Labradoodle vs Dogo Guatemalteco - Breed Comparison

The Labradoodle is certainly a popular cross breed dog which was developed originally in Australia to be a hypoallergenic guide dog.

The dog is a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle, possessing some of the excellent characteristics from each dog while also being a low shedding dog.

The Labradoodle became known in 1988 when an Australian breeder, crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle. The success of the dog led other breeders to begin breeding with Labradors and Poodles, with breeders wanting to move the dog from hybrid to official breed status. As of today, the Labradoodle isn’t recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club.

Known as the Guatemalteco Bull Terrier or Guatemalan Molosser, the Dogo Guatemalteco is also known as the Bull Terrier Guatemalteco, Guatemalan Bull Terrier, and Guatemalan Molosser.

This big Molosser-type dog originates in Guatemala. In the 20th century, it was known as the Bullterrier Guatemalteco, but at the end of the century, it was changed to Dogo Guatemalteco.

Today, while the dog is kept as a companion dog, most are working guard dogs. The Dogo Guatemalteco isn’t recognized by any major international kennel clubs. However, the Kennel Club of Guatemala has given full recognition to this dog and it was in 1981 that the Guatemalan government named the dog as their national dog breed.

The Labradoodle can come in different sizes – miniature, medium and standard. The standard Labradoodle is a large dog which stands at 53 to 63cm and weighs 23 to 30kg.

The coat also differs and it can be made up of tight curls or it can be thick and wavy or even straight. The coat is of medium length and is available in lots of colors – cream, apricot, black, whitish, brown and even a brindle color.

Strong and muscular, he has floppy ears and the tail which was once docked, is left long these days and hangs down or it can be carried somewhat upright and curved.

Temperament:

Known as a designer breed, your Labradoodle is sure to be nothing but a pleasure for you, being a 100% companion dog.

Because he comes from two popular dog breeds of which each possess some exceptional characteristics, your Labradoodle could inherit any or all of the characteristics from one or both dogs. He has also been bred to be a hypoallergenic dog which means you aren’t going to have to worry about too much hair flying around. But there again, if he has inherited more of the Labrador’s coat then there will be some shedding.

Because of his amicable nature, he makes a good first-choice dog for first-time dog owners too. The friendly nature of the dog doesn’t make him a particularly good watch dog however.

These are dogs which are happiest when they’re with their human family. They’re a dog breed which is also easy to train because he is intelligent and an eager-to-please dog. He gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is the kind of dog that is willing to blend into your lifestyle. If you’re quietly reading indoors he will be lying with you and if you’re pursuing some outdoor activity, he’ll be happy to join right in with you.

The beauty about the Labradoodle is that he can adapt to any kind of lifestyle in the city or countryside, but he wouldn’t be recommended for a place with hardly any garden.He is the kind of dog who will certainly need to be exercised and he will want to join you in your outdoor activities.

It is important to remember that the way your Labradoodle turns out will be affected by socialization and training, his genes and your home and lifestyle.

The Guatemalteco is a medium to large dog standing at 54 – 60cm and weighing between 40-45kg. He has a short, smooth coat and is essentially white with some black markings on the head.

This breed was created from a crossing between a bull terrier, boxer and dalmatian. Some of the dogs are thickly built, while others are more leaner and athletic looking.

The ears of the dog vary quite a bit because while sometimes the ears fold down closely to the head, others are semi-pricked. There are some dog owners who have their dogs ears cropped into fully erect triangular shapes. The eye are small and usually dark brown.

Temperament:

The Dogo Guatemalteco is a fearless, evenly tempered dog. He was bred as a guard dog and he wants to protect his human family, forming a deep bond with them. It makes them difficult to re-home because of this.

It is imperative to have this dog trained and socialized because it might believe its the leader of the pack in your home. He is quite capable of getting along well with children and pets in the home. Because of his dominant nature, he isn’t suited as a pet for the first-time dog owner. He also doesn’t warm easily to strangers.

Maybe it’s the diversity of Labradoodles that makes them so popular – as you never know quite what you’re going to get.

Everyone agrees however that these cross-breeds make lovable, wonderful pets - lovely to look at and with all the qualities needed to ensure he is man's best friend. They’re available in 3 sizes but each size is going to make you an incredibly amazing pet and companion.

Your Dogo Guatemalteco is an intelligent dog breed, and because he is strong-willed and stubborn he might give you a hard time during training. It is possible though and it is important as the training will turn him into an obedient, relaxed dog, able to get on with all his family members, including pets.

He is an energetic dog and will require walks and other forms of exercise each day.

This is certainly not the kind of dog that you buy to protect your property and provide little else for him except food and water. Frustration on the dog’s part can lead to destructive behavior and aggression.

Treat him well and he can make an excellent family companion.

Labradoodles can be a little bit unpredictable when it comes to their health because they can inherit problems common to one or both parent breeds. This means you could well have to deal with hip dysplasia or one of the many eye disorders there are.

These dogs could well be susceptible to an eye disease known as progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disease which can result in blindness.

Because they have floppy ears, the inside of the ear can accumulate dirt, wax and moisture, and this combination can lead to bacteria within the ear and to an infection if nothing is done to clean the inside of the ear. There are products available which can help you to gently clean the ears.

Addison's Disease is a disease found in Poodles and Labradors.It is where the pituitary gland doesn’t create the hormone ACTH. This hormone regulates cortisol and without cortisol, your Labradoodle can’t digest food properly.

Dogs with Addison's disease are usually lethargic, thirsty, they urinate often and they have an abnormally fast heart rate.

This dog can be susceptible to skin allergies. The skin is sensitive and prone to rashes.

Another health concern with this dog because of his white coat, is congenital deafness. The deafness could be in one- or both ears.

The dog could also experience lameness, of which the most common problem is hip dysplasia. Because skeletal problems occur in this breed, it is advisable for owners to have their pet tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

Grooming your Labradoodle will be necessary if you want the coat to look bright, vibrant and healthy. Not all Labradoodles will have the same coats, so grooming requirements might be different from dog to dog.

As with any dog, he will also need a brush-down twice a week. Also your Labradoodle might require trimming or clipping which will help you to maintain the coat in an easier fashion.

Make sure to ensure a top quality diet suited to his size, age and energy levels. Check him over regularly for illnesses and make sure you provide him with lots of love and attention.

The coat of the dog is short and harsh and it sheds throughout the year. While he is still looked upon as a low maintenance dog, regular brushing will be required twice a week.

Because he is a dog breed that is susceptible to skin allergies, bathing isn't necessary as it removes the dog’s natural oils.

Other areas of grooming for this dog are brushing his teeth twice a week, trimming his nails and checking his ears.

Diet:

Always choose a high quality dog food for your Dogo Guatemalteco and look at the feeding recommendations on the packaging.

When you feed your pet kibble, you can also mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetable and chicken for variety and contentment.

Raw meat is also advised from time to time. Don’t just go on and on through the years feeding your dog the same amount of food, as there are factors to take into account when deciding on food quantity. The age of your dog, it’s stage of life and its activity levels will mean regulating your pet’s food to match his needs.