Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Norrbottenspets - Breed Comparison

Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Norrbottenspets - Breed ComparisonNorrbottenspets is originated from Sweden but Rafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal. Norrbottenspets may grow 29 cm / 11 inches shorter than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Norrbottenspets may weigh 45 kg / 99 pounds lesser than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Norrbottenspets may live 3 years more than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Norrbottenspets may have less litter size than Rafeiro do Alentejo. Norrbottenspets requires Low Maintenance. But Rafeiro do Alentejo requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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Sweden
Portugal
Height Male:
42 - 46 cm
16 - 19 inches
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
42 - 46 cm
16 - 19 inches
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
8 - 15 kg
17 - 34 pounds
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
8 - 15 kg
17 - 34 pounds
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Norrbottenspitz, Nordic Spitz
Portuguese Mastiff
Colors Available:
Yellowish, White, Reddish
Fawn, cream and black. , white, a wolf grey
Coat:
Short to medium length
Short to medium length, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, 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

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.

rafeiro do alentejoKnown also as the Portuguese Mastiff, the Rafeiro do Alentejo comes from Portugal and has always been used as guardian for livestock. Their numbers declined quite a bit when there was no longer a need for this kind of job.Today it is essentially a companion dog.

The official standard of the Rafeiro do Alentejo was established in 1953. The dog is is recognized as a breed by the Portuguese Caniculture Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Interationale.

Description

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.

rafeiro do alentejo puppy - descriptionThe Alentejo is a large dog standing at between 64 and 75cm in height and weighing 45 to 60kg. He is a powerful dog with a deep chest, dark eyes, floppy ears. His coat is short to medium length, thick and straight. The color of the coat is a mix of fawn, a wolf grey, white, cream and black.

Temperament:

This is a serious dog with a calm demeanour about him. It doesn’t matter how calm he is though, as every dog will require training ad socialization if you want to enjoy having an obedient, well mannered dog around you. This is particularly important with a large, independent, self-confident, territorial dog like this.

He isn’t an aggressive dog but he is protective, wanting to guard and look out for his human family. They are dogs that get on well with children and other pets in the home, being wary of strangers.

They’re not recommended for life in small properties in the city as he requires a large garden at least.

Characteristics

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.

rafeiro do alentejo dog - characteristicsThe Rafeiro do Alentejo is a quiet dog, but intelligent and strong-willed. Training and socialization will make him easy to get on with.

He will become an excellent companion, and can come indoors because he is well mannered and considerate. He was bred to be a guard dog, and the responsibilities he had taking care of livestock has been transferred to looking out for- and protecting his human family.

He makes a wonderful pet and companion, even with children and other pets, more so when brought up correctly by loving, firm, consistent dog owners.

Health Problems

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.

rafeiro do alentejo puppies - health problemsThe Rafeiro do Alentejo is a generally healthy dog breed, and with good care can get to 11, 12 or 13 years of age.

Of course with a large dog like this, it is always a good idea to be aware of canine hip dysplasia, particularly because this is a large dog with a deep chest.

This makes him also vulnerable to bloat, a condition where the stomach swells with gas and which can be life threatening. Other things to watch for are ear infections and parasites.

Caring The Pet

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.

Grooming:

rafeiro do alentejo dogs - caringMake your grooming time with this serious, calm canine friend of yours a special bonding time. His coat simply requires a brush twice a week to keep it healthy and shiny.

While bushing him, run your hands over him to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Check inside the floppy ears to make sure they’re not red which could be the start of a painful ear infection.

Look a his nails and trim them if they’ve become too long. Check inside his mouth and make sure there aren’t any black, rotten teeth as this can seriously impact the health of your pet.

Exercise:

Options for exercise will include long walks and a chance to run off his leash. In the back yard it will be to his benefit to throw balls for him to fetch. You can even bring him indoors and play some calm games with him. He should have exercise every single day.

Diet:

Good food is needed for good health. It is always convenient to make use of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are on the market.

You don’t want to feed this to your dog day after day so provide your pet with some tasty home-made food too. Dogs want simplicity and consistency with their diets so they don’t battle with upset stomachs and an unnecessary trip to the vet.

Some home-cooked food twice a week and added to the dry kibble can keep him healthy and happy. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be perfect for him. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week.

Some people even cook it in bulk, refrigerate it and warm up small portions to add to the kibble. Raw meat added in occasionally can also be a good treat. Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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  15. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
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  24. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Norrbottenspets vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Norrbottenspets vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Norrbottenspets vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Norrbottenspets vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Norrbottenspets vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Norrbottenspets vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Norrbottenspets vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Norrbottenspets vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Norrbottenspets vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Norrbottenspets vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Norrbottenspets vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Norrbottenspets vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Norrbottenspets vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Norrbottenspets vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Norrbottenspets vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Norrbottenspets vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Norrbottenspets vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Norrbottenspets vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Norrbottenspets vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Norrbottenspets vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Norrbottenspets vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Norrbottenspets vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Norrbottenspets vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Norrbottenspets vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Norrbottenspets vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison