Pudelpointer vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

Known 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.

The Pudelpointer is cross between the Poodle and the English Pointer. The first Pudelpointer was bred in 1881 by Baron Von Zedlitz in Germany.

The idea was to bring about a gun dog highly skilled in tracking and retrieving. The Pudelpointer was introduced to North America in 1956, and in 1977 the Pudelpointer Club of North America was established.

Because breeders have avoided recognition by the American Kennel Club, the Pudelpointer never became a well known breed in the United States.

The 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.

The Pudelpointer stands at between 55 and 68cm in height and weighs between 20 and 30kg. He is a medium sized dog with a weather resistant, double-layered coat. The coat doesn’t shed much and is usually a brown, chestnut, liver or black color.

The coat is usually dense, harsh and wiry. They have floppy ears with quite a unique feature - the mustache on the muzzle. The tail is docked, with about 30% being removed, giving the dog an attractive, distinctive look.

Temperament:

Full of energy, the lively Pudelpointer will love to find himself in a family where they are active, outdoorsy types. He loves water too, and when out on a hike, if there’s water around, he’ll be the first to jump right in.

He’s an intelligent dog too, eager to please and ready to learn. He can easily be trained and socialized. He is loyal, calm and loving and will get on well around children and other animals in the home. He is also protective and makes a good watchdog.

Your 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.

The Pudelpointer may well be a gun dog but when it comes to his human family he is a social, loving companion.

He is intelligent too and can be easily trained. When at home with his human family, he is calm and content. He will however need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. In exchange for your love and care, he will be a good watchdog, protector, pet and friend.

With 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.

The Pudelpointer is active and healthy and can live up to 14 years and maybe even longer with good care.

Owners will do well to know about a couple of the common dog illnesses that can strike at any time -

Bloat:

Some dogs are more at risk for bloating. Larger dogs with deep chests are at greater risk. To help with preventing this deadly ailment, feed your dog a couple of smaller meals a day instead of one big meal that he gobbles up quickly.

Bloat is a medical condition which comes about with a rapid accumulation of gas in the stomach. Canine bloat or gastric dilatation and volvulus is a killer disease. The accumulation of gas can cause the stomach to twist and the dog can go into shock.

Your dog will be trying to vomit, he’ll be panting and pacing, drooling with a hard, swollen stomach.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common illness or condition seen in many dogs, young and old, large and small.It’s a disease which can lead to pain, arthritis and lameness.

Ear Infections:

The Pudelpointer has floppy ears and loves swimming. The floppy ears are at risk for developing ear infections. Check inside the ears that they aren’t red or have a discharge. Your dog will be scratching his ears a lot.

Grooming:

The 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.

Brush your PudelPointer twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.

Grooming can be an awesome bonding experience for you and your dog. While you’re brushing him, check him over for any unusual lumps.

Trim the nails if they don’t wear down naturally themselves.

Check inside the mouth for rotting teeth which can be a source of pain and lot of diseases in the body.

Exercise is very important and can come in the form of a walk every day or hikes, swimming as well as ball- and rope games and hide-and-seek.

Provide your dog with a nice warm, comfortable place to sleep.

Your PudelPointer can get to 14 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to be sure your pet gets some nutritious home-made food too.

Make sure that the kibble is the high quality ones with lots of vitamins and minerals. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet – plain and simply just like dogs love it. Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.

Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.