Serbian Tricolour Hound vs Cao Fila de Sao Miguel - Breed Comparison

This Molosser type dog originated on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores, a region of Portugal. Known also as the Sao Miguel Cattle Dog or the Azores Cattle Dog, the existence of the Cao Fila de Sao Miguel has been documented since early in the 19th century.

The dog has always been used as a cattle dog but today it remains rare outside of Portugal. In was in 1984 in Portugal that the first written breed standard was published in Portugal. The Cao Fila de Sao Miguel then earned recognition with the Portuguese Kennel Club.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound was once known as the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound. It’s a rare dog breed that you won’t find much outside of the Balkans.

These dogs were bred for hunting in packs but in these more modern times they are more of a companion dog.

It is thought that the Serbian Tricolour Hound was a variant of the Serbian Hound until 1946 when a separate breed standard was established. It was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1961.

The Cao Fila de Sao Miguel is a medium to large sized dog standing 50 – 61cm in height and weighing 25 – 41kg. As with all molossers, the dog has powerful jaws.

This dog breed has muscular limbs and dark brown eyes. The ears are normally docked into a rounded shape much like that of the Hyena. The tail has always been docked at the 2nd or 3rd vertebra but these days with regulations surrounding docking, the tail is unfortunately left long.

The coat of the Cao Fila de Sao Miguel is short and smooth while the hair on the tail and thighs is a bit longer. The Cao Fila de Sao Miguel is always brindled, and comes in shades of fawn, brown, gray or black. A white mark on the forehead around the chest or on the paws is also often seen.

Temperament

The Cão de Fãila de São Miguel is a working dog who is used to guarding livestock. He is an athletic dog, game for plenty of action, and he will require plenty of daily exercise. He is territorial and makes an excellent guard dog, but even so, when it comes to his own owner and human family, he is gentle and loving.

The Cao de Fila de Sao Miguel is an intelligent dog and he will need training and socialization which allows him to get on well with children in the home as well as other pets.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 44 to 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 20 to 25kg.

He is a strong, muscular, solidly built dog with a rounded skull and longish muzzle. The ears of this dog are long and floppy and the long, curved tail hangs down but is held high when the dog is excited.The dog has a short, glossy coat which is essentially a rusty color. There is quite a lot of black with some white on the coat too.

Temperament:

Loving and loyal, this dog was once used for hunting and he has learned to listen carefully to- and respond well to his owner.

He loves his human family and makes a great family pet. He gets on well with the kids, loving to take part in their games. He is intelligent and with training and socialization he is obedient, well balanced and well mannered.

Friendly and social, all he wants is to be with his human family, but even so he is better suited to life with a family who lives on a large property in the suburbs or countryside as opposed to living in the city.

The Cão de Fila de São Miguel is a natural guard dog who will love and guard his family. With training and socialization he can become a devoted and gentle family dog with children and with other pets. They can be aloof with strangers.

The Cão de Fila de São Miguel is an active dog who wants to be busy, and he is therefore better suited to country living rather that in a small home where space is limited.

Intelligent, a fast learner, protective and territorial, the Cão de Fila de Sao Miguel is an aggressive, hardy working breed who is also an excellent guard dog and protector. With firm training he becomes loyal, lovable and devoted – an ideal family companion.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a loving, loyal, active, devoted breed that loves his human family, wanting to be involved in all the activities they’re involved in.

He is somewhat reserved with strangers but training and socialization helps to make him well behaved around them and it means you can take him with you wherever you go as he is well behaved.

These Serbian dogs make splendid pets, and if you take good care of yours, he will provide you with unconditional love.

The Cao Fila de Sao Miguel is a dog who enjoys exceptional health. When you do research you see there aren’t really any particular illnesses plaguing this dog, and he can actually live to be 15 years of age. Be aware of some illnesses as they are common among different dog breeds – hip- and elbow dysplasia, bloat, eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, heat intolerance and arthritis.

Dog bloat:

This is a dangerous illness that can affect any dog – small or large. This is when the dog’s stomach fills with fluid or gas so that it expands. The stomach then puts pressure on other organs and your dog can have trouble breathing. There is also no blood flow to the heart. Sometimes the stomach of the dog twists and your pet can go into a state of shock. Recognize the symptoms of bloat – a swollen stomach, drooling and wanting to vomit but nothing coming up. Get your dog to the vet immediately.

Abscess:

An abscess can be so painful for your pet often when your dog has a thick coat it could go undetected. If an abscess on your pet doesn’t burst, or even if another abscess appears, a vet must be consulted and a course of antibiotics given.

Ear Infections:

Ear mites, dirt and a build up of wax may cause your dog to scratch at the ear, shake his head or hold it on one side. There may even be a foul-smelling discharge. Your dog will need to have his ears cleaned. Special ear drops can rectify the problem. Remember that hot, red ears will require veterinary attention.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is such a healthy dog breed and with the right nutrition and exercise can reach 12 to 15 years of age. He is a rare dog breed so there isn’t a whole lot of information available about his health.

There are always going to be those common dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to. Some of them are hip dysplasia, cancer, skin problems and parasites.

Ear Infections:

With his floppy ears, check out the insides of his ears to ensure there are no signs of redness and ear discharge.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a condition where parts of the hip joints don’t fit properly together. This creates a situation where there is abnormal wear and tear on the joints. It can lead to arthritis even and pain for your dog.

Parasites – Tapeworm, Fleas ad Ticks:

The tapeworm is a parasite spread to dogs but also to people and it is through the ingestion of infected fleas. You can often detect this when you discover parts of the worm crawling in your dog’s bowel movements.

Check your dog over for ticks and fleas too when you brush him as these can lead to other illnesses such as tick bite fever.

The Cao Fila de Sao Miguel is a low maintenance breed and all that will be required for him is that you give him a thorough brushing a couple of times a week.

Diet:

The Cao Fila De Sao Miguel puppy will require four meals of puppy food a day. The adult Cao fila de sao miguel can go down to 1 or 2 meals a day after his 1st birthday.

These days you get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods and your veterinarian can help you choose one suited to this particular dog breed. Add in some home-made vegetables, rice and meat every now and then. The idea is to make sure your dog is getting in all the minerals and vitamins he needs.

There is evidence showing that dogs who enjoy raw meat every now and then enjoy a number of health benefits. Skin and teeth are improved, your dog has a shinier coat, less allergies,less inflammation and he is more relaxed and amicable. Ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water in a clean bowl and at all times.

The short, shiny coat of the Serbian Tricolor Hound will require nothing more than a good brush twice a week to keep the coat nice and smooth. You can even take a damp cloth and wipe the coat over with it to remove dust.

Exercise:

Provide your dog with a regular amount of exercise every day. Dogs become sad and unhealthy when they’re just stuck in the back yard and left on their own. Take him for walks each day and throw a ball for him to fetch. Simple little games like this will keep him happy as he loves to spend time with you.

Vaccines:

Keep your dogs vaccines up to date to avoid deadly diseases.

Diet:

Only the very best food is good enough for a dog. Dry kibble is excellent and convenient but try and feed your dog some home-made food too. Avoid spicy, exotic foods as this can upset your dog’s digestive system. Speak to your vet if you’re unsure how to feed your dog to ensure his good health and longevity.