Cao de Gado Transmontano vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Cão de Gado Transmontano which is also known as the Transmontano Mastiff or Transmontano Cattle Dog is a large dog – in fact a giant dog breed. This is a rare molosser working dog, hailing from the region of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province in Portugal.

The large dog has always been used to herd livestock and to also ward off wolves. It is believed that the dog’s roots come from the Tibetan Mastiff as well as a Portuguese cattle dog known as the Rafeiro do Alentejo. The dog also shares some similarities with the short-haired Estrela Mountain Dog.

In 1995 the breed was still exclusive to Portugal, but now the breed has been imported to Oregon, USA to be part of an experiment to document bigger breeds and their role in protecting livestock from wolves. They were re-introduced to north-east Oregon from 2008.

Nicknamed the American Gentleman, the Boston Terrier is the result of crossing the British Bulldog with the white English Terrier. At first the Boston Terrier was bred to be a fighting dog, but since then, undesirable characteristics have been bred out and today the Boston Terrier is regarded as an indoor dog that doesn’t tolerate extreme weather conditions.

The breed emerged in the 1870s when Robert Hooper from Boston bought a dog thought to be a mix of a Terrier and Bull type lineage. A specialist breed club was formed in 1891 and in 1979 the commonwealth of Massachusetts named the Boston Terrier the Official State Dog. By the 20th century, the breed’s color and patterns were standard and an essential feature.

The Cão de Gado Transmontano is a large dog, believed to be the biggest of the Portuguese dog breeds. He is powerful and muscular with a large head and can stand up to 83cm in height and can weigh up to 65kg.

He is tough, and is quite comfortable living outside. He is a long-legged dog with a wide chest with medium length floppy ears and a long tail. The coat is fairly short although it can be in a variety of lengths. It is the medium length coated dog with the right coloring that is looked upon as a pure breed. The dog is white with large patches of brown, fawn, grey, brindle and black shades.

Temperament:

The Transmontano Mastiff is an intelligent, obedient dog who is also independent and stubborn. As with all dogs, it is important to have him trained and socialized as this makes him obedient and eager to please. He loves to be patted by his owners and is a dog which is easy to train, responding well to firmness and fairness.

He is calm and somewhat docile but at the same time he is energetic and alert, making him a good watchdog. He won’t do well cooped up in a tiny space. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home.

The Boston Terrier is a lively, strong-willed breed with an alert expression and fairly large, erect ears. He is a small to medium sized dog and his square muzzle puts him among the Bull breeds. The dog is compact in build and varies quite significantly in size. Weight with the dog is actually divided into 3 categories – lightweight (under 6.8kg), middleweight (up to 9kg) and the heavyweights being between 9.1kg and up to 11.4kg. The Boston has a short head and a naturally short, low-set tail. The coat is short and smooth, and the colour can be brindle with white markings, brown and white or black and white.

It’s the energetic liveliness of the Boston Terrier that makes him such a lovable and popular pet. He has an affectionate, gentle nature that makes him a fantastic family pet and he gets on well with children and pets in the home. He can adapt to city or country life. One or two interesting facts of this breed are -

with his short nose, he is prone to drool and snore

he is prone to corneal ulcers because of his large, somewhat protruding eyes

with a small pelvis, the females often battle with the birthing process and may require a caesarean section.

The Cão de Gado Transmontano may look like a fairly formidable dog but they aren’t aggressive. They are full of courage and are above all, loving and loyal to their human family.

When you choose to have one of these large dogs as your pet, it is important to make sure he knows that you’re the leader. With training and socialization this dog is a gentle giant who makes an exceptional family pet.

The Boston Terrier is such a sweet little dog, but you can’t really say what your puppy’s personality will be as personality varies quite a bit between individual Boston’s. Remember that just like with a human child, your puppy will turn out with characteristics that can be attributed to the way he was raised. The Boston just loves his human family and he wants to be part of all your activities, even though he may gravitate towards one favorite family member.

Your Boston can be your Best Friend

Your Boston is a Terrier and that means he is full of life and will require being exercised by you. He can’t just be left outdoors day after day because this is one particular breed that can’t adapt to changing weather conditions. He likes being inside where the temperature is more even. Look after your Boston, because if you do, you’ll be rewarded by having one of the best friends you’ve ever had.

The Cão de Gado Transmontano is a tough dog, used to spending long hours outside guarding sheep. These days however, he is also a companion dog and you’ll want to be aware of some common dog ailments that can strip him of his health and his joy of life.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a looseness with the hip joint, and while it can occur with all dogs, it is more common in large dogs. It’s a disease which can lead to arthritis, pain and also joint degeneration. It’s a disease which can be debilitating for the dog and you will need to get your dog to the vet.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a heart disease seen in large breed dogs and where the heart becomes weak and can’t properly pump blood throughout the body. Symptoms include coughing, weakness, difficulty with breathing as well as a fluid-distended abdomen.

Boston Terriers are generally healthy, feisty little dogs but it is always wise to know that you may well come across some health conditions that can affect your pet.

Eye Problems

Your Boston may well have to contend with cataracts, and in the dog world, this isn’t only an ailment for old dogs. Juvenile cataracts can develop in young puppies already. Cherry Eye is another eye problem with a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. It is also an eye disease than can be found in young dog of less than a year old.

Deafness

Boston Terriers actually have a fairly high incidence of deafness in one or both ears. White Bostons tend to produce more puppies with deafness.

Brachycephalic Syndrome

The Boston Terrier is a brachycephalic dog and therefore more predisposed to Brachyphalic Syndrome where the dog battles to breathe because of too much soft tissue which forms in the airways.

To avoid many dog diseases with your Boston, buy your puppy from a reputable dog breeder who screens dogs used in a breeding program as this prevents puppies inheriting genetic disorders.

Diet:

Just because this is a large dog, doesn’t mean you need to over-feed him. He is muscular and athletic, and by watching his diet, he’ll continue to be strong, lean and healthy. You can feed him a top quality pet-food brand and include boiled chicken, rice and vegetables. Every now and then mix in some raw meat with his dog food to ensure that his skin remains free of rashes and itchiness. Fresh, cool water must be available to him day and night as he drinks abundantly.

Grooming:

Some dog breeds need to be trimmed or stripped to look good, and dog owners often invest in expensive equipment to groom their pets themselves, Fortunately the large Cão de Gado Transmontano is a low maintenance dog and all you’ll need to do is give him a good brush-down twice a week.

Check his eyes, ears, teeth and nails regularly. Remember that dental hygiene is imperative and special canine toothbrush and toothpaste is available to brush your dog’s teeth 2 or 3x a week to get rid of plaque and to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

Exercise

The Boston Terrier is a lively dog, and even though he doesn't have any extreme exercise requirements, he will still require you exercising him by taking him on walks, or having ball games with him. As an essentially indoor dog, he can even enjoy some quieter indoor games.

Feeding

You’ll be able to gauge how much your pet requires in terms of high quality food, but by the time he is an adult, he usually has one or two bowls of food a day. Size and age play an important role in determining his eating habits. Home made foods made up of rice, meat and vegetables are always welcome for your pet and these can be added into his top quality commercially produced dog food. For a healthy dog who is free of skin problems include some raw meat in the diet from time to time. Always make sure that there is a bowl of fresh, cool water which is available 24/7.

Grooming

With his short coat, the Boston Terrier isn’t a heavy shedder and is low maintenance in terms of keeping his coat groomed. Brush him at least twice a week to remove loose hairs and to also prevent flea and tick infestations. Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to ensure no plaque build-up which can damage the teeth. Never use human toothpaste, but invest in special toothpaste and -brush for dogs. If he is essentially an indoor dog, you may have to get the vet to trim his nails too.