Shorkie vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison

Shorkie vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed ComparisonCao de Gado Transmontano is originated from Portugal but Shorkie is originated from United States. Cao de Gado Transmontano may grow 59 cm / 24 inches higher than Shorkie. Cao de Gado Transmontano may weigh 58 kg / 128 pounds more than Shorkie. Cao de Gado Transmontano may live 3 years less than Shorkie. Cao de Gado Transmontano may have more litter size than Shorkie. Cao de Gado Transmontano requires Low Maintenance. But Shorkie requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Miscellaneous dogs
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Portugal
United States
Height Male:
73 - 83 cm
28 - 33 inches
18 - 24 cm
7 - 10 inches
Height Female:
65 - 80 cm
25 - 32 inches
16 - 22 cm
6 - 9 inches
Weight Male:
55 - 65 kg
121 - 144 pounds
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 62 kg
99 - 137 pounds
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
1 - 5
Size:
Giant
Small
Other Names:
Transmontano Mastiff or Transmontano Cattle Dog
Shorki • Shorkie • Yorkie Tzu Shorkie Tzu
Colors Available:
White with large patches of brown, fawn, grey, brindle and black shades
Black and tan • Brown and white • Gold • Red • Gold, black, and white • Particolored
Coat:
Short to medium length
coat type soft and relatively long coats. They should be silky and never coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Responsive, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cao de gado transmontanoThe Cão de Gado Transmontano which is also known as the Transmontano Mastiff or Transmontano Cattle Dog is a large dog – in fact a giant dog breed. This is a rare molosser working dog, hailing from the region of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province in Portugal.

The large dog has always been used to herd livestock and to also ward off wolves. It is believed that the dog’s roots come from the Tibetan Mastiff as well as a Portuguese cattle dog known as the Rafeiro do Alentejo. The dog also shares some similarities with the short-haired Estrela Mountain Dog.

In 1995 the breed was still exclusive to Portugal, but now the breed has been imported to Oregon, USA to be part of an experiment to document bigger breeds and their role in protecting livestock from wolves. They were re-introduced to north-east Oregon from 2008.

shorkieThe Shorkie is a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Shih Tzu. This little dog actually thinks he’s quite big. He is a great watchdog and a barker, and he is a loyal and loving member of his family. He will let you know if he thinks something is going on that shouldn’t be.

This hybrid combines two breeds known for their good looks, cuteness and personalities. Shorkies get their watchdog instincts and their loyalty to their people from the Shih Tzu and their personalities and good looks from the Yorkie. This designer breed has no known standard and every puppy is different, but traits from its founding breeds will remain. Both breeds have great personalities.

Regardless of the differences within the litter, because the personalities and adorableness of the two founding breeds are equal, all of the puppies will have those characteristics. They will all be energetic, playful and think they are big dogs. They will all love people and especially kids – playing and watching over them.

The Shorkie is intelligent, trainable, and snuggly. They will also have the stubborn trait that the two founding breeds can show at times. Developed in the United States, this crossbreed is extremely popular even though they have been in existence for only ten years or so. Breeders in the U.S. began to mix these two breeds in order to develop a cute, friendly and intelligent little dog that will cuddle on your lap – perfect lap dog.

Even if we already have breeds similar to the Shorkie, its development allows breeders to diversify and improve the genetics of the dogs. It is important that these be responsible breeders whose intentions are not financial but to legitimately improve the positive traits of each breed while sorting out the undesirable or weak traits. This is the positive side of the new designer breeds.

Even though it is still being developed, at least the Shorkie seems to be a success story for designer breeds as a loving, popular little dog. It will take a lot more time and a lot more development before the Shorkie becomes an actual recognized breed. At the moment it remains a hybrid, a crossbreed, a so called designer dog.

It will be at least 7-10 generations of careful and quality breeding before the Shorkies are potentially recognized as its own pedigree breed. It is important to breed Shorkies to Shorkies in order to develop a standard that could be accepted for a new breed by the AKC and UKC. Over time the puppies must become more and more standardized in their conformity to that new breed standard. Their physical appearance and their temperament will be standardized. At this stage the second generation of Shorkies is rare. Their popularity is rising in the United Kingdom. Both Britain and Ireland have a growing interest in this hybrid.

Description

cao de gado transmontano puppy - descriptionThe Cão de Gado Transmontano is a large dog, believed to be the biggest of the Portuguese dog breeds. He is powerful and muscular with a large head and can stand up to 83cm in height and can weigh up to 65kg.

He is tough, and is quite comfortable living outside. He is a long-legged dog with a wide chest with medium length floppy ears and a long tail. The coat is fairly short although it can be in a variety of lengths. It is the medium length coated dog with the right coloring that is looked upon as a pure breed. The dog is white with large patches of brown, fawn, grey, brindle and black shades.

Temperament:

The Transmontano Mastiff is an intelligent, obedient dog who is also independent and stubborn. As with all dogs, it is important to have him trained and socialized as this makes him obedient and eager to please. He loves to be patted by his owners and is a dog which is easy to train, responding well to firmness and fairness.

He is calm and somewhat docile but at the same time he is energetic and alert, making him a good watchdog. He won’t do well cooped up in a tiny space. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home.

shorkie puppy - descriptionThe Shorkie, being a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Shih Tzu, and as such has physical and temperament characteristics from both breeds. They could be 50-50 but most likely each puppy will be more like one of the founding parents than the other. Because there is a lot of similarity between the founding breeds there is a lot of similarity between the Shorkies.

Their hair is either wavy or straight, but it is soft. It can be a wide variety of colors and usually they have a darker mask on the face. Usually they have the eyes of the Shih Tzu – large -but not protruding. Their muzzle is short, and the skull is round with triangle ears. Their bodies are compact, small with plenty of muscle for their size. They also have fine bones and short legs, with a thin curled tail.

Characteristics

cao de gado transmontano dog - characteristicsThe Cão de Gado Transmontano may look like a fairly formidable dog but they aren’t aggressive. They are full of courage and are above all, loving and loyal to their human family.

When you choose to have one of these large dogs as your pet, it is important to make sure he knows that you’re the leader. With training and socialization this dog is a gentle giant who makes an exceptional family pet.

1.Children friendliness – yes, they are very child friendly.

2.Special talents – Loyal and loving.

3.Adaptability – The Shorkie could happen.

4.Learning ability – Highly intelligent, but they can be stubborn.

Health Problems

cao de gado transmontano puppies - health problemsThe Cão de Gado Transmontano is a tough dog, used to spending long hours outside guarding sheep. These days however, he is also a companion dog and you’ll want to be aware of some common dog ailments that can strip him of his health and his joy of life.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a looseness with the hip joint, and while it can occur with all dogs, it is more common in large dogs. It’s a disease which can lead to arthritis, pain and also joint degeneration. It’s a disease which can be debilitating for the dog and you will need to get your dog to the vet.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a heart disease seen in large breed dogs and where the heart becomes weak and can’t properly pump blood throughout the body. Symptoms include coughing, weakness, difficulty with breathing as well as a fluid-distended abdomen.

shorkie puppies - health problemsMany hybrids are in better health at least genetically than their parent breeds. Responsible breeders will breed any genetic issues out of their puppies. Still there are many health issues that the Shorkies are prone to. These include:

  • Tooth loss, tooth decay and gum disease caused by dental overcrowding.
  • Joint issues – can cause lameness.
  • Diabetes – high blood sugar.
  • Kidney stones.
  • Liver disease and potential shunt.
  • Progressive Retinal Apathy - visual imparity.
  • Patellar Luxation – can cause arthritis.
  • Hypoglycemia. – low blood sugar.
  • Collapsed Trachea.

• Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome – “smashed face” causes problems with breathing, heat, flying and more.

• Glaucoma – Yorkshires have this, and it can be secondary to the lens Luxation.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

cao de gado transmontano dogs - caringJust because this is a large dog, doesn’t mean you need to over-feed him. He is muscular and athletic, and by watching his diet, he’ll continue to be strong, lean and healthy. You can feed him a top quality pet-food brand and include boiled chicken, rice and vegetables. Every now and then mix in some raw meat with his dog food to ensure that his skin remains free of rashes and itchiness. Fresh, cool water must be available to him day and night as he drinks abundantly.

Grooming:

Some dog breeds need to be trimmed or stripped to look good, and dog owners often invest in expensive equipment to groom their pets themselves, Fortunately the large Cão de Gado Transmontano is a low maintenance dog and all you’ll need to do is give him a good brush-down twice a week.

Check his eyes, ears, teeth and nails regularly. Remember that dental hygiene is imperative and special canine toothbrush and toothpaste is available to brush your dog’s teeth 2 or 3x a week to get rid of plaque and to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

shorkie dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy - The Shorkies need a high-quality, well-balanced dry kibble. Make sure it is a formula for small, active dogs. It should have lean meat and essential minerals and vitamins. Make sure it is puppy food not adult. The puppy needs 300 -550 calories a day in 3 meals.

2.Feeding the adult – Obesity is a problem for the Shorkie as it is for many small dogs. Don’t overfeed your adult but give her the same kind of high quality small breed dog food, only for adults. They need about 200-300 calories a day in 2 meals.

3.Points for Good Health – Few genetic diseases.

4. Games and Exercises – These are very active little dogs and need exercise every day. They needs walks, games, and time with you. They also love to cuddle with you at the end of the day. They love squeaky toys and playing fetch outside or inside.

Comparison with other breeds

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