
Picture used with permission, from the book "Canis Gherradoris" by Roberto Balia.

Pertiatzus has been used in the selection of the Mastino Napoletano too. A few Pertiatzu speciemens arrived in Napoli and Sicilia, considered perfect because dysplasia or other genetical disease was unknown in Sardinia.

Sadly the Cani Pertiatzu is nearly dissappeared, much because they did not have the immunitary protection when other dogs arrived in Sardinia, and brought with them diseases that proved fatal for the Pertiatzu.
However, a few dedicated individuals has now started a recovery project, which hopefully will bear fruits and bring this ancient breed to a point far from the brink of extinction.

At left a 1 1/2 year old male with uncropped ears and tail.
At right a pregnant Pertiatzu female from Gavoi.