Bulgarian Shepherd vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison

Bulgarian Shepherd vs Bracco Italiano - Breed ComparisonBracco Italiano is originated from Italy but Bulgarian Shepherd is originated from Bulgaria. Bracco Italiano may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Bulgarian Shepherd. Bracco Italiano may weigh 17 kg / 37 pounds lesser than Bulgarian Shepherd. Bracco Italiano may live 43 years less than Bulgarian Shepherd. Bracco Italiano may have less litter size than Bulgarian Shepherd. Bracco Italiano requires Low Maintenance. But Bulgarian Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
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Italy
Bulgaria
Height Male:
58 - 67 cm
22 - 27 inches
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
55 - 62 cm
21 - 25 inches
63 - 72 cm
24 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
45 - 57 kg
99 - 126 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 40 kg
50 - 89 pounds
40 - 52 kg
88 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
45 - 57 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
5 - 10
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Italian Pointer Italian Pointing Dog
Karakachan Shepherd Dog, Karakachan
Colors Available:
Orange and White, Chestnut and White with some freckling
BlackWhiteTricolor
Coat:
Short, dense and glossy
Single
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

bracco italianoThe attractive and popular breed in Italy, the Bracco Italiano was used for tracking and retrieving, evolving in Piedmont and Lombardy. It is believed the Bracco Italiano came about from crossing the Segugio with the ancient Asiatic Mastiff.

There are people however, who believe that the breed goes back to the St Hubert Hound, but it is certain that both hounds and gundogs are part of the breed’s ancestry. The dog only arrived in Britain in the last decade of the 20th century.

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.

Description

His Looks:

bracco italiano puppy - descriptionThe Bracco Italiano is a large athletic, muscular dog. He stands at 58–67cm, weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. He reminds one somewhat of a German Short-haired Pointer. He has long ears and a serious expression, and this reminds one of a Bloodhound. He has short, shiny hair with his coat being white and chestnut or orange. The tail of the Bracco Italiano has always been docked, giving him an attractive, distinctive look but with rules and regulations coming in regarding docking, the long tail is often left intact. His eyes are brown.

His Temperament

Braccos are wonderful pets – they are intelligent, loving, gentle and amicable, getting on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. Socialize and train them and they become gentle and obedient. They long to be involved with their human family and will adapt to life in the city or the country so long as they are made to feel like family. He is alert and makes a good watchdog. As with most other dogs, they can’t be bought, loved as a puppy and then ignored and left to themselves when they grow into adults.

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.

Characteristics

bracco italiano dog - characteristicsThe gentle, amicable Bracco Italiano is a versatile dog that can be a super sport companion for active people and it can also be an exceptional companion for families and older people. He has a sweet, gentle expression and his amicable nature makes him easy to love. He is alert though, and therefore can be both protector and friend at the same time.

Overall, this easy going dog with his low maintenance coat can make an excellent 4-legged addition to any family.

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.

Health Problems

bracco italiano puppies - health problemsThere don’t appear to be any major health issues with your Bracco Italiano and he can live to be 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Because he is a large breed however, you will need to watch out for hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease with dogs and larger dogs have the genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia. Your dog can develop joint inflammation with pain and lameness.

Other health problems to look out for include kidney disease (Amaloidosis), cherry eye which results in dry eye. If you want to buy a Bracco Italiano, you should ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents.

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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

bracco italiano dogs - caringThese dogs are moderate shedders so he will simply need a good brushing twice a week to ensure the coat is kept shiny and free from loose hairs. Nails should be clipped from time to time and he will also need to have his long ears checked for cleanliness. Long-eared dog breeds are more susceptible to canine ear infections.

Feeding:

The Bracco is a large dog and therefore he will require a high quality, large-breed dog food formula. Your veterinarian can even recommend a quality commercially manufactured food for large, energetic dogs and which comes with all the vitamins and minerals required for such a breed.

Your vet will recommend you steer clear of foods with cheap fillers, lots of preservatives, sugar and colorants. He has a glossy, dense short coat and you want to ensure he gets raw meat, rice and vegetables from time to time to ensure that the beautiful coat never becomes dull and dry.

Cool, fresh water must always be available to him. Diet and nutrition is an important decision for your pet as it will ultimately affect his long term health.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

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