Moscow Guard dog vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison

Hellenic Hound is originated from Greece but Moscow Guard dog is originated from Russia. Hellenic Hound may grow 13 cm / 5 inches shorter than Moscow Guard dog. Hellenic Hound may weigh 48 kg / 105 pounds lesser than Moscow Guard dog. Both Hellenic Hound and Moscow Guard dog has almost same life span. Both Hellenic Hound and Moscow Guard dog has almost same litter size. Hellenic Hound requires Low Maintenance. But Moscow Guard dog requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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Greece
Russia
Height Male:
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
64 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
Height Female:
45 - 53 cm
17 - 21 inches
64 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
9 - 11 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
5 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Greek Hound or the Hellenikos Ichnilatis The Hellenic Hound, Greek Harehound
Moscow Watchdog
Colors Available:
Black with tan markings
Red and white - bit of black and tan
Coat:
Short, smooth, sleek
Thick coats of medium length
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Playful, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

hellenic houndDeveloped in Southern Greece, the Hellenic Hound was bred to hunt hare and is an ancient breed. It is a medium sized breed with strong scent and tracking skills. It is believed to have been in existence for thousands of years. The ancestry of the breed included the Lagonikoi or laconikoi, native to southern Greece in ancient times. The breed was spread by sailors on Greece trading ships and colonization.

Todays Hellenic Hound is found throughout Europe. Kept somewhat isolated by the mountains, the breed was protected from outside breeding and they remained pure for centuries. It is a fearless, smart and hyped up purebred. The Hellenic Hound needs to have a job and if you don’t give him one, he will find one. He is smart and independent which sometimes makes him stubborn. It also takes this dog longer to mature than others, sometime between two and three years. It is not good for first time owners. Today’s hound is still a popular hunting dog and companion animal as well. They are rarely seen outside of the Greek country.

In 1996 the Hellenic Hound was recognized as the first Greek dog breed into the FCI. They are not recognized by the AKC. Its numbers continue to decline.

Looking much like the Saint Bernard, the Moscow Guard Dog or Moscow Watchdog is large, descending from quite a few giant breeds such as the Saint Bernard, different Russian Hounds and the Caucasian Ovtcharka.

The dog has a gentle temperament. Known also as a gentle giant, the Moscow Guard Dog was developed in the Soviet Union and is fairly common in its native country.

The first US-born litter of Moscow Guard Dogs was born in 2015. The Moscow Watchdog hasn’t yet been recognized by the AKC.

Description

hellenic hound puppy - descriptionToday’s Hellenic Hound is not a big dog but rather very average or medium. It is an athletic dog and looks like it. It has a balanced body with a deep chest and thick neck. It has medium height legs that are strong and muscular with paws that are prepared for the terrain it always works on. Its coat is short and tight. The colors of the Hellenic Hound are black with tan or white on the chest. Their heads are noble and rounded with a rectangle shaped muzzle. They have v shaped, long ears and round eyes. Their toe nails are black and so is their nose. It has excellent scent glands, very quick responses, speed and stamina. Their tail is thick and tapers off.

The Moscow Watchdog is a large mastiff-type dog. He stands at between 64 and 69cm in height ad weighs in the region of 45 – 68kg. He has a thick coat which is medium length, he has floppy ears and a long, plumed tail. The most common colors for the Moscow Watchdog are red and white with a little bit of black and tan around the head.

He is quite a heavy shedder so regular brushing and grooming is recommended.

He takes his role seriously as guardian and protector of his human family.

Large dogs don’t usually live as long as smaller breeds, and with good care your Moscow Watchdog can reach between 9 and 11 years of age. If you want your dog to be a parent, the litter size you can expect is anything from 5 to 10 puppies.

Temperament:

The dogs were used for guarding purposes and they are strong-willed, dominant and independent. They are also gentle dogs but will still require training and socialization to make them obedient and an all-round pleasant dog.

While the Moscow Watchdog is described as a pleasant dog, he isn’t a friendly teddy-bear kind of dog, tending to be fairly aloof. He would do well with an owner who is firm, fair, consistent and strong, as he is strong-willed.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

hellenic hound dog - characteristicsyes, they are very fond of children as long as they are carefully socialized.

Special talents

Great hunter, stamina ,scent, voice

Adaptable

He needs to have a yard or land. He doesn’t do well in apartments.

Learning

The breed is very intelligent and can be very trainable. However, they can also be stubborn and that makes training harder.

The Moscow Watchdog is a large dog and beautiful to look at. Even though he is large and strong, he is gentle and calm and makes a splendid pet.

Because of his large size he is better suited to life in the countryside or the suburbs as compared to smaller properties in the city. Their exercise needs will also need to be met such as a walk every day.

Think carefully before you take such a large dog into your home as he will require a lot of good food. Before investing in any dog, make sure that you have the means to provide him with an excellent home where he gets the best care, because he is willing to give you the very best of himself.

Health Problems

hellenic hound puppies - health problemsThe Hellenic Hound is a fairly healthy breed having been isolated on the Island of Greece for the most part. They are susceptible to:

Joint dysplasia

Could be hips, elbows or knees. If untreated can lead to lameness or inability to walk.

Arthritis

Causes joint pain and can cause lameness or inability to walk.

Bloat

Can be fatal if not treated immediately. To avoid it don’t feed a large meal before or after exercise.

Hunting injuries

Can be a variety of things that occur during the hunt.

Ear infections

Need to keep the ears clean and dry in order to avoid infections.

The Moscow Watchdog is a healthy dog breed, and with few inheritable health problems, you’re not likely to spend much at the vet with him.

Of course, any dog needs a good diet, adequate exercise, vaccinations, and parasite treatments to stay in top condition. Some of the common diseases to look out for -

Hip Dysplasia:

We always have to mention hip dysplasia as it is so common with all dogs. Its an hereditary condition where lack of hip joint stability causes pain inflammation and lameness in the dog. Your dog, even though he is young, can develop hip dysplasia and then it can lead to early arthritis too. Your dog will need to get to the vet.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

hellenic hound dogs - caringFeed the puppy 2-3 times a day a total of 2 cups

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult twice a day a total of 2-3 cups

Points for Good Health

The Hellenic Hound has excellent stamina, speed and scenting ability.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active, athletic dog that needs to work and needs exercise. He is powerful, quick and has great endurance. It thrives on hunting but will need other activities on the days it doesn’t hunt. It needs a yard or land to play in. Agility, Field Trials, tracking, hunting and fly ball are all activities the Hellenic Hound will enjoy.

Diet:

This is a large breed dog so you want to make sure that if you feed him from the many commercially manufactured foods there are, it is the high quality one packed with vitamins and minerals and which cater specifically for large breeds to ensure the right amount of minerals and vitamins for his size.

You don’t want to just go on and on giving him dry kibble every day, so occasionally it will be a good idea to give him some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables which can be added into his kibble. This is all the variety your dog needs, as dogs like consistency and simplicity because then they don’t suffer with digestive issues.

Never leave him without a constant source of cool, fresh water.

Exercise:

Contrary to what this dog looks like – large and clumsy, he is actually quite agile and will require a good amount of exercise. He may not look particularly active but he will certainly want a daily walk and he will also require running off the leash in the park or some ball and rope games in the garden.

Grooming:

he Moscow Watchdog has a thick, medium length coat. He doesn’t require professional grooming, but a good brush through once a week will help to condition the coat. Also, the breed is a moderate shedder so removing loose hair keeps the coat shiny and healthy.

Comparison with other breeds

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  26. Moscow Guard dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Moscow Guard dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Moscow Guard dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Moscow Guard dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Moscow Guard dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Moscow Guard dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Moscow Guard dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Moscow Guard dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Moscow Guard dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Moscow Guard dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Moscow Guard dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Moscow Guard dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Moscow Guard dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Moscow Guard dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Moscow Guard dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Moscow Guard dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Moscow Guard dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Moscow Guard dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Moscow Guard dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Moscow Guard dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Moscow Guard dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Moscow Guard dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Moscow Guard dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Moscow Guard dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Moscow Guard dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison