St. John's Water Dog vs Pugnaces Britanniae - Breed Comparison

Pugnaces Britanniae is originated from United Kingdom but St. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada. Pugnaces Britanniae may grow 22 cm / 9 inches higher than St. John's Water Dog. Pugnaces Britanniae may weigh 69 kg / 153 pounds more than St. John's Water Dog. Pugnaces Britanniae may live 3 years more than St. John's Water Dog. Pugnaces Britanniae may have more litter size than St. John's Water Dog. Both Pugnaces Britanniae and St. John's Water Dog requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Working dog
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United Kingdom
Canada
Height Male:
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Weight Female:
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
10 - 15
4 - 6
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
War Dog of Britannia
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
Colors Available:
brindle, tan, Fawn
black
Coat:
Short and smooth
short, thick coats
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

Pugnaces Britanniae is a dog which is now extinct. There isn't certainty surrounding the origins of the dog but it is thought they descended from dogs brought to Britain way back in the 6th century BC already.

These are ancient dogs, and when you do research you find references dating back to centuries ago. In fact when you read of the Roman conquest of Britain you read of huge dogs, which the Romans referred to as Pugnaces Britanniae.

It is believed that the English Mastiff descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae and that the dog was used as a war dog.

st john s water dogThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

Description

The Pugnaces Britanniae was a huge dog standing at roughly 67 to 75cm and weighing 52 to 110kg.

He was a heavily built dog, a Mastiff type dog that had a large head, broad muzzle with fairly loose skin around the mouth, brown eyes, a broad back and rump, muscular legs and floppy ears with a long tail. In fact the Mastiff, thought to have descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae, gives you an idea of what the dog looked like. He no doubt has a short, smooth coat available in fawn, tan or brindle and with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Pugnaces Britannia was a naturally aggressive dog so it is to be expected that he wouldn’t automatically have been a good family dog, possibly being aggressive around children and other dogs. They were intelligent and were no doubt taught some simple commands.

They were also very territorial dogs, wanting to instinctively chase and attack unknown people and animals. They were strong minded, confident, loyal ad loving dogs towards their owners, being protective of them, wanting to please them.

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

Characteristics

The Pugnaces Britanniae may well have been a large dog and quite imposing to look at but he was in all likelihood a good-natured pet who got on well with his family members, being loyal and loving if brought up correctly.

Long ago dog training and socialization didn’t exist but a large dog like this would have to be socialized and trained to become obedient and an amicable all-rounder.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

Health Problems

The Pugnaces Britanniae could live to 10, 11 or 12 years of age with good care. Large Mastiff type dogs like this would have had to watch out for common canine diseases such as hip dysplasia, cancer and bloat.

In those days, no screening tests were available for health problems like this. Gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat is a common health issue with large, deep chested dogs where the stomach fills with gas and the stomach twists. Its a life threatening disease.

Canine heart disease is another serious health issue with these mastiff type dogs. Early stages with heart disease show there may well be no symptoms at all. However, as the heart disease progresses towards congestive heart failure, the dog will have symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty with breathing, weight loss, a distended abdomen and coughing.

A dog with symptoms like this would have to see a vet immediately.

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

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Caring The Pet

Diet:

The diets of ancient dogs were different to what they are today, as in those days there were no commercially manufactured dog foods. Dog owners in all likelihood tossed scraps to them which included starch.

Today a large dog such as the extinct Pugnaces Britannia would have no doubt been fed a high quality kibble from a leading brand and packed with minerals and vitamins specially formulated for a large dog breed.

Homemade food is also important, but not any kind of food – it has to be food which doesn’t upset the dog’s digestive system. Simple but nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach is ideal for a dog, and when it is chopped up can be added twice a week to the dry kibble for a tasty, healthy treat.

Raw meat added in occasionally is also hugely beneficial. No dog should ever be without fresh, cool water constantly available.

Grooming:

As a short haired dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have required a brushing twice a week to rid the dog of loose hairs. Maybe in those days they didn’t check their dogs over to see that all was well, but today you would need to check the inside of the ears. If the insides were red, it could be a sign of an ear infection brought on by dampness, excess wax and dirt.

The eyes would need to be checked for discharge and the teeth checked a well. One rotten tooth can cause a lot of havoc. The nails of the dog would have had to be checked and clipped as well.

Exercise:

As a war dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have been fit. He is a big dog and while they require exercise such as walks and hide-and-seek type of games, he isn’t the kind of dog that would go running with you on a jog, as large, heavy dogs can overheat easily.

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

Comparison with other breeds

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