Slovak Cuvac vs Pastor Garafiano - Breed Comparison

Slovak Cuvac vs Pastor Garafiano - Breed ComparisonPastor Garafiano is originated from Spain but Slovak Cuvac is originated from Slovakia. Pastor Garafiano may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than Slovak Cuvac. Pastor Garafiano may weigh 9 kg / 19 pounds lesser than Slovak Cuvac. Both Pastor Garafiano and Slovak Cuvac has same life span. Pastor Garafiano may have more litter size than Slovak Cuvac. Both Pastor Garafiano and Slovak Cuvac requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Working dog
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Spain
Slovakia
Height Male:
55 - 64 cm
21 - 26 inches
59 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Height Female:
55 - 64 cm
21 - 26 inches
59 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 35 kg
52 - 78 pounds
31 - 44 kg
68 - 98 pounds
Weight Female:
24 - 35 kg
52 - 78 pounds
31 - 44 kg
68 - 98 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
11 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 12
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Garafian Shepherd, Spanish Collie
Slovak Chuvach, Tatransky Cuvac
Colors Available:
Golden, tawny
White
Coat:
Long, thick double-coat
Thick, medium length, wavy
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, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

pastor garafianoHailing from the Canary Islands, the Pastor Garafiano is a dog which was once used for working purposes but which is essentially a pet today.

Also known as the Spanish Collie, it is not really sure if the dog really has any links to the Collie.There are dog experts who claim that there are actually very few pure specimens of this dog because of interbreeding with other breeds such as the German Shepherd.

There was a time that the breed almost disappeared but a working group was established to further establish breeding centers for the dog. Today the Pastor Garafiano is a recognized breed and he has been registered since 1982.

slovak cuvacLooking quite a bit like the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Slovak Cuvac is a large dog that has served as a guard dog. The Slovensky Cuvac is still used on sheep farms as he isn’t afraid of wolves and bears and will take them on if needs be.

Records of this dog have been kept since the 17th century already, and when the breed started dying out, a certain Dr Antonin Hruza put in efforts to revive the dog.

The registered breeding of the Slovensky Cuvac was established in Czechoslovakia and a club for the dog was established in 1933. A written standard was established in 1964. The dog is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

Description

pastor garafiano puppy - descriptionThis is a medium to large dog, with its hindquarters being a bit higher than the shoulders. The body is strongly built with a deep chest. He stands at between 55 to 64cm in height and weighs between 24 to 35kg.

The nose is black and the eyes brown. The ears are slightly erect. The double coat is long and thick and the color is almost golden or tawny, much like a lion. Puppies are born brown and the color changes as they get older.

The tail is long, and when the dog is in motion or alert the tail is lightly curled. He is an active dog requiring a lot of intensive physical exercise. It is therefore not recommended that he be kept on a small city property but that he be on a farm or have a large garden.

Temperament:

This is a good looking, confident sheepdog who is also intelligent and therefore easily trained. He makes a splendidly obedient pet when he has been trained and socialized.

He is docile, calm and friendly and good with children in the home who have been taught to be kind and gentle with him. Apart from regular play, make sure he gets his regular exercise and he is constantly allowed to be part of the family.

slovak cuvac puppy - descriptionThis is a large dog standing at between 59 and 70cm in height and weighing between 31 and 44kg.

The neck is broad and has quite a bit of fur around it. The head is large, the eyes dark brown, the double coat is white and thick and medium length. The eyes are brown, the ears medium length and floppy and the tail long and furry.

He has well-muscled limbs and is fairly agile for such a large dog.

Temperament:

This is a robust dog, used to spending time outdoors keeping watch over livestock. When he is invited into the home, he is gentle and well behaved, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He is loving and loyal towards his human family and will get on well with children in the home. He isn’t the brightest dog but you can still have him trained.

Characteristics

pastor garafiano dog - characteristicsThe Pastor Garafiano is such a wonderful docile and friendly pet that he is guaranteed to make a wonderful companion for any family.

He is a dog that simply loves spending time with his human family and won’t do well when left alone in the backyard day after day. Take good care of this beautiful tawny dog and give him your attention and you will have a wonderful canine friend that is difficult to beat in terms of loyalty and devotion.

slovak cuvac dog - characteristicsYour playful Slovak Cuvac is an affectionate dog, wanting nothing more than to be totally involved in his family’s life.

He is social and loving and also makes an excellent watchdog. He’s a big dog so think carefully before you bring him into your home. Many dog owners like the look of a big dog and forget that it costs a lot of money to feed a big dog and to pay for vet fees.

This big dog is wanting to be part of your family and not just to be discarded when you find that he is costing you too much.

Health Problems

pastor garafiano puppies - health problemsYour Pastor Garafiano can reach anything from 10 – 14 years of age if he is happy and well taken care of. Every dog however, can fall prey to one of the many common dog illnesses there are. Some of these are -

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited inflammatory disease of the skin, blood vessels and muscles. Signs of dermatomyositis can vary from mild to severe skin lesions and inflammation of muscles and even a decrease in muscle mass. Severely affected dogs can even have difficulty with swallowing. Symptoms of the disease are usually seen before the dog is 6 months of age.

Progressive Retinal atrophy:

This is an eye disease where there is a gradual deterioration of the retina. Dogs can become night blind early in the disease and as the disease goes on, they can even lose their daytime vision.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a very common dog ailment – the abnormal formation of the hip socket can cause pain, arthritis and even lameness. It is severe enough to know that dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred.

slovak cuvac puppies - health problemsThis is a healthy dog breed, but as with many large dogs, hip dysplasia is a threat. Hip dysplasia is always reason for concern as the condition can reduce a dog’s quality of life.

It is distressing seeing your once active pet becoming reluctant to play and move around.

Canine hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition. It can strike any size dog but is more prevalent with large dogs. The ball and socket of the hip doesn’t fit properly and deterioration sets in resulting in loss of function of the joint.

You will need to get your dog to the vet who will perform a physical exam and discuss treatments to alleviate the pain your dog can experience.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

pastor garafiano dogs - caringGroom your Pastor Garafiano at least twice a week. Your dog’s coat is fairly long and it sheds too and you want to make sure it doesn't become all matted. There are different brushes you can use for his beautiful coat.

You can also use this grooming session to check other areas of your dog. Check inside his ears, check his eyes and feel for new or unusual lumps. Make sure to keep his nails trimmed.

Exercise your pet every day. Take him on walks or hikes and provide him with ball or frisbee games. Exercise keeps him fit and healthy but also happy and content.

Diet:

Nutrition is of critical importance to your pet's wellbeing. It is important to know what your pet needs to stay healthy and have a strong immune system which can ward off disease.

There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market but it is important to choose the one that doesn’t come filled with toxic colorants, preservatives and fillers. Protein should be high on the list of ingredients listed on the pet food packaging. Also make sure to feed your pet food that had been made for his size, his breed, his age and his energy requirements.

To provide some variety to your pet’s diet, give him some tasty home-made food. Dog’s do well on simplicity and consistency. Some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots all chopped up and added into his dry kibble occasionally will keep him bright eyed and with his tail constantly wagging.

He’ll thank you for not varying his diet with things that can give him an upset stomach such as coffee, tea, popcorn, grapes, onions and chocolate.

slovak cuvac dogs - caring◆The thick white hair will require regular grooming to keep it free from burrs and dirt. He sheds so this brushing will help him to look more groomed.

◆The nails should be trimmed regularly and the ears too should be checked for redness and infection. You’ll need to look inside his mouth too as a rotting tooth can cause havoc within his body. A rotten tooth can also cause him tremendous pain and he has no way of telling you this.

◆Have your pet spayed or neutered if you don’t want any puppies. This is better for your dog’s health in the long run too.

◆Your Slovak Cuvac is going to need a lot of exercise as they have always been used to roaming the mountains watching over livestock.

◆This is a big dog so if you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure its for large, energetic dogs. There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market – just make sure you buy the best one for your pet to enhance health and longevity.

Try and give him some home made food too. Healthy food which won’t jeopardise his digestion is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. These can all be chopped up and small portions mixed into the dry kibble twice a week as a treat.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Your dog will thank you for not giving him exotic people foods which can do lots of harm. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

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  4. Slovak Cuvac vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Slovak Cuvac vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Slovak Cuvac vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Slovak Cuvac vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Slovak Cuvac vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Slovak Cuvac vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Slovak Cuvac vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Slovak Cuvac vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  16. Slovak Cuvac vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
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  19. Slovak Cuvac vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
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  24. Slovak Cuvac vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Slovak Cuvac vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Pastor Garafiano vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Pastor Garafiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Pastor Garafiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Pastor Garafiano vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Pastor Garafiano vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Pastor Garafiano vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Pastor Garafiano vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Pastor Garafiano vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Pastor Garafiano vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Pastor Garafiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Pastor Garafiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Pastor Garafiano vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Pastor Garafiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Pastor Garafiano vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Pastor Garafiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Pastor Garafiano vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Pastor Garafiano vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Pastor Garafiano vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Pastor Garafiano vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Pastor Garafiano vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Pastor Garafiano vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Pastor Garafiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Pastor Garafiano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Pastor Garafiano vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Pastor Garafiano vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison