1) Newfoundland
Newfies are huge dogs with dense and thick fur and beautiful bear-like face. But they are not as fierce as bears, this is super sweet and gentle dog that makes wonderful companion pet. 2) Caucasian Ovcharka Named after the Caucasus Mountains, the Caucasian Ovcharka not only share a resemblance to bears, because in the past, they were actively involved in bear hunting as well! It is incredibly strong, brave and alert dog breed. 3) Tibetan Mastiff Of course, Tibetan Mastiff must be included in this list as well. One time, a Chinese family once took in an Asiatic Black Bear thinking he was a Tibetan Mastiff and they were raising the bear for 2 years. The breed is truly very similar to bears in its appearance and they are even used to protect flocks of sheeps against strong predators, such as tigers or bears. 4) Gaddi Kutta This Indian breed is most likely closely related to the Tibetan Mastiff and they have similar fluffy coat and giant size, which also gives them similar, bear-like appearance. 5) American Akita The American Akita is little bit more robust than the Japanese Akita Inu. They have large head, triangular ears and fluffy coat, which gives them the bear – like look. It is very independent, loyal and confident dog. 6) Estrela Mountain Dog The Estrela Mountain Dog is a brave, vigilant and smart livestock guardian breed and i am sure that their bear like appearance helps them to deter any intruders from their livestock. 7) Haofa (Tangkhul Hui) Haofa, also known as Tangkhul Hui is most likely the rarest breed in this list. It is an old dog breed from Manipur in India and it was used for various purposes such as hunting or guarding. There are stories that they were able to corner a bear or a wild boar. 8) Sarplaninac Also known as Illyrian Shepherd, this breed is a typical representation of Balkan livestock guardian dogs. Strong and athletic, reliable, independent, brave, courageous dog with very dense coat. 9) Eurasier Most of the dogs in this video are real workers and they are not best for novice dog owners. Well, the Eurasier is the opposite. It is perfect companion pet with calm and even tempered temperament. 10) Chow Chow One of the oldest breed in the world hails from ancient China and it is the famous Chow Chow. Most people will agree that Chow Chows resemble bears, but in China, they are actually nicknamed as Songshi-Quan, which can be translated as puffy lion dog. 11) Kuchi Dog You probably never heard about the Kuchi dog, also known as Khorasani or Afghan Shepherd. It is extremely rare breed with strong body and protective temperament. 12) Pyrenean Mastiff This large sized, bear like mastiff looks intimidating, but in reality it is absolutely gentle and loving breed towards its own family. It is relatively mild mannered dog, but they do protect its owners and family from any kind of danger. 13) Keeshond This breed worked as a guard and companion on Dutch vessels. It is the smallest breed on this list, and you could argue, that they look more like teddy bears than the real life bears. 14) Leonberger The black mask combined with impressive size and fluffy coat really brings out the bear-like qualities in Leonberger. This is generally pretty laid back, loving dog with stable temperament. 15) Spanish Mastiff The last breed on this list is the spirited, smart and sweet Spanish Mastiff. Originally bred as a livestock protector, this is an aloof, protective, but also absolutely loyal and friendly companion.
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1) Origin
The Perdiguero de Burgos is relatively old dog breed, that has been around since the 15th century. In the past, this dog breed was highly valued versatile hunting dog, especially for their scenting and pointing abilities. It is thought, that the Burgos Pointer is descendant of the Old Spanish Pointer and Sabueso Espanol. 2) Ancestor It is believed, that the Perdiguero de Burgos played important role in development of other European pointing dog breeds. Most of the European Pointers have their ancestry in Iberian Peninsula and it is very likely, that one of the dog breed they evolved from is the Perdiguero de Burgos. Some of the breeds, that are believed to be relatives with Burgos Pointer are, for example, German Pointer, Russian Pointer or English Pointer. 3) Almost extinct The 20th century was a very bad time for this breed. The World War and Spanish Civil War negatively affected the population of this breed and they almost went extinct. Luckily, after the conflicts, big efforts were made to save and revive the Perdiguero de Burgos. Manuel Izquierdo and Geardo Sardonil are two of the men who are credited for reviving the breed. Today, it is still considered as a rare breed that can be mainly found in Spain, where it is once again valued for their pointing and retrieving abilities. 4) Hunting The Perdiguero de Burgos has one main purpose and utilization and that is hunting. Originally, these dogs were used as scenthounds, specialized on hunting deers, but over the time, they become excellent at hunting hare and also birds. They are very endurant dogs, capable of hunting in any kind of a terrain without any problems. It is also very quick and agile dog breed. Of course, they have high prey drive and chasing instinct and they are absolutely passionate on the hunt. The Perdiguero de Burgos is also good adept for hunting trials. 5) Companion Even though passionate hunter, the Perdiguero de Burgos is also loving, even tempered, playful, gentle and loyal companion dog. If they are properly exercised, they tend to be pretty calm at home and they make good partners for kids and of course, they can live with other dogs, especially if socialized together from the puppyhood. Other household pets might be problematic due to their higher prey drive. This breed is intelligent, naturally obedient and fairly easily trainable. On average, this is very friendly, pretty mellow and affectionate companion. They should never be agressive towards people without a reason. 6) Exercise If the Burgos Pointer is used for hunting, than there is no need for additional exercise, they will burn off their energy on the hunt. But if they are living the typical life of companion pet, than these dogs will need quite a lot of exercise. Short normal walks are not enough for these dogs. Daily longer walks, jogs, hikes, vigorous playtime and fun training sessions are a must, so the dog can stay healthy and happy. Without enough exercise, they might develop some unwated behaviour, such as destruction. 7) Size This is a well built, muscular, but quite elegant dog breed with straight back, strong legs, deep chest and overall athletic appearance. The average height is between 59-67 cm, which is 23-26 inch and weight between 55-66 lbs, which is 25-30 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. 8) Coat and color The coat of Perdiguero de Burgos is described in the official breed standard as „Dense, short, smooth and evenly distributed all over the body“. And what about the color? Basic coat colors are white and liver. The coat is irregularly patched or roaned, which could give the dog a liver marbled or a speckled coat. A heavy ticked coat gives the dog a grizzled appearance. It is not uncommon for these dogs to have a white patch on the head. 9) Maintenance Great fact is, that the Burgos Pointer has minimal grooming needs. They do shed some deal of fur all year long. You should regularly brush their coat to remove all the dead and loose hair and to redistribute natural oils all over the coat, but even without any grooming and brushing at all, the dog will keep the coat in okay condition. Just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health The average life expectancy of this breed is between 12-14 years, which is pretty good for dog if this size. There are no official studies about the breeds health, but it is reported, that this is usually very healthy and hardy dog breed and that they do not usually suffer from any serious health issues. Of course, they might sometimes suffer from the typical doggy issues, such as some eye problems, joint problems or allergies and infections. Chinese dog breeds are ancient, mysterious and unique. And a lot of them share one very distinctive appearance trait – and that is the blue-black tongue. The most famous Chinese breeds with blue-black tongue are definitely the Chow Chow and Shar-Pei, but the list does not end here. There is also, for example, the Laizhou Hong, Chongqing Dog, Formosan dog or Chuandog Hound. All these Chinese breeds must have, or at least, they have the chance to have the blue colored tongue.
But what is causing this uniquely colored tongue? Well, even the scientists do not have 100% proof about it, but there are some theories about it. But before we will talk about the scientific theories, lets mention some old legends explaining this tongue coloration. You know, some of these dogs are extremely old, definitely one of the most ancient breeds we have today. And back than, people created some tales about their dogs tongues. One of them says that when Buddha was creating the world, Chow Chows were allowed to lick up all the little pieces of blue sky that fell on the earth when the stars were set in their places, so they got their blue tongue from the sky. Another tale is also linked with Buddhism. On a very cold day, a long time ago, a Buddhist monk became very ill. He was so ill that he was incapacitated and could not go out to get firewood to warm himself. The Chow Chows went out into the cold in search of firewood for the monk, but unfortunately all they could find were charred logs. When they were brought back to their mouths, the charring caused their tongues to turn this bluish-black color. In reality, the coloration is caused by the presence of pigmented cells, similar to the same types of cells that determine the color of human skin. They share this trait with other animals as well, such as different lizzards, giraffes, several breeds of cattle or bears. And interestingly, the bear similarity might not be coincidental. Some scientists belive, that all these Chinese dogs share ancestry with some very old and ancient dog type from China, that probably evolved from a so called Hemicyon, also known as dog-bear, an intermediate between bears and their canid ancestors. Of course, it is practically impossible to scientifically support this idea as a fact, but it is not completely unrealistic neither. BTW, Chinese dog breeds are not the only dog breeds that can have blue-black tongues. Labradors or Newfoundlands can also have blue or black spots on their tongues, but it is rather rare. But the Chinese breeds, notably the Chow Chow and Shar-Pei must have this blue-black tongue as it is part of their breed standard and it is viewed as a fault, if the tongue have different color. 1) Origin
There is not much documentation about the ancestry and origin of the Deutsch Stichelhaar. It is believed that it is very old dog breed from Germany. They were definitely present in Germany at least since the 1800s and in 1892 the club of this breed was formed. Later the breed almost went extinct and it has been re-developed from the very few specimens still found in the country. 2) German Pointers You most likely already heard about the German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointer. Interestingly, it is believed that the German Shorthaired and Roughaired Pointer are not directly related together. In 1888 German cynologist Hans von Kadisch proved that the German Roughhaired is a separate breed and not only a variety of the GSP. On the other hand, it is true that they are related to the German Wirehaired Pointer, as the German Roughhaired Pointer is one of the ancestors of the German Wirehaired Pointers. It is also believed that the German Roughhaired Pointer is somehow related to other similarly looking hunting breeds from Central and Western Europe, such as Cesky Fousek or Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. 3) Hunting The Deutsch Stichelhaar is most valued for its hunting prowess and skills. This breed is everything a real hunter wishes for. It is reliable pointing breed and superb retriever, they are adaptable to all kinds of terrain, they are great on land and in water, they are absolutely hardworking and passionate about the hunt. Thanks to their excellent sense of smell, they can easily track the game as well and they can hunt all kinds of prey in all kinds of terrain without any problem. It is also very quick and endurant breed, capable of hunting all day long without tiring. 4) Companion Of course, just like majority of pointers, even the German Roughhaired Pointer is very loyal, loving, relatively calm and gentle, affectionate and lively companion dog. They create very strong bond with its owner and family and are absolutely devoted to them. They crave for our attention. These well behaved dogs make good playful partners for kids and they can live with other dogs in the family. On the other hand, other household pets might be problematic due to the higher prey drive and chasing instinct of the German Roughhaired Pointer. 5) Exercise Even though perfect affectionate and loyal companion, the Deutsch Stichelhaar is still not for everyone, especially because of their boundless energy, high spirit and enthusiasm. These dogs definitely need a lot of daily exercise, it can be long walks, hikes, jogs, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions. Just anything that will occupy their body and mind every day. This is definitely not a coach potatoe, quite the opposite. Without enough exercise, they might develop some unwanted behaviour, such as excessive barking or destruction. 6) Size The German Roughhaired Pointer is a medium sized, athletically built and well muscled dog breed with average height between 58-70 cm, which is 23-28 in, and weight between 20-30 kg, which is 45-65 lbs. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. 7) Coat The coat is the most distinctive appearance feature of the German Roughhaired Pointer. It is a very practical weather and water resistant coat, which is important for the dog to be able to work in water and during bad weather. The coat should be harsh, bristly and stiff on the body and it is approximately 4 cm long. Typically, the hair on the muzzle are forming great looking beard and they also have standing hair on the eyebrows, giving the dog kind of angry look. According to the breed standard, this breed comes in brown with or without white patches or brown roan and light roan both with or without brown patches. 8) Grooming Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention the grooming as well. And luckily, this is very easy to take care of dog breed. The coat is kind of dirt resistant. Of course, regular brushing once or twice a week is very beneficial for the coat, as it will remove all the loose hair and it will redistribute natural oils all over it. No other grooming is required. Of course, just like any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 9) Rarity Even though not on verge of extinction anymore, this is still very very rare breed. Definitely much less common than for example the German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers and you would be very lucky to find some of these dogs outside Germany. 10) Health This breed has an average life expectancy between 12-14 years. There is not much official documentation about the breeds health, but it is reported, that this is rather healthy and hardy breed that is not prone to any serious health issues. But of course, they might ocassionally suffer from the typical doggy issues, such as some joint and bone problems, eye problems, allergies or infections. On the first sight, it is easy to mistake the Moscow Watchdog with the Saint Bernard and the similarities between those two breeds are no coincidence, because they are closely related together. But even though the appearance of Moscow Watchdog and St. Bernard is similar, the temperament is very very different. And to understand the similarities and differences between them, it is important to know the origin of those dogs.
The Saint Bernard is an old dog breed from Swiss Alps where it was mainly used for search and rescue jobs and as avalanche dogs. To help people, to save them and to assist travelers who were travelling across the dangerous parts of Switzerland Alps. The Moscow Watchdog breed is a result of crossing the Saint Bernard with the Caucasian Shepherd in Soviet Union kennels. They were not bred to save and help people as the Saint Bernard, quite the opposite. They were bred to be courageous guard and patrol dogs that will withstand very low temperatures. They were guarding borders, warehouses, infrastracture, and they were amazing at it. These two dogs had to have proper temperamental traits for their different utilization, which is why they have different personality even today. The Saint Bernard is a definition of the gentle giant. They are super calm, patient, sweet, affectionate, gentle and loyal. Of course, all the temperamental traits are vastly influenced by early socialization. The Saint Bernard is not naturally and instinctively territorial and protective, but they might be trained to bark at strangers and to guard the property, but it is not the number one job for them. They are typically very friendly, even towards strangers. On the other hand, the Moscow Watchdog is instinctively protective and territorial. They are more courageous, alert, and watchful towards strangers, but they are still very gentle, friendly and loyal to its family. They are also more active and lively breed than the more relaxed Saint Bernard and they need more exercise. Due to the giant size of both dogs, they should both be very well trained and socialized, but the Moscow Watchdog should especially be owned by experience owners who can handle independent dog breed with protective instincts. But with proper socialization, the Moscow Watchdog is also extremely good and loving companion. And what about the size. First of all, the Saint Bernard is slightly bigger, especially in terms of weight. You can see the height and weight comparsion on the screen right now. The Moscow Watchdog is more athletic dog breed and both dogs have well muscled body. The coat of Moscow Watchdog is a thick, medium length doublecoat. The coat is rough and lying close to the body and the color is white with patches of red, often times spotted with brown or black. The Saint Bernard has two different coat types, either smooth or rough, either long or short, which is another appearance difference from the Moscow Watchdog. The colour is typically a red shade with white, or a mahogany brindle with white. The maintenance of both dogs is similar, as they both shed a lot of fur all year long. Regular brushing is recommended to minimize the shedding, but it is impossible to stop it. Other than that, these two breed as easy to take care of, they do not need trimming, bathing or any other grooming and they will keep the coat in great condition. Both breeds are also prone to similar health issues, but the Moscow Watchdog, especially thanks to its slightly lighter build, has longer lifespan and is little bit healthier. The average lifespan of St. Bernard is 8-10 years and Moscow Watchdog lifespan is between 9-11 years. Both dogs are prone to joint and bone problems like hip dysplasia, arthritis and patellar luxation. Other health issues are gastric torsion and bloating or some eye problems. 1) Wolf hunter
The Poitevin was developed in 17th century in present day Poitou province. In the 16th century, this area had a big population of wolves and to hunt these wolves a new breed was developed – the Poitevin. The breed was developed from 12 English Staghounds that were gifted to Dauphin of France. Some of these hounds and their offsprings were gifted to François de Larrye, Marquis of Haut-Poitou, which is considered to be the father of the breed. He crossed them with local french hounds and this crossbreeding resulted in very strong, athletic tricolor hound able to hunt wolves, which is why he kept developing the breed. 2) Almost extinct French revolution at the end of 18th century brought the Poitevin to the brink of extinction. During the revolution, many members of royalty were jailed or even beheaded. And even the Marquese of Haut-Poitou, the main breeder of Poitevin was beheaded in 1793. His pack was dispersed and the breed dissappeared. Luckily, some people kept their Poitevins. After the revolution in the beginning of the 19th century, two brothers Emile and Arthur who lived in the Poitou province carried on with the breed that survived the revolution and they reestablished the pack. The breed was revived with the help and infusion of English Foxhounds as well. Today, the breed is still considered as rare, but not on the verge of extinction anymore. 3) French Hound France is a home to many skilled hunting breeds. Most of them share similar appearance characteriscs, such as beautiful tricolor coat, lean but strong body, long floppy ears, well muscled neck, long tail and heavily boned tail. Some of the other, similarly looking French Hounds are, for example, Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore, French Tricolour Hound (Chien Français Tricolore) or Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie. And the similarities are not coincidental, because all these French Hounds with tricolor coat has a Poitevin as one of its ancestors. So the Poitevin really was very important for development of other French hunting dog breeds. 4) Hunting Today, the Poitevin is not normally used for hunting wolves anymore, but they are still hunting large and strong game, such as deer or wild boar. And they are just excellent for this purpose. They are tireless hunters known for their excellent speed, superb scenting abilities and melodious voice. They are natural born hunters with strong prey drive and chasing instincts. They are pack hunters and they are absolutely loyal to the pack and its owners. Overall, they are superb hunting dogs. 5) Greyhound among French hounds In the book La Venerie, Mr. Vicomte de Brissac describes Poitevin as a Greyhound among French Hounds and he says, that this breed is able to chase the quarry more than 7 hours. And indeed, the Poitevin is extremely fast, but also endurant dog breed. It is normal for Poitevin packs to reach speed of 35 mph, which is 55 kmh. Poitevins movement is described in their breed standard as very easy, galloping freely, bounding lightly and passing well through the undergrowth, which is just perfect for hunting deer or wild boar. 6) Exercise As you can probably expect from a dog breed with high endurance, these dogs really need a lot of exercise. If they are used for hunting, than, they will burn off their energy on the hunt, but if they are living the life of a companion pet, than you will have to take them on daily longer walks, jogs, hikes, provide them with regular vigorous playtime and fun training sessions. Without it, they would become bored and possibly develop some unwanted behaviour. This is definitely not the best choice for a city dog that will live in apartment. This is highly energetic breed. 7) Size The Poitevin has an elegant stature, relatively light build and slender body, but it is very strong and hardy dog breed. The average height is between 24-28 inch, which is 60-72 cm and weight between 20-30 kg, which is 45-67 lbs. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. 8) Coat and color The Poitevin has a practical short, dense and glossy coat. The most common coat color is a tri-color with black saddle, but the Poitevin can also be bicolored. Those dogs are white and orange. Wolf-coloured hair are also quite frequent according to the breed standard. 9) Maintenance Speaking of coat, lets mention the maintenance and grooming as well, and luckily, it is very simple with this breed. They do shed some deal of fur all year long and you should brush their coat regularly to remove all the dead and loose hair and also to redistribute natural oils all over the coat. No other grooming is required. Just like with any other dog breed, you should also regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed. 10) Health This is usually extremely healthy dog breed with average lifespan around 12 or 13 years. This breed does not suffer much from any serious health issues. Ocassionally they can suffer from hip dysplasia or some eye problems. You should also take extra care about their floppy ears and clean them properly, so they dont develop ear infections. But overall this is truly very healthy dog breed. |