Perro de Toro vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison

The rare Spanish Perro de Toro seems to have unclear origins, with some saying the dog is a direct descendant of the Toulouse Mastiff, while others say that the dog was developed by crossing the Alano with the Dogue de Bordeaux.

The dog hails from Spain and was once used as a fighting kind of dog but today it is essentially a family pet. The dog is an ancient breed, an ancestor of many of the molosser breeds that are around today.

When Celts began settling in Western Europe, they brought their dogs along. The Celtic Hounds had a duty to hunt, guard and fight in battles. They were, most likely, the ancestors of breeds like Greyhounds and Irish Wolfhounds. The original Austrian black and tan hound was created in Austria during the late nineteenth century. They were very specific dog breed because of their sharp nose, agility, speed, trainability and extraordinary persistence while hunting or tracking.

This is a strong, powerful, large breed of dog, making a good watchdog and guardian. He can be anything from 56 to 64cm in height and weigh between 34 and 40kg.

The nose of the dog is broad and black, the ears are set high and droop over slightly,making them floppy ears, but they have always been cropped to stand up erect.

He's a sturdy dog and the tail is fairly thick at the base, tapering to a point. These days it tends to be undocked and left long. The neck is strong and powerful too and the head brachycephalic. The short coat includes colors such as yellow, grey, fawn and red with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Spanish Bulldog looks fairly intimidating and he will certainly need training and socialization if he is to be obedient and well behaved.

He isn’t aggressive but is confident, dominant, fearless, loyal and also loving towards his owner. He is devoted towards his human family and is good with children. Like any mastiff type breed, he will need a firm, kind, consistent, patient owner. This is the kind of owner who will understand this breed type and take time out with him to exercise him and provide him with mental and physical stimulation so as to prevent boredom.

The Austrian black and tan hound is one of the larger dog breeds. The coat colour of this breed is unique: the coat must be black with small and defined fawn markings. The body, head and legs are black, with dark or fawn markings with the fawn marks above the eyes.

The Black and Tan is a smooth coated, slim breed with the broad chest and a wide skull shape. Their teeth meet in a scissor bite. They don’t have very long ears and their tail is long and slightly bent.

Contrary to what many people think, the temperament of the Perro de Toro is calm and well balanced. This is a reliable, loving, loyal dog who wants to protect his human family.

He gets on well with children and with pets in the home and when trained and socialized, this intelligent dog is well mannered, obedient and sometimes even submissive.

True, the Perro de Toro has a history of being involved in all kinds of things, from hunting to fighting and also being a working dog, but he is now waiting to show you what a splendid pet he can be if he is raised by the right kind of people.

Adaptability

The Austrian Black and Tan Hound get along well with strangers, other dogs or any animals. If they are not trained, their instinct to hunt will be a problem for other, smaller dogs and small animals. This is why this breed can’t be a guard dog. He is usually very friendly, and he remains friendly in most situations. It is very easy to train and socialize them, but you must remain firm while teaching them right from wrong. They are not the breed for the indoor, apartments or senior citizens. If you are not able to fulfil his daily need for activity, he can become quite destructive.

Bite statistic

Nonexistent for the last 30 years. But, if the dog gets mistreated, neglected or threatened – this breed knows to be aggressive. But, if you are a good and loving owner who makes sure that your dog is well raised, fed, loved, trained and socialized while he is still a pup, you will have no reason for the fear.

This is a dog breed that is fit and healthy, but to keep him that way you want to make sure he has enough exercise, love and nutritious food.

He is not known to suffer from any particular disease, but even so, it is wise to be aware of some of the common dog illnesses that your dog could pick up so you can get veterinary help for him just as soon as possible.

Cancer:

With cancer, cells grow rapidly and invade tissue. Dogs can get any of the many cancers there are. Both hereditary and environmental factors can contribute to the development of cancer in canines. Cancer can show up as lumps, swelling, sores that won’t heal, weight loss and difficulty with breathing.

Heartworm:

Heartworms are transmitted from one animal to the next by mosquitoes. These worms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of an infected animal, travelling through the bloodstream and causing havoc. Heartworm is dangerous and can actually be life threatening. Symptoms include coughing, vomiting, battling to breathe and weight loss.

Rabies:

This is a viral disease that can strike terror in anybody who has seen an animal with rabies. It affects the brain and spinal cord of your dog. It is preventable through means of a vaccine. Once symptoms appear, it is a disease which is nearly always fatal.

Hip and elbow dysplasia

(hip or elbow joint malformation) can happen from injury or overuse of the joints since the Austrian black and tan hound is a runner and jumper.

Ear diseases

They have sensitive ears and they can suffer from ear infections. To avoid this, you must have regular vet checks and have a habit of regular cleaning - hygiene of their ears.

Demodectic mange

Caused by Demodex canis. If you notice hair loss, redness and scaling you must take your pet to the vet urgently since this disease can be transmitted humans.

Exercise:

If they are not being used as working dogs, they are family pets, and you need to give them a lot of daily exercise. You will need to give him some walks or hikes and allow him a good run in the country.

Grooming:

The Perro de Toro is a short haired dog, and as a moderate shedder, he isn’t going to require too much grooming. A brushing twice a week will help get rid of his hair.

When brushing him, turn it into a bit of a grooming session and check inside his ears, look at his eyes and try to look inside his mouth. He can’t tell you if he has terrible toothache from a rotting tooth and he will rely on you to check his teeth.

Diet:

Mastiff type dogs need a wholesome diet to remain strong and active. If you are going to feed your pet one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is one of the top quality ones.

Avoid the ones that use lots of colorants, preservatives and unhealthy fillers as these can make your dog sick. Try and give him some home-made food which can be added into his dry kibble occasionally.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and spinach chopped up will be excellent for him and will ensure he doesn’t battle with digestive upsets. If you can, every now and then try to include some raw meat for the benefit and health of your pet. Never leave him without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Feeding

Austrian Black and Tan Hounds don’t eat a lot even if you might think that they do. The truth is that they won’t need more than the prescribed portions that can be found in the instructions of high-quality dry dog food per day. All you have to do is make sure they have 3 meals during the day until they are 6 months old, and later they can settle for two meals per day.

Don’t give them the freedom to eat as much as they want. That can cause serious health complications. Their stomachs won’t be able to digest human food because it is usually made with a lot of spices. You can feed them with treats like eggs, fresh cheese, fruits and vegetables are okay as treats but only if these treats make less than 10% of their daily portion.

Points for Good Health

This playful dog needs the daily dose of outside activities. The grooming is easy but it must be regular. Once-a-week brushing at least is necessary. They don’t need to be bathed regularly but you must check their skin conditions daily since they have high risks of skin diseases. Nails need to be trimmed since they grow too fast and ears need to be cleaned every day to avoid ear infections.

Games and Exercises

The Austrian Black and Tan Hound are like any hound: they have an excellent sense of smell and they love to explore. They like to run and they can run for miles. Any outside activity will be a good choice. They like to bark and they bark even when they are happy. They are usually friendly towards strangers and other dogs, so the dog park is a good choice as well. They will love being at playgrounds as well since they love children and they can be a great Frisbee partner.