Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Perro Cimarron - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Tatra Mountain Sheepdog, Polish Mountain Sheepdog or the Polski Owczarek, the Polish Tatra Sheepdog comes from Poland.

Shepherds were wanting an excellent guard dog for their livestock, and this dog has a natural instinct for guarding. Apart from being a good protection dog, the dog is also a superb companion.

This is a rare dog breed and not recognized by the AKC. This is actually an ancient breed, and the dog has lived in the Polish mountains for thousands of years. When the breed actually came about hasn’t been recorded. Some people suggest the Tatra Sheepdog comes from the Mastiff dog.

After the World Wars the dog’s number had been reduced and the Federation Cynologique Internationale started breeding the dog in the 1960s.

The Perro Cimarron, also known as the Uruguayan Cimarron is a molosser type dog which originated in Uruguay. The dog is believed to have descending from European dogs which were brought to the country by early colonizers.

These dogs are the official mascot of the National Army of Uruguay. The dog is also recognized in Uruguay as well as by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. The dog was exported to the United States and then recognized by the United Kennel Club in the category Guardian Dog.

If you bring a Polish Tatra Sheepdog puppy into your home you might think you had a gorgeous Polar Pear Cub roaming around – that’s how cute they are.

These are large, well built white coated dogs and the average height for them as an adult is between 60 to 70cm, male and female. Weight of the dog is between 36 and 60kg.

The double coat is medium length and thick. The ears are medium length and floppy and the tail is long and carried low when the dog is at rest, but it is carried up and over the back when the dog is alert and watchful.

Temperament:

These dogs have a lot of characteristics that make it such a good guardian dog. He is territorial, bold, protective, loyal and always loving towards his human family.

The Tatra has a loud bark and he uses this when he is wary of anything that he thinks may harm his family. He is an intelligent dog too, and you won’t have any trouble training and socializing him.

The Perro Cimarron is a large dog standing at between 58 to 61cm and weighing 38 to 45kg, both males and females.

He is a muscular dog with the coat being short and smooth and in a pale fawnish color or brindle and with a black face.

The Uruguayan Cimarron is a multi-purpose working dog but today he is mainly a family companion. This large mastiff type dog is muscular and athletic. He has a large head, the ears are high set and floppy but sometimes they are still cropped and made erect. The tail is thick, low set and reaches to the hock. He has a black nose, brown eyes and a black mask.

Temperament:

Strong, alert, self confident and brave, the Perro Cimarron may not have a particularly friendly face but he loves his human family and is loyal to them. He is calm and cool but even so, he will need to be trained and socialized and then he becomes calm around different people and in different situations. He is a dog that can get on well with children and pets in the home.

These large sheepdogs have always been guard dogs – they were bred to guard sheep and have always spent a lot of time on their own, away from humans.

To many people, he may seem to be somewhat aloof and independent, but for people looking for a guard dog, this particular characteristic is particularly appealing.

Nonetheless, brought up with lots of love and care he makes the most devoted, loving pet.

The Uruguayan Cimarron is not looked upon as a pet for the first time dog owner. He is strong willed, stubborn, somewhat aggressive and independent and will require a strong, firm, consistent owner.

He will make a loyal, affectionate pet for the person who takes time to socialize and train him. He also makes a good watchdog.

The way any dog breed is brought up will determine how he turns out, and if this particular dog is brought up the right way and given the right amount of care and exercise he needs, he can make as good a pet as any other dog breed.

While your Polish Tatra Sheepdog isn’t likely to suffer from any major dog health issues if he is well fed, well exercised and loved, he may well succumb to one or two of some of the typical illnesses there are that plague dogs -

Hip Dysplasia:

This is such a common- and serious problem with dogs, that it bears mentioning. Hip dysplasia is a problem with the hips so that the bones don’t fit- and move properly. The end result for the dog is pain, inflammation and swelling. Your dog is reluctant to play and get up again after lying down. Arthritis can set in which can also be painful. There are treatments to help with managing pain, but in some instances, surgery may be required.

Bloat:

Because the Polish Tatra Sheepdog is a deep chested dog, he is more prone to bloat, which is life threatening. Gas is trapped in the stomach, the stomach twists and the dog has a swollen stomach, is restless and in stress. Immediate veterinary intervention will be required.

Allergic Dermatitis:

This can be debilitating for your dog as he wants to be licking and scratching the whole time. Usually you’ll see this in the paw- and stomach area. There are a range of medications that the vet will suggest.

Most dogs, when they are well cared for, don’t get sick often. The Cimarrón is a robust kind of dog but even so he can get any one of the many common dog illnesses there are such as hip dysplasia, bloat, dental disease, cancer, obesity and others.

Urinary Tract Infection:

This infection can make your dog restless and you will notice your dog trying to wee often but unable to. It can be terrible watching your dog battling, and you will need to get your pet to the vet soon.

Parasites:

Your dog can pick up parasites anywhere such as ticks ad fleas. There are also internal parasites such as tape- and heartworms. They can bring your pet down, making him lethargic and nauseous, so it is best to research canine parasites so you can know what steps to take to protect your dog.

Skin Problems:

Don’t for one minute think that skin problems are a minor ailment. The pain and itching can drive your dog to despair. The skin can be red, inflamed and oozing. There are so many things that can cause your pet to get a skin allergy and you will need to get him to the vet to get some kind of relief for him.

Exercise:

The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is an energetic dog and this means he will require a large sized garden to run around in. As a large, active dog he isn’t recommended for city living but would suit a large property where he can be well exercised. Because of its size and energy levels, regular walks will be recommended. Provide the dog with stimulating games that will be mentally and physically beneficial.

Grooming:

This large dog sheds, and seasonally too, so he will need to be brushed at least twice a week to prevent loose hair.

Check inside your dog’s ears for infection.

Trim your dog’s nails.

Check your dog for fleas and ticks and check him over for any unusual lumps.

Diet:

Every pet lover wants their dog to live a long, healthy, active life. That is why it is so important to choose the best dog food.

If you buy commercially manufactured dog food, make sure its the high quality ones to ensure its properly formulated to provide your pet with all the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Home-made food is also an excellent choice for your pet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots can be very healthy, and you can chop this up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week. This is a super tasty treat. Some raw meat added in occasionally will do him the world of good.

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

Exercise:

As a high energy, intelligent dog, the Cimarron Uruguayo needs plenty of exercise. He won’t be content to sit around and will be frustrated and even destructive if he doesn’t receive lots of attention and exercise. Daily walks will be imperative as well as other forms of physical and mental stimulation.

Grooming:

Your Uruguayan Cimarron is a low maintenance dog because of the short coat which will still require brushing twice a week as he does shed quite a bit. Other forms of grooming include nail clipping, checking the ears and teeth as both of these can become seriously infected if not checked and attended to.

Diet:

If you have a Uruguayan Cimarron dog as a pet, you will need to be looking at the best food for him as he is large and energetic. There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market and you want to be sure that you read the ingredients list so that the food can benefit your pet.

It’s never a good idea to just go on and on feeding your pet kibble. A break every now and again can do your pet the world of good. Some home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will delight your dog when added into his kibble occasionally. He loves the tasty simplicity of such a diet and will never have to worry about digestive problems.

For such a dog, some raw meat added in from time to time will also do him good. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.