Maltipoo vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Maltipoo is a popular dog breed – a cross between the Maltese and Poodle. The dog originates in the United States.

The Maltipoo is a cross breed but it is often referred to as a designer dog because of it being purposely bred. The cute little dog has been created to be a companion dog, suiting allergy sufferers because of him being a low shedder and considered hypoallergenic.

The Maltipoo isn’t officially recognized as a true breed. Some Maltipoo Clubs and Registries have been formed.

This is an ancient working dog breed which hails from the Italian island of Sardinia. When you do research, you find that no one is sure as to this dogs exact origin, and there are a number of theories as to how the dog developed.

Regardless of how the Dogo Sardesco came about, it is a valued companion of farmers in Sardinia, being appreciated for its protective nature.

The dog is a kind of Molosser or Mastiff dog. In the past the dog has been used as a working and hunting dog, and today he is a popular dog in mainland Italy. He is also known as Sardinian Mastiff, Sardinian Molosser and Dogo Sardo.

The Dogo Sardesco isn’t recognized today by international kennel clubs, and breeders on the island of Sardinia have done nothing to form a breed club for the dog.

The small Maltipoo stands at between 20 and 35cm and weighs about 2 to 6kg. There is no breed standard for this dog. The coat is fluffy and is more inclined to be wavy than curly. It can become quite long and most people prefer to have him professionally clipped.

Coat colors vary from white to cream, apricot and brown or it can be a combination of these colors. He has a tail which some people prefer to dock, but if not, the tail is long and curls, sometimes over the back.

Temperament:

Owning a Maltipoo, you’ll quickly discover that this little dog is active, feisty, bright and, fun-loving, and your life is pretty much not going to have a dull moment with him in it.

If you’re a first time dog owner you’ll love the Maltipoo as he is pretty much easy going. He makes an excellent family pet as he is even tempered. Make sure your kids have been taught how to treat him – with respect, gentleness and kindness. Never allow toddlers to climb over any dog – big or small.

The Maltipoo is intelligent too and this means training and socialization will be easy for him. Many people use them as therapy dogs and they definitely seem to have an affinity with older people, bringing joy into their lives with their bright nature.

They are dogs that can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, just so long as they are with their beloved human family. They’re essentially indoor dogs but will gladly venture outdoors if it means ball games on the lawn with the children or a walk outside the confines of his home. This gives him the opportunity to smell new aromas, a physically and mentally stimulating game for him.

The dog Sardesco is a medium to large sized dog generally measuring 56 to 68 cm at the withers and weighing roughly 30 to 45 kg.

Because the dog isn’t bred to specific standards, it varies in appearance, but it is a powerful looking dog, being lean and athletic. The dog’s tail is traditionally docked, but with tail docking being frowned upon, the tail is left long and the dog loses its distinctive look.

The head of the dog is large and the ears are also traditionally cropped to be very short. Left naturally, the ears fold down closely to the sides of the head.The eyes are small and amber colored. The coat is short and smooth, but thick, and while it comes in many colors, the more regular color is red, brown, black, grey or brindle.

Temperament:

The Dogo Sardesco becomes a loyal family pet, more so when he has been trained and socialized. Although he is a devoted and affectionate dog, forming particularly strong bonds with his human family, he isn’t recommended for homes where there are young children.

He also doesn’t take too kindly to other pets in the home. This is because they are a strong-willed, dominant breed and might therefore not be a good choice for first-time dog owners.

Because Sardinian breeders have focused on developing an aggressive dog, he has become a dog suspicious of- and aloof with strangers. He is stubborn and self-willed, and to make him more obedient and amicable, he will require training and socialization. He is an alert, intelligent dog and this makes him an excellent watch dog.

The Sardinian Mastiff is an active dog too and won’t do well in a home where the people aren’t interested in exercise. He is the kind of dog that will need to be taken with you on walks, and he will love to spend time running alongside you when you go running or cycling.

He won’t adapt too well to life in the city, particularly when there is just a tiny garden.

Your Maltipoo is guaranteed to bring much joy into your home. He is a social dog, loving to spend time with his human family, whether indoors our outdoors. He is an active dog so will look forward to his walk every day.

Treat your little pet with love and good care, after all he has got so much companionship to offer and deserves the best there is to that the 12 to 15 years he has are filled with health and happiness.

The Dogo Sardesco has always performed his role as a working dog well, and this is a reliable watch dog as well as the dog takes his job of guarding his human family seriously.

With his aggressive temperament, he has appeared on the list of banned breeds, and this is why he isn’t an ideal choice for homes where there are small children, as some small children haven’t been taught how to treat a dog with respect.

However, when properly trained and socialized he becomes an excellent companion dog. He has an intimidating look about him, but when he is with his human family, another side comes out and he is affectionate, loving and protective.

The Maltipoo is such a bright little dog, brimming with energy, but even so, he can get sick, just like with any other dog.

Dental Problems:

Small dogs are prone to dental problems and gum disease and tartar build up can cause many problems and tooth loss. Any dental infections can lead to infections which can put the entire body in jeopardy.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

This is a degenerative eye disorder that can cause blindness and although there is no cure there are things that the vet can do for your pet.

The Dogo Sardesco is a relatively healthy breed who is unlikely to suffer with ailments common to dogs, but nonetheless there are some diseases or conditions that you might want to be aware of with your dog.

Skeletal and visual problems can occur in this breed. Both hip- and elbow dysplasia are common orthopedic disorders in dogs and they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort and even cause lifelong disability.

Genes and environmental factors play a part in your dog developing this disease.If he has been diagnosed as having hip or elbow dysplasia, get your dog to the vet as there are treatments which can at least make your pet a lot more comfortable.

Remember that feeding your puppy Dogo Sardesco too much food which is particularly high in calories can mean him growing too fast, and this can contribute to this hip dysplasia problem.

The Maltipoo is such a sweet little dog – you want to be sure that you look after him as well as can be.

Vaccinations:

Always take your pet for regular veterinary check-ups if you suspect he is ill. If you get a Maltipoo puppy you will need to take him to the vet because there are a number of vaccines he will need to prevent him from picking up some life threatening canine diseases. Some of these are parvo and rabies among others.

Also, as your Maltipoo reaches adulthood you will need to decide whether you will have the dog spayed or neutered to prevent puppies.

Grooming:

Groom your Maltipoo to keep the coat in tip top condition. Brush him at least twice a week to keep him free of loose hairs. It’s a nice bonding session for your pet too and it gives you the chance to check for fleas and ticks. Most Maltipoo owners take their pets to professional groomers to have the coat trimmed as then he looks and feels more comfortable in warmer weather.

Be careful about bathing him too often as even the mildest shampoos can irritate his skin and it strips the coat of natural oils. Other grooming needs will require you keeping his nails short and cleaning his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week. Because he has floppy ears, check inside them as they can collect excess wax and debris.

If you are unsure about these kinds of grooming needs, check with your vet or groomer because doing it wrong could cause injury to your pet.

Sleeping Space:

Give your pet a soft, warm, dry bed to sleep in. You can make a soft ‘nest’ on the floor or you can buy a sleeping platform or traditional dog basket.

Diet:

With a Maltipoo, choose a high-quality small breed dog food if you are going to feed him commercially manufactured food. This is to ensure he remains healthy. Try and keep your diet simple for your Maltipoo to avoid stomach problems.

For variety, add in some chopped boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables to his dry kibble. The amount of food you give him will depend on his size and activity levels but you want to avoid feeding him too much so that it leads to obesity. Obesity can bring on a host of dog illnesses.

As opposed to one larger bowl of food, rather feed him two smaller meals which is far healthier for him. Remember to always have a bowl of fresh, cool water standing close by.

Dog owners who don’t like the idea of spending too much money on grooming will appreciate that the Dogo Sardesco is a very low maintenance breed, and that a good brushing twice a week will keep the dog’s coat shiny and healthy.

As with all other dogs, he will need to have his teeth brushed to remove plaque build up. Not only does plaque lead to dental disease, but bad teeth can lead to other health issues too.

Nail clipping will also be necessary if your pet doesn’t wear the nails down naturally from getting to run on a hard surface from time to time.