Mixed vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Mixed is originated from United States but Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia. Mixed may grow 72 cm / 29 inches higher than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Mixed may weigh 97 kg / 214 pounds more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Mixed may live 12 years more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Mixed may have more litter size than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Mixed requires Moderate maintenance. But Hawaiian Poi Dog requires Low maintenance

History

Many people are inclined to think that mixed breed or cross-breed dogs, also known as mutts or mongrels or designer dogs are just pavement specials. They think they look nothing much better than junkyard mutts.

This may be so, but not always, and these mixed breed dogs always seem to have hearts of gold. A Mixed breed is a dog that has parent’s who aren’t registered and who come from different breeds. In other words the parents aren’t of the same breed.

Guessing a cross breed’s ancestry can be difficult as these mixed-breeds have more genetic variation than pure breeds. They've been around since ancient times. The dogs originate in different countries and they all have different coats, different sizes and different temperaments.

It is sad but true – there are literally millions of mixed dogs worldwide, some of which never know what it is to live with- and be lovingly cared for by a human being.

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Companion dog
Origin:
United States
Indonesia
Height Male:
9 - 110 cm
3 - 44 inches
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
Height Female:
9 - 110 cm
3 - 44 inches
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
2 - 112 kg
4 - 247 pounds
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 112 kg
4 - 247 pounds
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 20 Years
5 - 8 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
3 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Cross breed, mutt, cur, mongrel
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Colors Available:
cream, tri-colored, Brown, tan, black, white, bi-colored, liver, chocolate
any color with white markings, brown mostly
Coat:
Short to long, single or double-coat
short and fine
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

Sometimes Mixed dog breeds come about from two dogs meeting on the streets and mating or it could be two pure-breeds accidentally mating, resulting in a mixed breed.

The mixed breed dog puppy could inherit looks from just the one purebred parent so that he grows up looking like a pure-breed. With a cross breed the standard for breeding isn’t the same for purebreds where the appearance and temperament is more or less the same.

A mixed breed dog doesn’t have these standards to conform to and they are as varied and unique as the colors in the rainbow. It’s not possible to know what a mixed breed dog’s puppies will look like. A typical example of a mixed breed is a Labradoodle. People love the temperament of the Labrador but they want the low shedding qualities of the Poodle as well.

Mixed breed dogs can be small or large and that means different litter sizes. If you don’t want your Mixed dog breed becoming a parent, you can spay or neuter your dog.

Temperament:

There are many people who avoid choosing a ridiculously high priced pure breed puppy and they prefer to choose a mixed breed. This is partly because these mixed breed dogs are healthy, resilient and nearly always a good match for you and your family.

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

Characteristics

Doesn’t matter what your Mixed breed dog looks like – he is a unique individual and you can never really predict what kind of a character he will turn out to be.

He might inherit a bit of placid behavior from one parent and a bit of clownish behavior from the other. It’s what makes them so special.

Ask most dog lovers who have owned a mixed breed and you will usually hear them say that they wouldn’t trade their amazing loyal and devoted pet for all the money in the world.

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

Health Problems

All dogs, whether pure breeds or mixed breeds, need to be excellently cared for. When you consider the unconditional love your dog gives you, you want to ensure that you’re kind and loving towards him.

Every dog can be prone to common dog illnesses and there are some genetic predispositions for dogs with certain breeds within them.

Dental Disease:

All dogs can battle with problem teeth, but it appears to be more rife with smaller dogs. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up and when it isn’t removed from the teeth it progresses towards infection of the gums and teeth.

What you need to know is that not caring for the teeth can mean your pet losing his teeth but also putting your dog in danger of joint disease and problems with the kidneys and heart.

Obesity:

Obesity is a huge factor in small- and large dogs and can pave the way for other diseases with your pet. Being obese can shorten the life of your pet because it contributes to heart disease, digestive disorders, back pain and joint problems.

Parasites:

Fleas, ticks, mites and worms can play havoc with the health of your pet. Some of these parasites can then be transmitted from your pet to you. Parasites can cause pain, weight loss and even death for your pet so it is important to be vigilant in these matters.

Bloat, when the stomach twists and fills with gas as well as cancer and heart disease are just some of the more common diseases to look out for.

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

Caring The Pet

Good nutritious food, exercise, grooming, a dry place to sleep, taking your pet to the vet when he is sick as well as plenty of love and attention will ensure your Mixed dog breed’s health and happiness.

  • Brush his coat twice a week.
  • Check the ears and eyes for infection.
  • Check his teeth and be careful what you give your pet to chew on.

Keep die diet of your pet simple and consistent to avoid digestive problems. Quality commercially manufactured food is a good choice. Boiled chicken, brown rice and cooked or raw vegetables will be excellent added into your dog’s kibble from time to time. Add in some raw meat occasionally as it is good for warding off skin diseases.

Exercise your pet regularly, but don’t overdo it with young dogs as it can lead to joint problems later on in life.

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Mal-Shi vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Malti-Pom vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. PekePoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Schipperke vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Schweenie vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lhasapoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Meliteo Kinidio vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  9. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  10. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  11. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  12. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  13. Prazsky Krysarik vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Pugalier vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Kyi-Leo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Muggin vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Pomeranian vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Maltese vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  20. Pug vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  21. Maltipoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Miniature Schnauzer vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  23. Papillon vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  24. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  25. Mixed vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  26. Mixed vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  27. Mixed vs Bernedoodle - Breed Comparison
  28. Mixed vs Giant Maso Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  29. Schnauzerdor vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  30. Pastor Garafiano vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  31. Shepard Labrador vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  32. Utonagan vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  33. Samoyed vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  34. Mixed vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  35. Mixed vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Mixed vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  37. Mixed vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  38. Mixed vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  39. Mixed vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  40. Mixed vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  41. Mixed vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison
  42. Mixed vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  43. Mixed vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  44. Mixed vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  45. Mixed vs Dogue De Bordeaux - Breed Comparison
  46. Mixed vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  47. Mixed vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds