Molossus vs Lucas Terrier - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Molossus has always been a popular dog and they have been around since ancient times. Mastiff type dogs are termed as Molossus.

Of course, when looking at the origin of the dog, there are many unsubstantiated claims about it. It has always been believed that the Molossus was a Mastiff-type dog, ferocious in battle. The Romans were dog breeders and recognized that the Molossus was a talented dog – good at guarding and herding.

Over the centuries the dog has changed but it is believed it was a Mastiff-type dog with a number of other breeds included in its origins such as the Rottweiler, Pug, Bulldog, Great Dane, Alano Espanol and Saint Bernard.

The Molossus isn’t a dog breed itself but rather a category that other dogs belong to. Today there are Molosser clubs and Molosser shows around the world.

The Lucas Terrier is a rare breed which hails from England, originating there in the late 1940s. Today it is considered a purebred. It was originally a hybrid dog, bred by crossing a Norfolk Terrier with a Sealyham Terrier.

Sir Lucas felt that the Sealyham Terrier was a bit too big for his purpose so he crossed the Sealyham with Norfolk Terriers to bring about the Lucas Terrier. The Lucas Terrier is a dog which is essentially bred for temperament and companionship and is therefore not aggressive.

The Lucas Terrier has been in the United States of America since the late 1960s and is considered a rare breed.The Lucas Terrier Club is a private, informally run organisation developed to both preserve and promote this dog breed.

This Ancient dog breed from Greece has different descriptions of what it really looked like. It seems to have always been large to medium sized dog standing in the region of 50 to 76cm in height and weighing anything from 25 to 55kg.

The coat is mostly short and smooth and can be in a host of different colors. They are large boned dogs, solidly built with medium sized floppy ears, a short, thick neck, short, broad muzzle and a long tail which was later docked.

Molossers typically have heavy bones, pendant ears, and a relatively short and well-muscled neck, with a short, broad muzzle. These Molossers have always been used for a variety of jobs where strength, perseverance, speed and braveness are required. They have been used as rescue- and guard dogs, protecting livestock from predators.

Temperament:

The Molossus dogs all have the same kind of characteristics which have been bred into them. From their working days, they are known for their tremendous courage, taking on wild animals to protect their livestock.

They are territorial, wanting to protect their human family and home from intruders.They have also been bred to be loyal, loving family pets, and being highly affectionate, they want to be involved in the activities of the family.

This breed is gentle and loving, social and active and gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children. They’re intelligent dogs and will need to be trained and socialized to ensure they are obedient and amicable with visitors to the home.

The sweet Lucas Terrier is a small dog breed that stands at between 25 – 30cm in height and weighs anything between 5 – 9 kg.

The chest of the dog is deep and low, the nose black, the eyes dark and almond shaped, the ears medium sized and floppy. The tail is traditionally docked, giving the dog an attractive, solid, compact look to it.

If you want your Lucas Terrier to become a parent, you can expect between 3 to 5 of the cutest little puppies. Spaying and neutering are an excellent idea health-wise if you don’t want your terrier dog to have puppies.

The weather-resistant coat of the Lucas Terrier is fairly harsh and is of medium length. While most Lucas Terriers are fawnish, cream, grey or black and tan, you also get a white one.

He does great with training and socialization and is an adaptable dog too, being happy to settle into life in the city or the countryside.

Temperament:

This is such a sweet, amicable, jaunty little dog, good with kids and always ready for a game. With socialization and training he is ready to get on well with everyone, as well as with other dogs in the house. It is no wonder that he is becoming so popular – he just gets on with everyone, and is eager to please.

The Lucas Terrier is generally well behaved as well and being quiet, gentle and calm indoors. Because he is a Terrier, he likes to bark quite a bit, but training and socialization can help with that. Training won’t be difficult as he is intelligent.

The Molossus, contrary to what many people think, isn’t a vicious dog, but rather a good natured dog that makes a wonderful family pet.

These dogs are known also for being hard working dogs with characteristics of bravery. They are dogs who may look fairly tough, but they are actually gentle, calm and sensitive. It’s a bad upbringing from the owners that gives any dog bad characteristics.

Train your Molossus, have him socialized and be a responsible and loving dog owner, and these dogs promise to make you a splendid family pet.

Lively, playful, social and animated – the Lucas Terrier is such a pleasure to have around and will bring joy into your home. He is full of enthusiasm and will always be ready for a game or for a walk.

They are dogs who just love being around their human family, forming close bonds with them. They’re adaptable too and slot into different situations with ease.

Gentle, calm and obedient, once you let one of these sweet dogs into your home and heart, you’ll never want to be without such a loving friend again.

These large dogs are particularly prone to health issues such as hip dysplasia, a genetic condition. A poor diet as well as environmental factors can contribute towards the disease too as well as rapid weight gain and obesity.

This disease develops because the dog’s hip joints haven’t developed properly. The hips then partially dislocate, and the dog has pain and battles to get around. If your dog shows signs of hip dysplasia, he will need to get to the vet to do a physical exam and come up with a treatment- and management program.

Your Lucas Terrier is such a robust, jaunty, feisty little dog and with excellent care from you he may be able to push two decades. With a healthy diet and exercise, you shouldn’t have to be at the vet often with this dog.

There are however, always common dog illnesses that even the most healthy dog can succumb to – ear infections, eye infections, bloat, cancer, hip dysplasia and others.

Skin Allergies:

Skin problems may seem mild, but they can bring a whole lot of frustration and pain to your pet. You’ve got to be careful because sometimes skin problems may be indicative of other health issues. Probably the most common cause of skin problems in dogs are allergies from parasites like fleas.

Bacterial skin infections are caused when your pet is bitten by a flea for instance and then he scratches and licks, breaking the skin and bacteria gets in, infecting the wound.

Yeast infections for instance could be found in the ear canal and around the anus. Infections like this occur in damp areas and also when other conditions are right. Yeast infections cause itchy skin with hair loss.

Skin infections are not to be taken lightly. They can bring a whole lot of discomfort to your pet and you will most certainly need to get him to the vet.

Exercise:

These dogs were bred to be working dogs and they have always spent their time outdoors performing a guarding or rescue role. Today they require a lot of exercise – walks and ball games – as they are dogs with a lot of energy.

Diet:

Essentially a large breed, the Molossus will need a commercially manufactured food of high quality if you opt to make use of the convenience of these foods.

Make sure to choose one manufactured for large breeds and which is free of a host of bad ingredients such as corn, soy, wheat, dairy, artificial colors, sweeteners and preservatives.

You want dog food which is high in protein and fat. Try and include some home-cooked food such as boiled chicken, brown rice, pasta and vegetables. An ingredient to look out for in your dog’s food is omega-3 fatty acid to help keep the skin and coat shiny and healthy. Puppies particularly benefit from DHA, or Docosahexaenoic acid, a form of omega-3 fatty acid that is good for brain development.

Grooming:

Brushing the dog’s coat twice a week will be necessary to remove loose hairs, especially during the shedding period. When you brush him, check for ticks and fleas and speak to your vet about flea treatment if necessary. Ears and eyes should be checked and cleaned regularly.

Exercise:

This little dog isn’t a high energy dog but he will need to have a daily walk over and above the games you provide him with. Giving him a walk will be stimulating for him too as it gives him the chance to see different things and sniff around a bit.

Grooming:

The Lucas Terrier is looked upon as a low maintenance breed and a low shedder. You will need to brush him twice a week to keep the coat lustrous and to remove loose hair. Hand stripping is a method used for grooming his double coat but some people prefer to have him professionally clipped.

Diet:

Feeding a dog should be a simple affair. All dog breeds appreciate a simple but nutritious diet as this avoids digestive problems.

The Lucas Terrier relies on quality food full of vitamins and minerals to ensure his health and longevity. True, commercially manufactured foods aren’t a wonderful choice, but there are some good ones and they do offer a tremendous amount of convenience.

However, you don’t just want to put a bowl of dry kibble in front of your pet night after night, so to add some tasty variety, boil chicken and brown rice or pasta along with some cooked or raw vegetables and add this to his dry kibble from time to time. It makes like a delicious kind of stew to add to the dry kibble.

You’ll see, your Lucas Terrier will have bright eyes, a wet nose and a wagging tail. He’ll thank you for sticking to a simple style of feeding that doesn’t come with unpleasant surprises to upset his stomach. Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh cool water constantly available.