MyDogBreeds
Both Perro de Toro and Basque Shepherd are originated from Spain. Both Perro de Toro and Basque Shepherd are having almost same height. Perro de Toro may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Basque Shepherd. Both Perro de Toro and Basque Shepherd has almost same life span. Both Perro de Toro and Basque Shepherd has almost same litter size. Perro de Toro requires Low maintenance. But Basque Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance
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.
The Basque Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds. With this Spanish dog, you’ll find paintings dating back 12,000 years ago. The Basque Shepherd is known as a landrace breed, which means the dog hasn’t gone through the same selective breeding programs as what other breeds have. Landrace breeds have more variations in appearance and temperament than regular breeds.
The Basque Shepherd has 2 distinct varieties, the Gorbeiakoa and the Iletsua. The smooth-haired Gorbeiakoa has a softer coat that is fairly short while the rougher-haired Iletsua has a lighter coloured coat, and unlike the Gorbeiakoa, the ears are not typically erect.
Even though this is an ancient breed of dog, only the Royal Canine Society of Spain recognizes the breed with the two varieties, and in January 1996, the two breeds - Iletsua and Gorbeikoa – were recognized.
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.
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 Basque Shepherd is a strong, well proportioned dog with brown eyes and medium sized ears, which sometimes have folds. This medium-to-large dog has a beautiful fawn coat of medium-length hair that can be straight or slightly wavy. He has a long feathery tail that will wag readily when he sees his owner. You’ll find other colors for the Basque Shepherd shared between the two varieties - a yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black. His hair is shorter on the head and he doesn’t battle with hair over the eyes.
The Basque Shepherd is a highly intelligent dog and also very energetic. Of the two different kinds of Basque Shepherd, it is the Gorbeiakoa which is the more outgoing. The dogs will require a firm owner and they thrive on the discipline when it is combined with lots of with lots of exercise and activities.
The Basque Shepherd is generally friendly with people, if not a little reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home, although socialization and training will be necessary to bring out their best.
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.
The dog is well suited to being a family pet, loving to spend time with family, being a people-oriented breed. He gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home, but can be reserved with strangers.
He doesn’t have an aggressive nature, and yet he does what it takes to protect his beloved human family.
He is full of energy, hardy and tough. He loves his human family and wants to be included in all their activities. He is energetic though and as a responsible dog owner, you want to make sure that your Basque Shepherd has enough space to run.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Because this is an ancient breed, the Basque Shepherd doesn’t have to contend with genetic health problems such as more modern breeds. Just like other dogs though, he could be prone to certain conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear infections and cancer. As a larger breed, he may also be prone to bloat.
Breeds with floppy ears, such as the Basque Shepherd will be more prone to developing ear infections. To prevent infection, keep his ears clean and dry. If you’re unsure, the vet can guide you how- and what to do.
This is a disease which is common to other dog breeds too and not just the Basque Shepherd. This condition affects the hip joints and can result in chronic pain for the dog and also lameness. Checking your dog’s weight is important and the pain can be managed with medication.
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.
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.
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.
This is a medium to large breed dog and he should therefore be fed a high quality food which has been formulated for medium to large breeds. Because he is a herding dog, you might want to also look at an active-dog or working-breed formula to supply him with that much needed energy.
The Basque Shepherd’s coat is lush and long with either straight or wavy hair. Regular brush at least twice a week will maintain the coat, get rid of loose hair and prevent fleas.
The Basque Shepherd is an intelligent breed that will respond well to socialization and training. He is a breed that loves sports too because of this very high energy levels. You need to be careful with the Basquae Shepherd around small children, not because he is aggressive in any way, but because he is highly active, and his exuberance and boisterous antics could see him unintentionally knocking over small children.