Istrian Sheepdog vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Karst Sheepdog, the beautiful, medium sized Istrian Sheepdog hails from Slovenia, Yugoslavia in the 1600s, being used to guard sheep. In fact, the Karst Shepherd was recognized as the Illyrian Shepherd in 1939.

The dog is fairly scarce in his own country, but interest in the dog started developing in the late 1970s. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes the breed and it has also been exported to the United States, being recognized by the United Kennel Club.

It is also recognized by a number of smaller kennel clubs. The dogs numbers have declined at certain periods in its history but fortunately breeding programs boosted its numbers.

Alangu Mastiff is a breed that ,originates from southern India. Since the very beginning of this breed, it has been used as guard dogs and official dogs of Persian Army. They have been used mostly for wars and as a guard dogs for protection. Also, Alangu Mastiff was used as large gain hunters because of its size and power.

This is a medium sized, muscled, strong dog with an iron-grey coat that has shades of deeper grey. His beautiful coat is long, thick and fairly harsh to the touch, with the undercoat protecting the dog against cold weather.

Around the neck area the hair is longer, forming an eye-catching-like mane. The stomach area has longer hair too. He has a noble look about him with kind, brown eyes and a round skull. The muzzle of the dog is dark, the limbs long and muscular and the tail is long and covered in thick fur.

The dog is slightly longer than its height, and both males and females stand at 54 to 63cm in height and weigh between 26 and 40kg. The long tail reaches right down to the hocks. The ears of the dog are fairly short and are floppy.

Temperament:

This dog has always made an excellent guard dog, being alert and also being distrustful of strangers. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient to you and more amicable around children in the home as well as visitors to the home.

If he is trained and well socialized, he is able to make a good pet. However, he is an energetic dog, used to working and he isn't recommended for life in the city if there is only a tiny garden. He needs space and will require a large garden.

He will also need to be exercised and not just left to his own devices in the backyard. Because he is essentially a working dog he doesn’t easily fit into the role of pet and companion. He is a working dog and will need to be kept busy.

Weight of Alangu Mastiff depends but approximately, male weight is 70-90kg, while females are 60-70kg. While males height is 76-86cm. Females are slightly smaller with an average height of 75-80cm.

Lifespan depends drastically on every breed, but it is approximately 8-10 years.

The average litter size of Alangu Mastiff is 6-8 puppies.

Another Name for Alangu Mastiff is Sindh Mastiff.

Your Istrian Sheepdog is a unique, strong-willed dog that is used to guarding, and working and he wants to be kept involved and busy.

He is wary of strangers and makes an excellent guard dog for any family home. Remember that it is never good to invest in a dog purely for guard dog purposes. A dog such as the Istrian Sheepdog is a social creature and he also wants- and needs to be part of a human family that provides him with plenty of interaction with them.

The Istrian Sheepdog is a loyal, loving dog who is capable of forming strong bonds with his human family. With proper training and socialization he makes a good friend of children and the elderly too.

Include him in all your family activities just like any human family member and he will make you a splendid, courageous pet.

Alangu Mastiff is a very powerful breed. They are a giant breed that is very strong and protective. If you are first time owner, you definitely don’t want this breed as your first pet. They can be very aggressive, and if you are not a dominant owner who knows what he is doing all the time, you can have a lot of troubles with this breed. Alangu Mastiff is a guard dog, and they tend to protect the family no matter what is happening. Of course, with proper care and socialization, they can be wonderful pets that love family, and they can be gentle with children too. Basically, it is very important to socialize them from the earliest age. Alangu is also very hard to train, so you have to be patient and devote a lot of time to train your dog properly. Since they are large dogs, they require a lot of exercises. Walking with the leash is not enough for this breed. They need to run to be fully happy. They can be very aggressive towards other dogs, so it is not very recommendable to spend time with other pets, at least not if they are not socialized. If you train them from an early age, then you should still be careful how your dog behaves around other pets and animals. Don’t get this wrong, Alangu can be a wonderful pet for the whole family, but you have to be careful and well-trained for this breed. They require a lot of attention, patience and time, but overall they can be amazing pets.

As with many other dog breeds, the Istrian Sheepdog is a healthy dog that, because of history of hard work, is robust and able to stand up well to common dog illnesses.

However there is one dog illness that strikes many dogs and at any age, and it is hip dysplasia. This is a malformation of the hip joints.

You'll notice that your once active dog is lethargic, doesn't want to play so much anymore and battles to get up after lying down. The disease is painful for your dog and it can lead to mobility issues. The disease is diagnosed with x-rays and your vet will recommend treatment options to make life more comfortable and less painful for your beloved pet.

Basically most of the health problems depend on the dog to dog. If you choose puppy carefully, with an adequate examination of professional you will have a healthy dog. Alangu Mastiff is overall healthy breed, but as every other breed, they can develop some issues. Hip dysplasia is can be common for this breed, but again, only if you don’t select your puppy carefully.

Exercise:

This is a dog that is used to guarding his flock and he will need to be in a home that has a fair sized garden. He can adapt to life in the city or to the countryside, but wherever he is, he will need sufficient exercise. Take him with you on your walks or hikes and give him some rope- and ball games.

General Care:

Wherever you live in the world, when the Winter winds howl and blow in icy rain or snow, a dog is at an increased risk of illness. You decided to have a dog in your home and it is your responsibility to care for him. Winter weather is downright unpleasant and dangerous for most pets.

Bring your pet in during such weather and provide him with a warm, dry sleeping space. During hot weather, make sure your pet has a cool, shady spot to lie down in, out of the boiling sun. Whatever weather you're experiencing, your pet should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide him with excellent food that is full of vitamins and minerals to keep him healthy. Learn to know what human foods can be toxic for him and cause him digestive problems.

Grooming:

Your double coated Istrian Sheepdog will need a thorough brushing at least twice a week because of his dense, double coat. He does shed and isn't a hypoallergenic dog. His thick coat can tangle easily if it isn't properly brushed and maintained.

Clip his nails when and if they grow long. Other grooming aspects for this attractive dog require checking his ears for infection and also checking his teeth as dental disease can lead to a host of serious illnesses in your dog.

Feeding Alangu Mastiff

Feeding of your dog highly depends on activity, size, and food that you are feeding your dog. 5-10 cups of high-quality food divided into 2 meals would be enough for an average Alangu Mastiff, but again, you should feed your dog based on activity.

Feeding the Alangu puppy

Puppies must eat 3-5 times per day, few cups of high-quality food. They need to eat quality food with a lot of vitamins and minerals to develop into a happy and healthy adult.

Grooming Alangu Mastif

Groming is one of the easiest jobs that you should do around your Alangu Mastiff. They are very easy to take care off. Few brushes every now and then would be enough to have perfectly groomed pet. They do not have long coats with a lot of fur so there will be no hair around the house, and maintaining this majestic creature is very easy.