Meliteo Kinidio vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

Meliteo Kinidio is originated from Greece but Cao da Serra de Aires is originated from Portugal. Meliteo Kinidio may grow 23 cm / 9 inches shorter than Cao da Serra de Aires. Meliteo Kinidio may weigh 19 kg / 41 pounds lesser than Cao da Serra de Aires. Both Meliteo Kinidio and Cao da Serra de Aires has almost same life span. Both Meliteo Kinidio and Cao da Serra de Aires has almost same litter size. Meliteo Kinidio requires Low maintenance. But Cao da Serra de Aires requires Moderate maintenance

History

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.  

cao da serra de aires - historyAncestors of the Cao da Sera de Aires were used for herding livestock in the Serra de Aires and Alentejo, Portugal. This herding dog is native to Portugal and throughout the 20th Century he was kept as a working dog.

Known also as the Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog or Serra de Aires Mountain Dog, there are some questions surrounding the breed's ancestry as there are few records of dogs before 1900. The dog is thought to be related to the Pyrenean and Catalan Sheepdogs and that it has descended from Briards which were imported into Portugal and crossed with the Pyrenean Sheepdog.

The Cão da Serra de Aires breed standard was accepted by the Portuguese Kennel Club, and the breed was recognized internationally in 1996. The dog was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 2006.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Greece
Portugal
Height Male:
23 - 32 cm
9 - 13 inches
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
Height Female:
23 - 32 cm
9 - 13 inches
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
17 - 27 kg
37 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
15 - 27 kg
33 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
3 - 6
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Small Greek Domestic Dog
Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog
Colors Available:
white or black, Beige, blonde
Fawn, gray, yellow and black
Coat:
Long- and short-haired
Long, shaggy, single-layer coat,
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

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.

Temperament:

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.

cao da serra de aires puppy - descriptionThe beautiful Cão da Serra de Aires is a medium-sized dog. He stands at 45 to 55 cm at the withers and weighs about 17 to 27 kg. He is recognizable by the long, shaggy, single-layer coat, of straight or slightly wavy hair. Don’t be deceived by the coat as below, the dog has a muscular, athletic body.

The coat comes in different shades such as fawn, gray, yellow and black. The dog has a long tail which is held straight out or down and he has medium-length, floppy ears. You’ve got to look hard, as the facial features of the dog are hidden by its shaggy coat. He has a lot of facial hair that sometimes you have to wonder if he can see out of his eyes.

Temperament:

The Cao da Serra de Aires is a wonderful canine companion and is devoted and loyal, forming strong bonds with their human family. He is a playful, amicable dog and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is intelligent and trainable, and when properly trained and socialized,he becomes an even nicer pet to have around and is obedient to his master’s voice. He is territorial, strong willed and dominant and makes a good watchdog too.

Characteristics

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.

cao da serra de aires dog - characteristicsThe Cão da Serra de Aires is such a loyal dog to his human family that he makes a splendid pet. He is active, having worked historically at herding and guarding.

Socialization and obedience training ensure that he becomes an exceptional pet and he has a host of positive attributes to his name – he is intelligent, energetic, loyal and loving. He may have been used long ago to guard livestock, but today he is selected as a pet specifically for his excellent companionship and for his protective nature.

Health Problems

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.

Dental Issues:

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:

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.

cao da serra de aires puppies - health problemsAs with most dogs that are looked after well, their health can be good. The Cao da Serra de Aires isn’t likely to keep you at the vet often. Just like with any good dog, there are some health disorders that can benefit you to know about.

Being forewarned , you can get your pet to the vet quickly before the illness gets out of hand.

There are some pet owners who want to have their pets tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as well as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to rule out health defects such as hip dysplasia and cataracts before they manifest themselves in their pets. This is of particular importance to breeders so as to prevent the parent dogs passing bad genetic conditions to the puppies.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. It can be terribly painful for your pet to get around. It’s a genetic condition and while it is more prevalent in big dogs, any breeds are susceptible.

Your dog will battle along with painful joints and sometimes his hind-end will be lame. You’ll notice that once lying down, he battles to get up again. Fortunately vets are well acquainted with this ailment and they have different options to treat and manage it.

Cataracts:

Cataracts in your dog come about from a disease process which affects the lens of the eye. The eye loses its transparency and impairs vision. There are some instances where cataracts can cause blindness. You’ll see a whitish gray area in your pets eye. The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. Get your pet to the vet who will do certain tests to evaluate the eyes and make a recommendation.

Caring The Pet

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.

Diet:

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.

cao da serra de aires dogs - caringAs a working dog used to long hours of action, the Cao da Serra de Aires will need lots of activity. He’ll need you taking him for long walks and playing ball games with him. He can become frustrated and destructive when left without any physical stimulation.

Grooming

The Cao da Serra de Aires may have long hair but he isn’t high maintenance. He won’t require professional grooming, but will require a good brush a least twice a week. This is because the long coat can tangle.

To keep him looking his best, you’ll want to be trimming the hair around his paws. Another important grooming task is checking his ears and cleaning them. You have to be careful about cleaning your pet ears if you don’t know how, as it could damage the ears. Your vet can always advise you on how this is done.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  2. Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  3. Dutch Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  4. English Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  5. Catahoula Cur vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  6. Catalan Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  7. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  8. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  9. Queensland Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  10. German Coolie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  11. Croatian Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  12. Red Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  13. New Zealand Huntaway vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  14. Norwegian Buhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  15. Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  16. Mudi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  17. Schapendoes vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  18. Nenets Herding Laika vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  19. Scotch Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  20. Smithfield vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  21. Smooth Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  22. Spanish Water Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  23. Swedish Lapphund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  24. Swedish Vallhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  25. Thai Bangkaew vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  26. PekePoo vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  27. Schipperke vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  28. Schweenie vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  29. Meliteo Kinidio vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  30. Meliteo Kinidio vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  31. Meliteo Kinidio vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  32. Meliteo Kinidio vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  33. Meliteo Kinidio vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  34. Meliteo Kinidio vs Malti-Pom - Breed Comparison
  35. Meliteo Kinidio vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  36. Meliteo Kinidio vs Lhasapoo - Breed Comparison
  37. Meliteo Kinidio vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Meliteo Kinidio vs Kyi-Leo - Breed Comparison
  39. Prazsky Krysarik vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  40. Pugalier vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  41. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  42. Muggin vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  43. Pomeranian vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  44. Pug vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Schnauzer vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  46. Papillon vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  47. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  48. Miniature English Bulldog vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  49. Miniature Dachshund vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  50. Miniature Poodle vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds