Perro de Presa Mallorquin vs Elo - Breed Comparison

Known by several other names such as Majorca Mastiff, Perro Dogo, Ca de Bou and Mallorquin Bulldog among others, the Perro de Presa Mallorquin was almost extinct after World War II.

The British brought their own dogs with them into the Balearics, crossing them with native mastiffs. They were used for fighting, explaining why this dog also got the name Ca de Bou as it means Bull Dog.

It is believed that the dogs were crossed with the Perro de Pastor Mallorquin, Alano Espanol and the Bulldog.

Developed in Germany in 1987, the Elo is a fairly new breed and there are some unique situations surrounding its development. For one thing the Elo Breeding and Research Association has trademarked the breed name, Elo. The use of the name is supervised by the Elo Breeding and Research Association. Secondly, the goal in developing the Elo is the make the best possible pet for a family. The Elo is bred for behaviors rather than appearances, for companionship rather than work.

The Elo was developed when Marita and Heinz Stories crossed Old English Sheepdogs (Bobtails) with their Eurasiers. They believed that these two breeds were similar in type and development. They were looking to breed a great household pet. The litters from these original crosses were then bred again with Eurasiers or Chow, Dalmatians, and Samoyeds. This expanded the donor base and they continued to breed for character using just the Eurasier, Chow and Bobtail (Old English Sheepdog). Currently there are about 3000 dogs and 60 breeders of Elos. The breed is not really known outside of Germany but that is slowly changing.

The Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a strong medium-to-large sized deep chested dog standing at between 52 and 58cm in height and weighing between 30 and 39kg, both male and female.

This is a molosser-type dog with a strong, powerful build and large head. The skin around the face is thick and loose. The coat of the dog is short and rough and the color is fawn to light brown and reddish tan shade He can also be brindle too or black with tan markings.

The jaw is strong, the ears short and floppy though they have always been traditionally cropped. When left they can be folded backward. The tail is long, set low and reaches to the hock.

Temperament:

This is an intelligent dog who is going to require training and socialization if you want to manage it properly. Training and socializing a dog can be very helpful and help a dog like this to be more obedient and well behaved.

As a puppy growing up with kids who have been taught to treat animals kindly and with respect, the Perro de Presa Mallorquin can get on well with children. However, if you’re bringing an older dog into your home, the very nature of the dog may mean it not getting on with children.

This dog is quiet by nature and will be loving and loyal towards his owner, being protective towards him. He is strong-willed and will do best with a strong, firm, kind, patient dog owner who is consistent.

He is active and will fit into life in the suburbs or the countryside as opposed to life on a tiny property in the city.

As previously mentioned the Elo is bred for behaviors not appearance and not work. Therefore, the appearance of any one dog can vary greatly. There is a breed standard but there is also a lot of diversity in the breed. The Elos’ body is longer than it is tall and it tail is full and furry. He carries his tail over his back in a curve. The Elo has furry, slightly rounded, wide set ears. The undercoat is dense, and the top coat length can be medium or short.

Your Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a loving dog, albeit it a bit stubborn. The key to having a dog with a sound temperament is to have him trained and socialized as this will do him the world of good and make him obedient and more balanced.

Irresponsible dog owners like to tie dogs like this up and leave them in the yard day after day to guard the home. They’re to blame when the dog becomes bored, frustrated and destructive.

Brought up correctly and given the right amount of love and care, the Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a brave, confident, quiet dog that can become a loyal and loving pet and companion.

Having been bred to be a companion animal, the Elo loves children, is loyal, playful, obedient and calm. They love to and need to be with their people. These are not independent, think on their own dogs. They depend on their people in order to be happy and well behaved. He is outgoing and friendly with people.

To avoid some of the common dog illnesses there are, you want to give your pet the best care possible. Of course there are always some dog illnesses that plague a dog and where he will require veterinary intervention. Hip dysplasia is one and larger dogs are more prone to getting this joint disease which can be very debilitating for your dog.

Other health issues can include osteosarcoma and lymphoma which are types of cancer Eye problems such as ectropion or entropion of the eyelids is where you'll find the eyelids turning either outwards or inwards. Also be aware of cataracts of the eyes as well as Cherry eye.

At this point in time the Elo breed is very young and has a very small population, so the breeding group is small and probably inbred. This can lead to hereditary diseases and the Elo is not immune. However, they are a healthy breed and it seems the major issue is Disticha – an eye disease that causes corneal damage. It causes corneal ulcers, inflammation, scarring and tearing. There are a variety of treatments including surgery

Exercise:

Your Perro de Presa Mallorquin is going to need a walk every day if you want him to be physically and mentally sound. He loves to sniff around and see the world beyond his garden.

Grooming:

This is a low maintenance breed, requiring a brush twice a week just to maintain the coat in its heathy state and to remove loose hairs.

Diet:

This purebred dog will need an adequate diet to keep him in tip top shape. He likes his food and because he is big and energetic, will require commercially manufactured dog food that is high in good quality protein. In fact always check the packaging that protein sources are among the top ingredients listed.

Growing puppies will require 4 helpings of food a day which can later become 2 meals a day.Try to include some home-made food for him. It doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact dogs want simplicity and consistency with their food so that they don’t get upset stomachs.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach chopped up and added into the kibble occasionally can be a wonderful tasty treat for your pet. It is also a good idea to try and give him some raw meat from time to time as well.

Avoid all spicy, unusual foods for your pet – he doesn’t want any surprises when it comes to his food. Ensure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available.

Feeding

The Elo is a non-working family dog so do not over feed them. Use a high quality dry food made for a medium size dog.

Health issues

As mentioned previously the Elo breed is so young as a breed that there have been very few health studies and the only inherited issue at this time besides the Disticha.

Exercise and games

Even though the Elo is a non-working dog, they do require a substantial amount of exercise daily. They need outdoors space to run and play as they are very playful with their family. He loves to go on walks, to run, play and dig. Yes, he can be a digger if he is not provided with appropriate and alternative exercise. Without exercise the Elo can be irritable and display behavior issues.