Greek Sheepdog vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison

Greek Sheepdog vs Basset Hound - Breed ComparisonGreek Sheepdog is originated from Greece but Basset Hound is originated from France. Greek Sheepdog may grow 37 cm / 15 inches higher than Basset Hound. Greek Sheepdog may weigh 21 kg / 47 pounds more than Basset Hound. Both Greek Sheepdog and Basset Hound has same life span. Both Greek Sheepdog and Basset Hound has almost same litter size. Both Greek Sheepdog and Basset Hound requires Moderate maintenance.

History

greek sheepdog - historyKnown as the Olympus Dog or even simply as the Greek Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog is a large to giant molosser dog from Greece. His purpose has always been to guard flocks and livestock from predators and he has been around for hundreds of years, looking much like the Great Pyrenees.

It is believed that the dog was likely bred with a number of breeds – both local and non-local dogs.

Unfortunately there were no records kept of the development of the breed but today the Greek Sheepdog remains a rare and fairly unknown breed outside of Greece.

It's numbers are dwindling in Greece too and since 1998 the Greek ARCTUROS has made attempts to save the breed, starting the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program.

basset hound - historyThe Basset is a French dog bred in Great Britain in the late 1800s. The history of the Basset goes way back to ancient times as there have been discoveries of short legged dogs found in the catacombs of Egypt. These dogs also became popular during Emperor Napoleon III’s reign. Controlled breeding of the Basset began in France in 1870.

Hunting was popular with noblemen during the Middle Ages, and Francois Hubert bred hounds for this purpose. After his death, in his honor, the monks named the hounds bred at the monastery the St. Hubert's Hound. It is accepted that the St. Hubert's Hound is an early ancestor of many hound breeds that we see today.

French Bassets were imported into England in the 1870s. Everett Millais, thought to be the father of the modern Basset Hound, bred such dog to a Bloodhound to create a heavier Basset. The puppies were later refined with English- and French Bassets, and the first breed standard for the Basset Hound was made in the UK at the end of 19th century. To this day, many cartoon dogs are based on this extraordinary looking dog, and they also appear in adverts, a popular one being the logo for Hush Puppies, a shoe brand.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Greece
France
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Height Female:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
28 - 36 cm
11 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
23 - 29 kg
50 - 64 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
6 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Greek Shepherd, Olympus Dog
Hush Puppy, Fred
Colors Available:
White with red, black or brown markings
Tri-color - white, tan, black
Coat:
Thick, double-coat, long hair
smooth and short
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

greek sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe Greek Sheepdog is a large dog, standing at 65 – 75cm and weighing roughly between 32 to 50kg. He is a dog that displays physical strength. He has a large head with brown eyes and a serious expression on his face. He has a thick double coat which is essentially white with red, black or brown markings.

You will also see tri-color dogs. He has floppy ears today but there was a time when the right ear of the male dog was cut off or cropped. The tail is long and bushy and it can be held low but also held up so that it curls over the back.

Temperament:

Maybe because of his size and him being a strong-willed, independent thinker, the Greek Shepherd may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner. Having said that, if you're a strong, firm, patient, kind person, then you'll be able to raise any kind of dog, first time or not.

The Greek Shepherd is a brave, loyal, calm, protective dog and with socialization and training, can make an awesome pet. They are dogs who are a bit suspicious with strangers, not making friends too easily. He loves his human family and wants to be part of their activities. He can't be left on his own day after day as this can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.

They've been dogs used to working with livestock and they will certainly need to be taken on daily walks and involved in rough and tumble games as they thrive on activity. The dog won't fit easily into city life where there is just a handkerchief-sized garden as he needs space and activity.

Short but Large Stature

basset hound puppy - descriptionThe Basset Hound is a scent hound, a short-legged breed of dog belonging to the hound family. He is renowned for his long body, his loose skin and the very characteristic long, droopy, low-set ears. This is also a dog that drools a lot. The Basset Hound stands only 33 – 38 cm in height. You wouldn’t call him a small dog as he is robust and solid, weighing anything from 18 to 30kg. The Basset Hound is also well known for his eyes, where the red of the lower eyelid shows. Their calm, serious expression is also a familiar and much loved feature of these dogs.

A Friendly Tri-colored, short-haired dog

The Basset is a short-haired dog, but in spite of that he sheds constantly. Coat colors can vary but the most common colors are white, tan and black – a tri-color coat.

This scent hound is a friendly canine, outgoing and playful. He gets on well with children and other pets in the family, and training and socialization can make him even more amicable with them. He adapts easily to life in the city or in the country.

Characteristics

greek sheepdog dog - characteristicsYour Greek Shepherd is an intelligent, independent dog who likes to show his loyalty and devotion to his owner.

He is a protective dog too and when trained and socialized makes an excellent family pet. These Molosser type dogs are formidable dogs known for their bravery and courage.

They're the type of dogs who like a strong leader-type of owner and when he gets someone who he can look up to as his leader, he becomes a loyal, devoted pet.

basset hound dog - characteristicsThe Basset's long body with his short legs give him a unique look. Add to that this breed is among the most even-natured and easy-going. It is why he makes such a cool pet. While he adapts well to both city living and country living, you can’t afford to let him become a couch potato. Sitting around and eating consistently will just make your best friend sick and increase your medical bills for him.

The amicable Basset Hound is child friendly and because he isn’t particularly territorial, he will be alright with your other pets too. If you're looking for a wonderful friend who will be loyal to you, the Basset is waiting to fill the role of companion for you.

Health Problems

greek sheepdog puppies - health problemsWith good care and lots of love, this dog can live to be between 10 to 12 years of age. He is unlikely to get sick very often, but still it it wise to know of some of the health issues than can occur with large breed dogs like this.

Some diseases to look out for include -

Dilated cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart is enlarged and unable to have the right heart rhythm. The distended muscle isn't able to push the blood through the heart chambers to where it is needed. Cause for this dilated heart can be genetic, nutritional, infectious or metabolic.

Because taurine and carnitine are involved in good heart function, and low levels of these amino acids can cause symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation is useful, especially if you feel your dog isn't getting in the right kind of food.

Lyme Disease:

Borreliosis, a bacterial infection, causes Lyme disease, transmitted by the Ixodes tick. The tick bites the dog and the toxins gets into the dog's bloodstream, with the bacteria travelling to different parts of the body.

Typical symptoms in a dog includes loss of appetite, fever, no energy, swelling of joints and lameness, but symptoms can progress to kidney failure too or cardiac problems. Treatment will include antibiotics.

basset hound puppies - health problemsThe Basset Hound is a pretty robust breed and with proper nutrition and exercise, can live up to 12 years of age but this particular breed is prone to some major health conditions.

Eye Diseases

Cherry Eye is seen quite often in Basset Hounds. It is very painful because the tear gland tears away and it will require surgery before infection sets in. Also, glaucoma is an inherited eye disease that needs to be checked out as it can lead to blindness. The eye is red and the dog is constantly rubbing at it.

Joint Disease

This is when the cartilage in the Basset’s joints don’t attach to the bone properly. It is known as osteochondritis dissecans or OCD. Be careful to stick to the recommended growth rate suggestions for feeding with a Basset puppy.

Heart Disease

Basset Hounds are more prone to a heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. It is where the heart becomes large and weak so that it battles to pump blood to the body.

Other illnesses to look out for are Canine Hip Dysplasia and obesity.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

greek sheepdog dogs - caringThe coat of the Greek Shepherd is fairly long so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from matting and tangling. He is an average shedder and the brushing will remove all loose hairs, keeping the coat sleek and shiny.

Diet:

Feeding your Greek Sheepdog requires giving him top quality food as this will ensure he is healthy and can ward off common dog illnesses. If you're going to be feeding him kibble, make sure to go for the top quality brands, and as a treat for your pet you can add in some brown rice, pasta, brown bread, cooked chicken and vegetables.

Dogs are essentially carnivores and he will need to have some raw meat such as beef added into his kibble from time to time. He should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Keepingyour Basset Hound healthy and happy requires

basset hound dogs - caringWatching his diet. He will need quality, nutritious food and plenty of exercise.

It is also a good idea to get into the habit of brushing his teeth a couple of times a week with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use toothpaste made for humans.

Clean his long ears and keep them dry. The vet will show you precisely how.

Be sure to see that he get his puppy vaccinations, and that you continue to give him vet check-ups when he shows signs of sickness.

He has low grooming needs but brush his coat twice a week to get rid of dull, loose hairs.

He is a smart, active dog with lots of energy so set aside time to have ball games with him and to get him out of the yard with walks.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Basset Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  2. Basset Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  3. Basset Hound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  4. Basset Hound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  5. Basset Hound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Basset Hound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  7. Basset Hound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  8. Basset Hound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  9. Pharaoh Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  11. Hungarian Vizsla vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  12. Redbone Coonhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  13. Bluetick Coonhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  14. Norwegian Elkhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  15. Coonhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  16. Santal Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  17. English Coonhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  18. Podenco Canario vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Dunker vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  20. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  21. Chippiparai vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  22. Podenco Andaluz vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  23. Podenco Galego vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  24. English Foxhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  25. Estonian Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  27. Presa Canario vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  28. Labrador Husky vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  29. Mackenzie River Husky vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  30. Pyredoodle vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  31. Lurcher vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  32. Maremma Sheepdog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  33. Sarplaninac vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  34. Himalayan Mastiff vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  35. Mountain View Cur vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  36. Native American Indian Dog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  37. Greenland Dog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  38. Komondor vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  39. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  40. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  41. Greek Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  42. Greek Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  43. Greek Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  44. Greek Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  45. Greek Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  46. Greek Sheepdog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  47. Greek Sheepdog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  48. Greek Sheepdog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  49. Greek Sheepdog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  50. Greek Sheepdog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds