Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Old Danish Pointer - Breed Comparison

Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Old Danish Pointer - Breed ComparisonOld Danish Pointer is originated from Denmark but Rafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal. Old Danish Pointer may grow 15 cm / 5 inches shorter than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Old Danish Pointer may weigh 25 kg / 55 pounds lesser than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Both Old Danish Pointer and Rafeiro do Alentejo has almost same life span. Old Danish Pointer may have less litter size than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Old Danish Pointer requires Low Maintenance. But Rafeiro do Alentejo requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
undefined
Denmark
Portugal
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
26 - 35 kg
57 - 78 pounds
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
26 - 35 kg
57 - 78 pounds
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Old Danish Chicken Dog
Portuguese Mastiff
Colors Available:
freckling, White with reddish brown patches
Fawn, cream and black. , white, a wolf grey
Coat:
Smooth and short haired
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, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

old danish pointerHailing from Denmark, the Old Danish Pointer originates back to 1710 and has been used as a pointing breed for finding game.

Today they are essentially used as pet companions. Morten Bak mated local farm dogs with gypsy breeds, leading to the development of piebald purebred dogs. These were named Old Danish Pointers.

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

old danish pointer puppy - descriptionThe Old Danish Pointer is a medium-sized, purebred dog standing at between 50 and 60cm in height and weighing between 26 and 35kg.

This beautiful dog is muscular and lean with a broad head, floppy ears and a long thin tail. The coat is smooth and short haired and is white with large reddish brown patches as well as some freckling.He is an average shedding dog.

He has dark brown eyes. He is amicable and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other dogs. Even so, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he becomes obedient and more amicable than he already is. If you decide to go in for breeding your dog, you can expect 4 to 6 puppies.

Temperament:

Quiet, calm and steady, the Danish Pointer is also stubborn, and this is why training and socialization is so important for him.

Outdoors and perhaps on a hunt he becomes highly animated and alive, but back home with his family he is a calm, loving, devoted family pet and loves spending time with his human family. He forms a close bond with his human owner and when he is well trained, he likes to please his owner.

He is intelligent too and finds learning new things easy.

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

old danish pointer dog - characteristicsNot only is the Old Danish Pointing Dog an excellent hunter, he is also friendly and loving when he is just being a pet.

These dogs are quiet, amicable pets enjoying the time they spend with their human family. He is low maintenance, he gets on well with children and other pets and he doesn’t spend his time barking endlessly at nothing.

When you take this well mannered, quiet, loving dog into your home, you can be prepared to have up to 14 brilliant years of companionship from him.

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

old danish pointer puppies - health problemsThe Old Danish Pointer is a healthy dog and you’re not likely to be spending too much time at the vet with him.

However there are always dog illnesses that you need to look out for, and hip dysplasia is always on the top of the list.

Hip Dysplasia:

While this disease is more prevalent in larger dogs, it can strike smaller dogs too, and in fact dogs of any age. This is a condition where the hip joint doesn’t form properly, so that arthritis and inflammation sets in. It is very sad as you notice your once active dog becoming increasingly immobilized with pain and discomfort.

Eye and Ear Infections:

Eye infections can include entropion and ectropion – conditions where the eyelids irritate the surface of the eye.

Ear infections too, can cause your pet a lot of distress and he will shake his head and scratch his ears. Inside the ears, it will be red and possibly there will be a discharge. This is also more prevalent among dogs with floppy ears. The idea is to try and keep the inside of the ears clean and dry.

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

Grooming:

old danish pointer dogs - caringWith his short coat, the Old Danish Pointer is looked upon as a low maintenance breed. You can brush him twice a week and at the same time check him over for fleas and ticks, ear and eye infections as well as dental infections.

Check his nails too, as many dogs have been injured when their long nails have hooked onto things and ripped open the flesh. When he gets used to it, your pet will find these grooming sessions therapeutic and relaxing, loving the bonding time you spend with him.

Exercise:

Your beautiful Old Danish Pointer loves to spend time outdoors and he is far better suited to life in the countryside and in the suburbs as opposed to life in the city. Give him the chance to take part in a hunt, and he’ll relish it. He also loves long walks where he can even perhaps be let off the leash as well as the chance to go swimming. He is at his happiest when he is tired at the end of the day from hiking, running, swimming and camping.

Diet:

You can conveniently feed your Old Danish Pointer from the top quality commercially manufactured foods. Just be sure to check the labeling as you want to be sure he gets in the right amount of vitamins and minerals and avoids those foods high in colorants, preservatives and useless fillers.

Keep your dog’s diet simple and nutritious and try to add in some homemade food to his kibble from time to time. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots will keep him healthy and active. You can also try to include some raw meat occasionally.

Make sure he always has access to cool, fresh drinking water.

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. Old Danish Pointer vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Old Danish Pointer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Old Danish Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Old Danish Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Old Danish Pointer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Old Danish Pointer vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Old Danish Pointer vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Old Danish Pointer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Old Danish Pointer vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Old Danish Pointer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Old Danish Pointer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Old Danish Pointer vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Old Danish Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Old Danish Pointer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Old Danish Pointer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Old Danish Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Old Danish Pointer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Old Danish Pointer vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Old Danish Pointer vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Old Danish Pointer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Old Danish Pointer vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Old Danish Pointer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Old Danish Pointer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Old Danish Pointer vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Old Danish Pointer vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison