PetzloverBlue Paul Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Rafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal. Blue Paul Terrier may grow 19 cm / 7 inches shorter than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Blue Paul Terrier may weigh 35 kg / 77 pounds lesser than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Both Blue Paul Terrier and Rafeiro do Alentejo has same life span. Both Blue Paul Terrier and Rafeiro do Alentejo has same litter size. Blue Paul Terrier requires Low Maintenance. But Rafeiro do Alentejo requires Moderate Maintenance
Known also as the Scottish Bull Terrier, the Blue Poll or the Blue Poll Bulldog, the Blue Paul Terrier’s origins, as with many unusual dog breeds, are still not known precisely. However they do appear to have been bred with Staffies at some point and appear to have slowly transformed into the Staffie or Pit Bull as we know them today.
There doesn’t seem to be much documentation on the dog’s origins, making many stories of its origins to be looked upon as folklore. It seems as if the dog originated out of Scotland. The name ‘Paul’ is included in the name simply because it is believed that John Paul Jones, who was a sailor, brought the dog to the USA in 1777.
Because this dog has superb fighting skills, it was introduced as part of Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeding in the early 19th century. It is believed that the first dogs came with English immigrants to the United Stated in the middle of the 19th century. At some time, the dog became extinct, but dates of this time can’t be established.
Known also as the Portuguese Mastiff, the Rafeiro do Alentejo comes from Portugal and has always been used as guardian for livestock. Their numbers declined quite a bit when there was no longer a need for this kind of job.Today it is essentially a companion dog.
The official standard of the Rafeiro do Alentejo was established in 1953. The dog is is recognized as a breed by the Portuguese Caniculture Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Interationale.
The Blue Paul Terrier was a smooth coated, medium sized dog. His coat was mostly dark blue but this sometimes varied to red or brindle. He was a muscled and well built dog, much like our pit bull terriers. He weighed about 20 to 25kg kg, measuring up to 56cm at the withers. He had a broad chest, large head with small cropped ears and a tail that was set low. He is a dog that always stood strongly on his legs. It seems as if he had an aggressive nature as they were used by local dog fighters.
There is not much information on the temperament of the Blue Paul Terrier, but we can assume, that because he was a Terrier, he would have been full of character and self confidence. Most Terriers don’t actively look for a fight, but will certainly get into a fight if provoked. Aggressive by nature and a fighter, the Blue Paul Terrier possibly had some Staffordshire Bull Terrier in him, so his temperament would be that of a fighter.
He may have been able to live peacefully with children and other dogs and cats in the home, but he would no doubt have had to be raised from a puppy in such a household. Stubborn and headstrong, he would require a firm owner who could take charge of him and training would have been imperative for such a dog.
The Alentejo is a large dog standing at between 64 and 75cm in height and weighing 45 to 60kg. He is a powerful dog with a deep chest, dark eyes, floppy ears. His coat is short to medium length, thick and straight. The color of the coat is a mix of fawn, a wolf grey, white, cream and black.
This is a serious dog with a calm demeanour about him. It doesn’t matter how calm he is though, as every dog will require training ad socialization if you want to enjoy having an obedient, well mannered dog around you. This is particularly important with a large, independent, self-confident, territorial dog like this.
He isn’t an aggressive dog but he is protective, wanting to guard and look out for his human family. They are dogs that get on well with children and other pets in the home, being wary of strangers.
They’re not recommended for life in small properties in the city as he requires a large garden at least.
Nobody is quite certain what the Blue Paul Terrier was like. He definitely seemed to be a mix of Pit Bull and Staffie – the same compact, muscular build with a look that speaks of confidence and boldness.
Perhaps if the Blue Paul Terrier wasn’t used for fighting, he might well have made a good pet with training and socialization. Nobody really knows. Maybe he was so aggressive that when dog fighting didn’t work out, and it was discovered that he wasn't really pet-material, nobody bothered when the breed went into extinction. That's the thing with Blue Paul Terriers, nobody is really certain about what they were really like.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a quiet dog, but intelligent and strong-willed. Training and socialization will make him easy to get on with.
He will become an excellent companion, and can come indoors because he is well mannered and considerate. He was bred to be a guard dog, and the responsibilities he had taking care of livestock has been transferred to looking out for- and protecting his human family.
He makes a wonderful pet and companion, even with children and other pets, more so when brought up correctly by loving, firm, consistent dog owners.
The Blue Paul Terrier Health was generally a healthy dog, but he would no doubt have had the same common dog ailments that most dog breeds have to contend with. All those years ago, when the Blue Paul Terrier was ill, his owner no doubt would have taken him to see the veterinarian for a full screening.
Just like with other dog breeds, he would have been watched for hip dysplasia , ticks and fleas, cataracts and skin infections. It is possible that in those days, owners of the Blue Paul Terrier weren’t aware of how plaque could cause dental problems or gum disease.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a generally healthy dog breed, and with good care can get to 11, 12 or 13 years of age.
Of course with a large dog like this, it is always a good idea to be aware of canine hip dysplasia, particularly because this is a large dog with a deep chest.
This makes him also vulnerable to bloat, a condition where the stomach swells with gas and which can be life threatening. Other things to watch for are ear infections and parasites.
Because these dogs were used in fighting, it is a breed that no doubt would have required plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to keep him fighting fit. No doubt he would have received a high quality food to build up his strength and stamina. Because he was no doubt a high energy dog, his owners would have had to give him nutritious food and ensured fresh, clean water for him.
The Blue Paul Terrier had a short, smooth coat, so they were no doubt low maintenance dogs who received a brush down every now and then to remove his loose hair.
Make your grooming time with this serious, calm canine friend of yours a special bonding time. His coat simply requires a brush twice a week to keep it healthy and shiny.
While bushing him, run your hands over him to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Check inside the floppy ears to make sure they’re not red which could be the start of a painful ear infection.
Look a his nails and trim them if they’ve become too long. Check inside his mouth and make sure there aren’t any black, rotten teeth as this can seriously impact the health of your pet.
Options for exercise will include long walks and a chance to run off his leash. In the back yard it will be to his benefit to throw balls for him to fetch. You can even bring him indoors and play some calm games with him. He should have exercise every single day.
Good food is needed for good health. It is always convenient to make use of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are on the market.
You don’t want to feed this to your dog day after day so provide your pet with some tasty home-made food too. Dogs want simplicity and consistency with their diets so they don’t battle with upset stomachs and an unnecessary trip to the vet.
Some home-cooked food twice a week and added to the dry kibble can keep him healthy and happy. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be perfect for him. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week.
Some people even cook it in bulk, refrigerate it and warm up small portions to add to the kibble. Raw meat added in occasionally can also be a good treat. Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.