Fila Brasileiro vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison

Fila Brasileiro vs Cretan Hound - Breed ComparisonCretan Hound is originated from Greece but Fila Brasileiro is originated from Brazil. Cretan Hound may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Fila Brasileiro. Cretan Hound may weigh 50 kg / 110 pounds lesser than Fila Brasileiro. Both Cretan Hound and Fila Brasileiro has almost same life span. Cretan Hound may have less litter size than Fila Brasileiro. Both Cretan Hound and Fila Brasileiro requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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Greece
Brazil
Height Male:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
60 - 75 cm
23 - 30 inches
Height Female:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
60 - 75 cm
23 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
55 - 80 kg
121 - 177 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
55 - 80 kg
121 - 177 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
9 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
4 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Kritikos Lagonikos, Kressa Kyon, Ntopio
Brazilian Mastiff
Colors Available:
grey, Fawn, sandy, tri-colored , white, black or brindle
red, black, Fawn, brindle
Coat:
Short and smooth
Short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

cretan houndAlthough the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

fila brasileiroHailing from Brazil, and known also as the Brazilian Mastiff, nobody seems to be too sure of the exact origins of the large Fila Brasileiro but it is believed to be a cross between the English Mastiff, the Bulldog and the Bloodhound.

Other theories are that the dog comes from a mix of Portuguese and Spanish dogs and that they were bred to guard livestock from predators. Breeds that have no doubt contributed to the modern Fila are the Bullenbeisser, the Bloodhound, Mastiff and Rafeiro do Alentejo. All these dogs have characteristics such as excellent working dog skills, herding instincts as well as courage and tenacity.

The official Brazilian breed standard of the Fila was developed in the 1960s and the Fila Brasileiro Club of America was formed in 1984.

Description

cretan hound puppy - descriptionKnown for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

fila brasileiro puppy - descriptionWith his huge head covered in loose skin much like that of a Blooohound, and a body resembling that of a Mastiff, the large heavily built Fila Brasileiro is a mastiff breed from Brazil. He stands at 60 to 75cm in height and he weighs roughly 55 to 80kg.

The ears of the Fila are large and droop down or are folded back, depending on his mood. The tail is long and slim. The coat of the dog is short and dense with the texture being quite smooth and soft. Colours of the coat can vary from solid fawn or black to red to brindle.

Temperament:

Perhaps the huge Fila wouldn’t be a good choice as a pet for the first-time inexperienced dog owner as he is a powerful, intelligent, self-assured, headstrong animal that will certainly need to have training and socialization if you want him as an obedient pet in your home.

He is a dog known for his courage and bravery. The Fila is loving and affectionate with his human family, being protective of them and not being too friendly with strangers. He isn't a particularly good pet choice with children in the home.

Some people, after buying a cute Fila puppy, put him out in the yard when he becomes large, and then they pretty much neglect him. This is cruel and irresponsible as he is a social, playful dog who wants to be part of his human family.

These dogs have some aggression in them and this makes them good watchdogs. They generally don’t show aggression towards their family but may snap at a stranger who tries to touch as he feels threatened.

Characteristics

cretan hound dog - characteristicsThe Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

fila brasileiro dog - characteristicsThe Fila Brasileiro or Brazilian Mastiff is a powerful dog and it is believed that a large dog like this can be a danger to people if he isn’t trained and socialized.

He is therefore not recommended for first time dog owners or homes with small children. He is a dog that is particularly wary of strangers too.

When he has been properly socialized he can be loving, loyal and obedient because it is essentially how a dog is brought up as to how he turns out.

If you bring one of these big, beautiful dogs into your home, have him socialized as a puppy, treat him firmly, but kindly and you could have yourself an extraordinary pet.

Health Problems

cretan hound puppies - health problemsThe Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

fila brasileiro puppies - health problemsFilas are a dog breed who have a high rate of hip- and elbow dysplasia. This is a serious disease which can lead to lameness with your pet. Other orthopedic diseases with the breed include osteochondritis and luxating patella.

Also, as a deep-chested dog breed, your Fila also is at risk of getting the very serious gastrointestinal syndrome known as bloat. This is a common condition that can prove deadly for your pet. The Fila’s stomach will fill with gas, putting pressure on other organs and stopping blood flow to the heart and difficulty with breathing. Sometimes the stomach will twist. Get him to the vet immediately if you notice a swollen stomach, drooling or restless behaviour.

Caring The Pet

cretan hound dogs - caringYou’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Exercise and Space:

fila brasileiro dogs - caringThe Filas size makes it important that he have a good amount of exercise if you want to maintain his health and happiness. He isn’t a dog suited to city life as he is too large and will irritate his owners when cooped up in a tiny space with them. He isn’t demanding when it comes to exercise and activities all the time, but he should still be exercised regularly as he is inclined to become lazy .

Grooming:

Moderate shedding. Regular brushing twice a week will be required. Check ears for infection and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week.

Diet:

Nothing is set in stone as to what to feed your Fila Brasileiro, but a large dog will require quality food with a good amount of protein and fat according to size, age and activity levels.

Because a large breed dog is prone to hip dysplasia, look out for ingredients such as chondroitin and gludosamine which are specifically good for joint health. Try and avoid commercially manufactured food with common allergens such as soy, corn and wheat, artifical flavors and fillers.

A source of cooked rice, chicken and vegetables as well as some raw meat will be excellent for your big pet. Make sure he is never deprived of fresh, cool drinking water.

Comparison with other breeds

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