Dogo Guatemalteco vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison

The Coonhound, hailing from the United States of America, is a scenthound or hunting dog of which there are 6 distinct breeds which are recognized by the United Kennel Club.

Because foxhounds were regarded as inadequate for hunting, people started looking at the developlent of other hounds who had a keen sense of smell and the ability to track and animal effectively and without necessarily a human commanding it.

Foundation dogs were selected because of their keen sense of smell and Bloodhounds were also added to the Coonhound line to provide the Coonhound with superb tracking skills. Its precise origins are unknown but it is believed that many of the European hunting hounds were involved in its development as well as the Kerry Beagle and the FrenchBleu Gascogne hounds.

It was in 1912 that the first Black and Tans were registered with the United Kennel Club. In 1945 the American Kennel followed.

Known as the Guatemalteco Bull Terrier or Guatemalan Molosser, the Dogo Guatemalteco is also known as the Bull Terrier Guatemalteco, Guatemalan Bull Terrier, and Guatemalan Molosser.

This big Molosser-type dog originates in Guatemala. In the 20th century, it was known as the Bullterrier Guatemalteco, but at the end of the century, it was changed to Dogo Guatemalteco.

Today, while the dog is kept as a companion dog, most are working guard dogs. The Dogo Guatemalteco isn’t recognized by any major international kennel clubs. However, the Kennel Club of Guatemala has given full recognition to this dog and it was in 1981 that the Guatemalan government named the dog as their national dog breed.

Known also as the Black and Tan Coonhound, the Coonhound is a medium to large dog weighing 23–34kg and standing at 53-69cm. He makes an exceptional pet.

He has a short, dense coat of black and tan in color with tan markings around the muzzle. He has long, floppy ears and a long tail. With his long, strong, muscled legs he is able to pick up speed when on the hunt. He is known for his deep, booming bark.

Temperament:

The Coonhound isn’t as jaunty as some other dog breeds but he is social, playful and friendly. He is even tempered and sensitive, and you’ll know when you’ve hurt his feelings as he gets a look about him of utter misery.

He definitely isn’t suited to apartment living and being left on his own, and is therefore not suited to an owner who works all day and leaves him on his own. They just love human companionship, and enjoy taking part in all the activities of their owner's life.

Early training and socialization will be necessary to ensure he grows up calm, obedient, relaxed and confident. When he has been socialized he makes an excellent family pet, getting on well with children as well as with other pets in the home.

The Guatemalteco is a medium to large dog standing at 54 – 60cm and weighing between 40-45kg. He has a short, smooth coat and is essentially white with some black markings on the head.

This breed was created from a crossing between a bull terrier, boxer and dalmatian. Some of the dogs are thickly built, while others are more leaner and athletic looking.

The ears of the dog vary quite a bit because while sometimes the ears fold down closely to the head, others are semi-pricked. There are some dog owners who have their dogs ears cropped into fully erect triangular shapes. The eye are small and usually dark brown.

Temperament:

The Dogo Guatemalteco is a fearless, evenly tempered dog. He was bred as a guard dog and he wants to protect his human family, forming a deep bond with them. It makes them difficult to re-home because of this.

It is imperative to have this dog trained and socialized because it might believe its the leader of the pack in your home. He is quite capable of getting along well with children and pets in the home. Because of his dominant nature, he isn’t suited as a pet for the first-time dog owner. He also doesn’t warm easily to strangers.

The Coonhound is often described as a carefree, happy-go-lucky type of dog breed who is social and who just loves to spend time with his human family.

They just love their human family, and are full of mischievous tricks, being amusing and entertaining for the family.

He is a playful, gentle dog and he seems to keep his puppy nature much longer than with other dog breeds, but this is part of his appealing nature. He isn't a dog breed for everyone as some dog owners might want a more serious breed, but when trained and socialized, he promises to turn out to be an adored family pet.

Your Dogo Guatemalteco is an intelligent dog breed, and because he is strong-willed and stubborn he might give you a hard time during training. It is possible though and it is important as the training will turn him into an obedient, relaxed dog, able to get on with all his family members, including pets.

He is an energetic dog and will require walks and other forms of exercise each day.

This is certainly not the kind of dog that you buy to protect your property and provide little else for him except food and water. Frustration on the dog’s part can lead to destructive behavior and aggression.

Treat him well and he can make an excellent family companion.

Coonhounds usually enjoy very good health, but they can still suffer with any one of the more common dog illnesses there are. They’ve got long ears so they are more prone to ear infections. Also, hip dysplasia has been recorded too.

It is why so many breeders opt to have their dogs certified by the Orthopedic Foundation of America.

Ear infections in dogs with long ears are common and most dogs who suffer with an ear infection will scratch at the ears and shake their heads. There can also be redness in the ear.

Mites, bacteria and yeast are all common problems, and your veterinarian can treat it and show you how to clean the dog’s ears to keep them free from infection in the future.

This dog can be susceptible to skin allergies. The skin is sensitive and prone to rashes.

Another health concern with this dog because of his white coat, is congenital deafness. The deafness could be in one- or both ears.

The dog could also experience lameness, of which the most common problem is hip dysplasia. Because skeletal problems occur in this breed, it is advisable for owners to have their pet tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

Exercise:

Your Coonhound will want a lot of exercise. While you keep him on a leash when walking him or allowing him to run while you cycle, he’ll also want a place where he can run off the leash.

Grooming:

Even though the Coonhound is a short haired dog, he does shed. Making use of a rubber curry brush, brush him down twice a week to maintain his beautiful black, velvety coat.

Because he is an athletic outdoor dog, he may be more prone to picking up ticks and fleas and there are excellent shampoos available that keep these parasites at bay for a good many days.

The coat of the dog is short and harsh and it sheds throughout the year. While he is still looked upon as a low maintenance dog, regular brushing will be required twice a week.

Because he is a dog breed that is susceptible to skin allergies, bathing isn't necessary as it removes the dog’s natural oils.

Other areas of grooming for this dog are brushing his teeth twice a week, trimming his nails and checking his ears.

Diet:

Always choose a high quality dog food for your Dogo Guatemalteco and look at the feeding recommendations on the packaging.

When you feed your pet kibble, you can also mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetable and chicken for variety and contentment.

Raw meat is also advised from time to time. Don’t just go on and on through the years feeding your dog the same amount of food, as there are factors to take into account when deciding on food quantity. The age of your dog, it’s stage of life and its activity levels will mean regulating your pet’s food to match his needs.