Lurcher vs Cabecudo Boiadeiro - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Cabecudo Boiadeiro has always played an important role in the management of livestock. Stockdogs like this were known in parts of Minas Gerais as early as the 18th century. In fact reports tell us that the Cabecudo has existed since the 16th century as a working dog in the rural parts of Brazil.

The Capecudo has remained much the same over the centuries – a dog created as a guardian for large properties, as a game hunter and livestock herder and protector. Today this Molosser dog still drives cattle in Brazil.

The Lurcher is a crossbreed dog that doesn’t seem to have too much certainty around it. There are stories that Lurchers may have been bred to produce a sighthound with more intelligence for hunting.

Hunters discovered that breeding certain breeds with sight-hounds produced a dog better suited for hunting and working purpose.

A Lurcher is a sighthound, a classic working crossbreed and some of the dogs used to bring about this breed were Greyhounds, Deerhounds, Whippets, Border Collies, Bedlington Terriers and Irish Wofhounds among others. This means that the Lurcher has many different looks as well. In the UK, Lurchers have their own shows, but no registry recognizes the dog.

The Brazilian Cabedudo is a strong boned, large dog with a large head and a deep chest. The coat of the dog is short and dense and in wheat-colored shades or fawn shades, while brindle is also in existence. The Cabeçudo Boiadeiro is also known as the Brazilian Mastiff and is a large, imposing dog.

Because the breed was created from a blend of the English Mastiff, the Bulldog and the Bloodhound, not only is this a large dog in height, but a big boned dog as well. He has short to medium length floppy ears and a long tail.

The Brazilian Cabedudo is a courageous dog. When he has been properly trained and socialized, this large dog is capable of becoming an obedient, loving and devoted family pet who is able to get along with children and other pets too. He reserves this gentler side of him for his human family and won’t easily tolerate strangers.

It is difficult to put a size and weight to the Lurcher, This is because of the many dogs used in his development, so that they vary in size and coat type. Generally though, he is a deep chested dog that stands roughly between 50 – 75cm and weighs 25 – 32kg.

However, because Whippet was a dog used in his development, he could be as small as a Whippet, the size of a Greyhound or Deerhound.

Generally he has a shortish coat. Colours of the coat vary greatly so you can find fawn, cream, white, grey, black, tan, silver or grey and bi-colored. The ears are usually small and can be floppy or held erect or back and the tail is usually long.

Temperament:

The Lurcher’s temperament is much like that of the sighthound – loving and calm. It is a good idea to have the Lurcher trained and socialized to help prevent both timidity or aggression.

He is an independent and intelligent dog and can be easily trained. He is a gentle dog and will get on well with children and pets in the home as he is a fairly relaxed breed with a quiet temperament, loving to spend time with his human family. Another advantage is that he is low maintenance and makes a great pet when shown love and care.

Deciding to become an owner of a dog is a big responsibility, as you are going to have your pet with you for 10 – 15 years at least. There are so many essentials to remember with owning a dog and most dogs are far happier and healthier when allowed to live part of the time indoors with their human family.

It's not always easy being a large dog such as the Cabecudo Boiadeiro, as people often assume these mastiff-type dogs are unfriendly and aggressive.

Every dog breed however, is essentially the product of his owners lifestyle and his unique upbringing with them. When this large pet is properly trained and socialized and he is loved and well cared for, he promises to be faithful, devoted, playful and loving – a real friend and protector.

The Lurcher is a working- and hunting dog that won’t do well in the city, as he requires large spaces to run.

He is a dog that will need you to provide him with games and other activities as well as a walk every day to keep him fit and lithe. He will therefore require an owner who loves to be active and who is consistent, firm, fair, patient and kind.

With the right human family, the Lurcher is a loving, devoted dog who will make an excellent family pet.

The Cabecudo Boiadeiro is considered a robust breed, used to lots of exercise while herding livestock. With good care and plenty of exercise he can live to 10, 11 or 12 years of age. He is a large breed and this fact alone will ensure that you be aware of some dog illnesses prone to larger breeds.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an orthopedic condition where the hip joints don’t fit properly into the hip joint. Larger breeds such as the Cabecudo Boiadeiro are at a higher risk of getting this orthopaedic disorder.

You’ll see your dog battling to move around and he may not even be able to get up again after lying down. Sometimes a dog might even require surgery. Thankfully, there is testing for hip dysplasia in dogs, and you can ask to see a clearance certificate if you buy your puppy from a so-called reputable breeder.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative eye disorder that can actually lead to blindness in your pet. Night blindness sets in and your dog becomes unsure how to walk in unfamiliar areas, You'll notice that his eyes become gray or cloudy-looking as though there is a film over the eyes. Parent dogs with this eye disease should be spayed or neutered.

Every dog has the potential to develop genetic health problems, but the way you feed a dog and look after it will play a huge role in his wellbeing.

Lurchers are looked upon as being a pretty healthy dog breed and they can be with you for between 10 and 15 years.

Some of the main health concerns with this dog would be bloat, ear- and eye infections or heatstroke.

Remember that if you’re getting a new puppy, you can prevent some of the major life-threatening diseases by having your puppy vaccinated.

Heat Stroke:

Dogs pant heavily when they’re hot. When the panting isn’t enough, the dog’s body temperature rises and this can be fatal for your pet.

The signs of heatstroke in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, dullness and loss of consciousness. Being locked in a hot car, being over-exercised or left in a yard without shade and water can bring on heatstroke.

It is imperative to remove the dog from the hot place immediately and cool him down by spraying cold water gently over him while making sure no water enters the mouth or nose. Get him to the vet if you can because of shock and the fact that other problems could have developed.

Exercise:

The Cabecudo Boiadeiro is a large breed dog. In spite of his size though, he is surprisingly an active dog. He will need regular exercise such as a brisk walk very day. You can also put aside time to give him some exciting ball games. He is a breed used to working so he will be most unhappy lying around doing nothing.

Diet:

If you are going to be feeding your Cabecudo Boiadeiro commercially manufactured good, make sure it is the best quality food. Always go for dog foods which have all the nutrients your large dog requires.

You get wet, dry and raw complete foods and you can give your pet a mix of these. Always make sure that your pet gets some raw meat in from time to time too, otherwise he could battle with skin diseases.

If you aren’t sure how to feed such a large dog, your veterinarian will help you decide which category of food would suit your pet. Clean, cool water is to be provided constantly.

Brush your pet’s coat at least twice a week.

The Lurcher just loves to run and be free, so this is a dog that will want a long walk every day.

Check his eyes and inside his ears for ear infection. Find out how to clean inside the ears and make sure they are kept dry.

Keep his nails clipped, as long nails can hook and cause painful injury to the paw area. Check his teeth too and brush them because dental disease is the root cause of many other diseases.

Make sure your dog has a comfy, dry, warm place to sleep.

Encourage health and longevity by giving your pet high quality food full of vitamins and minerals. If you’re going be giving him commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the better ones. Try and add in homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables and add this to his kibble as a tasty treat. Some raw meat added in when you can afford it will also be to his advantage.