Maremma Sheepdog vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison

The origin of the Bantam Bulldog goes back to the 1800s, and in fact there is evidence of miniature bull dogs in 1899, In 1902 the smaller bulldog breed was facing extinction, so that it became necessary to import French bulldogs to England to help restore the bantam bulldog breed.

It was only in 2002 that the United Canine Association recognized the English bantam bulldog.

They’re the same as the ordinary bulldog except they are lighter and shorter, although there are slightly larger ones which are as tall as a regular bulldog.

The Bantam bulldogge is related to the English and French bulldogs so that the standards for the bantam breed has similarities to both types.

Known also as the Cane de Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese, the Maremma Sheepdog is often referred to as the Maremmano or the Abruzzese Sheepdog.

This is a working dog – a guardian of sheep and an indigenous dog to central Italy. The dog has been used for centuries already to guard sheep.

It was in 1924 that the first standard for the breed was published.

Short, Stout and Compact Build

The breed has its origins with the English bulldog, but it was in 2011 that the ‘English’ was abandoned and the name of the dog changed to Bantam Bulldogge. Short to medium in height, and with his large, square head and broad, short muzzle, the dog is short, strong, stout and compact. He had wide apart eyes, short, half-pricked, half-floppy ears and the front legs are also strong and set wide apart.

Forms Strong Bonds with his Family

He is fit and active with a playful, jovial personality. The Bantam Bulldog is completely at ease with his human family and welcomes visitors to the home. He forms strong bonds with everyone in the family and loves the presence of children in the home too. As with most other dog breeds, he does well with training and socialization – it just makes him a better dog all round. He doesn’t have a problem with accepting other pets in the home.

Coat

The coat of the Bantam is short, dense and straight with the skin being tight to the body but looser around the head and neck. Both head and face have moderate wrinkles. The coat is available in all colors and is low maintenance. A good brush twice a week won’t only remove loose hairs and keep his short coat glossy, the mere act of brushing him strengthens the bond between you as well.

The Maremma Sheepdog is a large dog with a muscular build. Some people who have owned these distinctive-looking dogs say he is like a big bear. He stands at 65 to 73 cm in height, both male and female, and he weighs 35 to 45 kg.

The coat is long, thick and white with a dense undercoat. If you look you’ll see flashes of pale orange or apricot amid the white. There is thicker, longer hair around the neck area.

The nose is black, the eyes brown and the ears medium length and floppy. The long tail is set low and is thickly feathered. You can expect 6 – 10 puppies from these dogs.

Temperament:

The Maremma has always been used to guarding sheep, and today even though he is looked upon as a wonderful, friendly companion dog, he also makes an excellent watch dog, being brave and courageous. He isn’t the kind of dog that you think of as getting wildly excited over something, as he has a dignified aura about him.

He is an independent dog, so training and sociaization will be absolutely imperative as he is strong-willed and likes to do things his way. Once trained and socialized, it is amazing to see such a large dog obeying all your commands such as ‘lie down, come, sit an stay'. He is very intelligent and shouldn’t have any trouble learning these basic commands.

He is calm and gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home. With his role as guardian of sheep, he has learned to be loyal and patient and will make a loyal ad loving family pet he takes his role as guardian very seriously.

He loves hard work, and shepherds have always appreciated the splendid work he does guarding their flocks. As a companion you will also appreciate the many excellent qualities he possesses.

The Maremma Sheepdog isn’t recommended for life in the city where there is a tiny garden. He has always been accustomed to large open spaces and requires a large garden. He won’t tolerate heat well with that thick coat of his and will require a shady spot in your garden to retreat to.

The Bantam Bulldog is full of personality and is active, friendly and social. He is an adaptable pet and will happily live with his human family in an apartment or in a home with a garden. Patient and tolerant, he responds well to the voice of his owner and simple commands are no problem with him as he is quick to learn and to please.

He is never going to be much of a guard dog for you, but he will be a happy, contented, loyal and devoted companion who just wants to be as close to you as he can.

This is a beautiful dog, but large, so don’t make the mistake of wanting a large dog like this for his looks. He will be expensive to feed.

If you have the means to provide a good home for him, he is friendly and good natured, even though he is strong-willed and independent.

Provide him with a good home and you’ll have a most splendid pet and companion.

A happy dog is a healthy dog, but the happy Bantam Bulldog will be prone to certain ailments that are common to his breed

Hip Dysplasia

This breed of dog is prone to have hip dysplasia. Because of their genetic make-up, the soft tissues surrounding the joint develop abnormally and the disease can affect one- or both hips.

Digestion Problems

Bulldogs can also be prone to digestion issues which amounts to flatulence. This problem however, can be reduced significantly by giving your pet the best diet. Speak to your vet about appropriate foods for dogs with a sensitive stomach. With a sensitive stomach, you want to avoid dog foods with toxic colorants, artificial preservatives and artificial flavors.

Breathing Problems

Be aware of breathing problems with your bantam bulldog because flat-faced dog breeds such as this can battle with upper airway problems. Symptoms of an obstructed upper airway can include noisy breathing, panting, snoring, rapid breathing and coughing.

This ancient dog breed is robust and can reach 11 to 13 years of age when cared for properly. Like any other dogs, he can be prone to certain health problems.

One of these is hip dysplasia. Preventing your dog from becoming overweight can work towards preventing these kinds of musculoskeletal issues. Hip dysplasia occurs when your dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly so that the hips partially dislocate.

It is painful for your dog and it can be debilitating, leading to arthritis too and making it difficult for your pet to get around and to get up from lying down. There are a number of treatment options offered by your vet.

Feeding

Your Bantam Bulldog needs a lot of protein in his diet. In fact, the Association of American Feed Control Officials have suggested that the dog needs at least 22% of maintenance protein for puppies and 18% of protein for adult dogs. Speak to your vet about wet- and dry dog foods and which foods will suit this particular pet of yours. Always ensure cool, fresh water is within your pet’s reach.

Exercise

The exercise needs of the Bantam Bulldog are minimal. He is never going to turn down a game of ball with the kids but you don’t have to take him on long walks or runs. He is a social pet, so even though you don’t have to be putting him through an exercise program every day, he doesn’t want to be left alone hour after hour, day after day.

Exercise:

As already suggested, this large dog will need space and he will need to be exercised. Apart from long walks in he countryside or in the park or your neighborhood, he will also need other activities that stimulate him mentally and physically.

Grooming:

The thick, all-weather coat of the Maremma will need a thorough bushing at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs. When you are brushing him, look around for signs of ticks and fleas too and run your hands over him to feel for any unusual lumps.

Diet:

The Maremma is a large-breed dog, so before you get a big dog like this, decide whether you have the financial means to feed him and look after him properly. He is going to cost a lot to feed, so think it through first.

He will need to be fed a high-quality commercial dog food which has been specially formulated for a dog of his size. Keep the food of dogs simple. We’re all tempted to feed our dog treats like things such as chocolates, coffee, nuts, onions, grapes and raisins but these can cause havoc with your dog’s stomach.

Stick to simple, nutritious food. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as potatoes, spinach and carrots can do wonders for your pet when you sometimes mix this into his kibble.

Try and mix some raw meat into his diet occasionally. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.