Korean Mastiff is originated from South Korea but Phung San is originated from North Korea. Korean Mastiff may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Phung San. Korean Mastiff may weigh 44 kg / 98 pounds more than Phung San. Both Korean Mastiff and Phung San has almost same life span. Korean Mastiff may have less litter size than Phung San. Both Korean Mastiff and Phung San requires Moderate Maintenance.
This large breed dog is also known as the Mee Kyun Dosa. In spite of his huge size, he isn’t aggressive at all and is bred to be a companion dog.
He was originally developed to be a working dog. The dog was developed in the late 1800’s from European and Asian working breeds. Those interested in dog breeds suspected that a crossing of the Japanese Tosa-Inu with the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Dogue de Bordeaux brought about the breed. They also thought that the Saint Bernard and English Mastiff were brought in later on as well.
These large molosser dogs have been developed through years of inbreeding. It is one of the biggest dogs in Korea.
The Phung San, Pungsan or ‘Poongsan dog’ is native to Korea. Outside of Korea, this dog is virtually unheard of.
The origin of the dog goes back to the 16th century, but there aren’t many records of where the breed descended from. Some dog experts believe the breed descends from Siberian Laika dogs while others say they are a mix of Mastiff and Herding breeds. It is believed that the Pungsan has been used for hunting large predators.
It was during the Japanese occupation of North Korea that the breed was declared a national treasure.
The Phung San isn't recognized by any major kennel clubs.
You can’t help but stare at the Korean Mastiff because of his strong, muscular neck of loose skin that forms dewlaps. His face is wrinkled and he has a cumbersome, sluggish gait.
He is a large dog standing at anything between 59 to 76cm in height, both male and female. He can weigh between 65 to 74kg. He is noticeable because of his fairly loose fitting coat, which is short and smooth and which is a rich, shiny reddish, orange or brown colour.
The nose of the dog is broad and dark, the ears soft and floppy and he has eyes which are set wide apart.
The Korean Mastiff is reserved with strangers but he is friendly and even tempered with his human family, making an ideal pet.
He is looked upon as a gentle giant, being an oversized playmate for children and he also tolerates other pets in the home.
He isn't an overly energetic dog, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be exercised. He will need long walks to avoid him putting on weight.
This is a Spitz-type dog and it is considered to be medium to large size. He is an athletic, muscular dog with a deep chest standing at 57 to 60cm in height and weighing roughly between 25 and 30kg.
The legs are nice and straight, the ears erect and the bushy tails curls up over the back.The head is fairly triangular in shape, the nose is black and the eyes are brown, bright and alert.
The coat is thick and comes in different shades of white and cream.
These dogs are such loyal, devoted pets. They’re independent dogs and will benefit from being trained and socialized. With this kind of training they can get on well with children in the home. They can be quite snooty with strangers but they’re good watchdogs.
Your huge Korean Mastiff is a good natured dog who isn’t aggressive. He loves being with his human family and makes a particularly good pet when he has been trained and socialized.
He likes a firm but fair owner who takes a leader-of-the-pack role. In spite of his largeness and sluggishness, he can be quite agile and makes a good watchdog too.
All round, the Korean Mastiff, known as a gentle giant, is capable of making you a splendidly friendly, loving canine companion.
Your Phung San dog is a strong-willed dominant type of dog, and training and socialization will do him the world of good in terms of making him obedient and well mannered. He is loyal, faithful and loving and protects and guards those he loves.
Some people say these dogs aren’t a good choice for novice dog owners, but dogs essentially turn out the way their owners are. The right upbringing will ensure your Pungsan Dog is a good pet for new owners and for families with children.
Do research and you’ll see that these beautiful dogs make splendid pets and companions.
Treat your big Mastiff dog like the wonderful fur-child he is and make sure your attend to all his medical needs to avoid pain and discomfort for him.
Cherry eye is a fairly common health issue with this breed. It affects the tear gland of the third eyelid, and if left untreated, can lead to ongoing eye problems.
All dogs have a third eyelid, as well as two tear producing glands to lubricate the eyes. Its an important protective component to eye health in dogs. When the connective tissue that holds the gland in place is damaged or weak, there is a red protrusion of the gland from the lower eye. This is a congenital disorder. Don’t ignore it, but get your pet to the vet so you can catch it early.
Canine bloat, known as gastric dilatation and volvulus can be a killer disease for your pet, more so with deep-chested, large breeds.
Gas accumulation is known as bloat, and its the accumulation of gas which can cause the stomach to rotate. A dog can go into shock from bloat. The reason for this is that the stomach expands, putting pressure on veins. Blood can’t flow as it should and the blood supply gets cut off to the stomach.
Your dog could be vomiting, restless, the stomach hard and bloated or he may be drooling. Dogs who gobble their food down and eat just one large meal a day have an increased susceptibility to GDV than other dogs.
The wrong ingredients of a dog’s diet can also contribute to bloat. High quality food and feeding your pet smaller meals can help.
Able to get to 13 or 14 years of age, the Pungsan dog enjoys good health, but there are some dog diseases that it is good to be aware of -
Hip Dysplasia can mean no more games for your pet. It’s a disease that can have a large impact on your pet’s quality of life. It’s not reserved for old dogs either but it affects medium to large breed dogs.
Diet, weight of dog, genetics and environmental factors can all cause hip dysplasia, and while the symptoms are often subtle at first, you’ll see a limp starting and your dog holding his leg up off the ground. The severity of symptoms can change from day to day but the pain can be severe and you will need to get your pet to the vet.
This is an eye problem where the eyelids roll too far inwards and then scrape on the surface of the eye, possibly leading to corneal scarring and painful eye infections.
This is a life threatening illness where the stomach bloats up with gas and the stomach can actually twist. Your pet will be restless, panting and acting out of character and absolutely no time should be wasted getting your pet to the vet.
A Korean Mastiff is an easy dog to groom with his short smooth coat. He is a moderate shedder so a brush twice a week will be sufficient to maintain the shiny, smooth condition of his coat.
Because the dog has lots of skin and folds, these folds will need to be washed and kept clean as grime can collect.
While you're busy attending to his skin check his nails too and check inside and outside his ears for signs of redness and irritation.
Puppies use up more energy than mature adults, requiring a diet of good quality protein. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered will require less calories as will senior dogs.
Korean Mastiffs require high quality nutrition, and if its dry kibble, make sure its the best brand. Mix in some home-made food such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat occasionally.
Protein and fat from good sources are top ingredients for your Korean Mastiff. Avoid food with allergens such as corn and wheat, sweeteners, preservatives and colorants.
Make sure your large pet has constant access to fresh water.
This is an active, energetic dog that will require some vigorous physical activity each day. While a walk is an excellent form of exercise, he will need something more hectic. You can take him to the park and allow him to run free off his leash, take him with you on your hikes and play ball- or frisbee games with him.
Your Pungsan sheds quite a bit because the fur is thick and you will need to have him brushed at least twice a week. Turn this brushing session into a proper grooming session. There are several things to check during these brushing sessions which your pet will love -
Run your hands over him and check for any unusual lumps.
Look inside his mouth and check his teeth. Your pet can’t tell you that there is a rotting tooth causing tremendous pain and illness.
Check the inside of his ears and make sure they aren’t red and clogged with excess wax and debris. There are ways to clean them and if you don’t know how or you don’t want to, allow a professional groomer to check his teeth, inside his ears and also trim his nails.
Make sure he has an excellent diet. There are some really good commercially manufactured dog foods that have the right balance of vitamins and minerals in them. Give him some home-made food too. Nothing exotic and spicy – just wholesome, simple food that won’t upset his stomach – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some sweet potato, carrots and spinach. Mix these into his kibble from time to time. Once in a while you can also give him some raw meat. Make sure he has easy access to fresh, cool water.