Istrian Sheepdog vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison

Unfortunately the Island of Cyprus may well be beautiful and have a wonderful climate, but when you take a deeper look, the island has a serious problem with feral cats and stray dogs.

The many sanctuaries battle to keep up with the volume of neglected and abandoned animals on the island. One of the dogs found on the Island of Cyprus is the Cyprus Poodle. Some people say that the Cyprus Poodle is a cross between a poodle and a terrier.

Today this small dog is sought after in other countries for his loving personality and attractive looks.

Known also as the Karst Sheepdog, the beautiful, medium sized Istrian Sheepdog hails from Slovenia, Yugoslavia in the 1600s, being used to guard sheep. In fact, the Karst Shepherd was recognized as the Illyrian Shepherd in 1939.

The dog is fairly scarce in his own country, but interest in the dog started developing in the late 1970s. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes the breed and it has also been exported to the United States, being recognized by the United Kennel Club.

It is also recognized by a number of smaller kennel clubs. The dogs numbers have declined at certain periods in its history but fortunately breeding programs boosted its numbers.

The Cyprus Poodle is such an attractive little dog with his jaunty personality and his dense, curly hair.

He stands in the region of 20 to 30cm and can weigh roughly 3 to 6kg. His hair is essentially cream or white with orangey tips and some people claim he is a cross between a poodle and a terrier.

He is a small dog. His curly coat is woolly and can be in a number of different colors such as white, ivory or apricot or even other colors.

The curly haired Cyprus Poodle isn’t a huge shedder but regular clipping keeps him looking nice and makes sure the coat doesn’t matt.

He has floppy ears, a long tail and brown eyes. He loves to go for a swim and then to dart around the place so he may require a bath every now and again to keep his beautiful coat clean and free of matting.

Temperament:

The Cyprus Poodle is an even tempered dog and he makes the perfect family pet, forming close bonds with his human family members.

He is playful, social and friendly and gets on well with children in the home as well as any other pets. He may be a small, friendly dog, but he will need training and socialization if you want him to be obedient and relaxed around other people.

This is a medium sized, muscled, strong dog with an iron-grey coat that has shades of deeper grey. His beautiful coat is long, thick and fairly harsh to the touch, with the undercoat protecting the dog against cold weather.

Around the neck area the hair is longer, forming an eye-catching-like mane. The stomach area has longer hair too. He has a noble look about him with kind, brown eyes and a round skull. The muzzle of the dog is dark, the limbs long and muscular and the tail is long and covered in thick fur.

The dog is slightly longer than its height, and both males and females stand at 54 to 63cm in height and weigh between 26 and 40kg. The long tail reaches right down to the hocks. The ears of the dog are fairly short and are floppy.

Temperament:

This dog has always made an excellent guard dog, being alert and also being distrustful of strangers. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient to you and more amicable around children in the home as well as visitors to the home.

If he is trained and well socialized, he is able to make a good pet. However, he is an energetic dog, used to working and he isn't recommended for life in the city if there is only a tiny garden. He needs space and will require a large garden.

He will also need to be exercised and not just left to his own devices in the backyard. Because he is essentially a working dog he doesn’t easily fit into the role of pet and companion. He is a working dog and will need to be kept busy.

Your Cyprus Poodle is just dying to be a member of a human family because he has a lot of love and friendliness to give.

He wants lots of love and attention in return though. He doesn’t like to be put out in the garden and forgotten about. Make sure that he is a fully involved family member.

He is such a friendly, loving, social little dog and in exchange for your love and care, he is guaranteed to make you a most wonderful and loyal friend.

Your Istrian Sheepdog is a unique, strong-willed dog that is used to guarding, and working and he wants to be kept involved and busy.

He is wary of strangers and makes an excellent guard dog for any family home. Remember that it is never good to invest in a dog purely for guard dog purposes. A dog such as the Istrian Sheepdog is a social creature and he also wants- and needs to be part of a human family that provides him with plenty of interaction with them.

The Istrian Sheepdog is a loyal, loving dog who is capable of forming strong bonds with his human family. With proper training and socialization he makes a good friend of children and the elderly too.

Include him in all your family activities just like any human family member and he will make you a splendid, courageous pet.

Because the Cyprus Poodle is a cross-breed, he is a robust, long-life dog and not likely to get ill very easily.

Your Cyprus Poodle can have between 1 to 6 puppies but there are tremendous health benefits waiting for your pet when you ensure that he is rather neutered or spayed in the case of a female. Make sure too that he has all his vaccinations up to date. Make sure he has an excellent diet, a warm, dry place to sleep, he is exercised and that he gets regular check-ups from the vet.

There are some common dog illnesses that you want to look out for. When he is a puppy make sure that he gets the necessary vaccination against life threatening illnesses such as parvovirus, distemper and rabies.

There are some diseases that do affect poodles a little more than with other breeds, and one of these is Cushing’s Disease.

Cushing's Disease:

This is an illness that comes about when the body of your dogs makes too much cortisol. It is difficult for you to see symptoms of this disease in your pet, but if he is displaying unusual behavior, then you want to get him to the vet who can decide on treatment for him.

As with many other dog breeds, the Istrian Sheepdog is a healthy dog that, because of history of hard work, is robust and able to stand up well to common dog illnesses.

However there is one dog illness that strikes many dogs and at any age, and it is hip dysplasia. This is a malformation of the hip joints.

You'll notice that your once active dog is lethargic, doesn't want to play so much anymore and battles to get up after lying down. The disease is painful for your dog and it can lead to mobility issues. The disease is diagnosed with x-rays and your vet will recommend treatment options to make life more comfortable and less painful for your beloved pet.

Diet:

A cyprus poodle makes such a good pet and you will want to ensure that you feed your one an excellent diet so that he remains healthy and content.

Some people are overwhelmed at the sheer variety of commercially manufactured dog foods today, but the choice can be made a lot simpler by sticking to the better quality ones where protein is at the top of the ingredients list.

Home made food such as cooked brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken will be excellent for your Cyprus Poodle as well as including some raw meat in the diet. Make sure he always has access to cool, clean water as this water is essential to his health, making it possible for all his bodily functions.

Grooming:

Brush his hair regularly and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week. Make sure to use toothpaste and toothbrush specially designed for dogs.

Exercise:

Your poodle will happily slot into life with you in the city or the country, but even if you have a garden, you can’t expect your dog to always find his own entertainment. Take your poodle for walks and play games with him so that he remains healthy and content.

Exercise:

This is a dog that is used to guarding his flock and he will need to be in a home that has a fair sized garden. He can adapt to life in the city or to the countryside, but wherever he is, he will need sufficient exercise. Take him with you on your walks or hikes and give him some rope- and ball games.

General Care:

Wherever you live in the world, when the Winter winds howl and blow in icy rain or snow, a dog is at an increased risk of illness. You decided to have a dog in your home and it is your responsibility to care for him. Winter weather is downright unpleasant and dangerous for most pets.

Bring your pet in during such weather and provide him with a warm, dry sleeping space. During hot weather, make sure your pet has a cool, shady spot to lie down in, out of the boiling sun. Whatever weather you're experiencing, your pet should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide him with excellent food that is full of vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. Learn to know what human foods can be toxic for him and cause him digestive problems.

Grooming:

Your double coated Istrian Sheepdog will need a thorough brushing at least twice a week because of his dense, double coat. He does shed and isn't a hypoallergenic dog. His thick coat can tangle easily if it isn't properly brushed and maintained.

Clip his nails when and if they grow long. Other grooming aspects for this attractive dog require checking his ears for infection and also checking his teeth as dental disease can lead to a host of serious illnesses in your dog.