Chow Chow vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Chow Chow vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBulgarian Shepherd is originated from Bulgaria but Chow Chow is originated from China. Bulgarian Shepherd may grow 24 cm / 10 inches higher than Chow Chow. Bulgarian Shepherd may weigh 25 kg / 56 pounds more than Chow Chow. Bulgarian Shepherd may live 44 years more than Chow Chow. Both Bulgarian Shepherd and Chow Chow has almost same litter size. Bulgarian Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance. But Chow Chow requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Non sporting dog
undefined
Bulgaria
China
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
63 - 72 cm
24 - 29 inches
41 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 57 kg
99 - 126 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 52 kg
88 - 115 pounds
20 - 27 kg
44 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
45 - 57 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
4 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Karakachan Shepherd Dog, Karakachan
chowhound, chow, chowdren
Colors Available:
BlackWhiteTricolor
cream and blue, Red (light gold to deep red-brown) • Cinnamon (light tan to brown) • Black
Coat:
Single
double thick and coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Affectionate, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

bulgarian shepherdThe Bulgarian Shepard Dog comes from the ancient line of Molossers of Central Asia and Tibet, and the shepherds of the Balkans, Turkey and Caucasus. Among the oldest and most valued of the working dogs of Europe, the Bulgarian Shepherd breed was created by mixing the Balkan breeds with the dogs from Central Asia by the proto-Bulgarians around the 7th century. The Karakachanskoto Kuche was introduced to Bulgaria and accepted by the sheep herders. Mixing this breed in with the Balkan and Central Asian mix developed the Bulgarian Shepherd we know today. In the long run the original Karakachanskoto Kuche became extinct, replaced entirely by the Bulgarian Shepherd even in places where the new breed is still called by the Kuche name. Although the breeds are not the same, most of the dog world does not know the difference.

In Bulgaria however the Karakachan is a national treasure and the history of the breed runs deep. One Kuche could run up to 1200 animals and hundreds were used by the herdsmen in the mountains of Bulgaria. There were many regional types of Bulgarian Shepherds with very little difference between those types. These dogs were so prized by the shepherds that the dogs ate first before the people. The dogs however ate a vegetarian diet of milk, wheat, water and oats. The Bulgarian Shepherd lives a long life of often over 20 years. The Bulgarian Army made good use of these dogs early in the 20th century.

Following World War II, the wolves were close to extinction and property in Bulgaria was nationalized. There was no longer a need for a large force of working dogs. The Communist government exterminated large numbers of sheep dogs including the Bulgarian Shepherd. Only those species on government owned farms and in remote regions survived. When the government farms were disbanded in the early 20th century, these dogs were exterminated as well. Only those in the mountains survived. Commercial breeding of the Bulgarian Shepherd in the end of the century has resulted in controversy as other breeds came into the breeding program.

Use of breeds such as Sarplaninacs, Caucasian Ovcharkas, St. Bernards, Central Asian Ovcharkas and Bosnian Tornjaks in these programs resulted in Bulgarian Shepherd or Karakachans that were a lot different from the original breed. There is therefore some concern about the future of the breed in Bulgaria, yet they received official Bulgarian national recognition in 2000. Today’s Bulgarian Shepherd is a guard dog for both property and livestock.

The official standard for the breed came about in 1991 and in 2005 it was recognized by the Bulgarian State Commission for Animal Breeds. Only those dogs that meet this standard are considered “true” Karakachans. The Bulgarian Shepherds are willing to fight bears and wolves in defense of its family and flock. The dog is brave and loyal, dignified and powerful. They are recognized by both the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA) and the Bulgarian Republican Federation of Cynology (BRFC) a member of the FCI.

chow chowNorthern China is the original home of the Chow Chow. In that region of China, the breed was known as the Songshi Quan – “the puffy-lion” dog. They have also been known in China as the “Dog of the Tang Empire” or the Tang Quan. The Chow is believed to be an ancient breed that the Foo Dog, or stone dog guardians of Buddhist palaces and temples, is modeled after. It is one of the most ancient of dog breeds that are still around today.

It is believed that they have existed for around 2000 years or perhaps even as far back as 3000 years, starting out in Mongolia and migrating to China. The ancientness of the Chow Chow has been validated through DNA testing. In China all those centuries ago, the Chow Chow was born to be a working dog. They hunted, herded, guarded and pulled carts. They went on quests with the Mongolian armies when China was invaded, as well as when the Mongolians invaded the Middle East and Europe later on.

Today’s Canadian Kennel Club has about 350 Chows registered while the AKC gets 10,000 new registrations every year.

Description

bulgarian shepherd puppy - descriptionA massive, powerful and muscular Molosser, the Bulgarian Shepherd is strong, agile, powerful and fast. They are intelligent and reliable. They have a long, thick, harsh coat in white with patches of black. Their skull is massive and broad with a furrowed forehead. The muzzle is massive as well while the nose has wide nostrils and is fairly large. It has close fitting, thick lips with strong, scissor bite jaws. The Bulgarian Shepherd’s eyes are deep, oblique and small. They are either hazel or dark. They have an intelligent and confident, yet firm almost grim expression.

Their ears are low set, small and v-shaped. They sit close to the head which sits on a powerful but short neck. They have a broad back, well-muscled body with a deep chest and long, rough tail. Their gait is a trot with a spring in their step. There are two types of coats – longhaired and shorthaired with no undercoats.

chow chow puppy - descriptionThe Chow really does look like a small lion with a black tongue. The dog is sturdy and square with erect, small ears on a broad skull. They have a very dense double coat. Their eyes are deep set and look like almonds, while they all have that very distinctive purple or black tongue. Their lips are also distinctive with their blue color. The nose is black, but some Chows might have a blue nose. The tail is curly.

These are medium size dogs when it comes to height and weight, but they are powerfully built for their size. Their power is in their compact body holding the energy and strength of a much larger dog. Its hind legs are almost entirely straight, unusual for any dog. They get their lion appearance from the huge ruff that stands behind their heads. Their chest is broad and deep.

Characteristics

bulgarian shepherd dog - characteristicsThis is a working dog, intelligent and independent guard dog. Reserved around strangers but loyal and devoted with his family. Tolerant of children in their family if they were raised with them. Not only will she defend human family members, she will guard and defend household pets as well. He is quite capable of making her own independent decisions. These are very intense guard dogs that will respond aggressively if they think their people are being attacked.

chow chow dog - characteristicsLoyal and true to their family and those they know; the Chow Chow is a little standoffish with strangers. They are very protective and usually attach themselves to one or two people. They are intelligent but stubborn, which can affect your training with them. They need to respect their people and Chows respect hose who take care of them. They can be aggressive toward dogs of their same sex especially if those dogs are the same breed as well.

They are known to be very clean and many have compared them to cats in that regard. They appear to be dignified and refined. They are usually very quiet but very adaptable dogs.

Health Problems

bulgarian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe breed itself is known to be healthy but they do face some of the usual health issues of the massive, giant breeds. This includes knee and elbow dislocation; hip dysplasia; bloat; entropion and osteosarcoma. All of these conditions require medical intervention, but bloat and osteosarcoma are the deadliest. Bloat needs immediate attention and osteosarcoma is a deadly bone cancer.

chow chow puppies - health problemsAlthough an ancient breed that obviously has survived many centuries of trials, the Cho Chow of today is prone to several different health conditions. These include:

Eyelid Entropion

This condition can require surgery to keep the turning eyelid from injuring the eye ball.

Hip Dysplasia

This can cause lameness and arthritis.

Elbow Dysplasia

This can cause lameness and arthritis.

Stomach Cancer

Ear Infections

Make sure you keep the ears clean and keep an eye on them.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

bulgarian shepherd dogs - caringThese are large dogs with large appetites, but you want to keep them lean and active. Feed them at least twice a day with a high quality large or giant dog dry food. Four to five cups of food per day is the maximum.

Health issues

Patellar Luxation – a floating kneecap or dislocated knee. Will cause lameness.

Bloat - distended or twisted stomach. Can cause death.

Osteosarcoma – bone cancer must be treated immediately as it is potentially fatal.

Entropion – eye issues when the eyelid turns inward and damages the eye.

Hip Dysplasia – May cause lameness and arthritis.

Exercise and games

The Bulgarian Shepherd needs a good amount of exercise every day. Remember this is a working breed and they need a job. Long walks every day are essential for his well-being.

chow chow dogs - caringDon’t overfeed a Chow Chow as they are hard workers and big eaters. Feed them at least twice a day.

Health issues

Additional health issues include:

Glaucoma

This eye disease can lead to blindness if not checked and treated.

Juvenile Cataracts

These can be removed from an adolescent puppy.

Lymphoma

Again, the Chow is susceptible to cancer.

Diabetes

Can lead to heart or kidney problems if left untreated.

Hot Spots/Allergies/Melanoma

Keep a close eye on your Chow Chow skin.

Exercise and games

The Chow Chow was developed as working dog, but today’s version is more laid back and doesn’t need excessive exercise. Daily walks will suffice. They live very happily in the city if walked regularly. They are not really a competitive breed outside of obedience and confirmation. They are seldom seen in sports like agility or frisbee.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bulgarian Shepherd vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Bulgarian Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Bulgarian Shepherd vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bulgarian Shepherd vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Bulgarian Shepherd vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Bulgarian Shepherd vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Chow Chow vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Chow Chow vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Chow Chow vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Chow Chow vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Chow Chow vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Chow Chow vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Chow Chow vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Chow Chow vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Chow Chow vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Chow Chow vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Chow Chow vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Chow Chow vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Chow Chow vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Chow Chow vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Chow Chow vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Chow Chow vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Chow Chow vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Chow Chow vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Chow Chow vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Chow Chow vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Chow Chow vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Chow Chow vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Chow Chow vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Chow Chow vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Chow Chow vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison