Cao de Fila da Terceira is originated from Portugal but Bloodhound is originated from United Kingdom. Both Cao de Fila da Terceira and Bloodhound are having almost same height. Cao de Fila da Terceira may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Bloodhound. Cao de Fila da Terceira may live 4 years more than Bloodhound. Cao de Fila da Terceira may have less litter size than Bloodhound. Both Cao de Fila da Terceira and Bloodhound requires Low maintenance.
The Cao de Fila da Terceira Mastiff hails from Portugal and is also known as the Rabo Torto.The dog actually comes from the isle of Terceira in the Azores. The dog descends from mastiffs, bulldogs and local dogs.
It was in the 1960s that there was an attempt to revive the dwindling numbers of the breed. The dog was declared extinct in the 1970s but there were some people in the Azores who wanted to see the breed restored, and it remains a mystery as to if the dog is in fact still available. The breed isn’t recognized by kennel clubs.
The history of the Bloodhound breed is a fascinating one. Known as a Sleuthhound for its ability to smell out the culprit and bag the prey. Even more so the Bloodhound is known for tracking and finding lost people. He is famous for finding human scents and being able to follow them even days or weeks after the person is lost. They are also able to track people over a great amount of land and have been known to successfully track escaped prisoners or wanted criminals. They are descended from the Saint-Hubert Hounds that were bred at the Abbey/Monastery at Saint-Hubert, Belgium. According to the legends the St. Hubert hounds were bred by the Monks in 1000AD. This hound was thought to be a mixed breed rather than a purebred. That’s because the ancestry of this hound is not really known but it is known that the monks bred them and sent several to the King of France annually. Only black hounds were gifted.
Some kings preferred not to hunt with these hounds thinking them not good enough while others thought the only use for them was as a leash hound. All described the St. Hubert as long in body with short legs. These gifts continued until the French Revolution when hunting in France was greatly reduced until the 19th century. The original St. Hubert strain became extinct in the 19th century and that the current European St. Hubert hound has its origins in the Bloodhound. The Bloodhound as a separate breed was already established in Europe by the middle of the 14th century. They were used as leach hounds to sniff out the prey so that the pack hounds could chase and keep it “at bay”. They were also used from the beginnings of the breed to track humans. At this time they were often known as sleuth hounds. As recorded by John Caius – the authority on Bloodhounds from their origins – writes about the breeds ability to find and track the scent of blood – thus becoming the Bloodhound and its use to track poachers and thieves. He also reported that the Bloodhound and the Sleuth Hound were the same basic breed. The number of Bloodhounds in Britain gradually declined until few remained after World War II. Britain has gradually built their breed back up by importing dogs from America. It was during the 19th century that the Bloodhound was imported into France by breeders who wished to reestablish the St. Hubert Hound. Thus the St. Hubert is both the ancestor and descendent of the Bloodhound. The Britain’s continue to believe that the Bloodhound is a native British breed.
The Bloodhounds in America have had great success as companion animals, with police departments and forest rangers and showing in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club in New York. There are more Bloodhounds in the United States than anywhere else in the world.
In the end the Anglo-Saxton Bloodhound cannot be specified with any real certainty. Many believe it was not the St. Hubert that the Bloodhound descended from but rather the Norman hound or the sleuth-hound. Many believe it could have included other breeds such as the southern hound, the dun-hound and the Talbot. It cannot be proven today it the Bloodhound’s origins come from Belgian or England.
The Cao de Fila da Terceira is a medium sized molosser, recognized by his weird tail – short and twirled. In fact, the dog’s other name, Rabo Torto, actually stands for ‘twisted tail’, which is a trademark of this dog and which is thought to come from the mix of bulldog in him.
The dog’s coat is short and smooth and the color is usually fawn or yellow while other colors such as brindle, red or black are also available but less acceptable. You may also find small white markings on the chest and feet.
Standing at about 55cm, the dog is muscular and powerful with a broad head, medium sized floppy ears, wide chest and strong muzzle.
The Cao de Fila da Terceira is a good guard dog and while he doesn’t like strangers, he is a dog who is loving and devoted with his human family. See that he gets socialized and trained and he is capable of establishing a deep relationship with all members of the family, children and other pets included. He relies on his owners to provide him with warmth and communication.
When being judged for confirmation in a show ring, the preference is for a larger dog, with an unusual skeleton in respect to its large size and heavy weight in the bones. They have a narrow head, flat at the sides, but long. They have deep set eyes buried in the deep, long face and wrinkles. The eyes might be yellow or run the gamut to deep hazel depending upon the color of the dog. The long velvety ears and thin and low set on the head. These long ears are as much a part of the Bloodhounds Olfactory system as his amazing nose. They curl backward and inward as the ends. There is a large amount of loose skin on the head and at the jowls. When the Bloodhound lowers his head the loose folds and ridges of skin are prominent on the face and forehead.
For many centuries all different colors of Bloodhounds could be found. Today however they are pretty much red, black and tan and black and liver. The Bloodhound is a powerful dog and is larger than most breeds of hounds.
If only dog owners would realize that when it comes to a dog’s characteristics, that while there are some traits inherent in a dog, essentially it’s a case of you reap what you sow with a dog. Treat your dog badly, ignore him and abuse him and you get an aggressive, volatile dog who is a threat to the very humans who created the monster in him.
The Cão de Fila da Terceira will certainly need excellent training and socialization, and when he receives plenty of loving attention from his human family he becomes an amazing, relaxed pet. He becomes patient and sweet-tempered so that you can ultimately call him guardian and friend.
The Bloodhound is known as a gentle soul and he truly is. They are affectionate and gentle with people and children. However, their strong will to track can make them stubborn and hard to handle and train. They are easy going dogs and really like to be with people, children and other dogs. They are affectionate but tend to be set in their ways.
The Cão de Fila da Terceira is a healthy dog breed, but even so, you need to be looking out for some ailments which can threaten the comfort and wellbeing of any dog.
This can often be brought about by the wrong diet. When you see your pet battling to clear out the bowels, it can often be rectified by altering your dog’s diet. Speak to your vet if it continues. Your vet may suggest adding some form of nutritious oil to your pet’s diet.
Dogs can also suffer from heart disease, especially when there is an obstruction to the flow of blood to the brain which can cause your pet to collapse. Veterinary attention must be sought without delay.
Frequent passing of water can be indicative of a kidney problem. Veterinary advice will be needed.
Obviously with ears like the Bloodhound there is always a chance for problems and serious infections. The ears need to be cleaned daily. Because their coat is so thick, they can overheat easily, and they are very prone to bloat, as are many large animals. However, with the Bloodhound, Bloat is the number one killer. Their lifespan is one of the shortest of all dogs at 6.75 years.
Companionship is important for the Cao de Fila da Terceira, and if you don’t have another dog in the home, as a pack animal, your dog will rely on you for being an active part of his life. A dog that is well treated becomes thoroughly loyal to his owner.
A balanced diet is important for health and for a shiny coat. If you’re unsure of how to feed your Terceira, speak to your veterinarian first. Your vet will know that protein for instance, is essential for your dog. The vet will also speak to you about how to feed a puppy, an adult dog, a pregnant female dog and also feeding your senior dog. Your vet will also explain the hazards of overfeeding and how raw meat also needs to be included in your pet’s diet.
Fresh, cool water is your pet’s life-blood and should be available to your dog night and day. Every dog can benefit too from taking a daily supplement rich in omega-3 fatty acid.
The grooming of your pet will depend on the breed. The Cão de Fila da Terceira has a short coat so he will be easy to maintain. Brush him twice a week to remove loose hairs.
Areas which also need checking daily are the eyes to see that there is no discharge. It is also important to inspect the ears as there should be no build-up of wax inside the ear. Toenails also need attention and should be clipped if they grow long from the pet not walking on hard surfaces.
The Bloodhound is not a high energy, fast moving dog but that does not mean he doesn’t have serious nutritional needs. An overweight Bloodhound is on a course to an early demise. They should be fed a high-quality food once a day or split into two daily servings. Do not feed them right before or right after strenuous exercise and remember that strenuous exercise for a Bloodhound is considerably less than it is for a terrier.
As previously mentioned the number one cause of death in Bloodhounds is Bloat. They are also prone to cancer. They have minor issues with their eyes, but their ears and skin are also major concerns. Clean the ears daily and wipe out the skin folds and wrinkles to prevent infections. They should be test for hip and elbow dysplasia simply because they are large dogs, though these conditions are less common in Bloodhounds.
Though the Bloodhound is known as a couch potato his stamina and activity levels are usually greatly underestimated. He can follow a scent for 7-10 hours over miles of terrain with out a problem. He needs daily exercise such as long walks on a leash. Do not take your Bloodhound out off leash because if he picks up a scent and wanders off you will not be able to get his attention to call him back.