Perro de Toro vs PekePoo - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

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.

As a cross between a Peingese and a Poodle, your cute Peekapoo as he is also known, isn't a purebred dog. They first started making their appearance in the 1900s, in fact it was believed to be developed in the 1950s, being one of the oldest designer dog breeds.

He was bred to be a a low-shedding, hypoallergenic companion dog. Both the parent dogs have their own unique, long histories. Dog experts aren’t too sure where the Pekepoo originated from.

This dog breed isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, because it is a hybrid breed, but it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club.

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.

People love these little dogs because of their lack of shedding and it having a hypoallergenic coat. The coat is soft and can be wavy to curly with some feathering around the ears and tail.

It is medium length and comes in a variety of colors such as fawn, cream, white, black, apricot or chocolate. The coat can have a mix of some of these colors too. This is a small dog that stands at between 23–26cm and weighs in the region of 4 to 9kg. He has floppy, low set ears and bright brown eyes.

Temperament:

They're such cute little dogs, loving and loyal to their human family. However, there is another side to them and they can be independent, aloof and stubborn. They’re very intelligent little dogs and will require both mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom.

Because’s he’s so smart, you won’t have any trouble training him new skills. He’ll do well with children in the home as well as with pets, especially once he’s been trained and socialized.

He is able to settle into life in the city or the countryside. Even though he is a small dog, he will have to have his share of exercise if he is to remain healthy and content. They are dogs that love to be cuddled and petted ad he gets along well with everyone in the family.

Even though he is a true family pet, loving and loyal, he becomes a good watchdog too as he wants to protect all those he loves.

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.

Your Pekepoo is such a gentle, sweet dog, making the perfect family pet. He is gentle, loving and amicable with his human family and wants to be involved in all their activities.

Coming from the Poodle and the Pekingese, he will have inherited some personality from each of these two popular dog breeds.

He is coming into your home ready to make you a splendid pet and companion and he asks nothing more than good care from you as a responsible dog owner.

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.

As with any dog, there are certain common dog ailments that you want to watch out for in your Pekepoo. Brachycephalic airway syndrome is one as well as dental disease and obesity.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome:

Because your Pekepoo has a somewhat squashed face, he may have abnormalities in the upper airways. Dogs with this syndrome have heavier breathing than other dogs and he might even have a cough. The troublesome part is that these breathing difficulties can put pressure on the cardiovascular system.

Obesity:

Small breed dogs are always at an increased risk of being obese and being obese can mean your dog possibly developing osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure as well as other diseases.

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.

Diet:

Your small designer Peekapoo will do well on a high quality kibble diet. Always check out the packaging and see how much to feed a small dog like this. It is better to give a dog 2 smaller meals a day as composed to one because with one they tend to gobble it up which can lead to a serious condition known as bloat.

Dogs love simplicity and consistency with their food, but it is always to your dog’s benefit to feed him some home-made food too. Some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato added into the kibble occasionally will do him the world of good. Every now and again a little bit of raw meat can also be given.

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

Exercise:

Lively and energetic, your Peekapoo is going to need daily exercise. He will love the chance to sniff around and explore on your daily walks but he is ready to become more involved than that and will join you with hikes and swimming too. He is happiest when spending activity times with his human family. As with any dog, just make sure he doesn’t overdo it, especially on a hot day.

Grooming:

To keep your Pekepoo’s hair tangle-free, you’ll need to brush it twice a week. If you feel that his hair is getting too unruly, you can take him to the doggy parlor and have it trimmed into a shorter style. They’ll clip his nails at the same time, check inside his mouth for any signs of dental disease and check inside his ears too for dental infection.