Meliteo Kinidio is originated from Greece but Standard Schnauzer is originated from Germany. Meliteo Kinidio may grow 19 cm / 7 inches shorter than Standard Schnauzer. Meliteo Kinidio may weigh 18 kg / 39 pounds lesser than Standard Schnauzer. Both Meliteo Kinidio and Standard Schnauzer has almost same life span. Meliteo Kinidio may have less litter size than Standard Schnauzer. Meliteo Kinidio requires Low Maintenance. But Standard Schnauzer requires High Maintenance
Originating in Greece, the Melitea Kinidio is also known as the Small Greek Domestic Dog. It is an ancient dog breed. The dog has always been a skillful hunter of small game and birds.
It is believed that the dog breed originated from Malta, explaining its Greek name, Melitaion Kunidion.
There are efforts to recognize the Meliteo Kinidio as a separate and unique Greek dog breed but no formal breed clubs exist so far today. The dog also hasn’t been recognized by any reputable registry. Today these common dogs are found in high numbers throughout most of Greece.
Coming out of Germany in the 14th and 15th century is the Standard Schnauzer or Mittelschnauzer. Both the Giant Schnauzer and Miniature Schnauzer are descendants of the Standard Schnauzer. The first name for this breed was the Wire-haired Pinscher until 1879. The breed is a working breed that is popular in Europe and was first in a dog show in 1879 in Hanover, Germany. In 1997 they won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club in New York.
These medium size Schnauzers were bred in the Middle Ages to be versatile in working and herding in Germany. There seems to be artwork from the 14th through the 16th centuries featuring this breed of dog as a hunter. It is believed that the common ancestors of the Standard Schnauzer is the German Pinscher and the gray Wolf Spitz, along with the black German Poodle and the Bolognese.
It was 1850 when the breed gained recognition as a purebred with distinct and recognizable features. Those are not all the same features that the dogs of today show. These dogs had thick hair on their face, a double coat that is wiry, and their tails were cropped. These dogs were initially Wire-haired German Pinscher then in 1879, a dog named Schnauzer won Best in Show in Hanover. By 1900, the breed was being called Schnauzer everywhere.
The first breed standard was written under the Wire-haired German Pinscher name in the early 1880’s. This standard allowed for a lot of different colors, but the salt and pepper of today was not introduced until the late 1800’s. Then the standard was rewritten in 1907 for the Standard Schnauzer with this as the dominant color.
The first official Standard Schnauzer imported to the United States came in 1905 even though there is a claim that one competed in the 1899 Westminster Kennel Club in the Miscellaneous Class. Following the first World War, the breed became increasingly popular in the States. At that time the US club was called the Wire-haired Pinscher Club of America in 1925. Both standard and miniature sized schnauzer are included in this club.
The breeds were separated in 1933 and became the Standard Schnauzer Club of America and classified by the American Kennel Club as part of the Working Group. In 1926 they moved the Standard Schnauzer to the Terrier Group. By 1926 the Schnauzer Club of Great Britain was formed.
The Meliteo Kinidio is a deep chested small sized dog which weighs about 3 to 8kg and stands at about 23 – 32cm in height.
The dog has a bright, fox shaped face, floppy ears and a tail which curls over the back and which is feathery or plumed. The body is longer than being tall.
He is available with two coat types – long- and short-haired, with the long haired one being the more common of the two. People often confuse this dog with the long-haired Dachshund. The coat is dense, weatherproof, silky and wavy.
The coat colors can be beige, blonde, white or black, with there being no standardization with color.
These Greek dogs are no pushover and in fact they are fairly fearless dogs, possessive of the human family, wanting to protect them and therefore being territorial as well. They make excellent pets, being very sensitive to their owners, sensing their different moods.
He has always been a hunting dog so he loves to be busy, making a good dog to have on the farm. They are even tempered and gentle, but have a loud, robust bark for their size.
Today’s Standard Schnauzer is a square, robust, medium sized dog. The breed boasts heavy eyebrows and thick beards. They are salt and pepper or black and their coat is wiry and stiff. The breed have excellent muscle tone and a body in proportion height to length. Their build is rugged, and coat is dense.
These feisty Small Greek Domestic Dogs are loving, loyal dogs who enjoy being around their human family but who don’t mind spending some time on their own either.
They’re dogs which are in tune with their owners and they’re intelligent too so they learn easily. You can expect to a have a good friend when you allow this companion dog into your home.
This dog breed enjoys good longevity and can live to be about 12 to 15 years of age with good care.
One thing you have to be careful of with a dog like this is that because he is active he loves to running around and jumping. However, with his long back, jumping off a fairly high bed for instance, can lead to injury and should be discouraged rather. Apart from ear infections, other health issues can be dental.
Brushing your dog’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week can prevent dental problems. Small dogs are more prone to plaque formation and gum recession. Many small dogs loose their teeth with dental issues. Plaque that is left on the surface of the tooth is detrimental to the dog’s immune system, starting an inflammatory response. Without good oral hygiene, other health issues such as heart disease and diabetes can become a factor.
Ear infections in dogs, particularly those with floppy ears, are common and can be painful.
Scratching at the ear with head shaking is a common sign that your dog has an ear infection as well as the presence of redness and swelling. The inside of the ear needs to be gently cleaned with ear cleanser, but many people don’t like to do this, fearing they may damage the ear. Then it becomes important for your vet or professional groomer to do it for you.
There are a couple of major hereditary health issues faced by the Standard Schnauzer.
The Small Greek Domestic Dog is easy to groom and the coat which sheds moderately will simply require brushing twice a week to keep it silky and vibrant.
The Small Greek Domestic Dog is sleek lean and muscular and you want to keep him like that at all costs and avoid obesity. To keep him happy and fit feed him two smaller meals as opposed to one. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure its the best quality one as the lower quality foods have inferior ingredients devoid of minerals and vitamins. When you have bought the best quality kibble, treat your dog to some home-made food from time to time – nothing exotic – just plain boiled chicken, brown rice and pasta and cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach. Some raw meat added in occasionaly is also excellent. Feeding your dog a simple but nutritious meal like this will ensure your dog is healthy, content and free of stomach problems. Fresh, cool water must be availabe around the clock.
1Feeding the puppy: At 8-12 weeks feed four times a day. At 3 to 6 months feed three times a day. At 6 to 12 months feed twice a day.
4. Games and Exercises – The breed is extremely athletic and needs daily exercise. They are playful with dogs and people and they are family dogs. They want to go wherever you go. Hiking, running, jogging and organized activities.
They are great at obedience, agility, flyball, disc dog, herding and tracking. They have also been involved in search and rescue, bomb detection, and cancer detection.