Estrela Mountain Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison

Also known as the Cao da Serra de Estrela, the large Estrela Mountain Dog from Portugal is an ancient breed, having been used for centuries to guard homesteads and livestock.

The Estrela, as a herding dog, has been developed over a long period of time because shepherds particularly wanted a dog that could survive in the mountains and be strong enough to guard livestock from predators.

The first official recorded breed standard was published in 1933, with an attempt to make the Estrela a distinct breed with a hooked tail and double dew claws.

Today the Estrela is a dog which can be found in other countries beyond Portugal, and in fact in 1973 pairs of the dogs were imported to the United States.

At earlier time English Bulldogs were not as it was now. They were taller and was fierce in their nature. They were completely developed in England.The first breed was set in at about 1500. After that they were involved in a game called Bull baiting in England, where a fight was set in between a Bull and the Bulldog.

English Bulldogs will be on full fierce by biting and holding the bull even when they jump or struggle, until they fall on the ground. After that Bull baiting was banned in England, and everyone thought Bulldog will disappear. But some breeders re engineered it and made it as it was now. In 1950s Bulldogs ranked among top 10 in America.

The large Estrela Mountain Dog stands between 62 and 72cm and weighs between 30kg and 50kg.

The dog has 2 coat types – short and long but always coarse and thick. The coat is available in a number of colors, from fawn to gray to yellow and brindle and there can be white and black mixed throughout the coat.

The head of the dog is large and long, the neck fairly short and thick, he has dark brown eyes, a bright, intelligent expression with small, floppy ears which are set high on the skull, falling backwards against the side of the head. The tail is long and thick and the dog has a deep chest.

Temperament:

A large, athletic dog, the Estrela Mountain Dog is actually a calm dog, while still being protective towards his human family.

He is an intelligent dog who responds well to training and socialization. He is an independent dog, so this training and socialization is important - will be good for him, turning him into an obedient, relaxed pet who gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

English Bulldogs are muscular in nature. They easily gain over weight and so exercising them is very mandatory. They are well suitable for apartment living, since they will always like to lie down and sleep. They will woke up only for their food. But they are very much faithful for their owners and it will be seen very loving when they come near and look at you.

Since they face respiratory problems they should not be compelled to play for very long time. Their look may be ferocious but they are very calm and loving towards others unless you do any harm to them or their owners.

The Estrela Mountain Dog loves his human family and takes guarding them and protecting them seriously. He is a strong willed, independent dog that will require training and socialization. He makes an excellent pet, and is calm and gentle with children.

The Estrela Mountain Dog has so much going for him – he is beautiful to look at, he is loyal and protective with his human family, he is intelligent, loving and a healthy type of breed, and he is just waiting to become a member of your family.

Children friendliness

They are good companion for children, but it is recommended to have an adult supervision and not allowing them alone.

Special talents

They are the best companion dogs. They take decisions after thinking for a while. They are very faithful for their owners, and if anybody does harm to their owners infront of them, then they will show their full energy and teach a lesson to them.

Adaptability

They adapt well for apartment living. They can be leaved alone in home for some hours but they love to stay with anyone in the house. English Bulldog love to live in moderate weather, both hot and cold weather will bring problems to them.

Learning ability

Bulldog will not do all things you order them, as they think well and take their decision well. They think what will they get by doing what you say, and then only they will do it.

The Estrela Mountain Dog can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age, but as with any large dog, he will have a tendency to suffer from hip- and elbow dysplasia.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is another common heart failure disease found particularly in large-breed dogs. The Estrela is prone to this disease and you’ll notice he has shortness of breath, abdominal swelling and coughing. The disease may not be curable, but there are certainly treatments for it.

They have chances of getting problems due to brachycephalic syndrome, this is because of their short face. Also they suffer from respiratory problems. Bone and joint problems are also common in them.

Hair fall

English Bulldog has chances of getting skin problems and hair fall is the initial for those skin problems. Normally they shed hair upto a considerable level.

Diet:

The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large dog and thankfully, when it comes to feeding him, experts in dog feeding have come up with commercially manufactured dog feeds that particularly cater for a dog’s age, his size and any illnesses he may have.

As a large dog, your Estrela Mountain Dog can suffer with joint problems such as hip dysplasia. For hip dysplasia you want to be looking at a dog food for large dogs which contains joint-health ingredients. An ingredient in the dog food such as glucosamine can work to reduce the damage brought about by hip dysplasia.

Mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken into his kibble from time to time. You want your pet to live a long, healthy life and raw meat added in occasionally can increase your pets energy levels, reduce the risk of joint disease and ensure a shiny, soft coat. Raw meat can provide iron, zinc, vitamins, minerals and potassium.

Grooming:

The Estrela isn’t a huge shedder, but his beautiful, thick coat will require brushing twice a week. It’s your chance to check him over for fleas and ticks as well, and the entire grooming process – checking his ears, nails and teeth – is an excellent bonding experience for you and your canine friend.

Exercise:

The Estrela may be large, but he is fairly calm. He’ll love to join you on your daily walks or for a ball game in the garden. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but his big size will mean he isn’t suited to a tiny property.

Feeding the puppy

English Bulldog puppy needs more energy and nutrients for its growth, so they must be fed several times a day but the amount should be less. They should not be given raw meat and foods that may be gone bad. The food given to puppy should be allowed to eat for only 20 minutes. After that time if balance food remains in bowl they should be removed and for the next meal new food should be given.

The puppy shall be given cooked food which we eat and it is preferable to give cooked meat and bones three times a week. Salt should be added less for them and sugar should not be given.

Feeding the adult

The bulldog can be fed 1 to 2 times per day, that is morning and evening. It is not recommended to give them soybean oil, chocolates and onions. Kibbles can also be given to them.

Points for Good Health

Nutritional food is the main factor for their health and the vaccinations should be made at the right time with consulting the veterinarian.

Games and Exercises

English Bulldogs may have less energy, but they love to play. They can be made to chase after a ball or Frisbee. But short chasing will be good for them. They should not be made to play in hot sun as they suffer with some heat problems. Also they are interested in playing Tug of war, Hide and seek and solving puzzles.