Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

Ancestors of the Cao da Sera de Aires were used for herding livestock in the Serra de Aires and Alentejo, Portugal. This herding dog is native to Portugal and throughout the 20th Century he was kept as a working dog.

Known also as the Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog or Serra de Aires Mountain Dog, there are some questions surrounding the breed's ancestry as there are few records of dogs before 1900. The dog is thought to be related to the Pyrenean and Catalan Sheepdogs and that it has descended from Briards which were imported into Portugal and crossed with the Pyrenean Sheepdog.

The Cão da Serra de Aires breed standard was accepted by the Portuguese Kennel Club, and the breed was recognized internationally in 1996. The dog was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 2006.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a rare toy breed which was developed in Moscow.

It is believed that the dog’s ancestors are the Toy Poodle, Pekingnese, Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu. The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka has also become more well known since the British royal couple, Willam and Kate, have them as pets.

The beautiful Cão da Serra de Aires is a medium-sized dog. He stands at 45 to 55 cm at the withers and weighs about 17 to 27 kg. He is recognizable by the long, shaggy, single-layer coat, of straight or slightly wavy hair. Don’t be deceived by the coat as below, the dog has a muscular, athletic body.

The coat comes in different shades such as fawn, gray, yellow and black. The dog has a long tail which is held straight out or down and he has medium-length, floppy ears. You’ve got to look hard, as the facial features of the dog are hidden by its shaggy coat. He has a lot of facial hair that sometimes you have to wonder if he can see out of his eyes.

Temperament:

The Cao da Serra de Aires is a wonderful canine companion and is devoted and loyal, forming strong bonds with their human family. He is a playful, amicable dog and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is intelligent and trainable, and when properly trained and socialized,he becomes an even nicer pet to have around and is obedient to his master’s voice. He is territorial, strong willed and dominant and makes a good watchdog too.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a small dog standing at 22 – 27cm in height and weighing between 2 and 4kg. He has been developed to be a companion dog.

The long coat of the dog is wavy or curly and is a grey color, brown, red, white or black. The males have a beard and mustache.

Allergy sufferers appreciate that the dog doesn’t shed but the coat will need to be brushed to prevent matting. The ears are medium length and the tail curls up over the back.

Temperament:

These dogs are sturdy, happy, social, playful little dogs with a loving, loyal temperament. They’re balls of fun and make super playmates of disciplined children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are well balanced, amicable dogs with a streak of independence. They’re intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.

He isn’t aggressive and isn’t a yapper either. He is a friendly dog, even with strangers but he can still prove to be a good watchdog. Small and compact, he can do well in the countryside or the city.

The Cão da Serra de Aires is such a loyal dog to his human family that he makes a splendid pet. He is active, having worked historically at herding and guarding.

Socialization and obedience training ensure that he becomes an exceptional pet and he has a host of positive attributes to his name – he is intelligent, energetic, loyal and loving. He may have been used long ago to guard livestock, but today he is selected as a pet specifically for his excellent companionship and for his protective nature.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a true companion being even-tempered, intelligent and friendly. He has been specifically developed as a companion dog whether you live in the city or the countryside.

He gets on well with children and with other pets in the home and even towards strangers. Just remember that wherever you choose to live with your sweet little pet, he will still need regular exercise to remain the feisty, happy little dog he is.

As with most dogs that are looked after well, their health can be good. The Cao da Serra de Aires isn’t likely to keep you at the vet often. Just like with any good dog, there are some health disorders that can benefit you to know about.

Being forewarned , you can get your pet to the vet quickly before the illness gets out of hand.

There are some pet owners who want to have their pets tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as well as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to rule out health defects such as hip dysplasia and cataracts before they manifest themselves in their pets. This is of particular importance to breeders so as to prevent the parent dogs passing bad genetic conditions to the puppies.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. It can be terribly painful for your pet to get around. It’s a genetic condition and while it is more prevalent in big dogs, any breeds are susceptible.

Your dog will battle along with painful joints and sometimes his hind-end will be lame. You’ll notice that once lying down, he battles to get up again. Fortunately vets are well acquainted with this ailment and they have different options to treat and manage it.

Cataracts:

Cataracts in your dog come about from a disease process which affects the lens of the eye. The eye loses its transparency and impairs vision. There are some instances where cataracts can cause blindness. You’ll see a whitish gray area in your pets eye. The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. Get your pet to the vet who will do certain tests to evaluate the eyes and make a recommendation.

This breed may get some of the typical small-dog health conditions. These can be things such as dental problems, obesity and Patellar Luxation.

Small dogs often have problems with their knees, and patellar luxation is a common orthopedic condition for small dogs. You’ll see your dog walking on 3 legs.

A luxated kneecap can move out of place, but in some more serious instances, it can dislocate completely. Treatment will require a visit to the vet. Sometimes surgery is required.

Small dogs are more prone to dental disease than large dogs. Tartar and plaque form, there is gum recession, and loss of teeth is common with these little dogs.

Check inside his mouth regularly. Brushing the teeth can be of value to the dog and you get special canine dog and toothpaste. A tooth infection can be serious for your pet and cause him to have toxins circulating in the bloodstream that can make him sick.

Side effects can mean eye infections and even organ failure.

As a working dog used to long hours of action, the Cao da Serra de Aires will need lots of activity. He’ll need you taking him for long walks and playing ball games with him. He can become frustrated and destructive when left without any physical stimulation.

Grooming

The Cao da Serra de Aires may have long hair but he isn’t high maintenance. He won’t require professional grooming, but will require a good brush a least twice a week. This is because the long coat can tangle.

To keep him looking his best, you’ll want to be trimming the hair around his paws. Another important grooming task is checking his ears and cleaning them. You have to be careful about cleaning your pet ears if you don’t know how, as it could damage the ears. Your vet can always advise you on how this is done.

Exercise:

These little dogs will need a walk each day. They also love all sorts of games both indoors and outside.

Grooming:

Brush the hair regularly to avoid matting. Many people tie the hair around the face into a ponytail. If the hair becomes dirty, it can be gently shampooed with a mild, natural shampoo and conditioned. The wet hair will require a wide-tooth comb to comb the hair.

Diet:

Feed your dog the best dry kibble that there is. Check the packaging and make sure the ingredients are the best, full of vitamins and minerals. Try to give him some tasty home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember to chop it up very finely. Never give your dog foods such as chocolate, popcorn, peanuts, and spicy food. It can upset his stomach. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

General:

Get your little pet to the vet if he shows signs of illness and make sure his vaccines are up to date to avoid deadly canine illnesses.