Podenco Andaluz vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison

Podenco Andaluz vs Cretan Hound - Breed ComparisonCretan Hound is originated from Greece but Podenco Andaluz is originated from Spain. Cretan Hound may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Podenco Andaluz. Cretan Hound may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Podenco Andaluz. Both Cretan Hound and Podenco Andaluz has almost same life span. Both Cretan Hound and Podenco Andaluz has almost same litter size. Cretan Hound requires Moderate Maintenance. But Podenco Andaluz requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
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Greece
Spain
Height Male:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
20 - 22 kg
44 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
20 - 22 kg
44 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
2 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Kritikos Lagonikos, Kressa Kyon, Ntopio
Andalusian Hound
Colors Available:
grey, Fawn, sandy, tri-colored , white, black or brindle
plain brown, Reddish brown, patches of white
Coat:
Short and smooth
Short to medium length
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cretan houndAlthough the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

podenco andaluzThe Podenco Andaluz hails from the Andalusian region of southern Spain. It is believed that this dog is likely to have descended from the European hunting dog.

Because of the lack of distinctive characteristics, and also the similarities the dog shares with other dog breeds, the dog isn’t typically recognized in its own right. They have always been used as hunting dogs. The Andaluz is actually one of the lesser known Podencos and it isn’t recognized by the FCI.

Description

cretan hound puppy - descriptionKnown for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

podenco andaluz puppy - descriptionThere are three different Andalusian Hounds - small, medium and large, but for the sake of space, we refer to the medium sized dog. The medium sized dog stands at between 42 and 53cm and weighs roughly 20 – 22kg.

The dog has short hair, large erect ears and a long tail. Regarding color, most of these dogs are a reddish brown or plain brown color with some having patches of white.

Temperament:

The Andaluz is a dog which is reserved with strangers, but with their owners they are loyal and loving and never aggressive. The Andaluz is considered a one-man dog but he is more than capable of showing love and affection for all members of his human family.

This dog will benefit from training and socialization as this makes him more sure of himself and more obedient. He is an intelligent dog and won’t battle to learn simple commands. You’ll find your Podenco Andaluz to be sweet, calm and gentle indoors with training. He loves to lie close up to you,preferably on the couch right next to you!

Characteristics

cretan hound dog - characteristicsThe Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

podenco andaluz dog - characteristicsThis dog has always been a hunting dog, and an excellent one at that. These days he is also a companion animal. It is very sad that these dogs have been given a cruel deal in Spain.

For those that make it into a loving home, they have proved to make excellent low maintenance dogs who are willing to provide their human family with faithful love and companionship that only a dog can provide.

Health Problems

cretan hound puppies - health problemsThe Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

podenco andaluz puppies - health problemsYour Podenco Andaluz is a robust dog breed and doesn’t battle with any health conditions. However, having said that, every dog can battle with some of the more common dog illnesses, and then your dog may well have to visit the vet.

Remember, that to give your dog the best chance, the dog should receive vaccinations to protect him from some life-threatening diseases.

Leishmaniasis:

This disease is brought about by the protozoan parasite Leishmania. The dog gets into trouble with this disease when sand-flies transmit parasites into the skin of the dog. The disease spreads to most organs, with kidney failure being the most common cause of death.

Heartworms:

This is a fatal disease that is contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is serious and will require veterinary intervention as its a disease that can create problems with the animal’s heart.

Rabies:

This is a fatal viral disease that can be passed on to your pet and affects the central nervous system. A dog with rabies is nearly always a dead dog, sadly. Symptoms include excess drooling, aggression and seizures.

Caring The Pet

cretan hound dogs - caringYou’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Exercise:

podenco andaluz dogs - caringThis has always been a hunting dog so he is used to running long distances. He is best suited to life in the countryside as opposed to life on a small property in the city. You will certainly need to take him on walks. If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, you can take bat and ball and hit the ball hard with the beach-bat, allowing your dog to race at top speed to fetch it.

Grooming:

Regular brushing, at least twice a week will be required for the Podenco Andaluz. It’s a good idea to check your dog over for any odd lumps and for ticks and fleas. Keep his nails trimmed and check his ears and eyes for infection.

Diet:

Every dog requires a good diet if good health and longevity are to be expected. Always check the labels of commercially manufactured dog foods to ensure that your dog gets a good dose of protein in.

The best quality foods have a good balance of vitamins and minerals in them, whereas some of the poorer quality foods have bad ingredients such as preservative, colorants and fillers.

Try and give your dog some wholesome home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots. Also, some raw meat occasionally will benefit your dog too, after all dogs have always been carnivores.

Comparison with other breeds

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