MyDogBreeds
Pastor Garafiano is originated from Spain but Huntaway is originated from New Zealand. Both Pastor Garafiano and Huntaway are having almost same height. Pastor Garafiano may weigh 11 kg / 24 pounds lesser than Huntaway. Both Pastor Garafiano and Huntaway has same life span. Pastor Garafiano may have more litter size than Huntaway. Pastor Garafiano requires Moderate maintenance. But Huntaway requires Low maintenance
Hailing from the Canary Islands, the Pastor Garafiano is a dog which was once used for working purposes but which is essentially a pet today.
Also known as the Spanish Collie, it is not really sure if the dog really has any links to the Collie.There are dog experts who claim that there are actually very few pure specimens of this dog because of interbreeding with other breeds such as the German Shepherd.
There was a time that the breed almost disappeared but a working group was established to further establish breeding centers for the dog. Today the Pastor Garafiano is a recognized breed and he has been registered since 1982.
The Huntaway or New Zealand Huntaway is a herding dog that originated in the New Zealand sheep country. Their main purpose is to drive sheep and they are not an old breed. They were developed late in the 19th century for their working skills. The only real criteria was that they were black and tan. A dog must win a trial in order to be placed in the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association studbook. They drive sheep mainly through their deep, loud voice.
In the New Zealand high country there was a need for a working dog with stamina, agility and intelligence to work the sheep as a drover (herder). The dog had to be able to handle rough, steep land and work with very large groups of sheep. The sheer area of land that the sheep graze and the dog would have to cover, demanded that this dog have stamina and strength to cover large pasture land and work for days if necessary. Before this the shepherds had used British sheepdogs but they preferred dogs that barked while working. So they bred the British Sheepdogs with Collies, Border Collies, Labrador, Rottweiler, Doberman and other barking sheepdogs to create the Huntaway. In addition to the bark, they bred for stamina and size.
They were participating in field trails in 1870 and ads for them were seen in newspapers by 1884. They became a separate breed in the 20th century. Today they are spreading around the world and are becoming very popular. It is not recommended that they be kept as pets however, since they are true working dogs.
This is a medium to large dog, with its hindquarters being a bit higher than the shoulders. The body is strongly built with a deep chest. He stands at between 55 to 64cm in height and weighs between 24 to 35kg.
The nose is black and the eyes brown. The ears are slightly erect. The double coat is long and thick and the color is almost golden or tawny, much like a lion. Puppies are born brown and the color changes as they get older.
The tail is long, and when the dog is in motion or alert the tail is lightly curled. He is an active dog requiring a lot of intensive physical exercise. It is therefore not recommended that he be kept on a small city property but that he be on a farm or have a large garden.
This is a good looking, confident sheepdog who is also intelligent and therefore easily trained. He makes a splendidly obedient pet when he has been trained and socialized.
He is docile, calm and friendly and good with children in the home who have been taught to be kind and gentle with him. Apart from regular play, make sure he gets his regular exercise and he is constantly allowed to be part of the family.
The Huntaway is a large dog with a deep chest and a black and tan coat. They are strong, big and muscular with voices to match. They herd, head, work the sheep in pastures and force them into pens. They are bred to have that big authoritative, deep bark. They do not yap. Their bodies are well proportioned but longer than high. They have well - padded feet and a deep chest for stamina, along with strong legs and body that allows them to run fast and change directions at will.
The tail of a Huntaway if long, while their heads are shaped like blocks while the muzzle is long and the nose is black. They have dark, round eyes and long ears. An unusually attractive dog, they have dense fur with fringe on the tail and chest. There is characteristics a very large variety in the in the way the breed looks from one dog to the next. Thus they do not participate in confirmation events, as the standard is based on working characteristics rather than appearance guidelines. They are more a “class” than a “breed”.
The Pastor Garafiano is such a wonderful docile and friendly pet that he is guaranteed to make a wonderful companion for any family.
He is a dog that simply loves spending time with his human family and won’t do well when left alone in the backyard day after day. Take good care of this beautiful tawny dog and give him your attention and you will have a wonderful canine friend that is difficult to beat in terms of loyalty and devotion.
They are very good with children and love to play with them.
Stamina, speed and independence
Not really. Don’t do well in small spaces. Better off in the country.
Very intelligent, quick learner, loves learning new things.
Your Pastor Garafiano can reach anything from 10 – 14 years of age if he is happy and well taken care of. Every dog however, can fall prey to one of the many common dog illnesses there are. Some of these are -
This is an inherited inflammatory disease of the skin, blood vessels and muscles. Signs of dermatomyositis can vary from mild to severe skin lesions and inflammation of muscles and even a decrease in muscle mass. Severely affected dogs can even have difficulty with swallowing. Symptoms of the disease are usually seen before the dog is 6 months of age.
This is an eye disease where there is a gradual deterioration of the retina. Dogs can become night blind early in the disease and as the disease goes on, they can even lose their daytime vision.
This is a very common dog ailment – the abnormal formation of the hip socket can cause pain, arthritis and even lameness. It is severe enough to know that dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred.
The Huntaway is a pretty healthy breed, developed as it was from the sheepdogs and collies. They still face some inherited issues such as:
Groom your Pastor Garafiano at least twice a week. Your dog’s coat is fairly long and it sheds too and you want to make sure it doesn't become all matted. There are different brushes you can use for his beautiful coat.
You can also use this grooming session to check other areas of your dog. Check inside his ears, check his eyes and feel for new or unusual lumps. Make sure to keep his nails trimmed.
Exercise your pet every day. Take him on walks or hikes and provide him with ball or frisbee games. Exercise keeps him fit and healthy but also happy and content.
Nutrition is of critical importance to your pet's wellbeing. It is important to know what your pet needs to stay healthy and have a strong immune system which can ward off disease.
There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market but it is important to choose the one that doesn’t come filled with toxic colorants, preservatives and fillers. Protein should be high on the list of ingredients listed on the pet food packaging. Also make sure to feed your pet food that had been made for his size, his breed, his age and his energy requirements.
To provide some variety to your pet’s diet, give him some tasty home-made food. Dog’s do well on simplicity and consistency. Some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots all chopped up and added into his dry kibble occasionally will keep him bright eyed and with his tail constantly wagging.
He’ll thank you for not varying his diet with things that can give him an upset stomach such as coffee, tea, popcorn, grapes, onions and chocolate.
If you are not using your Huntaway to herd, then feed a medium formula not a high protein, high calorie formula. Feed 3-4 times a day and 1-2 cups.
3 cups per day feeding twice a day high quality medium calorie food.
Exceptional stamina
This herding breed has a great need of mental and physical stimulation. They were born to herd and to do so over vast tracts of land in challenging conditions. They need to be challenged. They need daily exercise at a very high level. A Run them every day or take them on a couple of long walks. They will excel in field trials, Barnhunt, agility and rescue. They love to learn.