Formosan Mountain Dog vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Formosan Mountain Dog vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBohemian Shepherd is originated from Czech Republic but Formosan Mountain Dog is originated from Taiwan. Both Bohemian Shepherd and Formosan Mountain Dog are having almost same height. Bohemian Shepherd may weigh 7 kg / 16 pounds more than Formosan Mountain Dog. Both Bohemian Shepherd and Formosan Mountain Dog has almost same life span. Bohemian Shepherd may have less litter size than Formosan Mountain Dog. Bohemian Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance. But Formosan Mountain Dog requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Sporting dog
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Czech Republic
Taiwan
Height Male:
48 - 56 cm
18 - 23 inches
48 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
46 - 56 cm
18 - 23 inches
43 - 47 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 25 kg
35 - 56 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 25 kg
30 - 56 pounds
12 - 16 kg
26 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
10 - 13
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Chodský pes, Czech Sheepdog, Bohemian Herder
Taiwan Canis, Taiwanese Dog, Taiwanese Aboriginal Dog, Native Formosan Dog, Taiwanese Native Dog, Taiwanese Mountain Dog, National Dog Takasago Dog , and Taiwanese Dog., Formosan Hunting Dog, Formosan, Native Taiwanese Dog, Formosan Aboriginal Dog, Formosan Dog, Taiwanse Canis. Formosan Native Dog
Colors Available:
Black and Tan
earthly yellow, Black, or yellow
Coat:
Long, dense and straight
smooth and oily
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

bohemian shepherdKnown as the Chodský pes or the Chodenhund, the Bohemian Shepherd is native to the Czech Republic and is a herding breed. Like many other old dog breeds, nothing is 100% certain about is history. This is thought to be because the breed was developed centuries before the keeping of records. It is certain however, that the breed developed in the south-western portion of the Kingdom of Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic.

It is believed the Bohemian Shepherd came from herding dogs such as the Pinscher/Schnauzer, Spitzen or even a dog/wolf hybrid. It was in November 1991, that the Bohemian Shepherd Lover’s Club was founded. Many Bohemian Shepherd breeders have been registered and today the breed has earned the reputation for being a superb family dog. The dog has also been granted recognition with the Czech National Kennel Club.

formosan mountain dogThe Formosan Mountain Dog is most often known as the Taiwan dog and it is a landrace indigenous to Taiwan. It is a small to medium breed of dog that was semi-wild at one time. The colonialization of Taiwan and other foreigners help to fully domesticate the Formosan Mountain Dog. They were found to be very trainable and uniquely suited for the terrain around Taiwan. The dogs were easy to train and now serve as hunting dogs, stunt dogs, guard dogs, rescue dogs, therapy dog and personal companions. There are three types of Formosans two smaller types and one medium. However, the original pure Formosan Mountain Dog is getting close to extinction again because the government and people have provided no protection or conservation efforts for them. These dogs have been living in Taiwan in the mountains and were called Formosan Mountain Dogs when Taiwan was known as Formosa. They come from a line of Southeast Asian hunting/gun dogs and they are considered ‘rare’ now.

According to historian Dr. Sung Yung-yi, the breed went through 4 major catastrophes that affected their development. The first of these was the Dutch Establishment in 1624. The Dutch colonized Taiwan and imported both people and dogs. The dog they brought in was called the Flying Dog and was either Greyhound or Pointer. Eventually, the Flying Dog bred with the Formosan Mountain Dog. This along with the slaughter of dogs belonging to the indigenous people by the government, starting the decline of the original Taiwan dog.

In 1895, it was the Japanese acquiring Taiwan following the First Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese bred the Formosan Mountain Dog extensively with the own Japanese dogs. This further diluted the line and authenticity of Taiwan dogs.

This was followed by World War II when German Shepherds traveled with the US Army and they cross-bred with the Formosan. This was the third major dilution of the Formosan Mountain dog line. At the same time, the Japanese government considered the Formosan Mountain Dog a sanitation threat and barbaric. They massacred them in large numbers in the name of sanitation.

The fourth and final dilution took place during the Kuomintang Era beginning in 1945 with the arrival of the Chinese Nationalist Party. They brought with them the culture of eating dogs. During this time the economy of Taiwan took off and business people began to import their own foreign dogs that were high priced purebreds. These dogs bred with the Formosan and other Formosans were just abandoned to die. The ranks of the breed became very thin indeed. Today’s pure Formosan is highly valuable and extremely rare. Because of all the crossbreeding over the centuries, today’s purebred Formosan Mountain Dog is very different from the Taiwan dog of old. Today’s Formosan is loved all over the island and is a companion and watchdog.

Today there is an effort by Taiwanese ecologists to put together a research project that would study and preserve the Formosan in its indigenous form. Dr. Yung-yi led this effort. He located only 46 dogs with a pure pedigree, 21 females and 25 males. They let the Food and Agricultural of the United Nations know and the dogs were labeled close to extinction. Reproducing from the indigenous dogs to purify and increase the breed was the goal. The government was not very supportive.

Today the Royal Air Force is looking at the Formosan Dog to use for military security. They are currently only using German Shepherds and needed another choice. It was decided that the Formosan Mountain Dog had a better sense of smell, dexterity, alertness, and hearing as well as better padding on their paws.

Through these efforts and those of foundation stock breeders and owners, the Formosan Mountain Dog in its indigenous form was brought back. Some call this dog a purebred Formosan while others consider it a new type. Standards were presented to the FCI for registrations as a purebred. This debate continues today

Description

bohemian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe medium sized Bohemian Shepherd looks much like a combination between the Collie and German Shepherd. He is 48-55 cm in height and weighs about 15-25 kg. The Bohemian Shepherd has a thick, long coat which is black and tan in color and with an undercoat, allowing him to cope in icy weather conditions. His well proportioned body is muscular and compact with a long bushy tail and erect ears.

Temperament

The Bohemian Shepherd makes a wonderful family pet, becoming very attached to his human family. He has a good reputation with children too and will get on well with other pets in the home. He is so amicable that he makes a good pet choice for those looking to own a dog for the first time.

He is intelligent and alert and also protective of his family, making him an excellent guard dog. He is easily trainable, and just like with any other dogs, will require training and socialization.

formosan mountain dog puppy - descriptionThe Formosan Mountain Dog that was seen during Dr. Sung Yung-yi’s research is a medium-sized dog, athletic and fit. It has a deep chest and a slim waist. The ears are half-covered, the nose is black and there is a coating of black on the tongue. This black tongue is the most distinguishing attribute of the Formosan Mountain Dog. The breed has a strong jaw, the skull that is just slightly longer than the muzzle, which is flat and tapered, triangle face and almond eyes. They have a thick coat and upright, curved tail.

The dogs are known to be extremely agile with an ability to hop that is rare in dogs but helps when hunting animals like rats. The Formosan Mountain Dogs hunted in packs with each dog attacking the prey with one bite until it was too exhausted to fight them off any longer.

Characteristics

bohemian shepherd dog - characteristicsPlayful by nature, friendly, gentle and co-operative, your Bohemian Shepherd will make a wonderful pet and he is a real social character, loving to spend lots of time with his human family. With minimal health conditions and without requiring much maintenance, he is an adaptable dog and will easily settle into city- or country living, so long as he is given regular exercise and attention.

He is courageous and intelligent and also makes an excellent guard-dog. With so much going for this beautiful dog, he simply makes a loyal, loving and devoted family pet.

Children friendliness

formosan mountain dog dog - characteristicsThe Formosan Mountain Dog is very child-friendly. He is affectionate and loyal to his family and protective of his children.

Special talents

He is intelligent and has exceptional hunting skills. He is a good guard dog due to his alertness, but they can be fear-aggressive.

Adaptability

He is very adaptable to living in any location as long as there is somewhere for him to get adequate exercise. He is friendly to people and animals.

Learning ability

He is intelligent and learns quickly.

Health Problems

bohemian shepherd puppies - health problemsBreeding organizations are continually trying to minimize the diseases within limited-gene-pool dog breeds. While the Bohemian Shepherd is a generally health breed, there are diseases that are more common with the Bohemian Shepherd and which you need to be aware of -

Hip Dysplasia

This is a painful disease – a problem with the formation of the hips – where the dog can develop arthritis and even become lame.

Bloat

This is a condition where gas gets trapped in the stomach of your pet, so that he swells up, sometimes causing the stomach to twist. This is an emergency for your pet and it is extremely painful. Nobody really knows the cause, but when the gas is trapped inside the stomach, the bloated stomach of your pet requires you getting to the vet as quickly as you can.

Eye Conditions

Look out for Progressive Retinal Atrophy known as PRA . This is a group of degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptor cells where the cells deteriorate and can result in blindness with your pet. Fortunately it isn’t a painful condition.

formosan mountain dog puppies - health problemsBecause there have not been any studies done on the health of the Formosan Mountain Dog, there is not a lot known about any inherent or genetic health issues. It would seem that some bloodlines are healthy, and others have some serious issues. Especially because there are no studies, it is important for breeders to test for eye issues and skeletal issues through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.

Some of the health issues the Formosan Mountain Dog might be susceptible to.

  1. Dysplasia: Hip and/or Elbow
  2. Can cause lameness and/or arthritis
  3. Luxating Patella
  4. Floating or dislocated kneecap
  5. PRA – Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  6. Degeneration of the retina – causes blindness
  7. Cataracts
  8. Can be removed/causes sight issues or blindness
  9. Mange Demodex/Demodicosis/Demodectic
  10. Caused by mites and can be treated

Caring The Pet

Keep Him Exercised and Busy

bohemian shepherd dogs - caringThe Bohemian Shepherd is an energetic breed and will need to be exercised regularly. He’ll love to run alongside your bike on your cycling trips or you can take him on a long walk. Having said that, he is an easy going dog and can adapt to city- and country life, but if it’s city life, you can’t leave him cooped up in a small yard and think that will suffice. He has a personality that longs to be part of the family.

Grooming

Your Bohemian Shepherd is a moderate shedder in spite of his thick beautiful coat. The coat will certainly need a good brushing at least twice a week to get rid of that loose hair. Not only that, your social Bohemian Shepherd will love the closeness to you that the brushing brings.

Keep his nails short and his teeth brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week to ensure there is no plaque build up. There are special toothbrushes and toothpastes made for dogs. Don’t use human toothpaste as the ingredients will be harmful to your pet.

Feeding Time

Your Bohemian Shepherd, after one year of age, will eat one or two bowls of food a day. You’ll be able to tell what suits your dog, because the amount will eat about 2 to 4 cups of a good quality dry dog food a day, split into at least two meals. The amount can vary depending on its health, build, age, activity level and metabolism. Make sure it has access to water at all times and that it is changed as often as possible.

Feeding the puppy

formosan mountain dog dogs - caringFeed a high-quality puppy food for medium size dogs at the rate of a ¼ cup twice a day until 8 months then ½ to ¾ twice a day until 12-16 months.

Feeding the adult

1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food split into 2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Generally healthy breed. Keep clean and watch for mites.

Games and Exercises

This is an energetic breed and he needs a lot of exercise. He must have at least an hour of exercise daily but the more, the better. He loves swimming and jogging with his people. He’s athletic, smart and agile. He does well with field trials, tracking, agility, and obedience.

Comparison with other breeds

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