Southern Hound vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison

Cao de Gado Transmontano is originated from Portugal but Southern Hound is originated from United Kingdom. Cao de Gado Transmontano may grow 12 cm / 5 inches higher than Southern Hound. Cao de Gado Transmontano may weigh 24 kg / 53 pounds more than Southern Hound. Both Cao de Gado Transmontano and Southern Hound has almost same life span. Both Cao de Gado Transmontano and Southern Hound has almost same litter size. Both Cao de Gado Transmontano and Southern Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Working dog
undefined
Portugal
United Kingdom
Height Male:
73 - 83 cm
28 - 33 inches
58 - 71 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
65 - 80 cm
25 - 32 inches
58 - 71 cm
22 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
55 - 65 kg
121 - 144 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 62 kg
99 - 137 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
4 - 10
Size:
Giant
Large
Other Names:
Transmontano Mastiff or Transmontano Cattle Dog
Old English Hound
Colors Available:
White with large patches of brown, fawn, grey, brindle and black shades
black, tan - tricolored, White
Coat:
Short to medium length
Short, smooth, hard
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cao de gado transmontanoThe Cão de Gado Transmontano which is also known as the Transmontano Mastiff or Transmontano Cattle Dog is a large dog – in fact a giant dog breed. This is a rare molosser working dog, hailing from the region of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province in Portugal.

The large dog has always been used to herd livestock and to also ward off wolves. It is believed that the dog’s roots come from the Tibetan Mastiff as well as a Portuguese cattle dog known as the Rafeiro do Alentejo. The dog also shares some similarities with the short-haired Estrela Mountain Dog.

In 1995 the breed was still exclusive to Portugal, but now the breed has been imported to Oregon, USA to be part of an experiment to document bigger breeds and their role in protecting livestock from wolves. They were re-introduced to north-east Oregon from 2008.

The Southern Hound hails from England and is a breed of dog that existed sometime in the 19th century.

It is now extinct.

There isn’t much information available as to the time the dog became extinct. Some people believe that other breeds were bred with the dog until the true Southern Hound bloodline no longer existed. It was a breed of scent hound, and had an excellent sense of smell.

Known also as the Old English Hound, it was during the 18th century that the Southern Hound’s popularity waned and other kinds of hounds became more prominent.

While the Southern Hound has been extinct for decades, there is still some of this dog breed found in modern day breed.

It s believed that the Southern Hound has been used in the development of the Beagle and the Bloodhound as you can see the similarities.

Description

cao de gado transmontano puppy - descriptionThe Cão de Gado Transmontano is a large dog, believed to be the biggest of the Portuguese dog breeds. He is powerful and muscular with a large head and can stand up to 83cm in height and can weigh up to 65kg.

He is tough, and is quite comfortable living outside. He is a long-legged dog with a wide chest with medium length floppy ears and a long tail. The coat is fairly short although it can be in a variety of lengths. It is the medium length coated dog with the right coloring that is looked upon as a pure breed. The dog is white with large patches of brown, fawn, grey, brindle and black shades.

Temperament:

The Transmontano Mastiff is an intelligent, obedient dog who is also independent and stubborn. As with all dogs, it is important to have him trained and socialized as this makes him obedient and eager to please. He loves to be patted by his owners and is a dog which is easy to train, responding well to firmness and fairness.

He is calm and somewhat docile but at the same time he is energetic and alert, making him a good watchdog. He won’t do well cooped up in a tiny space. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home.

The Southern Hound was a large, solidly built, deep chested dog with a square head and a longish muzzle. He stood at between 58-71 cm in height and weighed 25 – 41kg.

The Southern Hound had long, wide floppy ears, much like the Basset Hound of today. The tail was fairly long and curved upright. It was known for its deep melodious voice, much like the Bloodhound we have today.

It had excellent scenting abilities and was used to follow the trail of its prey. The coat of the Southern Hound was short and smooth and it is believed that the most common colors for the coat were white with black or brown markings, making it a tricolor dog.

Temperament:

Used to being on the hunt with other dogs, there is no doubt that the Southern Hound wasn’t aggressive towards other dogs and that he knew how to get along with them. It’s a dog that was dedicated to to the hunt and was bred to work, known for its stamina and endurance.

The dog didn’t possess strong herding or protective instincts and it is thought that it wasn’t kept as a companion dog. Because of the breeds used to develop this dog, it is assumed that it was a non-aggressive, friendly dog.

Characteristics

cao de gado transmontano dog - characteristicsThe Cão de Gado Transmontano may look like a fairly formidable dog but they aren’t aggressive. They are full of courage and are above all, loving and loyal to their human family.

When you choose to have one of these large dogs as your pet, it is important to make sure he knows that you’re the leader. With training and socialization this dog is a gentle giant who makes an exceptional family pet.

The Southern Hound is no longer in existence, which is a pity as it seems as though he may have made an excellent pet in modern times.

They were a playful breed, loyal, gentle and affectionate and no doubt made a good watchdog too, although it is thought that his protective instincts weren’t good.

They aren’t dogs recommended for city living, but it seems according to the few records there are of this dog that he could have made a reliable, loving pet to have around.

Health Problems

cao de gado transmontano puppies - health problemsThe Cão de Gado Transmontano is a tough dog, used to spending long hours outside guarding sheep. These days however, he is also a companion dog and you’ll want to be aware of some common dog ailments that can strip him of his health and his joy of life.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a looseness with the hip joint, and while it can occur with all dogs, it is more common in large dogs. It’s a disease which can lead to arthritis, pain and also joint degeneration. It’s a disease which can be debilitating for the dog and you will need to get your dog to the vet.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a heart disease seen in large breed dogs and where the heart becomes weak and can’t properly pump blood throughout the body. Symptoms include coughing, weakness, difficulty with breathing as well as a fluid-distended abdomen.

Ear Infections:

The Southern Hound had drop ears which would have made him prone to ear infections. This is because unlike dogs with erect ears, air isn’t able to circulate into the ear and the inside of the ear become a breeding place for bacteria.

Cherry Eye:

The dog may have had to deal with Cherry Eye too. This eye problem affects the tear gland in the third eyelid. It needs to be treated so as to avoid long term eye problems. This is also because exposure of the tissue can bring on swelling, inflammation and infection.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

cao de gado transmontano dogs - caringJust because this is a large dog, doesn’t mean you need to over-feed him. He is muscular and athletic, and by watching his diet, he’ll continue to be strong, lean and healthy. You can feed him a top quality pet-food brand and include boiled chicken, rice and vegetables. Every now and then mix in some raw meat with his dog food to ensure that his skin remains free of rashes and itchiness. Fresh, cool water must be available to him day and night as he drinks abundantly.

Grooming:

Some dog breeds need to be trimmed or stripped to look good, and dog owners often invest in expensive equipment to groom their pets themselves, Fortunately the large Cão de Gado Transmontano is a low maintenance dog and all you’ll need to do is give him a good brush-down twice a week.

Check his eyes, ears, teeth and nails regularly. Remember that dental hygiene is imperative and special canine toothbrush and toothpaste is available to brush your dog’s teeth 2 or 3x a week to get rid of plaque and to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

Exercise:

Because this dog was once used as a hunting dog, they were accustomed to large open spaces. He would have required a fair amount of exercise. They would have needed a walk every day if he wasn't involved in a hunt that day.

Grooming:

The Southern Hound had a short coat and in those days he probably would have needed to be brushed once or twice a week.

Diet:

The Southern Hound would have required top quality food to support his energy. If in that time there has been commercially manufactured food, it would have had to be the better quality ones. Today if you were feeding the Southern Hound you would check out the ingredients on the packaging and go for the dog foods with wholesome, natural ingredients in them.

No doubt the owners of these dogs provided their dogs with raw and cooked meat. If you had a Southern Hound today you would try to include some home-made food for him which would be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super nutritious.

The Southern Hound would have required a constant supply of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Southern Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Southern Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Southern Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Southern Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Southern Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Southern Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Southern Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Southern Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Southern Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Southern Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Southern Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Southern Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Southern Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Southern Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Southern Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Southern Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Southern Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Southern Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Southern Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Southern Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Southern Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Southern Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Southern Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Southern Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Southern Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison