Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Hanover Hound - Breed Comparison

Hanover Hound is originated from Germany but Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia. Hanover Hound may grow 17 cm / 7 inches higher than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Hanover Hound may weigh 38 kg / 84 pounds more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Hanover Hound may live 6 years more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Hanover Hound may have more litter size than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Both Hanover Hound and Hawaiian Poi Dog requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Companion dog
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Germany
Indonesia
Height Male:
50 - 55 cm
19 - 22 inches
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
Height Female:
50 - 55 cm
19 - 22 inches
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 53 kg
105 - 117 pounds
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
48 - 53 kg
105 - 117 pounds
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
5 - 8 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
3 - 5
Size:
Large
Small
Other Names:
Hanoverian Hound
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Colors Available:
Dark reddish brown with brindling
any color with white markings, brown mostly
Coat:
Short and smooth
short and fine
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

hanover houndSometimes referred to as a Hanoverian Hound, this dog dates way back to the 17th century in Germany.

This dog breed continues to be fairly rare today and has always been used as a hunting and tracking dog. It is believed the dog comes from bloodhounds dating back to medieval times. The dog isn’t recognized by the AKC but he is a member of the Scenthound group.

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

Description

hanover hound puppy - descriptionThis is a sturdy, well built dog with a short, smooth, dense coat which is a reddish-brown color with brindling.

He is a well built, deep chested dog standing at about 50 – 55cm in height and weighing 48-53cm. He has the typical dark brown, soulful eyes of the Hound dog with long, broad, floppy ears.They usually have black noses, he has a deep chest, strong, straight legs and long, tapering tail.

Temperament:

Calm and gentle, the Hanover Hound is a loyal dog who bonds closely with his human family. When you socialize him he gets along well with children.

He is a hunting dog and loves nothing more than to be following some scent. You can call out his name, but he will not likely take notice, so determined is he to track down his prey, being known for his superb sense of smell.

His hunting instincts are strong and this means that you won't often find him being kept essentially as just a pet – they are first hunting dogs and then pets. Nonetheless, as already suggested, the Hanover Hound is more than capable of forming a strong bond with his human family, making a good family pet.

He is aloof and wary with strangers and this makes him a good watchdog. It is important to have him trained and socialized as then he becomes obedient and amicable when you need him to be like that around friends and family.

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

Characteristics

hanover hound dog - characteristicsThe Hanover Hound is an intelligent dog breed that responds well to training and socialization. They are dedicated hunting dogs but they are loyal and loving to their human family.

He will require an owner who is active and on the go while being firm and consistent with his treatment of him.

When socialized, he makes a good friend of children too. Keep him busy, exercise him, provide him with good food and consistent love and attention and he'll make you a devoted hunting companion and friend.

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

Health Problems

hanover hound puppies - health problemsCapable of living to between 10 and 14 years of age, the Hanover Hound, like many other dogs, may well be prone to some of the more common dog illnesses there are.

Ear Infections:

Because of his long, floppy ears, he will typically be more prone to developing otitis externa. This is why it is important to be checking your long, floppy-eared dog regularly and cleaning his ears to avoid wax- and dirt build-up and infection. Chronic ear infections will have to be treated by your vet.

You'll recognize the illness when you see your pet shaking his head often and scratching at his ears.

Hip Dyplasia:

This is a genetic orthopedic disorder that affects many dogs and will eventually cause lameness. Hip dysplasia is due to malformed hip joints.

Entropion & Ectropion:

Eye diseases and problems with the eyelid can cause your pet a lot of discomfort as this is when an eyelid rolls in and then rubs against the eye.

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

hanover hound dogs - caringThe Hanover Hound is a hunting breed so he won’t easily adapt to life in the city with a tiny garden. He will need a large garden or a farm to run around in.

He is a hunting dog that loves to put his nose to the ground and to follow a scent. This is a dog breed which will need to be provided with a good amount of exercise every day to ensure his happiness and health.

Diet:

As a large dog breed, you want to be sure to be feeding him a high quality food. It is always a good idea to add in some home-made food to his kibble. Read the packaging carefully of commercial manufactured dog foods and make sure you get food that is geared towards large, active breed dogs.

Add in cooked food such as cooked chicken, vegetables or brown rice and pasta and remember to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time.

Before dogs were domesticated they would eat raw meat as opposed to harmful grain based commercial dog foods of today. Benefits of adding in some raw meat from time to time include healthier skin, more energy and shinier coats and eyes. Make sure your pet has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

Comparison with other breeds

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  36. Hanover Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Hanover Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Hanover Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Hanover Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Hanover Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Hanover Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Hanover Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Hanover Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hanover Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Hanover Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Hanover Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Hanover Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Hanover Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Hanover Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
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