Podenco Galego vs East European Shepherd - Breed Comparison

The Galego is an ancient sighthound breed of hunting dog from Spain.

Unfortunately, like most of the Podencos, they have been badly treated in Spain. People who own them have also used them for rabbit hunting.

It is thought that these dogs may have been bred with other sighthounds over the centuries. The dog may well be the most recognized breed in Spain, but its isn’t recognized by the World Canine Organization. There are however breeders wanting to make it an official breed.

The East European Shepherd is a dog which hails from Russia. The dog was developed in the 1930-1950s as there was a need for a bigger, more robust, weather-resistant type of dog who would perform all kinds of guard duties in the Soviet Union.

This is a rare dog breed, created by mixing Russian breeds such as the Laika, Central Asian Shepherd and Caucasian Shepherd to create a strong working dog that could cope well with the sub-freezing conditions.

The standard breed type was established in 1964. The only major kennel club to grant full recognition to the East-European Shepherd is the Russian Kennel Club. In the United States, the dog is recognized by a number of rare breed registries.

The Podenco Galego is a medium sized dog standing at between 42 to 52cm in height and weighing roughly from 10 to 15kg.

The Podenco Galego is similar in appearance to greyhounds, being tall ad slender with short smooth coats There are varieties with longer coats. The dog is lean and agile with bright, intelligent eyes.

The coat is thick and dense and available in a variety of colours which include brindle and white. The ears are erect and the tail long.

Temerament:

Loving and loyal to his human family, it is terrible that this dog that has been so abused by humans should still wag his tail and offer a paw of friendship.

He is a gentle dog that loves to play with children. He is intelligent too and if you train him and have him socialized he can be a pleasure to have around.

He is the kind of dog that can adapt to life in the city or the countryside so long as he is exercised regualarly. He has well developed senses and is an alert dog, active and independent, responding well to training.

The East European Shepherd is larger than a German Shepherd. He is described as a large dog with males and females standing roughly at 66-76 centimeters at the withers and weighing anything between 30–50kg.

The coat with undercoat is medium in length with the standard color being black-and-tan or black-and-red. The dog is solid colored or is light fawn or tan in color with black saddle.

The face of the dog is black and he looks a lot like a wolf in appearance. The ears of the East European Shepherd are medium sized and always erect.The tail is long and hangs low.

Temperament:

The East European Shepherd is an intelligent and confident dog and can be aggressive when aggravated. He is a working dog and to get along with other pets in the home as well as children, the East European Shepherd will need to be trained and socialized, becoming obedient and loyal with his owner.

He is an intelligent dog and training him poses no problem. Loyal and devoted, this dog mostly becomes particularly attached to one member of the family.

There are a number of dog experts who don’t recommend the dog as a family pet as it is a dog reluctant to form a close bond with a child, being irritated by them, especially ill disciplined children.

It is a strong-willed dog too and shouldn’t be the first dog choice for a novice dog owner. They make excellent guard dogs and take their role as protector of the family seriously.

Your Podenco Galego is an energetic dog who will rely on you to provide him with lots of daily action.

He is a strong willed dog and will do well with a confident firm, patient and consistent owner. He becomes attached to his human owner and he plays well with gentle, kind, respectful children in the home.

He is a quiet dog too that doesn’t irritate with constant barking. He has had a raw deal from the people in Spain but he is still willing to show you what he can offer you – ongoing friendship and love, and that’s a lot more than lots of humans can offer you.

The East-European Shepherd dogs are balanced, confident, intelligent, loving and playful while also being tough and protective of their owners.

They make fantastic guard dogs, becoming aggressive around strangers whom they don’t trust. When you bring a dog like this into the home, it is essential to have him trained and socialized and to also have a firm owner who can deal with such a strong-willed animal.

He is an active, alert dog who will require regular exercise and will slot into life in the city or in the country so long as his exercise needs are met.

When you look after your East European Shepherd you’ll find in him a devoted, loyal friend who will protect you with his life.

These dogs are ancient dog breeds not particularly well known outside the Iberian Penninsula. They are strong, robust dogs,resistant to disease. However, they can succumb to some of the more common dog diseases even though they are so resistant to diseases.

With proper care, a Podenco hardly ever gets sick and can live to be 12 – 14 years of age.They also have a low probability of developing degenerative diseases such as hip dysplasia. This is a joint disease common in other breeds.

Skin Allergies

Dogs can get allergies which can be very upsetting for both you and your dog.Your dog scratches and licks and can’t find relief. The most common area affected are the ears, underarms, the eye area, groin and paws. You will need to get your pet to the vet as he can become frantic with the itching and pain.

Regarded as a tough dog who can reach 10 – 12 years of age, the East European Shepherd is prone to hip or elbow dysplasia. This is a a disease that is more prevalent with German Shepherd type dogs.

Dysplasia is a genetic condition which can lead to inflammation and arthritis and even lameness. Unfortunately it can happen with young dogs too, and the vet will suggest different types of treatment which can include surgery.

Degenerative myelopathy is another degenerative disease which can be found with the East European Shepherd. It is a fatal, progressive degenerative disease of the spinal cord. Unfortunately there isn’t treatment for the disease, leading to paralysis of the limbs.

Your Galego is a lean, muscular dog, and he wants lots of exercise. He won’t be content with just a walk every day, but will want ball and frisbee games or joining in with you as you as you go running or jogging.

Diet:

To ensure your dog stays as robust and healthy as he is, make sue he gets quality food. If you do opt to feed him a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure it isn’t one of the low quality foods that are filled with bad ingredients and which can actually make your dog sick.

Apart from a high quality dry kibble, provide him with some tasty homemade food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice and pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and added into the kibble once in a while will be a wonderful treat for your pet.He will be totally satisfied with this. Try and give him some raw meat occasionally as this helps to stave off irritating skin problems.. Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water close by.

Make sure his vaccinations are up to date.

Provide him with a dry, warm comfortable place to sleep.

Brush him twice a week. Check inside his ears for infections.Trim his nails and look inside his mouth for bad teeth which can play havoc with his health.

Take him to the vet whenever he is sick.

Grooming:

The coat of the East European Shepherd is thick, and while he won’t require any professional grooming, he will require being brushed at least twice a week. This is because he sheds heavily at certain times.

His nails will need to be clipped if they don’t wear down naturally, and his teeth will require regular brushing at least 2 or 3 times a week. Fortunately, because his ears are large and open, he doesn’t easily get an ear infection.

Exercise:

The East European Shepherd is a dog which has always been worked. It is a highly energetic dog and its role as a guard- and herding dog has made it that the dog will require a good dose of exercise.

A long walk may not be enough for this active dog, and he will require intense ball throwing with a tennis racquet to get the ball far away so that he can run far to fetch the ball. Without enough exercise, the East-European Shepherd will develop behavioral problems which will include aggression.