Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Bulgarian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBulgarian Shepherd is originated from Bulgaria but Treeing Tennessee Brindle is originated from United States. Bulgarian Shepherd may grow 14 cm / 6 inches higher than Treeing Tennessee Brindle. Bulgarian Shepherd may weigh 34 kg / 75 pounds more than Treeing Tennessee Brindle. Bulgarian Shepherd may live 45 years more than Treeing Tennessee Brindle. Bulgarian Shepherd may have more litter size than Treeing Tennessee Brindle. Bulgarian Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance. But Treeing Tennessee Brindle requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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Bulgaria
United States
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
41 - 61 cm
16 - 25 inches
Height Female:
63 - 72 cm
24 - 29 inches
41 - 61 cm
16 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 57 kg
99 - 126 pounds
14 - 23 kg
30 - 51 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 52 kg
88 - 115 pounds
14 - 23 kg
30 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
45 - 57 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
3 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Karakachan Shepherd Dog, Karakachan
None
Colors Available:
BlackWhiteTricolor
Brindle - tan and black, sometimes a bit of white
Coat:
Single
Short and quite soft
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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.

treeing tennessee brindleThere doesn’t seem to be 100% clarity on how the dog came about but it originated in USA. It appears as though it was only since 1995 that records have been maintained through the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service Program.

A Reverend Earl Phillips, who was a writer for a hunting magazine became aware of a Brindle Cur with a brown coat and tiger stripes. In fact ‘treeing’ is a type of hunting, where the dog chases an animal into a tree to escape. He heard about the dog’s amazing hunting skills.

In the early 1960s, he later formed The Treeing Tennessee Brindle Breeders Association, designed to protect the breed. It was in 2013 that the dog got foundation stock status with the American Kennel Club, but isn’t registered with the American Kennel Club.

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.

treeing tennessee brindle puppy - descriptionThe Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a medium sized, deep chested breed of Cur, descending from the Old Brindle Cur dog.

These strong dogs have a short, smooth brindle coat that is fairly soft to the touch. The coat's color is a mix of tan, black and a little bit of white.

He stands at between 41 and 61cm in height and weighs between 14 and 23kg both male and female. The Treeing Tennessee Brindle has a loud bark and it is best that this dog lives on a farm or in the suburbs as opposed to living in a small space in the city.

Temperament:

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a friendly, social dog and this is why he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

He gets on well with children in the home as well as other dogs, not showing any aggression towards them.

They’re intelligent dogs and it will be a good idea to have them trained and socialized to make them well balanced and well behaved.

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.

treeing tennessee brindle dog - characteristicsThis brindle-colored cur dog is brave, intelligent and lively and his temperament allows him to be a good companion for his human family.

Even though they are friendly around strangers, they still make good watchdogs and will alert you to all kinds of visitors to your property. They do best in a home with large grounds and an active family where they can explore and sniff around. At the end of the day, they love to lie contentedly at your feet, a loyal, loving companion.

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.

treeing tennessee brindle puppies - health problemsThe Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a robust, healthy breed. You’re not likely to battle with too many health issues with him.

Watch out for ear infections which are more common in floppy eared dogs. Other common dog diseases that you need to know about -

Canine Distemper:

This is a viral disease which is highly contagious and with no known cure. It’s why there is a vaccine against it. Coughing, lethargy, high temperature and loss of appetite with vomiting are symptoms of this disease.

Canine Influenza:

This is another highly contagious respiratory viral infection transmitted between dogs in close proximity to each other, like in kennels for instance.

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, breathing difficulties, lethargy and loss of appetite. It’s important to get veterinary assistance as pneumonia could set in.

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.

Grooming:

treeing tennessee brindle dogs - caringA brush once or twice a week will be sufficient for this dog. Look inside his ears for signs of redness which could indicate an ear infection. Make sure his eyes are still bright and not red and with a pus discharge. Trim his nails too.

Exercise:

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a high energy dog and he is going o want more than just a walk every day, although he will love that and rely on you for this daily outing.

He will also want ball games and hide and seek games.The breed needs an active owner who will take him on long walks and hikes.

Diet:

Whenever you opt to give a dog commercially manufactured dog food, you need to check that the dog food is made with high-quality ingredients which are mostly made up of protein or meat.

Certainly a puppy will need protein in his food for proper growth and he will require 4 bowls of food a day. An adult dog will require 2 bowls of food a day.

The type of commercial dog food you buy will depend on the age of your dog as well as his activity levels. If your dog has a known allergy or illness, there are dog foods manufactured with that in mind.

Try and in include some homemade food into his diet. Nothing spicey and exotic as this can cause stomach problems. A good guide is boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

Comparison with other breeds

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  9. Bulgarian Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
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  27. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Treeing Tennessee Brindle vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison