Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Perro de Toro - Breed Comparison

The rare Spanish Perro de Toro seems to have unclear origins, with some saying the dog is a direct descendant of the Toulouse Mastiff, while others say that the dog was developed by crossing the Alano with the Dogue de Bordeaux.

The dog hails from Spain and was once used as a fighting kind of dog but today it is essentially a family pet. The dog is an ancient breed, an ancestor of many of the molosser breeds that are around today.

Known 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.

This is a strong, powerful, large breed of dog, making a good watchdog and guardian. He can be anything from 56 to 64cm in height and weigh between 34 and 40kg.

The nose of the dog is broad and black, the ears are set high and droop over slightly,making them floppy ears, but they have always been cropped to stand up erect.

He's a sturdy dog and the tail is fairly thick at the base, tapering to a point. These days it tends to be undocked and left long. The neck is strong and powerful too and the head brachycephalic. The short coat includes colors such as yellow, grey, fawn and red with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Spanish Bulldog looks fairly intimidating and he will certainly need training and socialization if he is to be obedient and well behaved.

He isn’t aggressive but is confident, dominant, fearless, loyal and also loving towards his owner. He is devoted towards his human family and is good with children. Like any mastiff type breed, he will need a firm, kind, consistent, patient owner. This is the kind of owner who will understand this breed type and take time out with him to exercise him and provide him with mental and physical stimulation so as to prevent boredom.

The 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.

Contrary to what many people think, the temperament of the Perro de Toro is calm and well balanced. This is a reliable, loving, loyal dog who wants to protect his human family.

He gets on well with children and with pets in the home and when trained and socialized, this intelligent dog is well mannered, obedient and sometimes even submissive.

True, the Perro de Toro has a history of being involved in all kinds of things, from hunting to fighting and also being a working dog, but he is now waiting to show you what a splendid pet he can be if he is raised by the right kind of people.

The 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.

This is a dog breed that is fit and healthy, but to keep him that way you want to make sure he has enough exercise, love and nutritious food.

He is not known to suffer from any particular disease, but even so, it is wise to be aware of some of the common dog illnesses that your dog could pick up so you can get veterinary help for him just as soon as possible.

Cancer:

With cancer, cells grow rapidly and invade tissue. Dogs can get any of the many cancers there are. Both hereditary and environmental factors can contribute to the development of cancer in canines. Cancer can show up as lumps, swelling, sores that won’t heal, weight loss and difficulty with breathing.

Heartworm:

Heartworms are transmitted from one animal to the next by mosquitoes. These worms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of an infected animal, travelling through the bloodstream and causing havoc. Heartworm is dangerous and can actually be life threatening. Symptoms include coughing, vomiting, battling to breathe and weight loss.

Rabies:

This is a viral disease that can strike terror in anybody who has seen an animal with rabies. It affects the brain and spinal cord of your dog. It is preventable through means of a vaccine. Once symptoms appear, it is a disease which is nearly always fatal.

The 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.

Exercise:

If they are not being used as working dogs, they are family pets, and you need to give them a lot of daily exercise. You will need to give him some walks or hikes and allow him a good run in the country.

Grooming:

The Perro de Toro is a short haired dog, and as a moderate shedder, he isn’t going to require too much grooming. A brushing twice a week will help get rid of his hair.

When brushing him, turn it into a bit of a grooming session and check inside his ears, look at his eyes and try to look inside his mouth. He can’t tell you if he has terrible toothache from a rotting tooth and he will rely on you to check his teeth.

Diet:

Mastiff type dogs need a wholesome diet to remain strong and active. If you are going to feed your pet one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is one of the top quality ones.

Avoid the ones that use lots of colorants, preservatives and unhealthy fillers as these can make your dog sick. Try and give him some home-made food which can be added into his dry kibble occasionally.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and spinach chopped up will be excellent for him and will ensure he doesn’t battle with digestive upsets. If you can, every now and then try to include some raw meat for the benefit and health of your pet. Never leave him without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Make 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.