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.
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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. 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. 1) Origin
People in the area of todays Lithuania were breeding and using various hounds since the Middle Ages. These native Lithuanian scent hounds definitely played a role in developing the Lithuanian Hound, which is most likely a result of crossing these native dogs with hunting dogs from the neighboring countries, such as Polish Hunting dogs, but also with other imported European hunting breeds, such as Bloodhounds. It is believed, that the Lithuanian Hound was shaped into the breed we know today since the 16th century and the breed was mentioned in the Statues of Lithuania from 1588. 2) Hunter For centuries, the Lithuanian Hound was unreplaceable hunting companion for Lithuanian people. They were highly valued for their relentlesness, bravery, strength and stamina, persistance and high prey drive. It is very hardy breed, capable of hunting in harsh climate and terrain and also very versatile breed, capable of hunting both small, but also large and dangerous prey in large open areas. 3) Almost extinct Back in the days, hunting was a necessity for survival in Lithuania and logically, Lithuanian Hounds were very popular and widespread even in the 19th century. But with the urbanisation and lifestyle changes, hunting was not necessity anymore, but rather a hobby, and the numbers of Lithuanian Hounds started to decline. The two World Wars decimated the Lithuanian Hound numbers even more and it is estimated that after the Second World War there was only 78 pure Lithuanian Hounds alive. Enthusiasts rallied to save the breed, and through their efforts, the hound was revived and standardized by the 1960s. Today, the breed is still extremely rare and almost unknown outside Lithuania, but it is not on the verge of extinction anymore. 4) Companion The Lithuanian Hound is not only a hunter, but also gentle, kind and loyal companion dog. They do have strong prey drive, so they might not be the best fit for household with other pets, but they can live with other dogs or kids in the family. And there are even some Lithuanian Hounds that were socialized with cats, but this is vastly influenced by early socialization. The Lithuanian Hound is very smart and kind of trainable dog, but you will need a lot of patience for the training, it is not a pushover to train. These dogs are beloved for their enthusiastic, playful and energetic nature. 5) Proud Lithuanians Lithuanians are very proud for having the Lithuanian Hound. There are sculptures of Lithuanian Hound in several Lithuanian cities, such as Vilnius, Klaipėda and Telšiai, which is an evidence of growing popularity of this breed. The Lithuanian Hound was also depicted together with Lithuanian native horse breed (Žemaitukas) on commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Lithuania. 6) Size This is a sturdy and heavy boned dog breed with athletic, but still very muscular body. The average height is between 48-60 cm (19-24 in) and weight is usually between 24-30 kg (53-66 lb). Females are naturally slightly smaller than males. 7) Exercise As you can probably expect from a dog breed used for centuries for physically demanding hunting, the Lithuanian Hound is very energetic dog breed with high exercise needs. These dogs need plenty and plenty of rigorous exercise, both physical and mental, to stay healthy and happy. It can be long walks, jogs, hikes, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions, just anything, that will occupy them. These dogs are naturally curious and they will love to go on any outdoor adventure with you. It is important to say, that these dogs are only suited for active people and active families! 8) Coat and color The coat of Lithuanian Hound is short, thick, sleek and glossy. According to the official breed standard, it must be a black coat with tan marking on chest, ears, snout and forehead. White spot on the chest is allowed as well. 9) Maintenance The coat of Lithuanian Hound is very easy for maintenance. It does shed, so regular brushing will help to minimize the shedding by removing all the dead and loose hair and it will also redistribute natural oils all over the coat. But no other grooming, other than brushing, is required. Of course, 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 lifespan of the Lithuanian Hound is between 12-14 years and it is generally hardy and healthy dog breed. The main health issues are associated with joint and bones like hip dysplasia and gastric dilatation, but these problems are associated with all the larger and deep chested dogs. Due to small population of Lithuanian Hounds, there are worries about inbreeding and study from 2008 calculated that the coefficient of inbreeding at 2.09% and relatedness at 6.74%. But overall this is rather healthy dog breed. The Heideterrier is still relatively young dog breed, that came into being in 1970s in Germany. The reason for creating of new dog breed was the desire for just as skilled hunting dog as the already existing Jagdterrier, but that would have larger size, which would enable the dog to hunt wild boar in difficult terrain.
They also wanted a calmer dog, than the typical terrier. They did not want a dog that will run into every hole searching for prey. But the dog should prevail all the other hunting traits of a good terrier, such as very good nose, endurance, high prey drive and loyalty to the owner. The first men who started developing the Heideterrier were Karl Heinz Markhoff and Hans Werner Jahnke. They decided to cross the Jagdterrier with hunting-appropriate Airedale Terriers. Those two breeds are the main ancestors of todays Heideterrier. Some could call the Heideterrier as a crossbreed, and it is true that they are not officially recognized by any major kennel club, but these dogs exist for decades, most of them are used for working purposes and most real Heideterriers are bred according to the system and bloodlines of the founders. Heideterriers used for breeding should pass something, that could be called as performance test, where they show their wild boar hunting skills. These dogs should have strong nerves, they should hunt with intelligence, but they should not be overly sharp like most terriers are and they should be able to hunt by sight and by nose. The Heideterrier is a dog breed that is bred for a purpose, for a performance, rather than for appearance and dog shows. The Heideterrier has potential in other fields than hunting wild boar as well. They make great retrieving dogs, on both land and water. And due to its very good nose, they would be able to work as police dogs, for example as sniffer dogs or rescue dogs. But their main utilization will always be wild boar hunting. But this is not only a hunter, but also loving and loyal companion. This is very stable, well mannered and completely devoted dog towards its family. They are relatively soft, especially in comparsion with other terriers, so they might make good partners for kids, but of course, you should always supervise the interaction between young children and any dog breed. The Heideterrier can live with other dogs in the household, but other family pets might be problematic, due to the Heideterriers higher prey drive. Many Heideterriers might have pretty strong character, lets say independent. It is very typical for most hunting dog breeds, they must be able to think and solve problems on the hunt bythemselves. This can make them little bit difficult to handle for novices, but with proper socialization and training and with enough daily exercise, the Heideterrier can make very good companion. These dogs have pretty strong desire to please. If the Heideterrier is not used for hunting, daily physical and mental exercise is a must, so the dog stay healthy and happy. Daily longer walks, jogs, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions are essential for this dog breed. This is not a coach potatoe! Without enough exercise, they might develop some unwanted behaviour, such as destruction. And what about the appearance? For a terrier, this is relatively robust and large dog breed, with average height between 45-55 cm, which is 17-22 in and weight is typically between 15-25 kg, which is 33-55 lbs. So this is medium sized dog breed and naturally, females are slightly smaller than males. The Heideterrier should have athletic, but muscular body, straight legs, semi-cropped ears and good scissor bite. They can come in different coat types, either short-haired or wire-haired and the typical colors are black, red and combinations of those two colors. Last, but not least, lets talk about the health of Heideterrier. The average lifespan is around 12 or 13 years. The breed is usually pretty healthy, but just like any other breed, there are some health issues that are occuring in this breed. We talk about the primary lens luxation, myopathy, and some joint problems, such as elbow and hip dysplasia. But these problems should not be extremely common in the Heideterrier and the breed should usually be quite healthy. |