Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia but Sabueso Espanol is originated from Spain. Hawaiian Poi Dog may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than Sabueso Espanol. Hawaiian Poi Dog may weigh 10 kg / 22 pounds lesser than Sabueso Espanol. Hawaiian Poi Dog may live 4 years less than Sabueso Espanol. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Sabueso Espanol has almost same litter size. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Sabueso Espanol requires Low Maintenance.
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.
The Sabueso Español is a Spanish Scenthound, hailing from the Iberian Peninsula, Spain. Beyond Spanish borders, this dog is virtually unknown.
There isn’t much on its origins but it is believed that it may have developed from the bloodhound. The dog has been used for hundreds of years to hunt down wild boar, deer and all kinds of game. To this day it is essentially a hunting dog and not particularly used as a pet.
When he is on the hunt, he uses his baying bark to communicate with the pack. The dog is recognised by the UKC under the category ‘Scent Hound’.
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.
Known also as the Spanish Hound, this medium-sized dog stands at between 47 and 58cm in height ad weighs 23 to 25kg.
The dog has very long ears, the eyes are amber colored and the long tail is thin ad whip-like. The coat is short and smooth and is mostly white with orangey, lemon or reddish brown patches.
People think that because these dogs are such excellent hunting dogs, they can't be a good pet, but they are calm and loving, making an excellent companion dog.
He is also good with children in the home. He will just need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be well mannered and obedient as he is independent and can be stubborn.
The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children
The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children
Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.
Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.
The attractive Sabueso Español is a calm, amicable, sweet dog that is loving towards his human owners. He is good with children but would prefer older children who know how to be kind and gentle towards him.
He isn’t aggressive and will get on well with other dogs in the house too. He is essentially an outdoor dog and will love nothing more than to have his family involved with him with activities outside.
If you’re looking for a great pet and companion for home and outdoor life, this dog is a superb choice.
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.
The Sabueso can live to be 12 years of age, but it is still good to be aware of typical dog illnesses that he can succumb to.
Hound dogs with floppy ears are known for getting ear infections. This is because floppy eared dogs don’t get the right amount of air circulation, and excess wax, dirt and moisture cause problems within the ear.
Excess body fat with a dog can create problems for your dog. Obesity is common in all dogs and dogs of all ages. Dogs that are obese don’t want to exercise. Obesity can cause a host of problems with your dog and even reduce his lifespan.
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.
The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.
The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.
The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.
The short coat of the Sabueso Español makes him a low maintenance dog. and a brush twice a week is enough to keep his coat in tip top condition. As you brush him, make sure to check for any odd, new lumps you come across.
Check inside his ears, take a look at his eyes and make sure they’re bright and clear.
Look inside his mouth. He has no way of telling you if he has a rotten tooth causing him pain, and he relies on you to check on this for him.
Provide him with a dry, warm, comfortable bed.
These dogs are known for their stamina and energy and will ideally suit a home on a large property and not a small property in the city. They need lots of open spaces and plenty of exercise. They love long walks, preferably vigorous hikes, swimming and ball and rope games.
Ensure he is neutered or spayed if you want to avoid puppies.
Make sure his vaccinations are up to date to prevent deadly canine diseases.
Your Sabueso Espanol needs a nutritious diet if he is to remain healthy and happy. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be a good choice if you go for the high quality ones packed with vitamins and minerals. They can be convenient and well balanced. To provide your dog with some variety, provide him with some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time. No need to make home-made food all complicated and involved. Simply boil chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach together, chopping it all up, and adding little bits of this to your dog's dry kibble twice a week. This will keep him happy and healthy. Try to include a bit of raw meat occasionally and never let your dog be without a constant source of fresh, cool water.