Toy Australian Shepherd vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison

The Iberian Peninsula is thought to be the place of origin for many of the pointing breeds of Europe, and the Perdiguero de Burgos hails from Spain. Known as the Spanish Pointer, the dog has contributed to the development of other pointer breeds.

The dog has been around since the 1500s and believed to be a descendent of the Perdiguero Navarro and the Sabueso Español.

Today's Perdiguero de Burgos is smaller and lighter so as to make it into a better bird-hunting dog.

The Perdiguero de Burgos has always been used to hunt deer but today it is used as a pointer of smaller animals and birds.

These beautiful little dogs interestingly don’t originate in Australia. They were originally bred in the western U.S. as herding dogs.

Today they are mainly companion dogs. Their lineage goes back to a pair of sibling dogs - the Wildhagen Dutchman and Fieldmaster of Flintridge and these two dogs began the lineage to which the Miniature Australian Shepherd belongs.

Known also as ‘Aussie’, there are different stories to its exact origins. It is thought that some Basque farmers brought dogs with them when they came to Australia, taking them to the United States during the 1849 California gold rush.

The dog has been crossed with a number of breeds to bring about a dog that could cope with harsh temperatures.

The Perdiguero de Burgos is a large dog with straight, strong legs and a strong, musculr body. He stands at between 52 - 64 cm and weighs between 22 - 32 kg.

The short, smooth coat is white and liver and the coat is heavily flecked or speckled. The ears are Long and floppy, the nose dark brown, the eyes dark hazel and the tail long and fairly slender. The tail has always generally been docked.

The chest is deep, it has a strong, square shaped head with the muzzle being long and quite broad. This dog isn’t recommended for life in the city as they are active dogs requiring a lot of open spaces.

Temperament:

These are wonderfully calm dogs, being gentle and intelligent and with a quite, confident expression to them. Even on the hunt these gun dogs are calm and steady. He is obedient and intelligent, easy to train and patient with children and other dogs.

Training and socialization of this excellent dog simply makes him even more obedient, amicable, Loving and loyal, making him a splendid pet.

The Toy Australian Shepherd, also referred to as the Mini- or Miniature Australian Shepherd is a small dog standing at between 26 - 36 cm in height and weighing between 3 to 9kg.

He looks very similar to the standard Australian Shepherd.

He has a medium-length, weather-resistant coat which is white with tan, black, red or blue merle. The coat is long, and slightly wavy with feathering around the legs and neck.

They eyes can be blue or brown or he can have two differently colored eyes.The tail of these dogs can be a natural bobtail or it is docked. They do shed but they don’t require that much grooming.

Temperament:

These playful little dogs may be small, but they are brave and full of courage. They’re also easy going, and love nothing more than to be around their human family.

They love the games that children play and are always ready to join in, making excellent playmates for children. Lively and alert, they also make good watchdogs and because they are so intelligent, they are easy to train and socialize.

Their intelligence means they need to be physically and mentally stimulated otherwise they can become destructive from sheer boredom. They’re full of energy and will require regular exercise every day.

Your Perdiguero de Burgos is such an amicable dog, making a splendid family pet. He can sometimes be a little reserved but he is never aggressive.

He can be stubborn but he is intelligent and responds well to training and socialization. He is lively, playful, energetic, calm and loving and he will be willing to join you when you go out jogging or riding your bicycle.

When it comes to grooming he is also pretty low maintenance, so you can see that when it comes to choosing a fantastic family pet, this easy-going, calm dog should be a top consideration.

The Toy Australian Shepherd is such a clever little dog and eager to learn too. You won’t have trouble getting him trained and socialized as he is eager to learn.

He bonds closely with his human family, becoming a loyal, devoted pet. They are also great playmates for children. They’re the kind of dogs that will require mental and physical stimulation if they are to to be prevented from becoming bored and frustrated.

They need social interaction with their human family and will be devastated if they were to be stuck in the backyard and all but forgotten.

They have a lifespan of 12 – 14 years and you want to make sure they’re happy, contented years, because he is wiling to play his part and make you a wonderful pet and companion.

All dogs can develop health problems, and with the Perdiguero de Burgos you will need to be made aware of some of the common heath problems there are -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly and the hips partially dislocate. It makes it very painful for the dog to get around. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, although diet and environmental factors can play a big part too. Rapid weight gain can also contribute to hip dysplasia as the extra weight puts strain on the joints.

Hypothyroidism:

This is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer can also cause hypothyroidism, and it occurs more often in large breed dogs. A common sign of low thyroid function in dogs includes thinning of the hair and a dull, lifeless coat. There is also weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also are inclined to have ear infections as well as skin infections. Your pet will need to get to the vet for blood tests and treatment.

Other health problems include eye problems, allergies, bloat and even epilepsy. Once you buy a puppy, it is your responsibility to protect him from some of the deadly diseases there are and take him to the vet for his puppy vaccines.

Make sure your Toy Australian Shepherd sees the vet as a puppy to be dewormed and to get his first puppy injections.

Dental Disease:

Dental disease is far more serious than you think. It can affect other areas of your dog’s body. Plaque and inflamed gums lead to bone- and tooth loss.

Bad breath is a sign of periodontal disease. Find out from your vet what to do to guard against periodontitis. It’s important because ignoring bad teeth can lead to heart disease, with bacteria constantly entering the blood stream.

Parasites:

Fleas and ticks are your pet’s enemy as well as heartworm. Dogs can die from heartworm infestations. Heartworm is linked to mosquito bites, so if you live in warm areas, check with your vet for preventative measures.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another common dog illness to watch out for. This is a painful condition where the hip joint isn’t formed properly and it can lead to terrible pain and lameness.

Skin Allergies:

Just like people endure endless misery with eczema, dogs too can develop skin allergies. They can create endless frustration and misery for any pet because of the terrible itch and pain. All the licking and scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections too.

Exercise is of critical importance to these energetic dogs. That is why it is important for them to live in a home where there is plenty of opportunity to run, swim and hike. They’re way too energetic to be confined to a tiny city property.

Grooming:

The dog is an average shedder and the smooth coat of the Perdiguero de Burgos simply requires a brush-down twice a week. A rub down too with a chamois will be therapeutic for your pet and leave the coat shiny and vibrant.

Rubbing your pet down like this will give you the opportunity to feel for any unusual lumps and check for fleas and ticks. It is also your chance to check inside the dog’s ears. The ears are floppy and because the dog loves water so much, dirt, wax and moisture can be a breeding place for bacteria and painful ear infections.

Diet:

If you feed your Perdiguero de Burgos a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure you choose a high quality one that has been manufactured particularly for large, energetic dogs. Some of the poor quality foods have bad ingredients in them such as colorants, preservatives and worthless, toxic fillers that can have a detrimental affect on your pets health.

Try and include some tasty homemade food into your dog’s diet too. Tasty, nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and wholesome vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will do your pet the world of good. You can every now and then, also include some raw meat.

All a dog wants is a simple, wholesome diet like this as it ensures he doesn’t have any digestive upsets. Dogs like simplicity and consistency. Make sure your pet has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.

Diet:

Your puppy will need 4 small bowls of food a day. If you’re wondering just how much, either speak to your vet or follow the portion-guide on the packaging of the puppy dog food.

As your puppy grows older, you feed less frequently so that he is getting two meals a day as an adult. For feeding an adult, there are excellent commercial dog foods available - remember to choose a good brand for your dogs age, size and energy levels.

Try and give him some tasty home-made food too from time to time – nothing exotic and spicy – just plain foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. Dogs thrive on simple, healthy food like this. Make sure he always has a bowl of cool, fresh water to drink.

Exercise:

These energetic little bundles of fur will need regular exercise – every day in fact. He’s a smart little dog too, so you need to provide him with stimulating games that will keep his mind and his body physically fit.

Grooming:

Reduce shedding and loose hair by brushing the long hair a least twice a week. This will also help to get rid of matting. Trim nails and check for fleas and ticks.

General:

Provide your Toy Australian with a warm, dry, peaceful place to sleep. If he is outside often, make sure he has both sun and shade to lie in as well as a sheltered spot for when it rains.