MyDogBreeds
Cao da Serra de Aires is originated from Portugal but Bandog is originated from United Kingdom. Cao da Serra de Aires may grow 21 cm / 8 inches shorter than Bandog. Cao da Serra de Aires may weigh 30 kg / 66 pounds lesser than Bandog. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Bandog has almost same life span. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Bandog has almost same litter size. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Bandog requires Moderate maintenance.
Ancestors of the Cao da Sera de Aires were used for herding livestock in the Serra de Aires and Alentejo, Portugal. This herding dog is native to Portugal and throughout the 20th Century he was kept as a working dog.
Known also as the Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog or Serra de Aires Mountain Dog, there are some questions surrounding the breed's ancestry as there are few records of dogs before 1900. The dog is thought to be related to the Pyrenean and Catalan Sheepdogs and that it has descended from Briards which were imported into Portugal and crossed with the Pyrenean Sheepdog.
The Cão da Serra de Aires breed standard was accepted by the Portuguese Kennel Club, and the breed was recognized internationally in 1996. The dog was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 2006.
The original Bandogs were bred for guarding and protecting. It is believed that the dogs were developed from eastern shepherds, the American Pit Bull Terrier and Mastiffs and crossed with western Bullenbeissers and hounds, and it is thought that the hybrid breed came into existence way back, around 1250-1300 in Middle England.
Although it isn’t possible to say exactly how the Bandog originated, it is certain that the dogs were bred with a functional purpose – to guard and protect. In fact in the late 1960s a veterinarian by the name of Swinford started a breeding program, even though breeders of Bandogges disagree on the breeds that went into Swinford's original breeding scheme. It is believed to have been 50% American Pit Bull Terrier and 50% molosser.
The beautiful Cão da Serra de Aires is a medium-sized dog. He stands at 45 to 55 cm at the withers and weighs about 17 to 27 kg. He is recognizable by the long, shaggy, single-layer coat, of straight or slightly wavy hair. Don’t be deceived by the coat as below, the dog has a muscular, athletic body.
The coat comes in different shades such as fawn, gray, yellow and black. The dog has a long tail which is held straight out or down and he has medium-length, floppy ears. You’ve got to look hard, as the facial features of the dog are hidden by its shaggy coat. He has a lot of facial hair that sometimes you have to wonder if he can see out of his eyes.
The Cao da Serra de Aires is a wonderful canine companion and is devoted and loyal, forming strong bonds with their human family. He is a playful, amicable dog and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.
He is intelligent and trainable, and when properly trained and socialized,he becomes an even nicer pet to have around and is obedient to his master’s voice. He is territorial, strong willed and dominant and makes a good watchdog too.
The Bandog is a powerful, stocky, muscular dog with small, upright ears. His tail is long and tapered, but most people prefer to have the tail docked. With his broad skull, wide shoulders and powerful chest, he is also confident and intelligent. He is a rugged dog, heavily boned and muscled, and quite aggressive when provoked. This characteristic comes from the intentional breeding to combine the courage and tenacity of an American Pit Bull Terrier with the size of the Bull Mastiff and its guarding instincts.
Even though the breed has a history of competitive fighting, today when he is trained and socialized he can be a devoted, controlled and amicable family pet, even getting on well with children and being social and affectionate with his human family members. They can be aggressive with strangers, more so if provoked or threatened by them.
Bandogges are able to get along with other animals in the home if they are raised with them, but can be aggressive with pets they aren’t familiar with. You won’t find a better guard dog and with his low barking tendencies, he quietly watches, waiting to go for any intruders.
The Cão da Serra de Aires is such a loyal dog to his human family that he makes a splendid pet. He is active, having worked historically at herding and guarding.
Socialization and obedience training ensure that he becomes an exceptional pet and he has a host of positive attributes to his name – he is intelligent, energetic, loyal and loving. He may have been used long ago to guard livestock, but today he is selected as a pet specifically for his excellent companionship and for his protective nature.
This is certainly an intimidating looking breed, having been developed from a variety of stock breeds, Because of this, there isn’t a standard set for the dog and his appearance can vary. He isn’t recommended for first-time dog owners, because he is quite complex – being both docile and aggressive – not your regular dog. He will certainly require an owner who shows them who is boss.
The Bandog may well have a reputation of being a fighter, but once he has had training and socialization, he turns out to be just a gentle giant. With a strong, firm owner, he is good with children too and becomes a devoted guardian to the entire family.
As with most dogs that are looked after well, their health can be good. The Cao da Serra de Aires isn’t likely to keep you at the vet often. Just like with any good dog, there are some health disorders that can benefit you to know about.
Being forewarned , you can get your pet to the vet quickly before the illness gets out of hand.
There are some pet owners who want to have their pets tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as well as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to rule out health defects such as hip dysplasia and cataracts before they manifest themselves in their pets. This is of particular importance to breeders so as to prevent the parent dogs passing bad genetic conditions to the puppies.
This is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. It can be terribly painful for your pet to get around. It’s a genetic condition and while it is more prevalent in big dogs, any breeds are susceptible.
Your dog will battle along with painful joints and sometimes his hind-end will be lame. You’ll notice that once lying down, he battles to get up again. Fortunately vets are well acquainted with this ailment and they have different options to treat and manage it.
Cataracts in your dog come about from a disease process which affects the lens of the eye. The eye loses its transparency and impairs vision. There are some instances where cataracts can cause blindness. You’ll see a whitish gray area in your pets eye. The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. Get your pet to the vet who will do certain tests to evaluate the eyes and make a recommendation.
Your Bandog is generally a robust, healthy breed, but he may well be prone to health concerns. Some of these are hip and elbow dysplasia and Bloat
This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can, if left unattended, lead to lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. eye problems.
His size and his deep chest also mean he is prone to bloat. Known as gastric dilatation and volvulus, this isn’t good for your dog as the stomach becomes distended with gas, putting pressure on the diaphragm, which can cause breathing problems.
Just because your Bandog is a healthy breed, it doesn’t mean your puppy is immune from his puppy shots. Your puppy will need his first vaccinations from 6 to 8 weeks of age for parvovirus, distemper, rabies and hepatitis.
Check your country’s vaccination regulations, because in the United States, most states require that all dogs be vaccinated against rabies.
As a working dog used to long hours of action, the Cao da Serra de Aires will need lots of activity. He’ll need you taking him for long walks and playing ball games with him. He can become frustrated and destructive when left without any physical stimulation.
The Cao da Serra de Aires may have long hair but he isn’t high maintenance. He won’t require professional grooming, but will require a good brush a least twice a week. This is because the long coat can tangle.
To keep him looking his best, you’ll want to be trimming the hair around his paws. Another important grooming task is checking his ears and cleaning them. You have to be careful about cleaning your pet ears if you don’t know how, as it could damage the ears. Your vet can always advise you on how this is done.
These large, short-haired dogs have a short coat and they are easy to groom. Remove loose hair with a rubber brush twice a week. The breed is an average shedder and if you start regular brushing from when he is a young dog, he will be happy to let you do it as an adult. Check his ears and eyes regularly and clip his toe nails.
The Bandog is an energetic breed that will require a good deal of exercise. This is one breed you can’t leave alone in your garden day after day. He will require games and walks to avoid boredom and frustration.
The Bandog puppy will grow and develop quickly, so his diet should be good quality dog food. He is big and thirsty and there must be a ready source of clean drinking water. Because he is inclined to drool, his water bowl will need to be cleaned out regularly to avoid him drinking contaminated water.