History
The Griffon Astur Cantabro was developed in north-western Spain, mainly in the regions of Cantabria, Asturia and Galicia to help hunters hunt wild boar and other prey in mountainous and rough landscape. For a long time, the main hunting breed used by hunters all over the Spain was Sabueso Espanol, also known as Spanish Bloodhound, but hunters in Cantabria region needed all-weather and all-season dog breed that will be better suited for their environment. That is why they crossbred the Sabueso Espanol with various imported, mainly French, hunting dog breeds, such as Griffon Vendéen, Griffon Nivernais, Bleu de Gascogne or with the Jura Hounds. The exact ancestry is unknown, but it is certain that French Griffons and Sabueso Espanol are the main ancestors of the Griffon Astur Cantabro. The Griffon Astur Cantabro is well known among the spanish hunters since the second half of the 20th century, but it remains virtually unknown outside Spain and it is not recognized by any kennel club around the world. Appearance Big nose, long ears, strong and athletic body. On the first sight, you can see that this is a hunting dog breed. Their average height is between 50-55 cm, which is 19-21 inch. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. This dog breed has the typical unkept like coat of a Griffon, which is medium long and hard, thick and shiny. The most common color is a combination of white and orange. The Griffon Astur Cantabro has strong neck, thick tail that is slightly curved upwards, thin and elastic skin, hazel eyes with intelligent expression, rounded and drooping lips and overall straight profile. Temperament The temperament of the Griffon Astur Cantabro is influenced by its utilization as a hunter. They have extremely good sense of smell capable of detecting its prey from long distance, they are pretty fast and endurant, able to hunt all day long in any kind of weather and terrain, they have higher prey drive and they are very passionate about the hunt. They typically hunt wild boar, but they can adapt to other prey as well. But this is not only a hunter. The Griffon Astur Cantabro is very social animal that has a potential to make wonderful family companion. It is important to say, that it is very active family companion for people who like outdoors. It is quite energetic dog that is always ready for any kind of adventure and you should provide them with daily walks, jogs, hikes, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions, so they can stay healthy and happy. Overall, the Griffon Astur Cantabro is outgoing and happy dog breed, that is very attached to its family and they thrive for human companionship. They can also live with other dogs or children, but you should always monitor the situation between any dog breed and a very young child. Of course, they might not be good fit for families with other household pets, due to their high prey drive. Health and grooming The maintenance and grooming of the Griffon Astur Cantabro is relatively easy. This is a light shedder with minimum grooming needs. You should regularly brush their coat to keep it in best possible condition, no other grooming is required. There is not much information about the breeds health, but it should be a healthy breed of dog with average lifespan around 12 years. Of course, just like any other dog breed, they can suffer from some health issues, such as hip dysplasia, some eye problems, different allergies and infections or bloating. But none of these ilnesses should be very common in this breed and it should be pretty healthy and hardy dog breed.
0 Comments
So you decided, that you would like to adopt a dog, but there is a lot of things to consider and since the shelters in most countries are absolutely full, there are almost endless options when it comes to adopting, so it might be little bit challenging to make the right decision and to choose the right dog for you and your family.
You should be very very picky when choosing the dog, because choosing the right dog will be the best decision, but choosing wrong dog, a dog that does not fit your lifestyle will be absolutely devastating and it is one of the main reasons why dogs are putting back to the shelter. Because of that i would suggest you to make a list of pros and cons of what you would like from the dog. Of course, you can include appearance traits on the list such as curled tail or pricked ears, but these things should be at the end of your list. The most important factor to consider is definitely your lifestyle. You should especially consider following factors: size of your apartment or house, your work and the time you spend working, your previous experiences with dogs, how active you are, do you have kids, do you have other pets, what is your financial situation, do you have dog allergies? These are the main things you should consider when thinking about adopting, but also buying a new dog. Ask yourself these questions and from your answers create a list of desirable traits of your future dog. To give you an example, if i would consider a new dog, my desirable characteristics would be an active dog that is good with little kids, that is calm indoors but always ready for outdoor walk or hike, that is small to medium sized, i would prefer adult dog around the age of 3 or 4, that is friendly with strangers and i would prefer a dog that is loyal to the owner and stay close to me on walks and last but not least i would prefer a dog that requires minimum grooming. This is a list of traits i would write down and take it with me to the shelter, and i would strongly advice you to do the same thing! You should also research some breeds, you can do it on the AKC or FCI website, but you can also watch videos about almost all the known dog breeds on our Rocadog channel. This way, you can find many information about various dog breeds and what to expect from a dog. It can be little bit time-consuming to study so many information about so many dog breeds, but it is well worth it since you can make much better decision afterwards. Another important factor to consider is the age of the dog. You can shape puppies by yourself by proper training and socialization, but puppies are extremely time consuming and expensive. There are plenty of already trained adult dogs in shelters. Of course, not all dogs in shelter are trained, some do not have any training and you should ask about it directly in the shelter. But getting a already trained dog from shelter will make it so much easier from the day one. Bring the list you created with yourself to the shelter and ask a lot of question to the shelter personnel. Do not rush choosing the dog. Ask questions about the dogs past and where was this dog kept, about its behaviour and especially about behavioural issues, about its medical needs and about its exercise needs. Ask them if the dog has history of escaping, if it is okay with strangers, if he has history of barking, biting or growling if the dog has history with any other problematic behaviour. By now, you should have a very specific picture of your future dog and it might take some time before finding such a specific dog, but again, do not rush it! Take your time. Visit as many shelters as needed and talk to as many people as needed. There is nothing to hurry about, the most important thing is to get yourself the best possible doggy companion. Also, do not judge the dogs in shelter by first impressions. If the shelter workers will recommend you some dog, but you will not like its behaviour at first, try to spend some time with it. Many dog in shelter environment will be shy, nervous and scary, but once you take them on few walks, they will start acting completely different. This is another extremely important factor. Try to spend as much time as possible with the dog before adopting it. But if it does not feel right, just wait, there will be more dogs. Patience is a key when getting a dreamed dog, and it will also be a key when training a dog. Best dog owner is very often the most patient one. And being picky when choosing the dog from shelter is the best way how to reduce returns back to the shelter. So do not feel bad if it seems like you’re walking away from dozens of dogs. So now you know everything you should consider when choosing a dog. But what to do, when you actually adopt your dreamy dog. First of all, you should set up your home to be dog friendly. You will definitely need a comfy pet bed, a lots of toys, food, bowl, collar and leash and many many treats. You should also create a new set of rules for your household and your dog. Again, this is very very individual and you should ask yourself following questions: Where will the dog sleep? Is the dog allowed on the furniture? What will the dog do while you’re at work (can he be inside or will he be roaming outside)? What do you want your dog to do while you’re eating? When will you feed and walk the dog? Just set up rules and expectations for the dog and stick to them. The dog will quickly adapt to your rules if you will provide him with happy life. It is also important to hide anything potentionally dangerous for the dog. Think about stuff like electrical wires, cleaners and chemicals that aren’t locked away, children’s toys that could be swallowed, and plants that might be nibbled. Also, it is wise to keep humans food out of reach, because most dogs would eventually eat it if possible. When you bring your dog home, take it easy and give the dog some time to look around. It is advised to be as calm and relaxed as possible in the first few days, since your new dog is still exploring its new home and adapting to new rules. . Let your new pup sniff around your house, but don’t let them do anything and everything they want. Stick to your rules! You must be relaxed and calm around the dog, but the dog must respect you as well! Remember, that the first few days (or even weeks) might not be smooth sailing. Every dog reacts to being in a shelter differently. It typically takes about a month for a dog to fully relax and start to adapt to new routines. Most dogs will adapt to new environment in matter of few weeks. After that, you can really start creating a strong bond with you and your new dog. You will have to create routine of feeding, walking and training, but that would be a topic for another day. History
There is not much documentation and information about the Small Medimurje Dogs history, origin and ancestry, but it is generally accepted, that the breed evolved more than 100 years ago in northwestern Croatia, especially in the region of Medimurje, where the breed also got its name. It is important to say, that some Croatian books mention dogs similar to Small Medimurje Dog since the 16th century. Traditionally, the Medi was used in Croatia as a vermin hunter and farm watchdog and it was quite populat not only among farmers, but also among millers. Over the time, the breed gained a popularity as a good companion pet, especially due to its smaller size and friendly and playful nature. For most of its history, the breed was virtually unknown outside Balkans, but lately it gained a lot of popularity in Finland and you can find some Medi breeders in this nordic country as well. To this day, the Medi is officially recognized in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Finland. Appearance The Medimurje Dog looks like a small wolf-dog. It has similar appearance to Swedish Vallhund or to Welsh Corgi, but i would say it looks more country-like. It has the typical prolonged body, with the length being one third greater than the height. Speaking of height, the Medi typically stands between 28-33 cm, which is 11-13 inch and there are no extreme size differences between males and females. In the past, the breed was mainly bred for its working characteristics, rather than for appearance, which is a reason, why the appearance of Medi is not completely unified and it can vary a bit. But in general, the Medi has a powerful body, tail that curves upwards, upright ears, wedge shaped head, almond shaped and dark colored eyes, straight back and wide chest. The Medi has a pretty short, thick, coarse and straight coat. The hair on the head, ears and limbs are short and very soft, on contrary, the fur on the neck and below the tail is longer and denser. Typical colors are black, various shades of brown, yellow and gray. The Medi can be in any of these colors or combinations of these colors, either bicolor or tricolor. Medi can also be brindle and they might have white spots on the body. Temperament Medi is a very intelligent, curious, cheerful, hearty and good-natured dog with a lively character and good social skills with dogs and even though it was used in the past as a vermin hunter, they can be trained to live with other household pets like cats or other dogs. This is highly adaptable dog and it can happily live on farms, but also in apartments. Most Medimurje dogs in Finland live in apartments and they make wonderful loyal, playful and spirited companions. Medi can also make good active companion for kids, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervise. Since the Medi was used as a farm watchdog in the past, it should not be surprising that this is quite cautious and suspicious breed towards strangers. But they should never be agressive and once you show them that the stranger is your friend, they will accept it. The Medi is definitely not a coach potatoe. They might be small, but they need daily proper exercise to stay healthy and happy. Daily longer walks, jogs, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions are must with this breed. Thanks to its speed, intelligence and trainability, the Medi can also be a good fit for various dog sports, such as agility or flyball. This dog will always be ready for any kind of adventure and you should be prepared for it when considering the Medimurje dog as a pet. Health and grooming The grooming and overall maintenance of Medimurje dog is pretty easy. They do shed some deal of fur all year long and it is a good idea to brush their coat regularly to remove all the dead and loose hair and minimize the shedding. No other grooming is required and the Medi will keep its coat in good condition by itself. There are no studies about the breeds health but it should be rather healthy dog breed with average lifespan around 13 or 14 years. Because of their long body, sometimes they might suffer from spine and bone problems, but it is nothing extremely common. Other typical doggy health issues can also occur, such as various eye problems, allergies or infections, but again, this is rather healthy dog breed. History
The Dogo Guatemalteco was developed at the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century by crossing Bull Terrier, Boxer and Dalmatian. It is possible, that Cordoba Fighting Dog and Dogue de Bordeaux also played a role in the breeds development, but we can not say it on 100%. Bull Terrier is the main ancestor, but it is important to say, that back in 1900s the Bull Terrier was completely different breed than the present day Bull Terrier. The three Guatemalan families that are credited for developing this breed are Galusser family, Gerardi family and Montenegro family, even though there are disputes who was the most important and influential breeder. The first written evidence about this breed dates back to 1930s. Because the main ancestor of this breed is the old type of Bull Terrier, for a long time, this breed was known as Bullterrier Guatemalteco, but it was later changed by ACANGUA to Dogo Guatemalteco. In 1981 the Guatemalan government officially named the Dogo Guatemalteco as their national dog breed. Appearance You probably noticed, that the Dogo Guatemalteco has similar appearance to Dogo Argentino and it would only be logical to assume, that these two breeds are related, but that is not true. They only share the same ancestor, which is the Bull Terrier. The Dogo Guatemalteco is slightly older breed than the Dogo Argentino. The Dogo Guatemalteco is a well-muscled dog with massive head, with average height between 52-60 cm which is 20-24 in and weight is usually between 35-45 kg (77-99 lb). Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. The appearance of Dogo Guatemalteco is quite intimidating, but some dogs might look more stocky and some more streamlined and agile. The Dogo Guatemalteco comes in white color, but they can have some black spots, most commonly on their head. The coat is very short, shiny and smooth. Temperament The Dogo Guatemalteco was bred specificaly for one main utilization and that is guarding, which shaped its temperament. This is a naturally suspicious and fearless dog, wary of strangers, very territorial and he should not tolerate unknown strangers approach its property. They truly have very strong guarding instinct and even without much training, you can count on these dogs to protect your household. But, of course, just like all dogs in the world, even the Dogo Guatemalteco is a good family companion. When it is around its own family, than this is extremely loyal dog that creates a very strong bond with its owner, that is tolerant and quite gentle towards everyone in the family and it is quite obedient and you can even say affectionate and playful dog. Their loyalty is very very strong and it can be extremely hard to re-home a Dogo Guatemalteco. They can live with kids and they are typically quite gentle towards them, but of course, you should always supervise any interaction between Dogo Guatemalteco and young children. They can even be socialized to live with other pets and other dogs, especially if they live together from the puppyhood. This is moderately active breed – not a total coach potatoe, but neither extremely hyperactive breed. Few daily longer walks accompanied with some playtime or fun training sessions are typically enough to satisfy this dogs exercise needs. Health and grooming It is not hard to keep the coat of Dogo Guatemalteco in good shape, but be prepared, that they do shed all year long and it is adviced to brush their coats regularly in order to minimize the shedding and to redistribute natural oils all over the coat. No other grooming is required, but 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. You should also be prepared for some ammount of drooling, especially after eating or drinking. I could not find any studies about the breeds health, but it should typically be rather healthy dog breed with average lifespan around 12 years, which is okay for dog of this size. They should not suffer much from any serious health issues, but just like every other dog breed, they might have problems with hip and elbow dysplasia, some allergies and infections and with deafness. The famous German Shepherd and the lesser-known Dutch Shepherd may appear similar at first glance, leading some to confuse the two. However, these two breeds have distinct characteristics that set them apart.
When it comes to appearance, two prominent distinctions stand out: size and color. You can see the size comparison on the screen right now. The Dutch Shepherd is slightly shorter and leaner dog breed of the two. While this difference is noticeable, it isn't substantial. Both dogs can have either short or long coat, but the Dutch Shepherd can also be rough-haired, even though this variety is fairly rare. Another distinctive trait is coat color. German Shepherds typically sport a black and tan coat, although sable or solid black colors are also possible. In contrast, the Dutch Shepherd's coat color has an interesting history. In 1914, the decision was made to limit the breed to the brindle color pattern, distinguishing it from the similar German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherds. Consequently, today's Dutch Shepherds are exclusively brindle. You will never see purebred brindle German Shepherd. Which is why the coat color is the easiest way how to differentiate these two breeds apart. Both dogs became popular as versatile workers in 1800s in Western Europe. As you can probably tell, the German Shepherd was used in Germany and Dutch Shepherd in Netherlands. During this time, both dogs were mainly used by farmers for herding their livestock, but they were highly valued for their versatility, as they could also protect the livestock from dangerous predators and they were trained to protect the farm as well. And since both have similar past and utilization, their temperaments are very similar as well. Both the German and Dutch Shepherds exhibit independence, alertness, confidence, loyalty, and intelligence. They can serve as energetic and dedicated family companions, adaptable to living with other dogs, pets, or children. However, as with any dog breed, supervision is crucial when they interact with young children. Subtle differences exist in their temperaments. Generally, the Dutch Shepherd is slightly more active and independent. On the other hand, the German Shepherd tends to be a bit reserved with strangers, more protective, and somewhat easier to train. Despite these nuances, the temperaments of both breeds remain largely identical. As you can probably expect from hard working dog breeds, both of them need plenty and plenty of physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Again, the Dutch Shepherd is little bit more hyperactive than the GSD, but both dogs require daily longer walks, some playtime and fun training sessions and they will always be ready for a longer outdoor hike as well. These dogs are always ready for any kind of adventure. Both dogs will love to live in homes with large yards where they can roam independently. But with enough exercise, they can live in apartment as well. Again, Dutch Shepherd is extremely active dog, but the activity level of German Shepherd is above average as well, so you need to count on that when considering either of these two breeds. Grooming routines vary depending on coat type, but both short and long-coated varieties shed significantly, demanding regular brushing to minimize shedding and maintain coat health. Shedding peaks during shedding seasons. Apart from brushing, routine checks of their eyes, ears, nails, and teeth are essential for their overall well-being. Last but not least lets compare the health. Comparatively, the Dutch Shepherd boasts better overall health than the German Shepherd. This might be attributed to its smaller population and less intense breeding practices. With smaller population, it is easier to uphold responsible breeding. Both dogs can suffer from joint problems like hip and elbow dysplasia, they might have digestive problems, some eye problems, allergies or infections, but all these problems occur more commonly in German Shepherds. The average lifespan of German Shepherd is somewhere around 11 years, while the average lifespan of Dutch Shepherd is around 12 or 13 years. In conclusion, there is not much differences between these two breeds and if you are looking to add an active shepherd dog into your life, you will not make mistake with neither of these two dogs. But make sure that you are ready for active and strong dog that needs some kind of a job in their life. History
The history, ancestry and origin of Segugio Maremmano is rather unknown. It is believed, that the breed was developed in 1800s by Italian hunters in the southern part of Tuscany region, also known as Maremma region. They were not developed for their apperance or for the show ring but for pure performance as hunters. These hunters kept breeding Segugio Maremmano, because it was just the perfect wild boar hunting companion, perfectly adapted to the environment of the southarn area of Tuscany. We do not know anything about the breeds ancestry and it was most likely developed from unregistered hunting dogs and possibly even street dogs, which was one of the reasons, why this breed was not officially registered for decades by Italian Kennel Club. This changed in 2009 when the breed was finally recognized. Appearance The Segugio Maremmano is a medium sized dog breed with very elegant and athletic build. The body has rectangular shape and the Segugio Maremmano has pretty large head, relative to the body. The average height of Segugio Maremmano is between 46-54 cm (18-21 in) and weight between 13-23 kg (29-51 lbs). Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. Interesting fact is, that the breed can have two coat types, either smooth or rough. The smooth haired variety has short coat, that is dense and shiny, while the rough coat is slightly longer, dense and shaggy. It is important to say, that the short haired smooth coated type is far more popular and approximately 90% of the dogs have smooth coat. The Segugio Maremmano comes in various colors, such as brindle, black and tan and in various shades of fawn, from pale to dark tan. There may also be white spots on the legs, neck, chest, forehead, and tip of the tail. The Segugio Maremmano has oval shaped, dark colored eyes, triangular hanging ears, strong neck, well developed chest, tail that is set high and quite muscular limbs. Temperament The Segugio Maremmano is still used for hunting in Italy, but it is also becoming companion dog and they have great temperamental characteristics for both purposes. As a hunter, they are specialized to hunt wild boar and their main weapons on the hunt are their high prey drive, confidence, bravery, great stamina, sense of smell and hearing. They also use their pleasing voice well differentiated in accordance to hunting phases. The Segugio Maremmano can work on its own or in a pack of hounds and they are greatly adapted to Tuscany environment and they are able to go through dense forests and ponds to bring its master some prey. When choosing Segugio Maremmano as a companion pet, you should be prepared for free spirited and highly energetic dog with high prey drive. They definitely need daily longer walks, jogs, hikes, fun training session or vigorous playtime to stay happy and healthy. You should also be prepared for pretty independent dog, that will not always obey your commands, but they are intelligent dogs capable of learning all the basic obedience commands fairly quickly. But the Segugio Maremmano is also known for its kind and gentle character and they create strong bond with the family. Most of these dogs adore children and they will love to play with them, but it is always a must to supervise any actions between any dog breed and young child. And of course, they are not the best for families with other household pets, as Segugio Maremmano is natural born hunter with strong prey drive. But they can happily live with other dogs, especially if socialized together from puppyhood. Health and grooming Great news is, that the Segugio Maremmano has minimal grooming needs. Whether its smooth or rough coat, they stay in relatively good condition by itself even without any grooming. Of course, it is better if you can brush the coat from time to time to keep it in best possible condition and to redistribute natural oils all over the coat. Regular brushing will also remove any loose and dead hair and minimize the shedding. No other grooming is needed. There are no known health issues, which would be very common in this breed and they should typically not suffer from any serious genetic health issues. The average lifespan is somewhere around 13 years. |