East European Shepherd vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison

The East European Shepherd is a dog which hails from Russia. The dog was developed in the 1930-1950s as there was a need for a bigger, more robust, weather-resistant type of dog who would perform all kinds of guard duties in the Soviet Union.

This is a rare dog breed, created by mixing Russian breeds such as the Laika, Central Asian Shepherd and Caucasian Shepherd to create a strong working dog that could cope well with the sub-freezing conditions.

The standard breed type was established in 1964. The only major kennel club to grant full recognition to the East-European Shepherd is the Russian Kennel Club. In the United States, the dog is recognized by a number of rare breed registries.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is one of the oldest scent hunting dogs around. A crossbreed between the French Hounds and the English hunting dogs, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is believed to be an offspring of several famous dogs such as the Beagles, the Poitevins, and the Petit Gascon-Sainttongeois.

Although the genesis of this dog breed is somewhat unclear, a majority of the sources believe that it was developed in the 16th century at a time when written records of dog breeding never existed. Throughout the 16th to the 17th centuries, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie became a treasured dog breed thanks to the rise of hunting games among European nobles. As the sport thrived in England and especially in France, the need to own the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie became paramount leading to this dog breed’s popularity. Formerly known as the Petit Anglo-Francais, this dog breed was changed to its current name in 1978 before being admitted to the United Kennel Club in 1996.

The East European Shepherd is larger than a German Shepherd. He is described as a large dog with males and females standing roughly at 66-76 centimeters at the withers and weighing anything between 30–50kg.

The coat with undercoat is medium in length with the standard color being black-and-tan or black-and-red. The dog is solid colored or is light fawn or tan in color with black saddle.

The face of the dog is black and he looks a lot like a wolf in appearance. The ears of the East European Shepherd are medium sized and always erect.The tail is long and hangs low.

Temperament:

The East European Shepherd is an intelligent and confident dog and can be aggressive when aggravated. He is a working dog and to get along with other pets in the home as well as children, the East European Shepherd will need to be trained and socialized, becoming obedient and loyal with his owner.

He is an intelligent dog and training him poses no problem. Loyal and devoted, this dog mostly becomes particularly attached to one member of the family.

There are a number of dog experts who don’t recommend the dog as a family pet as it is a dog reluctant to form a close bond with a child, being irritated by them, especially ill disciplined children.

It is a strong-willed dog too and shouldn’t be the first dog choice for a novice dog owner. They make excellent guard dogs and take their role as protector of the family seriously.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is a dog breed that resembles a Beagle. Developed in France, this scent hound has served as a hunting dog for centuries making it an athletic breed with unusual characteristics. Their chests are narrow and deep while the heads are smaller as compared to the rest of the body. The eyes are brown and dark while the tails are medium in size. The limbs are tall, straight, and muscular while their steady necks and broad muzzles are an indication that these dogs are surely bred for hunting purposes.

Since Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are athletic dogs, you will, of course, expect their overall weight to be lesser as compared to most other breeds. These dogs have a short, dense coat that’s easy to groom. With a life expectancy of about 13 years, these breeds are generally healthy and quite easy to maintain. The only major problem these scent hounds experience is a hip and elbow dysplasia which will require you to inspect them for injuries upon returning home from their line of duty.

The East-European Shepherd dogs are balanced, confident, intelligent, loving and playful while also being tough and protective of their owners.

They make fantastic guard dogs, becoming aggressive around strangers whom they don’t trust. When you bring a dog like this into the home, it is essential to have him trained and socialized and to also have a firm owner who can deal with such a strong-willed animal.

He is an active, alert dog who will require regular exercise and will slot into life in the city or in the country so long as his exercise needs are met.

When you look after your East European Shepherd you’ll find in him a devoted, loyal friend who will protect you with his life.

Children friendliness

Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are non-aggressive, stubborn but tolerable dogs that work well with kids. However, proper training and socialization must be conducted to ensure that these dogs don’t cause harm to your kids.

Special talents

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is not a shy pet. These dog breeds do make a perfect companion especially due to their hunting characteristics. They can get along well with new owners and should be kept with a same-breed companion to reduce nervousness.

Adaptability

When it comes to their adaptability, Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are better suited to be working dogs over being kept indoors. They are therefore suited to farm settings or rural areas where there’s vast track of lands to play and exercise.

Learning ability

Finally, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is not suited to everyone. This is because this dog breed is quite stubborn and unable to follow orders like most indoor pets do.

Regarded as a tough dog who can reach 10 – 12 years of age, the East European Shepherd is prone to hip or elbow dysplasia. This is a a disease that is more prevalent with German Shepherd type dogs.

Dysplasia is a genetic condition which can lead to inflammation and arthritis and even lameness. Unfortunately it can happen with young dogs too, and the vet will suggest different types of treatment which can include surgery.

Degenerative myelopathy is another degenerative disease which can be found with the East European Shepherd. It is a fatal, progressive degenerative disease of the spinal cord. Unfortunately there isn’t treatment for the disease, leading to paralysis of the limbs.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is known to be a generally healthy dog with very few health concerns. We think the reason why it’s a healthy dog is due to its athletic characteristic and medium-sized body which is not prone to problems as compared to its large-sized contemporaries. However, since this scent hound is a cross-breed between two well-known breeds, there are chances that it might suffer from several health problems that mostly affect closely related breeds. Some of these health issues include;

Hip and elbow dysplasia

The hip and elbow dysplasia is a skeletal condition that occurs when the hip or elbow joints fail to develop properly. This condition is very painful and is most common in large breeds such as the St. Bernard, Great Dane, and the German Shepherd. Although the main causes of this condition include; poor nutrition, obesity, lack of exercise, and excessive growth, hereditary issues are very common and can’t be ruled out.

Demodectic mange

Another health condition you need to watch out for is the demodectic mange. An inflammatory disease caused by various types of mites, the mange can become intolerable in case the number of mites inhabiting your dog’s hair follicles become exorbitant. Among the common signs you’ll expect to see include; redness on the skin, alopecia, and problems with the immune system. To tackle this problem, pet owners will need to groom their dogs more often by digging deep into the skin to identify the mites.

Cataracts

Cataract is a normal eye condition that affects the eye lens causing it to lose its transparency resulting in impaired vision and later blindness. Although this condition is viewed as a byproduct of aging, some dog breeds such as the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are most likely to suffer from this health condition. A common treatment for this condition may include; applying eye drops to help prevent inflammation, surgery or treatment of the underlying factor.

Grooming:

The coat of the East European Shepherd is thick, and while he won’t require any professional grooming, he will require being brushed at least twice a week. This is because he sheds heavily at certain times.

His nails will need to be clipped if they don’t wear down naturally, and his teeth will require regular brushing at least 2 or 3 times a week. Fortunately, because his ears are large and open, he doesn’t easily get an ear infection.

Exercise:

The East European Shepherd is a dog which has always been worked. It is a highly energetic dog and its role as a guard- and herding dog has made it that the dog will require a good dose of exercise.

A long walk may not be enough for this active dog, and he will require intense ball throwing with a tennis racquet to get the ball far away so that he can run far to fetch the ball. Without enough exercise, the East-European Shepherd will develop behavioral problems which will include aggression.

Feeding the puppy

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie puppies need to be fed with excellent-quality dog food to provide a balanced nutrition for precise growth. For puppies between 8 and 12 months, 4 bowls of food a day will be enough. Puppies ranging from 3 to 6 months old should be given at list 3 meals in 24 hours period. Always feed your puppies with top quality puppy foods to avoid any possible nutritional defects. Dry food mixed with canned food, broth, or water is perfect for puppies.

Feeding the adult

When your Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie has reached maturity, it will be best that you feed him once in each day. Always go for the best dog food to ensure that you feed him with proper nutrition. Other meals you can incorporate (but in small quantities) are cooked eggs, fruits, veggies, and cottage cheese.

Points for good health

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie should be fed with excellent-quality food to avoid various health problems such as tooth and bone concerns. Since these breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, regular veterinary check-ups should be observed at all times.

Games and exercises

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is an athletic dog breed that requires regular physical activity to stay in good shape. Following the footsteps of their ancestors, these dogs are hunting dogs despite the fact that some people prefer keeping them indoors as pets. To eliminate boredom, it’s wise that you set aside some time on a daily basis to exercise your dog as well as take a walk down the streets or around the park.