Spanish Mastiff vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison

The Smooth Haired Weimaraner is a beautiful silvery-grey dog that was once bred for hunting way back in the 19th century.

He has always been described as an all-purpose gun dog bred from crossing different German and French hunting dogs with the Bloodhound.

History of this dog dates back to 1897. This is when a club was formed in Germany for the breed.

The Spanish Mastiff is a giant breed that comes from Spain. He has always been a guardian dog.

He is an ancient dog breed, in fact dating back to medieval times. He has always been a guardian of livestock, protecting them from attacks from wolves and other predators.

The first breed standard of this pure breed dog was made by the FCI in 1946. A breeding program was also formed for this dog In 1981.

The dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in July 2006.

The lean, well muscled Smooth Haired Weimaraner is athletic to look at, brimming with energy and vitality. The coat is smooth and short and is a magnificent steel grey to silver coat which even tends to be a blue-grey color.

The short coat makes the dog low maintenance. He is also a low shedding dog. He is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 25 to 40kg.

The tail has always been docked, giving him that distinctive, dignified appearance. The tail then measures about 6 inches in length.

These dogs are also excellent water dogs with their webbed paws. The ears of the dog are medium length and floppy and the eyes are light amber or a blue-grey color.

Temperament:

You just have to look at the Smooth Haired Weimaraner and you can see how he just loves being with his human owner all the time, so much so that he is known for separation anxiety. Sometimes he can become so distraught separated from his owner that he can even injure himself trying to reach his owner. Being separated for too long can cause him anxiety issues.

Certainly this dog is going to need the right kind of training and socialization to calm him. They’re also full of energy too and are going to require a good amount of exercise.

The Spanish Mastiff weighs between 52 and 100kg and the dog’s height is between 72 and 88cm. He has a thick, heavy coat with rustic colors of fawn, black, grey, reddish and yellow as well as brindle.

He is powerful and muscular with a huge head. The ears are medium length and floppy and the tail is long. If you were looking for a puppy, the American Kennel Club is the only site which has 100% puppies from AKC-Registered litters.

Temperament:

Large, kind, gentle and intelligent, the Spanish Mastiff is well balanced. When you see him you won’t find a dog that is light on his feet and who jumps around excitedly. He is a dignified, intelligent dog, quiet and calm.

Even though he is so calm, it is still a good idea to have him trained and socialized as his very size could be a problem. When you tell him to lie down, you want him to listen to you. This big, gentle giant is devoted to his human family ad takes the role of guardian and protector seriously.

He isn’t suited to life in the city but is better suited to a large property, also because he has a loud bark.

Your distinctive silvery-grey Weimaraner with his velvety ears and striking eyes is such a loving dog, desiring to be with his human family as much as possible.

They are also good with children. Their loving nature and eagerness to please will ensure that you have a fully integrated 4 legged family member in your home who wants to be involved with everything you're busy with.

Kind, gentle, quietly confident and intelligent are just some of the wonderful characteristics of the Spanish Mastiff.

You can add loyalty and devotion to these characteristics too and the fact that he wants to protect you.

Your gentle giant is guaranteed to make you the most wonderful companion and he deserves the very best treatment there is.

There are some common dog illnesses that most dog owners fear, and hip dysplasia is one. Fortunately the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals tells us that Weimaraners aren’t prone to this dysplasia the way some dogs are.

One cause for concern however is bloat, and as a deep chested dog breed, the Short Haired Weimaraner can be prone to this life threatening illness.

Known also as gastric torsion, the stomach swells up and the dog becomes lethargic and restless. Immediate veterinary intervention is required. One way to diminish your dog’s chances of getting bloat is to rather feed him two smaller meals a day as opposed to one large meal.

Also, skin allergies are fairly common with these dogs. If redness appears on the skin or the skin is dry and itchy with a rash and he is losing his hair, you may well need to get your pet to the vet. It is why we always recommend giving your pet some raw meat added to the diet and this can help to prevent skin allergies.

It is good to be wise about some of the common dog problems there are that could plague your Spanish Mastiff. Vets are very familiar with these dog illnesses and they tailor their treatment to suit the needs of your dog.

Remember to get your pet vaccinated against the terrible diseases you get that can kill a dog – rabies, parvo and distemper.

Obesity:

People often think that obesity is something that isn’t dangerous, when in fact it is a serious disease that can cause joint problems, digestive disorders, heart disease, back pain and hip dysplasia.

Dehydration:

Dogs rely on water just like what humans do to keep them healthy and functioning properly.

Water is critically important to every organ and also assists with digestion. Your dog is panting and urinating throughout the day and needs to replace the liquid he loses.

Dehydration in dogs results in loss of electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride, and potassium.This is bad as these minerals have important functions.

A dog that is dehydrated has loss of appetite, loss of skin elasticity, is lethargic, has sunken eyes, wants to vomit, has a dry nose and thick saliva. No dog should ever be left without a constant supply of fresh, cool water day and night.

Training:

Every dog, especially the Smooth Haired Weimaraner with his anxiety issues, should be trained and socialized, and these dogs are easy to train because they’re intelligent and they want to please.

Grooming:

The short silvery coat simply requires a good brush-down twice a week to remove the few loose hairs there are. Even if you don’t need to brush him, just do it because of the type of dog the Weimaraner is.

He loves the closeness of owner and dog. It’s a good time to check him over for ticks and fleas, to feel for unusual lumps, to look inside his ears for signs of infection, to check his eyes too, that they’re bright and clear.

Diet:

If you feed your Smooth Haired Weimaraner commercially manufactured dog food, it needs to be one of the best ones with fairly high protein content. If feeding kibble, you can enhance the food by adding in some tasty home-made food. The Weimaraner’s stomach is easily upset so you want to add in easily digestible home-made food free of exotic spices and richness.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Your Weimaraner will love such simple, good food and you can add a little to his dry kibble twice a week.

Also important is to add in some raw meat as this ensures a healthy skin. Make sure he has a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Diet:

These are giant breed dogs, so you have to be careful with the way you feed them. Large dogs like these are prone to hip dysplasia so you need to choose a food which has ingredients that work to prevent this disease.

You have to be very careful that you don’t overfeed your dog so that the extra weight puts strain on the joints.

This dog will do well with some raw meat added into his diet. Also, include home-made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach chopped up and added to his dry kibble for giant breeds. Added in twice a week can do him the world of good.

Remember to never leave your dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

A good bush of the thick coat twice a week will keep the Spanish Mastiff looking his best.

The nails will also need to be trimmed regularly to avoid overgrowth and to avoid the nails catching onto things. The ears too should be checked regularly to avoid dampness inside the ear which can cause bacteria.

Exercise:

As a fully grown adult, the Spanish Mastiff isn’t a frisky, frolicking dog but he will still require daily exercise. Options for exercise include long walks, hikes, swimming and ball games.