Cao de Castro Laboreiro vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is one of the oldest scent hunting dogs around. A crossbreed between the French Hounds and the English hunting dogs, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is believed to be an offspring of several famous dogs such as the Beagles, the Poitevins, and the Petit Gascon-Sainttongeois.

Although the genesis of this dog breed is somewhat unclear, a majority of the sources believe that it was developed in the 16th century at a time when written records of dog breeding never existed. Throughout the 16th to the 17th centuries, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie became a treasured dog breed thanks to the rise of hunting games among European nobles. As the sport thrived in England and especially in France, the need to own the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie became paramount leading to this dog breed’s popularity. Formerly known as the Petit Anglo-Francais, this dog breed was changed to its current name in 1978 before being admitted to the United Kennel Club in 1996.

Cão de Castro Laboreiro originates from Portugal. Also known as the Portuguese Cattle Dog he was used long ago to guard livestock. Today, the modern Cao de Castro Laboreiro is descended from the molosser type dog.

There are hints to the dog's origins from the 19th century, but changes in agricultural methods meant a disappearance of the dog as a livestock protector. Today the dog is mostly kept as a pet and was first seen at a dog show in 1914.

The Cão de Castro Laboreiro is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as well as being recognized by the United Kennel Club in the United States.It is a rare dog and not many exist today but in Portugal, the USA and United Kingdom you will find a few breeders.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is a dog breed that resembles a Beagle. Developed in France, this scent hound has served as a hunting dog for centuries making it an athletic breed with unusual characteristics. Their chests are narrow and deep while the heads are smaller as compared to the rest of the body. The eyes are brown and dark while the tails are medium in size. The limbs are tall, straight, and muscular while their steady necks and broad muzzles are an indication that these dogs are surely bred for hunting purposes.

Since Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are athletic dogs, you will, of course, expect their overall weight to be lesser as compared to most other breeds. These dogs have a short, dense coat that’s easy to groom. With a life expectancy of about 13 years, these breeds are generally healthy and quite easy to maintain. The only major problem these scent hounds experience is a hip and elbow dysplasia which will require you to inspect them for injuries upon returning home from their line of duty.

The Cão de Castro Laboreiro is a large dog, with height being in the region of 55 to 60cm and weight being in the region of 45 - 70kg. People describe the dog as wolf-like with a coat that is fairly short, thick and course. The coat is brindle with a base color of shades of grey, chestnut and black.

This large mastiff-type dog always has a black nose, his tail is long and carried high, but never curling over the back. He has a broad head and is much like the Labrador in looks, being free of wrinkles on the face.The ears of the Cao de Castro Laboreiro are medium-in-size and floppy while the eyes are dark brown.

Temperament:

The Cao de Castro Laboreiro makes an excellent pet as he forms strong bonds with his human family. He is territorial and makes an exceptional guard dog. He doesn’t particularly like strangers and is aloof around them.

This is an intelligent dog breed, he is strong-willed and stubborn, but when he is around the children in the family he is gentle and loving. When he has been trained and socialized, which is always highly recommended with every dog, he gets along with other pets in the home too.

Children friendliness

Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are non-aggressive, stubborn but tolerable dogs that work well with kids. However, proper training and socialization must be conducted to ensure that these dogs don’t cause harm to your kids.

Special talents

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is not a shy pet. These dog breeds do make a perfect companion especially due to their hunting characteristics. They can get along well with new owners and should be kept with a same-breed companion to reduce nervousness.

Adaptability

When it comes to their adaptability, Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are better suited to be working dogs over being kept indoors. They are therefore suited to farm settings or rural areas where there’s vast track of lands to play and exercise.

Learning ability

Finally, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is not suited to everyone. This is because this dog breed is quite stubborn and unable to follow orders like most indoor pets do.

Environment and upbringing have plenty to do with how a dog turns out. People who just buy a dog for guardian purposes and nothing else can’t expect companionship in return.

The Cão de Castro Laboreiro has always been a fearless guardian of livestock with his strong protective characteristics. He is intelligent and recognizes that a child in the family needs his protection.

This is a large dog who is strong, brave and intelligent but with his human family he is gentle, loving and loyal. Nonetheless he still requires a firm owner, and if you’re fair and firm with him you get the best with him. With this dog you can form a close friendship and bond.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is known to be a generally healthy dog with very few health concerns. We think the reason why it’s a healthy dog is due to its athletic characteristic and medium-sized body which is not prone to problems as compared to its large-sized contemporaries. However, since this scent hound is a cross-breed between two well-known breeds, there are chances that it might suffer from several health problems that mostly affect closely related breeds. Some of these health issues include;

Hip and elbow dysplasia

The hip and elbow dysplasia is a skeletal condition that occurs when the hip or elbow joints fail to develop properly. This condition is very painful and is most common in large breeds such as the St. Bernard, Great Dane, and the German Shepherd. Although the main causes of this condition include; poor nutrition, obesity, lack of exercise, and excessive growth, hereditary issues are very common and can’t be ruled out.

Demodectic mange

Another health condition you need to watch out for is the demodectic mange. An inflammatory disease caused by various types of mites, the mange can become intolerable in case the number of mites inhabiting your dog’s hair follicles become exorbitant. Among the common signs you’ll expect to see include; redness on the skin, alopecia, and problems with the immune system. To tackle this problem, pet owners will need to groom their dogs more often by digging deep into the skin to identify the mites.

Cataracts

Cataract is a normal eye condition that affects the eye lens causing it to lose its transparency resulting in impaired vision and later blindness. Although this condition is viewed as a byproduct of aging, some dog breeds such as the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are most likely to suffer from this health condition. A common treatment for this condition may include; applying eye drops to help prevent inflammation, surgery or treatment of the underlying factor.

The Cão de Castro Laboreiro is generally a healthy breed, but even so, it is good to be aware of typical canine diseases that your pet may develop.

Eye Problems:

There are many eye problems that dogs have to contend with and if you see any kind of ulceration in your dogs eye, get veterinary advice.

Heat- Stroke:

A dog should always have access to a shady spot. Never ever leave your dog in a hot car. Heat builds up quickly and death can result soon as the body temperature rises.

Parasites:

Roundworm and tapeworm can infest dogs and you’ll need to speak to your vet about a worming program. Lice, mites and ticks are all parasites which attach themselves to the skin.

Feeding the puppy

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie puppies need to be fed with excellent-quality dog food to provide a balanced nutrition for precise growth. For puppies between 8 and 12 months, 4 bowls of food a day will be enough. Puppies ranging from 3 to 6 months old should be given at list 3 meals in 24 hours period. Always feed your puppies with top quality puppy foods to avoid any possible nutritional defects. Dry food mixed with canned food, broth, or water is perfect for puppies.

Feeding the adult

When your Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie has reached maturity, it will be best that you feed him once in each day. Always go for the best dog food to ensure that you feed him with proper nutrition. Other meals you can incorporate (but in small quantities) are cooked eggs, fruits, veggies, and cottage cheese.

Points for good health

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie should be fed with excellent-quality food to avoid various health problems such as tooth and bone concerns. Since these breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, regular veterinary check-ups should be observed at all times.

Games and exercises

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is an athletic dog breed that requires regular physical activity to stay in good shape. Following the footsteps of their ancestors, these dogs are hunting dogs despite the fact that some people prefer keeping them indoors as pets. To eliminate boredom, it’s wise that you set aside some time on a daily basis to exercise your dog as well as take a walk down the streets or around the park.

Grooming:

The Cao de Castro Laboreiro has a short coat which requires minimal grooming. Brushing him twice a week to rid him of loose hairs will suffice.

Nail clipping as well as ear- and teeth cleaning are other routine maintenance procedures for your pet.

Diet:

The food you give your pet must be well-balanced and have protein and carbohydrates. If you want his skin and hair to remain healthy, vitamins, fatty acids and minerals will also be needed.

Boneless chicken and fish, brown rice and vegetables can be a good choice as well as some of the top quality commercially manufactured foods. An active dog will always need a higher protein content and therefore including raw meat into the diet is imperative – not every day as it can be very expensive, but every other day.

Remember that bones can be dangerous as they can splinter and cause your pet internal damage. Fresh, cool water must be available at all times.