Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Norwich Terrier - Breed Comparison

Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Norwich Terrier - Breed ComparisonNorwich Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Rafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal. Norwich Terrier may grow 50 cm / 19 inches shorter than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Norwich Terrier may weigh 54 kg / 119 pounds lesser than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Both Norwich Terrier and Rafeiro do Alentejo has almost same life span. Norwich Terrier may have less litter size than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Both Norwich Terrier and Rafeiro do Alentejo requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Working dog
undefined
United Kingdom
Portugal
Height Male:
23 - 25 cm
9 - 10 inches
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
23 - 25 cm
9 - 10 inches
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
5 - 6 kg
11 - 14 pounds
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 6 kg
11 - 14 pounds
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 3
4 - 10
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
None
Portuguese Mastiff
Colors Available:
Wheaten, red, grizzle, tan, black and tan
Fawn, cream and black. , white, a wolf grey
Coat:
Wiry double coat, medium length
Short to medium length, dense
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, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

norwich terrierHailing from the United Kingdom and once known as the Cantab Terrier, the Norwich Terrier may be small, but he was bred to hunt rodents.

Closely related to the Norfolk Terrier, he is an old dog breed, having existed since the 19th century. Its understandable that such a dog would also be the mascot of Cambridge students.

It is believed that he was bred from Irish Terriers and some believe it came from the Trumpington Terrier, an extinct breed.

rafeiro do alentejoKnown also as the Portuguese Mastiff, the Rafeiro do Alentejo comes from Portugal and has always been used as guardian for livestock. Their numbers declined quite a bit when there was no longer a need for this kind of job.Today it is essentially a companion dog.

The official standard of the Rafeiro do Alentejo was established in 1953. The dog is is recognized as a breed by the Portuguese Caniculture Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Interationale.

Description

norwich terrier puppy - descriptionAs one of the smallest terriers, the Norwich Terrier is also quite a rare dog breed. He is such a cute little dog this, weighing just 5 to 5.5kg and standing at between 23–25cm at the withers.

He has erect ears and a double coat that can be wheaten, red, tan, black and tan and grizzle. The tail has always been docked previously, giving the dog an attractive, compact look but these days it is left long. These dogs have small litters – usually between one and three puppies.

Temperament:

The Norwich Terrier is a friendly little dog and is essentially a companion to humans. Just because he is small, doesn’t mean he is frail and helpless. He is a feisty, hardy dog with a brave heart and just loves his human family.

The Norwich Terrier is also strong willed and assertive and it can be of benefit to have him trained and socialized. He is energetic too, so he’ll expect a walk each day, a run in the park and ball games. They also make excellent little watchdogs, at least warning you of approaching strangers.

They are good with kids if the children have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals, and they get on well with other pets in the home too.

rafeiro do alentejo puppy - descriptionThe Alentejo is a large dog standing at between 64 and 75cm in height and weighing 45 to 60kg. He is a powerful dog with a deep chest, dark eyes, floppy ears. His coat is short to medium length, thick and straight. The color of the coat is a mix of fawn, a wolf grey, white, cream and black.

Temperament:

This is a serious dog with a calm demeanour about him. It doesn’t matter how calm he is though, as every dog will require training ad socialization if you want to enjoy having an obedient, well mannered dog around you. This is particularly important with a large, independent, self-confident, territorial dog like this.

He isn’t an aggressive dog but he is protective, wanting to guard and look out for his human family. They are dogs that get on well with children and other pets in the home, being wary of strangers.

They’re not recommended for life in small properties in the city as he requires a large garden at least.

Characteristics

norwich terrier dog - characteristicsThe Norwich Terrier is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet as he is active, friendly, social and intelligent, as well as being loving and loyal.

You can rely on this little canine friend to want to be with you and take part in all your activities. He won’t do well if you put him in the back yard and forget about him, as he craves human company.

When you do whatever it takes to ensure your Norwich Terrier is an active and treasured member of your family, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful pet and companion for many years.

rafeiro do alentejo dog - characteristicsThe Rafeiro do Alentejo is a quiet dog, but intelligent and strong-willed. Training and socialization will make him easy to get on with.

He will become an excellent companion, and can come indoors because he is well mannered and considerate. He was bred to be a guard dog, and the responsibilities he had taking care of livestock has been transferred to looking out for- and protecting his human family.

He makes a wonderful pet and companion, even with children and other pets, more so when brought up correctly by loving, firm, consistent dog owners.

Health Problems

norwich terrier puppies - health problemsThe lifespan of the Norwich Terrier is between 11 and 13 years and he is considered a healthy breed. Every dog owner needs to know that there are some health issues which will require veterinary intervention.

Cataracts, an eye disease may be inherited and it is where the eye gets a cloudy look. Other illnesses to look out for include Patellar Luxation, a problem where the dog's kneecap is dislocated from its normal anatomic position. The condition is fairly common in small dog breeds.

Check problems with the teeth - more specifically incorrect bites because of how the teeth meet.

Sometimes these dogs can battle with breathing problems. Upper Airway Syndrome is when the dogs breathing is raspy.

rafeiro do alentejo puppies - health problemsThe Rafeiro do Alentejo is a generally healthy dog breed, and with good care can get to 11, 12 or 13 years of age.

Of course with a large dog like this, it is always a good idea to be aware of canine hip dysplasia, particularly because this is a large dog with a deep chest.

This makes him also vulnerable to bloat, a condition where the stomach swells with gas and which can be life threatening. Other things to watch for are ear infections and parasites.

Caring The Pet

norwich terrier dogs - caringNorwich Terriers are active little dogs and were bred to be working dogs – hunting vermin but also accompanying their owners on horseback. You can see that he has been used to an active lifestyle and will require a daily walk and games. He will also want toys which can keep him occupied in between his active sessions.

His size allows him to adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside but wherever he is, he will need a good dose of exercise.

Grooming:

The double coated Norwich Terrier, with his wiry topcoat and soft undercoat will need to be brushed twice a week to avoid matting. This is a dog that will require stripping of the old hairs from the coat. This is a process which ensures the coat retaining its texture and appearance.

If you’re in any kind of doubt, speak to a professional groomer. As it is, many owners of this dog who don’t show their dogs, have them professionally groomed.

Diet:

Always choose a high-quality dry food. Try and avoid those commercially manufactured foods which contain wheat and gluten and lots of preservatives and colorants. These can affect your pet’s health negatively.

Choose quality foods where protein is at the top of the list of ingredients. Give your pet some homemade food too, keeping his diet as simple and nutritious as possible. Some boiled chicken chopped up together with brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach will do him the world of good.

A tiny bit of raw meat every once and again will be a good thing. Avoid foods such as chocolates, ice-cream, popcorn, onions and spicy foods as these will upset your pet’s digestive system.

Make sure he always as fresh, cool water available.

General Care:

Provide him with a warm, dry, soft bed. If he is outside for any length of time, make sure he has a sheltered area away from the sun and rain.

Grooming:

rafeiro do alentejo dogs - caringMake your grooming time with this serious, calm canine friend of yours a special bonding time. His coat simply requires a brush twice a week to keep it healthy and shiny.

While bushing him, run your hands over him to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Check inside the floppy ears to make sure they’re not red which could be the start of a painful ear infection.

Look a his nails and trim them if they’ve become too long. Check inside his mouth and make sure there aren’t any black, rotten teeth as this can seriously impact the health of your pet.

Exercise:

Options for exercise will include long walks and a chance to run off his leash. In the back yard it will be to his benefit to throw balls for him to fetch. You can even bring him indoors and play some calm games with him. He should have exercise every single day.

Diet:

Good food is needed for good health. It is always convenient to make use of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are on the market.

You don’t want to feed this to your dog day after day so provide your pet with some tasty home-made food too. Dogs want simplicity and consistency with their diets so they don’t battle with upset stomachs and an unnecessary trip to the vet.

Some home-cooked food twice a week and added to the dry kibble can keep him healthy and happy. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be perfect for him. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week.

Some people even cook it in bulk, refrigerate it and warm up small portions to add to the kibble. Raw meat added in occasionally can also be a good treat. Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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