Renascence Bulldogge vs Dunker - Breed Comparison

Known as the Norwegian Hound, the Dunker hails from Norway. Bred and named after breeder Wilhelm Dunker to be a robust scenthound, Norwegian Scenthounds were crossed with a Russian Harlequin Hound because this particular dog was an excellent scent trailer and it could stand up to the freezing conditions of Norway.

The Dunker become popular in the mid-19th century in other Scandinavian countries. Hunters liked its intelligence, its robustness and its speed and strength. In 1902 a club was founded for the breed and in the same year the Norwegian Kennel Club recognized the Dunker.

The Dunker started dying out after the war, and in the late 1980s breeders of the Dunker petitioned to allow them to cross the remaining Dunkers with scenthounds. Today the dog is known in Norway but is uncommon outside Scandinavia.

The Renascence Bulldogge, sometimes referred to as the Gargoyle – or Guardian bulldogs, came about by crossing the American Bulldogs with Bullmastiffs, Bandogges, English Bulldogs and Hermes Bulldogges.

The idea was to re-create the working British Bulldogge breed of the 1800's. The Renascence Bulldogge is bred to a standard and is a rare dog. The idea was to bring about a dog like the English Bulldog but with less health problems.

There is a Renascence Bulldogge Kennel Club in existence.

The Dunker is a medium sized dog which stands at between 50-55cms with females being slightly smaller at 47-52cms. They usually weigh between 11-18kg and look similar to other scenthounds, being muscular and athletic.

The ears of the Dunker are floppy, the tail is long and carried straight with a bit of a curve, the nose is large and black as well as the eyes, but some dogs have light eyes which can even be blue.

The coat of the Dunker is straight and dense and this coat of his is well known for the unique color of the coat – blue or black dappled, while some dogs will have black, tan and white markings. White faces are preferred but you will find dogs with black masks.

Temperatment:

This is a non-aggressive dog and can become quite friendly when trained and socialized.

They are dogs that form strong bonds with their owners, being particularly good around children. They get on well with dogs and other pets in the home.

They’re intelligent dogs and are are easy to train. In fact, training and socialization is recommended for this dog as he does tend to be a bit stubborn.

Training ensures he is relaxed and obedient. He is an active dog and will certainly require some exercise each day. He’ll respond willingly if you call him to join you in your jogging- or cycling outings.

The Renascence Bulldogge is a well proportioned, muscular, medium sized dog with a large head and strong neck.

He can weigh between 27 to 41 kilograms and stand at between 43 and 56cm. A dock tailed is the preferred look, giving the dog a nice compact, distinguished look, but these days the tail is left to grow long. The coat is short and smooth and the colors are fawn, white and black. The eyes of the dog are low and wide, the muzzle broad and the ears are high set and semi-erect, semi-floppy. The back legs are muscular and heavy, quite a bit longer than the front legs.

Temperament:

Protective and territorial, the Renascence Bulldogge happens to also be a friendly, social, playful dog wih his human family. He tends to be a bit reserved and wary around strangers.

This powerful Molosser is also easy to train, and with training and socialization he becomes a pleasure to have around – obedient and well mannered.

The Dunker is such a good tempered dog and he will be happy to settle in the city or the countryside with his owner.

When you look at his history, he is a hunting dog, used for hunting rabbits. Being an active breed, he is better suited to living in a home where there is at least a fair sized garden.

He isn’t a high maintenance dog either, so no special attention to grooming is required. Being a fairly healthy breed, he isn’t likely to develop any serious health issues too. This low-maintenance, undemanding Norwegian Hound makes a splendid pet.

The Renascence Bulldogge is a rare dog and they are now being bred more often by people who love the English Bulldog but who don't want so many health problems.

The Renaissance Bulldog is a lot more healthier and more robust than the English Bulldog. The best part is that he has the English Bulldog's characteristic look. Bring him into your home and you’ll have an entertaining, social, playful, loving pet and companion.

The Dunker dog can live to reach a ripe age of 12 to 15 years. There are some health issues he may face -

Partial or Complete Loss of Hearing:

Partial or complete hearing loss can come about because of dirt or wax build-up in the ear canals. It can be because of an untreated ear infection, an injury or even old age.

Your veterinarian can examine your dog’s ear canal. Certain dog breeds such as the Dunker and others are more predisposed to deafness and you’ll find your dog responding slowly to your voice or he may be totally startled when woken.

Your vet will determine the type of treatment for your dog if an ear infection for instance is suspected. Treatment in this case may involve cleaning wax out of the ears or getting rid of overgrown ear hair.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition with your dog where bone rubs against other bone. Your Dunker dog will be in pain and his movement could be limited and he may even become lame. Get your pet to the vet because there are a number of treatment options.

Eye Problems:

Take a look at your pet’s eyes so that you’re aware of cloudiness, inflammation, discharge, a change in eye color or red eyelid lining. Take him to the vet if you suspect something serious, but in the meantime you can also gently wipe over your pet’s eyes to remove any discharge.

If you do need to bath your pet, make sure to protect his eyes before applying any lotion.

Your Renascence Bulldogge can live to be anything from 10 to 15 years of age with good care.

Heat Stroke:

Heat stroke is a concern with the Renascence Bulldogge, and even with his daily walk, you will have to keep an eye on him You must never ever leave him alone in a hot car. These dogs have breathing problems as it is and overheating can kill him.Suffering from heatstroke is regarded as an emergency situation.

Bloat:

Any dog can suffer with bloat, not only the Renascence Bulldog. If your dog’s stomach is bloated, he will have a hard, swollen stomach, he will be restless and trying to vomit. This is also a life threatening condition.

Eczema:

Also referred to as canine atopic dermatitis, the Renascence Bulldog sometimes has to contend with this non-parasitic infection. Your poor dog will have dry, itchy skin and he can become frantic with this. You will need to get him to the vet.

Other things to look out for with your Bulldogge are hip dysplasia, cancer and eye infections.

Exercise:

The Dunker is a dog with stamina and energy and he will need a walk every day as well as some other forms of vigorous exercise. The idea is to involve a dog like this in all your activities, whether you go running, swimming or cycling.

Grooming:

The Dunker isn’t going to require you to spend a lot of money on maintenance for him. A good brush-down twice a week will be adequate as he is a fairly heavy shedder and brushing him will get rid of all those loose hairs. It is also time to check him over for fleas and ticks too.

Other grooming aspects to check will include nail trimming, checking the inside of the dog’s ears for excess wax build-up and dirt.

Dental care is of major concern because teeth left unattended can result in mouth bacteria. This bacteria enters the blood stream and results in systemic infection. Sometimes the bad teeth can be so painful that a dog no longer wants to eat.

It is imperative to brush your pet’s teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste.

Your Renascence Bulldogge is a special, loving pet, but keeping him healthy can be a bit of a challenge.

Exercise:

A walk every day will be a good form of exercise for this dog.

General Care:

Your pet is one of these dogs that has quite a few layers around the face.You will need to wipe between these folds with a damp,warm cloth or with a natural,gentle anti-fungal wipe.

His skin can become irritated with the layers of skin and you don’t want such a cute pet to battle with a itchy rash on his skin.

Diet:

Your Renascence Bulldogge is going to need the very best food you can give him. The commercially manufactured foods are nice and convenient and the best ones are well balanced.

It’s nice to be able to give your Bulldogge some delicious home-made food, bearing in mind that dogs like simplicity and consistency.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots all chopped up and added to your dog’s dry kibble twice a week will delight him. It will ensure he is healthy ad happy. A little bit of raw meat can also do wonders for his health. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.