Norrbottenspets vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison

American Molossus is originated from United States but Norrbottenspets is originated from Sweden. American Molossus may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Norrbottenspets. American Molossus may weigh 33 kg / 73 pounds more than Norrbottenspets. Both American Molossus and Norrbottenspets has almost same life span. American Molossus may have more litter size than Norrbottenspets. American Molossus requires Moderate Maintenance. But Norrbottenspets requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Hound dog
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United States
Sweden
Height Male:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
42 - 46 cm
16 - 19 inches
Height Female:
51 - 60 cm
20 - 24 inches
42 - 46 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
38 - 48 kg
83 - 106 pounds
8 - 15 kg
17 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 43 kg
70 - 95 pounds
8 - 15 kg
17 - 34 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
3 - 5
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
American Molosser • American Brabanter • American Bullenbeisser
Norrbottenspitz, Nordic Spitz
Colors Available:
Colors are black, black brindle with some white
Yellowish, White, Reddish
Coat:
coat type coarse, dense, smooth and long
Short to medium length
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

Based on the massive dog of Mesopotamia in 5000 BC, the American Molossus is the same dog recreated in the United States by and for the lovers of these giant dogs. The ancient Molossus was fierce to look at, massive in size, courageous and loyal. He was undaunted by any animal and stood up to any man attempting to hurt his master. When Rome fell the descendants of today’s Molossus were scattered and attempts to revive the breed have created carious large dogs. The American Molossus is the first true recreation that hits the mark.

The original Molossus was one of the most primitive of dogs, one of the earliest dogs that men domesticated. Their initials duties were the guarding of herds and homes against all enemies. They were incredibly loyal to their one master and stayed with him and protected him. These dogs also ate carrion and served the villages by eliminating animal carcasses. They could handle any other hunting animals such as wolves and large cats. This dog, although extinct was the ancestor of all the Mastiff-type dogs of today. The Molossus is said to be the ancestor of the St. Bernard, English Mastiff, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Rottweiler, Rottweiler and the Neapolitan Mastiff. Now these breeds have become the ancestry of the American Molossus.

According to Marcus Curtis, the founder of the new Molossus, the nearest relative of the American Molossus is the Neapolitan Mastiff. The Hines Bulldog, German Rottweiler, American Bandogge, and South African Boerboel together with the Neapolitan Mastiff were used to form the American Molossus. The goal of the founder was to make a great family pet and protector. It was specifically bred to be courageous, loyal and protective.

norrbottenspetsThe Norrbottenspets is an ancient dog breed whose purpose has been to hunt, although these days he is a companion dog.

Hailing from Noorbotten, Sweden, it was after the second world war that the breed almost became extinct. This was because hunting dogs were no longer needed.

Luckily a breeding program was started, and in 1967 the Swedish Kennel Club registered the dog and a new standard was written. His friendly, amicable nature makes him a sought after companion today.

Description

This is a giant, massive dog in every way and this recently developed standard makes that very clear. The Molossus should be heavy bones, muscular with a lot of loose skin and wrinkles of all kinds, everywhere. He is an intimidating presence, with a massive square head, broad shoulders, height and mass. No, the American Molossus is not athletic, but he certainly is intimidating.

His head is massive in comparison to his body and it must be square. He has extensive wrinkles and pendulous lips and dewlap. The face is all folds of skin and wrinkles. Deep set eyes, drooping upper lids and lower lids as well as an intimidating expression. His brow is well developed with a marked frontal furrow. The nose is large, and the muzzle is about a third of the length of its head. It is short and broad. Everything about the head must be square. It’s neck and body are powerful and muscular. The chest is deep, wide and barrel like. The back is also powerful and muscular. The front legs are heavy and muscular while the hind legs are broad, strong, powerful and wide-stance. Do not remove the front dew claws. His tail is thick and wide then gradually tapers at the tip.

norrbottenspets puppy - descriptionThe Norrbottenspets is a small to medium sized spitz- type dog but he is muscular and compact. He stands at between 42 – 46cm in height and weighs in at between 8 and 15kg.

With good care he can live to be up to 15 years of age. The coat of the dog is straight and dense and you find quite a few colors such as white, yellow and reddish and sometimes there is a bit of ticking. He has a short to medium length waterproof coat which is dense.The outer coat is coarse with straight hair and the undercoat is soft and thick and the dog is a moderate shedder.

The head is wedge-shaped with erect ears, black nose and brown almond-shaped eyes. The muzzle is pointed and slim and the dog's tail is long and curls up over his back

Temperament:

Confident, alert and active, the Norbottenspets is an active, happy-go-lucky kind of dog, always looking for a game. It is why he gets on well with children in the home – he can sense that there is perhaps a better chance of a game with them.

He isn’t a prey-driven dog and gets on well with other pets in the home. He makes an excellent family pet and his very presence brings joy into a room as he is always cheerful.

He is stubborn and independent and will therefore require training and socialization to become obedient to your basic commands such as sit, lie-down and come.

Characteristics

The American Molossus is an intimidating massive giant bred for protection and guard duty. He is incredibly loyal to his family and courageous in his protection of them. They are guard dogs, not attack dogs. Their simple appearance is usually enough to frighten off anyone intending harm on their families. He is in reality a loving giant. He is intelligent and stable with a strong desire to please his owner. He is a calm yet vigilant presence in the home.

Because the Molossus is so large, it is recommended that the puppy be socialized and trained professionally. It takes a strong owner to handle this breed. They need to know the rules and have the rules consistently applied. The owner must be the pack leader.

norrbottenspets dog - characteristicsThe Norrbottenspets is such an amicable, easy going pet and he is going to make you a loyal and loving canine companion. He bonds closely with his human family and will be bored and frustrated if left alone day after day in the back yard.

He is social and friendly and wants to be involved with the activities of his family. Feed him well, give him plenty of exercise and give him the love and care he deserves and he will make you an awesome canine companion.

Health Problems

Like all Mastiffs the American Molossus faces a variety of potential illnesses, some brought on by its size, some not.

Spondylosis

This could easily be a function of its massive size. It is a degenerative disease and can cause the dog to become lame. In many cases the vertebrae can fuse, or severe pain can result. This is mostly seen in older members of the breed.

Cystinuria

Male Molossus can contract this inherited metabolic disease primarily. It can be life threatening and very serious as it affects the kidney and the bladder.

Wobblers Syndrome

This is essentially Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI) and is caused by the pressure of the nerves in the neck and cervical spinal cord. This compression can cause deformity, pain and abnormal stance/gait. IT has been attributed to the nutrition needs and rapid growth of the Mastiff breeds.

Like all giant Mastiff breeds the Molossus can have skin issues from the wrinkles, dysplasia in the joints which we will address below.

norrbottenspets puppies - health problemsThe Norrbottenspets life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years. These dogs are fairly healthy but there are always health concerns with any dog breed.

There are small numbers of the breed which are prone to a genetic condition affecting the brain and the result is poor coordination. It is sad to see because there is no known treatment and some dogs reach the stage where they can’t eat and they can’t control their toilet habits.

Hip Dysplasia:

Dogs with hip dysplasia have an abnormal formation of the hip socket which can lead to arthritis, pain and the inability to get around. It is a genetic trait and you will need to get your pet to the vet for treatment and pain management.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

Remembering that this is a very, very large dog you need to be careful about nutrition and how fast your puppy will grow. American Molossus puppies need four meals a day until 12 weeks old. Then until they are 6 months old feed then 3 times a day. Finally, from 6-month-old puppy to adult – feed them twice in 24 hours.

At one year either feed them once or two small meals.

Many people feed their Molossus eggs, vegetables, fruit, and cottage cheese as ten 5 of the total for the day but avoid other table foods. The Molossus can become very picky about what he eats if you feed him too many table scraps.

Health issues

In addition to the health problems listed above, the American Molossus is also susceptible to: Ditichiasis – Eyelashes that are in the margin of the eyelids and can cause eye irritation. May require surgery to correct.

Cataract

Could cause blindness if not removed. Ectropian/Entropion: Eversion and inversion of eyelids which cause ocular irritation.

PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy

This is a degenerative disease which causes the dog to go blind. It is a disease the affects the retinal visual cells, first causing night blindness then day blindness. A DNA test is available for detecting PRA in all Mastiff breeds.

Dysplasia of the Elbow or/and the Hip

Common in large breeds and especially in giant breeds like the Molossus. Multiple forms and causes but all can cause pain and lameness.

Skin issues

Do to wrinkles and loose skin – check often for moisture and infections.

Panosteitis or Wandering Lameness

The is a problem based on a variety of possible causes. It happens when the puppy is between 6-16 months of age. Lameness occurs over time in one limb or in all. It can be intermittent and might be caused by diet, genetics, stress, autoimmune or metabolic issues or infection.

HOD or Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy

This issue is developmental as the dog’s toes turn either inward or outward, then as the condition advances the dog suffers fever, pain in all joints, lethargy and the inability to stand. This happens when the dog consumes too many calories for his activity level in the development times.

Exercise and games

The American Molossus is not a couch potato. He needs to be walked at least twice a day and loves to play fetch. He will be greatly benefited by obedience training. Do not overdo it with exercise but make sure they don’t just lay around.

Diet:

norrbottenspets dogs - caringYour Norrbottenspet will be requiring a high-quality dog food if you want him to stand the best chances of being healthy. Home made food is always a good choice, but there are also some good commercially manufactured dog foods which are convenient.

You want the food to have the necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure good health. Every dog will love a little bit of raw meat added to his kibble from time to time. Dogs love their meals to be consistent – no exotic, spiced foods to upset the stomach.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach can be chopped up and added to his kibble occasionally and this makes a splendid tasty treat for your pet.

You want to avoid your dog becoming overweight as this brings on a host of problems. Make sure he always has access to cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Norrbottenspets short to medium length coat will need brushing twice a week. They are clean looking dogs and you’ll find that they don’t have an unpleasant dog-smell around them.

Always check his eyes and ears for infections. Also check his teeth. A bad tooth may not be evident but it can negatively impact the immune system and cause illness with your dog.

The nails should also be cut to avoid them hooking on things.

Comparison with other breeds

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