Muggin vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Muggin vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed ComparisonGreek Sheepdog is originated from Greece but Muggin is originated from United States. Greek Sheepdog may grow 61 cm / 25 inches higher than Muggin. Greek Sheepdog may weigh 28 kg / 62 pounds more than Muggin. Greek Sheepdog may live 3 years less than Muggin. Both Greek Sheepdog and Muggin has almost same litter size. Greek Sheepdog requires Moderate Maintenance. But Muggin requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Companion dog
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Greece
United States
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
10 - 14 cm
3 - 6 inches
Height Female:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
8 - 10 cm
3 - 4 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
12 - 22 kg
26 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
10 - 20 kg
22 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Small
Other Names:
Greek Shepherd, Olympus Dog
Carlin Pinscher Pug Miniature Pinscher Mix, , Pug-Pin, Pugscher, Min Pin Pug Mix
Colors Available:
White with red, black or brown markings
brown, black, golden, white and everything in between , cream
Coat:
Thick, double-coat, long hair
short and fine
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Loving, Loyal, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

greek sheepdogKnown as the Olympus Dog or even simply as the Greek Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog is a large to giant molosser dog from Greece. His purpose has always been to guard flocks and livestock from predators and he has been around for hundreds of years, looking much like the Great Pyrenees.

It is believed that the dog was likely bred with a number of breeds – both local and non-local dogs.

Unfortunately there were no records kept of the development of the breed but today the Greek Sheepdog remains a rare and fairly unknown breed outside of Greece.

It's numbers are dwindling in Greece too and since 1998 the Greek ARCTUROS has made attempts to save the breed, starting the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program.

mugginThe Muggin is not a purebred dog but rather a cross breed. The hybrid dog population has exploding in the United States in the past ten to fifteen years. A lot of the success of crossbreeding can be attributed to the marketing of these dogs as “Designer Breeds”.

Designer breeds are developed because someone wants some of the characteristics of Breed X and some of the characteristics of Breed Y. Therefore, Designer breed XY is developed. In order to understand this hybrid dog, you need to understand the two purebred breeds they come from. The Muggin is the result of crossing the purebred Pug and the purebred Miniature Pinscher or Min Pin. So, we need to look at the origins of these two purebred breeds.

They are also referred to as Pin Pugs, Min Pin Pug, Pug Pin, Pugscher and were originally the Carlin Pinscher. However, these days there are other breeds besides the Pug and Min Pin making up the gene pool for the Carlin Pinscher. Because of this the Muggin has been separated from the Carlin Pinscher. The American Canine Hybrid Club has accepted the Muggin name for the Pug Min Pin cross.

Pugs are originally a Chinese breed and they were companions rather than working dogs of any kind. During the Han Dynasty they were the dogs of royalty. At the same time there were dogs very much like the pug in Japan and Tibet. The Pugs came to Europe by way of trades with the Dutch who then brought them to Europe. They were named the Mopshond and they caught the eye of the royalty in Europe as well.

Pugs were imported to the United States after the U.S. Civil War and in 1885 they were recognized by the American Kennel Club and called Pugs.

The Min Pin traces its origins to Germany a few hundred years ago. They were “ratters”, guarding the house and stables from all types of vermin. Most dog people believe that the Min Pin is much older than this, perhaps by thousands of years. Yet there is no detailed history to support that. Most believe the breed comes from the German Pinscher line. There might also be some Daschund and Greyhound in that line.

They were once called the Reh Pinscher. This was their name when they came to North America in 1919 and then the breed was renamed in 1972. The Miniature Pinscher Club of America was started in the early 1900’s while the AKC recognized the Min Pin in 1929. Today the Miniature Pinscher is a family dog, a companion.

The Muggin is a loving and loyal dog. All they want is for you to be happy and to share that happiness with them. They can also easily become a one person dog and bond intensely with that one person. They are not a hybrid that you can leave home alone while you go to work for 8 to 10 hours a day. No, the Muggin needs attention and lots of it. Despite this they are great with both kids and other dogs.

Because they are a cross breed, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, some hybrid registries do recognize the Muggin. These include the Designer Breed Registry, the International Designer Canine Registry, The Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the American Canine Hybrid Club, and the Dog Registry of America.

Description

greek sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe Greek Sheepdog is a large dog, standing at 65 – 75cm and weighing roughly between 32 to 50kg. He is a dog that displays physical strength. He has a large head with brown eyes and a serious expression on his face. He has a thick double coat which is essentially white with red, black or brown markings.

You will also see tri-color dogs. He has floppy ears today but there was a time when the right ear of the male dog was cut off or cropped. The tail is long and bushy and it can be held low but also held up so that it curls over the back.

Temperament:

Maybe because of his size and him being a strong-willed, independent thinker, the Greek Shepherd may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner. Having said that, if you're a strong, firm, patient, kind person, then you'll be able to raise any kind of dog, first time or not.

The Greek Shepherd is a brave, loyal, calm, protective dog and with socialization and training, can make an awesome pet. They are dogs who are a bit suspicious with strangers, not making friends too easily. He loves his human family and wants to be part of their activities. He can't be left on his own day after day as this can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.

They've been dogs used to working with livestock and they will certainly need to be taken on daily walks and involved in rough and tumble games as they thrive on activity. The dog won't fit easily into city life where there is just a handkerchief-sized garden as he needs space and activity.

muggin puppy - descriptionAs previously mentioned, the Muggin is a cross between the Pug and the Miniature Pinscher. They are small, shave sturdy legs, floppy ears, and a wrinkled forehead for the most part. Like all hybrids however, all first generation dogs do not look the same. Some might resemble the Min Pin more and others the Pug. Some might have the stockier body of the Pug and the short tail of the Min Pin. Or one could have the Pug’s curly tail and the athletic body of the Min Pin. The snout can be short or long, the ears heavy and floppy or small and thin.

Their coats will usually be fine and short, and colors can vary a lot. They might be black and tan like a Min Pin, or more like a Pug with a solid color of cream, brown, black, white or golden. They also tend to shed quite a bit no matter which parent they take after the most. They will either have brown noses and black eyes or brown eyes and black noses or any combination of black and brown.

If Muggins are only bred to Muggins the second and third generations will resemble each other more than the first generations will. However, at this point many breeders will try to strengthen the breed by occasionally adding in to the gene pool other dog breeds.

Characteristics

greek sheepdog dog - characteristicsYour Greek Shepherd is an intelligent, independent dog who likes to show his loyalty and devotion to his owner.

He is a protective dog too and when trained and socialized makes an excellent family pet. These Molosser type dogs are formidable dogs known for their bravery and courage.

They're the type of dogs who like a strong leader-type of owner and when he gets someone who he can look up to as his leader, he becomes a loyal, devoted pet.

Children friendliness

muggin dog - characteristicsThey are good with children but should be supervised.

Special talents

Energetic and loving little dogs.

Adaptability

Very adaptable if taken for walks or has space in a yard. Can live anywhere under those circumstances.

Learning ability

Very intelligent but strong willed dog. Needs strong leadership from their person.

Health Problems

greek sheepdog puppies - health problemsWith good care and lots of love, this dog can live to be between 10 to 12 years of age. He is unlikely to get sick very often, but still it it wise to know of some of the health issues than can occur with large breed dogs like this.

Some diseases to look out for include -

Dilated cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart is enlarged and unable to have the right heart rhythm. The distended muscle isn't able to push the blood through the heart chambers to where it is needed. Cause for this dilated heart can be genetic, nutritional, infectious or metabolic.

Because taurine and carnitine are involved in good heart function, and low levels of these amino acids can cause symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation is useful, especially if you feel your dog isn't getting in the right kind of food.

Lyme Disease:

Borreliosis, a bacterial infection, causes Lyme disease, transmitted by the Ixodes tick. The tick bites the dog and the toxins gets into the dog's bloodstream, with the bacteria travelling to different parts of the body.

Typical symptoms in a dog includes loss of appetite, fever, no energy, swelling of joints and lameness, but symptoms can progress to kidney failure too or cardiac problems. Treatment will include antibiotics.

muggin puppies - health problemsThe first generation of Muggins may face all the health issues of either or both their parents, while second and third generations tend to have less health issues, They types of issues the first generation of Muggins might face include:

Nerve Degeneration – Degenerative Myelopathy or Dm – causes paralysis and eventually fatal.

  • Hip Dysplasia – causes lameness and arthritis.
  • Epilepsy – can be treated with medication to prevent seizures.
  • Patellar Luxation – kneecap movement can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • Hypothyroidism – responds to medication.
  • Demodectic Mange and skin issues including allergies
  • Eye issues – including cataracts and Cherry Eye.
  • Yeast and Staph infections
  • Myotonia Congenite -Rare disease cause muscle contractions and stiffness.
  • Von Willebrand’s – inherited clotting disorder – no treatment unless needing surgery
  • Congenital Magaeshphagus – enlarged esophagus from birth is treatable.
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes – small dog hip joint disorder causes lameness.
  • Liver Issues – cause discomfort and could be fatal
  • Reverse sneezing – minor issue not serious but may sound like the dog is choking.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

greek sheepdog dogs - caringThe coat of the Greek Shepherd is fairly long so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from matting and tangling. He is an average shedder and the brushing will remove all loose hairs, keeping the coat sleek and shiny.

Diet:

Feeding your Greek Sheepdog requires giving him top quality food as this will ensure he is healthy and can ward off common dog illnesses. If you're going to be feeding him kibble, make sure to go for the top quality brands, and as a treat for your pet you can add in some brown rice, pasta, brown bread, cooked chicken and vegetables.

Dogs are essentially carnivores and he will need to have some raw meat such as beef added into his kibble from time to time. He should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding the puppy

muggin dogs - caringThis crossbreed has a definite propensity to overeat and become obese from puppyhood. Feed the puppy a small dog dry food 3-4 times a day a total of ¾ of a cup to 1 cup.

Feeding the adult

Again don’t over feed the adult Muggin or he will become obese easily. Feed at least twice a day one to one and half cups total.

Points for Good Health

High Energy

Games and Exercises

With the athleticism of the Min Pin taking precedence over the less active Pug, the Muggin is a fairly active dog. The Muggin is also not effective by the Pug’s difficulty with heat and cold. They love to go on long walks and need exercise to keep from being bored and destructive. However, remember there is a Pug in your Muggin and if she is not into exercise don’t try to get her to do more than she can.

You do want your Muggin to get enough exercise to fend off any tendency to be overweight. They are good at agility, jogging, obedience and watchdog activities.

Comparison with other breeds

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  30. Greek Sheepdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Greek Sheepdog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  38. Greek Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Greek Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Greek Sheepdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Greek Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Greek Sheepdog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Greek Sheepdog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Greek Sheepdog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Greek Sheepdog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Greek Sheepdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Greek Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Greek Sheepdog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Greek Sheepdog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Greek Sheepdog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison