Norwegian Lundehund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

Norwegian Lundehund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed ComparisonCao da Serra de Aires is originated from Portugal but Norwegian Lundehund is originated from Norway. Cao da Serra de Aires may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Norwegian Lundehund. Cao da Serra de Aires may weigh 18 kg / 40 pounds more than Norwegian Lundehund. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Norwegian Lundehund has same life span. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Norwegian Lundehund has almost same litter size. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Norwegian Lundehund requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Non sporting dog
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Portugal
Norway
Height Male:
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
30 - 40 cm
11 - 16 inches
Height Female:
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
30 - 40 cm
11 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 27 kg
37 - 60 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 27 kg
33 - 60 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
3 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog
The Puffin Dog, Norsk Lundehund
Colors Available:
Fawn, gray, yellow and black
Reddish/tan markings, black tips, white
Coat:
Long, shaggy, single-layer coat,
Medium length, double coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

cao da serra de airesAncestors 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.

norwegian lundehundThe Norwegian Lundehund hails from the island of Vaeroy, Norway and was created for the purpose of puffin hunting.

Now that these puffins are a protected species, the dog is no longer used for hunting and has become a companion dog.

The breed decreased in numbers during- and after World War II because the islands where he came from had an outbreak of distemper. It was in 1963 that another outbreak occurred and the dogs were almost wiped out. A breeding program saw their numbers being built up.

It was in 2011 that the dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Description

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.

norwegian lundehund puppy - descriptionAs a spitz-type dog, with the Lundehund you’ll recognize the typical spitz-dog characteristics – the erect ears and the tail that curves over the back.

He is a small to medium sized dog standing at 30 – 40cm and weighing 6 – 9kg. He is an active dog and is as agile as a fox.

He has a dense double coat which is white, reddish/tan with some black tips. He is a dog which sheds constantly.

Strangely this dog has 6 toes and his rear pads have elongated foot pads which have helped the dog be able to climb over rocks. He also has a flexible type of neck that is capable of craning back so that the head touches the spine. The dog has some unique features and wriggling in and out of small spaces is another of his characteristics. In fact he can do things that you would not imagine a dog could do.

Temperament:

When you have a Lundehund in your life you’ll agree he has a happy, amicable personality. He is non-aggressive.

He will require training and socialization as he is an independent dog who can be obstinate. He is quite aloof with strangers too and once he starts barking at them he tends to want to continue. Training him will put an end to that irritating behavior. He is a loving, loyal dog, enjoying the company of his human family.

Characteristics

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.

norwegian lundehund dog - characteristicsThe Norwegian Lundehund isn’t your everyday dog and in fact he is known as a primitive breed. Perhaps he wouldn’t be the best dog to have if you’re a first-time dog owners as training is quite difficult too.

People who are willing to take a chance on him say that with training and socialization he can become a loving canine companion.

Health Problems

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.

norwegian lundehund puppies - health problemsThe Lundehund is prone to digestive disorders but even so he has got a good chance of living to be 11, 12, 13 or 14 years of age with good care.

He is however, one of these dogs prone to health problems of which chronic intestinal disease is one. Its the kind of illness that can recur because it is resistant to treatment.

Experts on these dogs say that they should have a fecal test done every 6 months or so, saying that one thing a bit negative with this dog breed is that you may well be forking out quite a bit on chronic veterinary care.

Caring The Pet

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.

Diet:

norwegian lundehund dogs - caringLike any other dog, the Norwegian Lundehund will do well on the best quality food. If you buy him commercially manufactured food, check the ingredients on the packaging. Lots of these lower quality foods are made from ingredients that are toxic for your pet, so buy a good quality one.

Buy food according to your dog’s age and activity levels. To make his meals more interesting, add in some delicious home prepared food for him. Stay away from spicy, exotic foods and go for something like boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Some raw meat added to the kibble from time to time can also do wonders for your pet as he requires a high-protein diet. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Other ‘caring’ things to do to make sure your pet has a quality lifestyle is -

Brush his hair twice a week as he is a fairly heavy shedder. Not only does it keep the coat nice and shiny, it builds up a bond between you and your pet.

Check his ears and eyes regularly to make sure they are free from infection.

Clip his nails when they get long as your pet can hurt himself if the nails hook onto things.

Whenever he is ill, get him to the vet for a check-up.

Make sure he has a nice safe, dry, warm, snug place to sleep.

Keep him well exercised. A dog that is put into the backyard and more or less forgotten will be most miserable. Why get a pet if you don’t want to make him a 100% part of the family?

Comparison with other breeds

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  6. Cao da Serra de Aires vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  8. Cao da Serra de Aires vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Cao da Serra de Aires vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Cao da Serra de Aires vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Cao da Serra de Aires vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  13. Cao da Serra de Aires vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
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  24. Cao da Serra de Aires vs Askal - Breed Comparison
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  26. Norwegian Lundehund vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Norwegian Lundehund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Norwegian Lundehund vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Norwegian Lundehund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Lundehund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Norwegian Lundehund vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Norwegian Lundehund vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Norwegian Lundehund vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Norwegian Lundehund vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Norwegian Lundehund vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Norwegian Lundehund vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Norwegian Lundehund vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Norwegian Lundehund vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Norwegian Lundehund vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Norwegian Lundehund vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Norwegian Lundehund vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Norwegian Lundehund vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Norwegian Lundehund vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Norwegian Lundehund vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Norwegian Lundehund vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Norwegian Lundehund vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Norwegian Lundehund vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Norwegian Lundehund vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Norwegian Lundehund vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Norwegian Lundehund vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison