Polish Hound vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Polish Hound vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonFormosan Mountain Dog is originated from Taiwan but Polish Hound is originated from Poland. Formosan Mountain Dog may grow 13 cm / 5 inches shorter than Polish Hound. Formosan Mountain Dog may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than Polish Hound. Both Formosan Mountain Dog and Polish Hound has almost same life span. Both Formosan Mountain Dog and Polish Hound has almost same litter size. Formosan Mountain Dog requires Low Maintenance. But Polish Hound requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Hound dog
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Taiwan
Poland
Height Male:
48 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Height Female:
43 - 47 cm
16 - 19 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
20 - 32 kg
44 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 16 kg
26 - 36 pounds
20 - 32 kg
44 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
10 - 13
6 - 12
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Taiwan Canis, Taiwanese Dog, Taiwanese Aboriginal Dog, Native Formosan Dog, Taiwanese Native Dog, Taiwanese Mountain Dog, National Dog Takasago Dog , and Taiwanese Dog., Formosan Hunting Dog, Formosan, Native Taiwanese Dog, Formosan Aboriginal Dog, Formosan Dog, Taiwanse Canis. Formosan Native Dog
Ogar Polksi
Colors Available:
earthly yellow, Black, or yellow
black and tan, Brown and tan
Coat:
smooth and oily
Short to medium length, dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

formosan mountain dogThe Formosan Mountain Dog is most often known as the Taiwan dog and it is a landrace indigenous to Taiwan. It is a small to medium breed of dog that was semi-wild at one time. The colonialization of Taiwan and other foreigners help to fully domesticate the Formosan Mountain Dog. They were found to be very trainable and uniquely suited for the terrain around Taiwan. The dogs were easy to train and now serve as hunting dogs, stunt dogs, guard dogs, rescue dogs, therapy dog and personal companions. There are three types of Formosans two smaller types and one medium. However, the original pure Formosan Mountain Dog is getting close to extinction again because the government and people have provided no protection or conservation efforts for them. These dogs have been living in Taiwan in the mountains and were called Formosan Mountain Dogs when Taiwan was known as Formosa. They come from a line of Southeast Asian hunting/gun dogs and they are considered ‘rare’ now.

According to historian Dr. Sung Yung-yi, the breed went through 4 major catastrophes that affected their development. The first of these was the Dutch Establishment in 1624. The Dutch colonized Taiwan and imported both people and dogs. The dog they brought in was called the Flying Dog and was either Greyhound or Pointer. Eventually, the Flying Dog bred with the Formosan Mountain Dog. This along with the slaughter of dogs belonging to the indigenous people by the government, starting the decline of the original Taiwan dog.

In 1895, it was the Japanese acquiring Taiwan following the First Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese bred the Formosan Mountain Dog extensively with the own Japanese dogs. This further diluted the line and authenticity of Taiwan dogs.

This was followed by World War II when German Shepherds traveled with the US Army and they cross-bred with the Formosan. This was the third major dilution of the Formosan Mountain dog line. At the same time, the Japanese government considered the Formosan Mountain Dog a sanitation threat and barbaric. They massacred them in large numbers in the name of sanitation.

The fourth and final dilution took place during the Kuomintang Era beginning in 1945 with the arrival of the Chinese Nationalist Party. They brought with them the culture of eating dogs. During this time the economy of Taiwan took off and business people began to import their own foreign dogs that were high priced purebreds. These dogs bred with the Formosan and other Formosans were just abandoned to die. The ranks of the breed became very thin indeed. Today’s pure Formosan is highly valuable and extremely rare. Because of all the crossbreeding over the centuries, today’s purebred Formosan Mountain Dog is very different from the Taiwan dog of old. Today’s Formosan is loved all over the island and is a companion and watchdog.

Today there is an effort by Taiwanese ecologists to put together a research project that would study and preserve the Formosan in its indigenous form. Dr. Yung-yi led this effort. He located only 46 dogs with a pure pedigree, 21 females and 25 males. They let the Food and Agricultural of the United Nations know and the dogs were labeled close to extinction. Reproducing from the indigenous dogs to purify and increase the breed was the goal. The government was not very supportive.

Today the Royal Air Force is looking at the Formosan Dog to use for military security. They are currently only using German Shepherds and needed another choice. It was decided that the Formosan Mountain Dog had a better sense of smell, dexterity, alertness, and hearing as well as better padding on their paws.

Through these efforts and those of foundation stock breeders and owners, the Formosan Mountain Dog in its indigenous form was brought back. Some call this dog a purebred Formosan while others consider it a new type. Standards were presented to the FCI for registrations as a purebred. This debate continues today

polish houndIt is thought that Polish Hounds descended from the Kostroma Hound. Other experts believe that the dogs were developed through crossbreeding of Bloodhounds with local Polish hounds.

The idea was to get a more lighter-boned, more athletic Bloodhound type of dog. In fact, this new standard was adopted in 1983 as the guide for the ideal Polish Hound.

The World Wars caused the numbers of these dogs to be drastically reduced, and attempts were made to revive the breed. The dog is rare outside his native country.

Description

formosan mountain dog puppy - descriptionThe Formosan Mountain Dog that was seen during Dr. Sung Yung-yi’s research is a medium-sized dog, athletic and fit. It has a deep chest and a slim waist. The ears are half-covered, the nose is black and there is a coating of black on the tongue. This black tongue is the most distinguishing attribute of the Formosan Mountain Dog. The breed has a strong jaw, the skull that is just slightly longer than the muzzle, which is flat and tapered, triangle face and almond eyes. They have a thick coat and upright, curved tail.

The dogs are known to be extremely agile with an ability to hop that is rare in dogs but helps when hunting animals like rats. The Formosan Mountain Dogs hunted in packs with each dog attacking the prey with one bite until it was too exhausted to fight them off any longer.

polish hound puppy - descriptionThe Polish Hound is a nice, big, solid looking dog. He stands at between 55–65 cm in height and weighs between 20 to 32kg, both male and female. If you were to try and think of him, you could think of a Labrador/Beagle/Bloodhound mix.

He is a medium to large sized dog. The coat is short to medium in length and is thick and hard with a soft, dense undercoat. The color of the coat is brown and tan and black and tan. The dog’s tail is set low and is thick and long.

Temperament:

This dog is a wonderful dog known to be clever and eager to please. He also has other attractive characteristics such as being energetic, gentle and he has an urge to protect his human family.

He is also loved because he is reliable and gentle around children who know how to treat dogs with respect. Some people who have owed this dog say that there is just one small fault – the dog’s bark – it is deep and mellow – and its why he isn’t suited to life in the city.

He is a rural dog, loving wide open spaces. It is why the dog will be an excellent pet if he is trained and socialized, becoming obedient and well balanced.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

formosan mountain dog dog - characteristicsThe Formosan Mountain Dog is very child-friendly. He is affectionate and loyal to his family and protective of his children.

Special talents

He is intelligent and has exceptional hunting skills. He is a good guard dog due to his alertness, but they can be fear-aggressive.

Adaptability

He is very adaptable to living in any location as long as there is somewhere for him to get adequate exercise. He is friendly to people and animals.

Learning ability

He is intelligent and learns quickly.

polish hound dog - characteristicsAs a family pet, the Polish Hound just loves his human family, particularly when they are outdoor, active types. Your Polish Hound just loves spending time with his human family.

This is a wonderful dog as a family pet. More so when he has been trained and socialized. In exchange for the the wonderful companionship this dog offers you, you owe it to him to keep him happy and content.

Health Problems

formosan mountain dog puppies - health problemsBecause there have not been any studies done on the health of the Formosan Mountain Dog, there is not a lot known about any inherent or genetic health issues. It would seem that some bloodlines are healthy, and others have some serious issues. Especially because there are no studies, it is important for breeders to test for eye issues and skeletal issues through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.

Some of the health issues the Formosan Mountain Dog might be susceptible to.

  1. Dysplasia: Hip and/or Elbow
  2. Can cause lameness and/or arthritis
  3. Luxating Patella
  4. Floating or dislocated kneecap
  5. PRA – Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  6. Degeneration of the retina – causes blindness
  7. Cataracts
  8. Can be removed/causes sight issues or blindness
  9. Mange Demodex/Demodicosis/Demodectic
  10. Caused by mites and can be treated

polish hound puppies - health problemsThe Polish Hound has a reputation for good health. That doesn’t mean you can just leave your pet. Good preventative healthcare is still vital if you want to prevent your pet being attacked by fleas, ticks, worms and mosquitoes.

You need to be careful with the Polish Hound because it's a deep chested dog, and these kinds of dogs are more prone to bloat. This is a deadly disease when the stomach twists and gas can’t escape. Untreated, bloat can be a killer. Take immediate action when you see your dog with a swollen stomach, restlessness and drooling.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

formosan mountain dog dogs - caringFeed a high-quality puppy food for medium size dogs at the rate of a ¼ cup twice a day until 8 months then ½ to ¾ twice a day until 12-16 months.

Feeding the adult

1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food split into 2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Generally healthy breed. Keep clean and watch for mites.

Games and Exercises

This is an energetic breed and he needs a lot of exercise. He must have at least an hour of exercise daily but the more, the better. He loves swimming and jogging with his people. He’s athletic, smart and agile. He does well with field trials, tracking, agility, and obedience.

Exercise:

polish hound dogs - caringAs a working dog, the Polish Hound is used to being busy and will be relying on you for a good dose of exercise. He loves the chance of a walk or a run and will be happy to run alongside you while you cycle or jog. Don’t forget ball games too.

Grooming:

The thick coat of the dog will need to be brushed twice a week to remove all that loose hairs. He is a moderate shedder so the coat becomes dull if not regularly brushed.

During the brushing session, check your dog over for fleas and ticks, and any odd lumps that weren’t there before. Trim your pets nails if they don’t wear down naturally. This is a floppy eared breed, so you will need to check the inside of his ears for dirt, wax and bacteria.

Pay close attention to your dog’s teeth.Bad teeth can cause a lot of pain but also be very detrimental to your dog’s health.

Diet:

Just like humans, dogs rely on quality food for good health and longevity. There are many good commercially manufactured dog foods, but avoid the ones with low quality ingredients as these can make your dog ill.

Check the ingredients-list carefully so that you can be sure your pet is getting the right balances of vitamins and minerals. Home-made food is also important as it is nutritious and tasty. You can add it into the dry kibble as a treat sometimes. The simpler the better as dogs don’t like spicy, exotic foods.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrot can be chopped up and given to your pet. Also try and include some raw meat as this is beneficial for health. Fresh, cool water must be made constantly available.

Comparison with other breeds

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