PetzloverGreek Sheepdog is originated from Greece but Kuri is originated from French Polynesia. Greek Sheepdog may grow 29 cm / 12 inches higher than Kuri. Greek Sheepdog may weigh 35 kg / 78 pounds more than Kuri. Both Greek Sheepdog and Kuri has almost same life span. Both Greek Sheepdog and Kuri has almost same litter size. Greek Sheepdog requires Moderate Maintenance. But Kuri requires Low Maintenance
Known as the Olympus Dog or even simply as the Greek Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog is a large to giant molosser dog from Greece. His purpose has always been to guard flocks and livestock from predators and he has been around for hundreds of years, looking much like the Great Pyrenees.
It is believed that the dog was likely bred with a number of breeds – both local and non-local dogs.
Unfortunately there were no records kept of the development of the breed but today the Greek Sheepdog remains a rare and fairly unknown breed outside of Greece.
It's numbers are dwindling in Greece too and since 1998 the Greek ARCTUROS has made attempts to save the breed, starting the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program.
Kurī, also known as Guri or Peroor New Zealand Native Dog, is the Maori name for this dog which was introduced to New Zealand by the Maoris when they migrated from East Polynesia around 1280 AD.
They were in fact Polynesian dogs which died out in New Zealand. The Māoris would use the dog as a food source and the skins would be used to make some form of clothing. The bones were used to make items such as necklaces and fish hooks.
Not surprising then that the dog became extinct in New Zealand, with the last known Kuri specimens being found in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
The Greek Sheepdog is a large dog, standing at 65 – 75cm and weighing roughly between 32 to 50kg. He is a dog that displays physical strength. He has a large head with brown eyes and a serious expression on his face. He has a thick double coat which is essentially white with red, black or brown markings.
You will also see tri-color dogs. He has floppy ears today but there was a time when the right ear of the male dog was cut off or cropped. The tail is long and bushy and it can be held low but also held up so that it curls over the back.
Maybe because of his size and him being a strong-willed, independent thinker, the Greek Shepherd may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner. Having said that, if you're a strong, firm, patient, kind person, then you'll be able to raise any kind of dog, first time or not.
The Greek Shepherd is a brave, loyal, calm, protective dog and with socialization and training, can make an awesome pet. They are dogs who are a bit suspicious with strangers, not making friends too easily. He loves his human family and wants to be part of their activities. He can't be left on his own day after day as this can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.
They've been dogs used to working with livestock and they will certainly need to be taken on daily walks and involved in rough and tumble games as they thrive on activity. The dog won't fit easily into city life where there is just a handkerchief-sized garden as he needs space and activity.
The Kuri is extinct now but it was a small to medium sized dog with a thick set neck. He stood between 25 and 46cm and weighed about 13 to 15 kilograms.
He had thick medium-length rough textured hair, small head, erect ears, short legs and a bushy tail. The color of their weatherproof coats varied and some were black, some white or cream and some were a mix of colors and patterns.
An interesting feature about them is that they didn’t bark but instead they howled. They were good at hunting birds.
The Kuri wasn’t considered the brightest breed, but he would have benefited from some training and socialization as this just makes a dog a better pet in every sense – more obedient and better behaved in all situations.
Some Kuris were friendly and able to bond with their human owners, while others were independent and somewhat aloof. Their size would have allowed them to be kept in the city or the country as they weren’t particularly energetic dogs, not requiring much ground to run around in.
Your Greek Shepherd is an intelligent, independent dog who likes to show his loyalty and devotion to his owner.
He is a protective dog too and when trained and socialized makes an excellent family pet. These Molosser type dogs are formidable dogs known for their bravery and courage.
They're the type of dogs who like a strong leader-type of owner and when he gets someone who he can look up to as his leader, he becomes a loyal, devoted pet.
It appears as though some Kuris were kept as pets and that they were able to develop loving relationships with their owners.
We don’t know too much about the extinct Kuri, but scientists are now studying and analyzing the hairs of the dog to find out more about it, and specifically why the Maori dog disappeared some time in the 19th century without a trace.
They will also be analyzing Kuri bones salvaged by archaeologists and which were found on rubbish heaps. These bones can be tested to see whether the diet of the Kuri changed much between the days of Maori settlements and the arrival of the European settlers.
With good care and lots of love, this dog can live to be between 10 to 12 years of age. He is unlikely to get sick very often, but still it it wise to know of some of the health issues than can occur with large breed dogs like this.
This is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart is enlarged and unable to have the right heart rhythm. The distended muscle isn't able to push the blood through the heart chambers to where it is needed. Cause for this dilated heart can be genetic, nutritional, infectious or metabolic.
Because taurine and carnitine are involved in good heart function, and low levels of these amino acids can cause symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation is useful, especially if you feel your dog isn't getting in the right kind of food.
Borreliosis, a bacterial infection, causes Lyme disease, transmitted by the Ixodes tick. The tick bites the dog and the toxins gets into the dog's bloodstream, with the bacteria travelling to different parts of the body.
Typical symptoms in a dog includes loss of appetite, fever, no energy, swelling of joints and lameness, but symptoms can progress to kidney failure too or cardiac problems. Treatment will include antibiotics.
Some Kuri dogs scavenged while others were pets and ate well. The lifestyle they led would have determined their health. In those days they would have suffered with dental disease, common in adult dogs. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to dental tartar buildup with gum inflammation and tooth loss.
Dental disease can also lead to other organ diseases. These days brushing your dog’s teeth with canine toothpaste and toothbrush can help to ward off dental disease.
Those Kuris that weren’t pets, tried to survive scavenging, and their homeless situation could well have led to ear infections – caused from a wax- and dirt buildup within the ear. He would have been frantic trying to scratch his ears. In modern times, if your dog showed signs of an ear infection, you would need to get him to the vet.
The coat of the Greek Shepherd is fairly long so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from matting and tangling. He is an average shedder and the brushing will remove all loose hairs, keeping the coat sleek and shiny.
Feeding your Greek Sheepdog requires giving him top quality food as this will ensure he is healthy and can ward off common dog illnesses. If you're going to be feeding him kibble, make sure to go for the top quality brands, and as a treat for your pet you can add in some brown rice, pasta, brown bread, cooked chicken and vegetables.
Dogs are essentially carnivores and he will need to have some raw meat such as beef added into his kibble from time to time. He should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
The Kuri will have required regular grooming which means a brushing down twice a week. Brushing would have been useful to prevent loose hairs from shedding with the dog. He would have had to have his ears and eyes checked too to avoid infections. Brushing him would have given his owner the chance to check him over for fleas and ticks too.
As the Kuri wasn’t an overly energetic dog, a walk a day would have kept him content and fit.
The Kuri was a dog that essentially formed part of someone else’s diet. Those that managed to escape being a meal for someone no doubt had to scavenge for food. Because they were used to help people catch birds, they themselves were used to catching birds for themselves.
As a small to medium sized dog, if you were to keep such a dog as a pet you would have given him a cup or two of dried kibble a day and tried to vary his diet by including some home-cooked food and raw meat.