American Staghound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison

American Staghound vs Africanis - Breed ComparisonAfricanis is originated from South Africa but American Staghound is originated from United States. Africanis may grow 17 cm / 6 inches shorter than American Staghound. Both Africanis and American Staghound are having almost same weight. Both Africanis and American Staghound has almost same life span. Africanis may have more litter size than American Staghound. Both Africanis and American Staghound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
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South Africa
United States
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
67 - 77 cm
26 - 31 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
63 - 75 cm
24 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 45 kg
55 - 100 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 45 kg
55 - 100 pounds
22 - 39 kg
48 - 86 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
3 - 5
Size:
Large
Giant
Other Names:
Bantu Dog, African Dog, Umbwa Wa Ki-Shenzi, Khoikhoi Dog, Hottentot Hunting Dog, Zulu Dog
AS
Colors Available:
Tan, White, Black, Brown and Black & Tan
Any
Coat:
Short, Hard and Thick
Shag, Slick or Broken
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Friendly, Independent, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

History

africanisAfricanis is one of the original African breeds. This breed was not shaped by humans, but they went through the process of natural selection. Humans did not affect this breed by standard breeding practices. Through the history, this breed became stronger and stronger because only the strongest of the breed survived. Africanis descent is the early dog that is originally from ancient Egypt. Approximately 4500 BC was the period of first data about this breed.

As time passes through, Africanis became more and more popular through the whole continent. This breed migrated with people for thousands of years, and now, a modern Africanis is similar to Greyhound dog. The original Africanis can be found in tribes and more traditional people. One of the oldest breeds in the world is one of the lasts that has been recognized by Kennel Union of Southern Africa.

american staghoundThe American Staghound is hunting dog and type of sighthound that is not recognized as a separate breed. They have historically been bred to hunt coyotes and then other game. Even though they are not considered a separate breed some of their breeding lines have existed much longer than some officially recognized breeds. The American Staghound is a cross between the Greyhound and the Scottish Deerhound. There was probably some Borzoi mixed in as well. The Staghound is believed to have traveled with General Custer across the American West. The breed is a long-legged running dog with the speed of a Greyhound, the sighting ability of sight hounds and more endurance than any running breed. They are incredible athletes with amazing agility and have been bred to course game – coyotes mostly – and therefore are bred with a very intense prey drive. In the past they chased stags and deer and today they chase coyotes and hare. Coyotes are much faster than wolves and fight just as hard. The American Staghound is the only breed fast enough to track down the coyote. However, the breed is not recognized by the AKC. Hunting with an American Staghound today is not very different from hunting with them in medieval times. Strict breeding practices and the non-commercialization of the breed has led to the almost perfect preservation of this hunting breed. They have not changed very much over the centuries. They have been breeding Staghound to Staghound since the early 1800’s. At times very, good hunting dogs from Greyhound and Deerhound stock are added to the mix. For hundreds of years now the closed breeding has led to what might be the finest coyote chasing sighthound possible.

Description

africanis puppy - descriptionAfricanis origins from South Africa. The average Africanis weights 25-45 kg, with a height of 50-60cm, while females are slightly smaller. They are medium sized dogs who are friendly, but also independent and territorial. They can are good pets for training, but it requires persistent work.

The lifespan of Africans is 10-12 years, but lifespan always depends on health, genetics, and care of the dog. Therefore, if they are healthy and well cared they can live longer than average.

Litter Size variates a lot, so female can have 2-8 puppies.

american staghound puppy - descriptionWhen you look at the American Staghound you can clearly see the Scottish Deerhound and the Greyhound lines. They have strong running muscles in their long legs and deep chest. He is of course a sight hound, so his vision is acute. His running endurance is second to none. It is this endurance in running all day that makes the American Staghound difference from the Scottish Deerhound and the Greyhound. Yes, both the Deerhound are greyhound are great runners, but the American Staghound runs just as fast with an endurance level ten times that of the other hounds. His heavy bones structure and thick skin are also different from the other racing fast sight hounds.

Characteristics

africanis dog - characteristicsAfricanis is a very good and healthy breed. They are very intelligent and friendly breed. They are not an aggressive breed, but they tend to protect the master. Africanis is a natural guard dog. This breed is used to being alone because for the centuries they migrated close to humans, but they also have been independent.

Training Africanis is not very hard. They tend to learn very quickly. Positive training with awards is the best way to train your Africanis. The old-fashioned way of training dogs with punishment is not recommendable for Africanis. They are intelligent breed who requires patience and constancy.

They are very good with other animals too, but they need proper socialization. Africanis requires daily exercise so if you keep your dog in the apartment it should have few daily walks. Africanis can live in the apartments though.

Overall, they are very healthy breed, so with regular vet checks and proper care, they are perfect pets for the whole family since they are great and gentle with small children and kids.

american staghound dog - characteristicsThis dog was bred to run fast and long after something it sees. They are not considered hyperactive but won’t live well in a confined space such as an apartment or condo. You will need a single-family house with a large yard. Though they are affectionate, family dogs, they are not cut out to be guard dogs. They are not especially protective or territorial, though they may bark at what they can see in the distance. They are calm in their homes if exercised enough and great with children. They are often gentle and loving. They are pack oriented and accept other dogs, but they are not welcoming toward cats or other prey sized animals. Be careful with the AS around small children as he might knock them down or see them as prey as well. They consider anything smaller that runs to be prey. When chasing prey, they are not only fast and enduring, they are tenacious and courageous. Remember that this is a breed that has been bred true in order to hunt and only in order to hunt. Their hunting instincts will override almost any other. Over the centuries only the best hunters were allowed to be bred so that only the best hunters would be born.

Health Problems

africanis puppies - health problemsThe great thing about Africanis is that this breed is very healthy. Thousands of years of evolution made this breed one of the toughest breeds in the world. They can survive very tough conditions. Africanis has a very healthy immune system too. It evolves so strong that there are no internal or external parasites that can harm the dog.

american staghound puppies - health problemsThe American Staghound has been bred so consistently within the breed and true that they exhibit very few health problems. All running dogs are susceptible to joint issues, but the Staghound has less than most. Two issues they do face more often are a problem with anesthesia if they ever need it and the propensity to be vulnerable to bloat. Since they are a centuries old hybrid there are no real health issues born of genetics.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the Africanis

africanis dogs - caringAfricanis has used to eat everything, so this breed does not require any special treatments. 2-2.5 cups of dry high-quality food would be more than enough to have healthy and well feed the dog. But have in mind that feeding the dog depends on daily activity and size. If the dog is more active, an extra cup wouldn’t be a problem for a dog to eat.

Feeding Africanis puppy

Africanis puppy should eat more times per day than an adult dog. 3-5 meals per day of quality dry food are good measure to feed your puppy Africanis.

Grooming Africanis

Since Africanis has short hair they are very easy to groom and care. Few brushes on a weekly basis with occasional bathing would be more than enough to have a clean and healthy dog.

Feeding

american staghound dogs - caringIt is important that you don’t ever over feed you American Staghound as they are thin and bred to run. Even though they are heavier boned than their closest relatives, they are still very susceptible to obesity if overfed. The adult AS should be fed about 4-6 cups of dry food every day in at least 2 meals but 3 of more would be better. This will prevent bloat.

Health issues

As previously mentioned there are no genetic issues with the health of the American Staghound. Bred for one reason and one reason alone for many centuries has led to this healthy state. Also, as stated previously they can have issues with bloat and anesthesia. The issue with anesthesia comes from the fact that the American Staghound has very little body fat to muscle ration. The issue with bloat or torsion can be avoided with many smaller meals and not running your Staghound right after they eat a large meal.

Exercise and games

Of course, the American Staghound loves to run and if you are not going to hunt with her, you will have to find another source of vigorous physical activity. Every day from puppyhood on the AS must be stimulated mentally and physically in order to grow and mature correctly. He must have a home where the freedom to run is an everyday experience, not a dog park once a week. If you ride bikes, race walk or run on a daily basis this might be the dog for you. They obviously excel at games like lure coursing and can be good at agility.

Comparison with other breeds

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