Schapendoes vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Known also as the Dutch Sheepdog, the Schapendoes originates in the Netherlands.

It has always been known as a herding dog and farm dog. There were times during the 1940s when the dog’s numbers dropped considerably, but fortunately a breed club known as the Nederlandse Schapendoes was formed in 1947.

It wasn’t until 1971 that the dog earned recognition as a Dutch breed and the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized this Dutch Sheepdog in 1989.

This well built, powerful dog breed is also known as Indian Alangu Mastiff or Pakistani Mastiff. These dogs come from the Punjab and Sindh region of the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that mastiff dogs came with British soldiers during the British invasion, however English Mastiffs, Bulldogs, Bull Terriers and Great Danes are seen as potential ancestors of this large dog.

There are disputes about the country of origin of this breed, and some people claim that the dog comes from India, while others say it comes from Pakistan. Certainly in Pakistan these dogs are still used for fighting.

The Schapendoes is a medium sized herding dog standing at between 40 and 50cm in height and weighing between 12 and 25kg.

When you look at him, you’re reminded of the Old English Sheepdog or the Bearded Collie. The thick, double coat of the dog can be a mix of colors and can be brown and white, black and white and gray and a mix of all these colors.

In spite of the thick coat, the dog sheds very little. He is an active dog and is known to be able to jump high. This makes him perfect for ball and frisbee games as he will leap into the air to try and catch the ball.

He has medium length floppy ears and the tail is long and feathered, carried high when busy, but when he is relaxed the tail hangs low.

Temperament:

Brave, cheerful,social and loyal, the Schapendoes is a shaggy Dutch dog who makes a splendid pet and companion for active people.

He is intelligent too, and in fact it is why he makes such a great farm dog too as he is able to work on his own and co-operates with his owner. He just loves being active, and will happily join you on all your hikes, runs on the beach, swimming, walks and other activities.

He thrives on being counted in as one of the active family members. This intelligence of his makes him easy to train and socialize, making him well mannered and obedient.

His amicable nature allows him to get on with all well disciplined children as well as with other pets in the home.

The Bully Kutta is a big, heavy, muscular dog, standing at roughly 81 – 89cm and weighing in at 70–90kg. He isn’t particularly good with children or with other pets simply because the dog is aggressive by nature. If you do opt for this large breed, you’re going to need a large garden and he is going to require a lot of exercise.

This is a dog breed that is going to require socialization and training if you want him to be obedient and calm, as he is inclined to be a dominating breed. He’s an intelligent dog and when well trained, he makes a splendid pet with firm, fair owners.

The Bully Kutta has a large, broad head which is supported by a thick well-muscled neck. The skin around his lower jaw is loose. The ears are short, set high and are mostly cropped, but other times they are left to flop over. The tail is sometimes docked but these days mostly left long and tapered.

He has a short smooth coat and is essentially white in color although the coat can also be fawn, brown, black or brindle.

Because this dog has always been a working dog, he has learned to be independent.

They’re eager to please their owners and easy to train too. They’re not aggressive and are friendly and affectionate and want to protect their owners.

They’re cheerful and playful and are tolerant of children and pets in the home. However, they don’t want little children being allowed to climb over them.

You can expect these big cuddly dogs to make loyal, devoted pets when treated with love, care, kindness and respect.

The Bully Kutta is a powerful, imposing dog and they have been nicknamed the ‘Beast from the East’. Unfortunately it is this dog’s thick bones, his looks and his strength that have him used for cruel dog fighting in Pakistan.

When not used for fighting, he makes a loyal, devoted companion for the owner who ensures proper socialization and training. Well raised Bully Kuttas are then good with children, being loving, protective and playful.

One just hopes that the future of this giant dog breed is brighter, and that he will be looked upon as more of a companion that just a dog-fighting object to bring in money for his owner.

Your Schapendoes is a generally healthy breed and with good food, a good amount of exercise and plenty of love and care, he can reach the ripe age of 15 or so.

Every dog however, has the potential to get one of the many canine diseases there are. Some of these canine diseases to look out for include hip dysplasia, dental problems, eye diseases, bloat, cancer and others.

Dental Disease:

Some people think that problems with teeth are mild – nothing to worry about and yet bad teeth can affect the quality of life for your pet.

Problems with the pet’s teeth usually start with a build- up of plaque that leads to tartar. This can lead to gingivitis and then periodontal disease can develop. Dogs can have bad teeth and this can affect organs in the body.

Problems with the teeth can be serious and your veterinarian will need to do an oral checkup and dental cleaning. If your dog has oral problems, you may notice bad breath, loose teeth, dribbling, tartar on the teeth and pawing at the mouth.

Your Bully Kutta is generally a healthy dog and not often affected by hereditary diseases, but with giant breeds such as this you will have to look out for diseases common to large dogs.

Typical illnesses to watch out for will include hip dysplasia, arthritis, skin allergies and bloat.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an inherited condition where the hip joint is improperly formed. For your Bully Kutta it causes wear and tear as well as stiffness in the hips and your dog battles to rise after lying down.

Arthritis:

Arthritis in your dog can be managed but it can cause a lot of discomfort for him. This inflammation of the joints can cause pain and stiffness. It is more often seen in older dogs. It can also start at an early age because of problems with bone and joint development and abnormal rubbing within the joint.

Today there are a number of therapy options that can bring some kind of relief to your dog.

Grooming:

The Schapendoes has a dense double coat which can become quite long in places. The hair is slightly waved and there is quite a lot of hair around the face which includes a mustache and beard.

He will need to have his hair brushed twice a week, and some people choose to have him professionally clipped.

Trim his nails, check inside the ears for ear infection, check that the eyes are nice and clear without discharge, check inside the mouth for rotten teeth and check him over for any unusual lumps.

Diet:

Your Schapendoes is an active dog and you want to ensure that the food you buy him keeps him active and healthy.

It is important to choose the best dog food if you buy commercially manufactured dog food. Then you can be sure it will have the right formulation of vitamins and minerals.

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 tasty. Keep it simple like this. Chop it all up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week to give him a nutritious treat.

Some raw meat added in occasionally will do him the world of good and keep the skin and coat healthy. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The short coat is low maintenance and as a moderate shedder too, all that is required really is to give your Bully Kutta a good brush twice a week to keep the coat in good condition.

Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week with special canine-toothpaste and toothbrush to prevent plaque build-up. He’s a drooler too, so you will need to wipe his face and maybe your clothes of slobber from time to time.

Diet:

This strong, muscular dog of yours will require an excellent diet. It’s always wonderful if you can give him home-made food such as vegetables, rice and meat. These days you get excellent commercially manufactured food for dogs, and your vet can advise you on the best food for a large, active dog such as the Buly Kutta.

Raw meat is absolutely essential for your dog from time to time and will ensure that his coat doesn’t become dull and with bald spots. Remember, that before dogs were domesticated they used to live on raw meat, so see that he gets some raw meat to prevent skin disorders. Make sure your large pet has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Bully Kuttas are going to need a walk every day in the form of exercise. If he is socialized you can take him into the park for ball games. He is a dog that will require plenty of space.