Olde English Bulldogge vs Greek Harehound - Breed Comparison

The Bulldog in general has undergone quite a few changes over the years and the Olde English Bulldogge was developed as a designer breed in the United States.

The dog was developed by David Leavitt in 1971, who crossed the English Bulldog with a Pitbull, American Bulldog and Bull Mastiff. Leavitt wanted a dog that would be free of the breathing problems bulldogs battle with. He also wanted the dog to be more nimble, more agile and more healthier.

Crossing the Bulldog, Bullmastiff, American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog, he developed the Olde English Bulldogge. The dog isn’t recognized as a breed by the AKC.

Known also as the Hellenic Hound, the Greek Harehound is an ancient breed, and it is a dog which has come down through the ages with very little change to the way he looks.

The ancestors of the Greek Harehound go back thousands of years and are believed to be the ancient ‘Laconikoi’ dogs of the Peloponnese.

In was in 1996 that the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the Hellenic Hound. The Greek Harehound was also recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006.

Olde English Bulldogges are purebred dogs. They are big boned, solid and muscular. They are medium sized dogs and stand at roughly between 40 and 51cm and weigh between 22 and 36kg.

They have big, broad head and a furrowed face. The ears are fairly small and are semi-erect, semi-floppy. The neck is thick and powerful, the legs short and stocky. The coat is short and is usually white and tan, white and grey, brindle or solid colors of fawn, red and black.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a healthier, more active, athletic dog. It was given this name to differentiate it from the modern English Bulldog.

Temperament:

Olde English Bulldogges are gentle and good natured, snorting around and just dying for his human family to tickle his tummy.

He has an easy-to-please temperament and being intelligent, he will respond well to training and socialization.

He is adaptable and can settle into life in the city or in the countryside. He has strength and stamina but will do better with a walk as opposed to running next to you as you cycle - this will exhaust him and be unhealthy for him.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a sweet, friendly, confident but gentle dog known for his strength and stamina. They are friendly and outgoing, even being social and friendly around strangers. They get on well with children and pets in the home too and will make a wonderful pet.

These dogs have a short, dense coat which is black and tan in color. He is a medium sized, well proportioned, deep chested dog standing at roughly 47 – 55cm in height and weighing between 17–20kg.

His legs are straight, well boned and strong. The skull of the dog is fairly flat, the eyes are brown while the ears are set high and are floppy. The tail is long, tapering down to a tip.

Temperament:

Lively and outgoing, the Greek Harehound is a skilled, brave hunter. These are active dogs and will require quite a bit of exercise if you get one as a pet. He becomes devoted to his owner, making a good, all-round family pet.

He has always been used in the past to hunt in packs so he gets on well with any other dogs in the family.

As a scenthound, the Greek Harehound is an independent, stubborn, strong-willed dog that will respond well to a firm, strong owner. His stubborn, strong-willed nature means it will be important to have him trained and socialized so that he becomes a well-rounded, obedient pet.

If you're looking for a true around-the-house family pet, this isn't the ideal choice as he is essentially a hunting dog, wanting to be running off on a hunt as opposed to lying quietly indoors. He is therefore better suited to life in the country than being cooped up in a small city property.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a gentle, sweet dog who just wants to be a loved member of your home. He wants to please, so training and socialization will do him the world of good as then he becomes obedient and responds easily to some basic commands.

He has a protective nature and will do what he can to guard and protect you. Such a wonderful 4-legged friend and companion deserves your unconditional love.

Fast, courageous, smart, playful, independent and strong willed, the Greek Harehound is a slow maturing breed and he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and not so stubborn.

Once trained he becomes a truly wonderful companion, being affectionate, loyal and outgoing. He makes a good friend of children too.

He is friendly and non-aggressive, though he still makes a good watchdog. He is a low maintenance pet too, and even though he is essentially a hunting dog, he can make anyone a splendid pet.

The Olde English Bulldogge can live to be 14 years old if he is looked after well. These dogs are prone to some of the typical dog ailments there are and bloat is one.

Bloat:

This ailment is also known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, a life-threatening disease regarded as a medical emergency. The stomach can twist, cutting off blood flow to the heart. It occurs more often in deep-chested dogs and you will notice the swollen stomach.

These dogs are considered to have less health issues than other brachycephalic breeds but still you need to keep an eye on their breathing. In fact, David Leavitt, who developed the dog says that this particular mix of dog doesn’t have the undesired negative health aspects of the dog’s relatives such as hip issues, difficult births and brachycephalic syndrome. They are also far more tolerant to heat and cold that other bulldog types.

The Greek Harehound is a healthy dog breed with no particular genetic defects. But like other dogs with floppy ears, they are more prone to infections and the insides of the ears will need to be cleaned frequently. Always do this with the utmost care to avoid damaging your pet's ears.

He is a deep chested dog and this puts him at risk of gastric dilation and volvulus which is commonly referred to as bloat. Its a life threatening health issue where the stomach can twist. The stomach is sealed off as a result and gas builds up. The dog can go into organ failure.

There are a number of things you can do to make sure your Old English Bulldogge settles down nicely into his new home.

Grooming:

With his short coat, he isn’t described as being hypoallergenic, but the coat is looked upon as not triggering allergies as much as some of the other dog breeds. He will simply require a brush twice a week.

Vaccinations:

Make sure to take your 8 week old puppy to the vet to check him over and to start with his first vaccines to avoid him getting some of the life-threatening illnesses there are. He will also be de-wormed. Later on as an adult, he or she will need to be neutered or spayed to prevent puppies.

Never leave your dog in a car on a hot day. It can kill him. Rather leave him at home.

Diet:

Feed your Olde English Bulldogge a balanced diet that provides him with the right amount of minerals and vitamins. The top ingredients of commercially manufactured pet food must be meat. You can add some home-made food into his kibble as a treat as well as some raw meat occasionally. Chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots will be excellent for him. You can also look at the possibility of giving your dog a supplement. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Greek Harehound is happiest when he senses he is free to follow scents and run. This is why this particular dog breed isn’t suited for life in the city where he has a small garden. He requires large pieces of ground to run free. If you own one of these dogs, he should be taken on daily walks and be involved in lots of sporting activities and games. If you’re a jogger or cyclist, this dog will be thrilled to join you.

Grooming:

Dog owners love that this dog is a low maintenance breed. The short coat simply requires a brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs and to also keep his coat shiny and healthy.

Vaccinations:

Every new puppy will require a series of vaccinations in his first year to make sure he doesn't develop some of the serious dog diseases there are such as distemper, parvo-virus and rabies among others.

Diet:

Dogs are carnivores and without human interference have always eaten fresh meat in the wilds. For convenience many people feed their dogs commercially manufactured food.

There are some excellent brands. Choose the best one for your pet and mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked rice, chicken and vegetables.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.