MyDogBreeds
Seppala Siberian Sleddog is originated from Canada but Basque Shepherd is originated from Spain. Both Seppala Siberian Sleddog and Basque Shepherd are having almost same height. Seppala Siberian Sleddog may weigh 6 kg / 13 pounds lesser than Basque Shepherd. Both Seppala Siberian Sleddog and Basque Shepherd has same life span. Seppala Siberian Sleddog may have less litter size than Basque Shepherd. Both Seppala Siberian Sleddog and Basque Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.
This is a rare working dog breed whose job it has been to pull sleds. The Seppala Siberian Sleddog hails from Canada and was regarded as the same dog breed as the Siberian Husky.There is the International Seppala Siberian Sleddog Club which works to preserve this amazing dog as a working breed.
It was during the 1990s that the breed was recognized as a new breed. In 2002 the Seppala Siberian Sleddog lines found their way to the USA .
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.
The Seppala Siberian Sleddog is a medium-sized dog that stands at between 56 to 58cm in height and weighs between 18 to 23kg.
It’s a beautiful wolf-like looking dog that used to be the same breed as the Siberian Husky, but it is now considered a separate breed.
The legs of this dog are longer, and they’re slightly more slender and lighter. The ears too, are taller and held very erect. The bushy tail is held high, curving over the back when alert.
The thick coat is medium length and there is also a thick undercoat. Coat colors vary and are wolf-like too - white, cream, grey, black and some reddish rusty colors. Eyes can be blue or brown or the dog can even have one brown eye and one blue.
Because this is an active working breed, he will need some robust exercise. Neglecting this side of him will result in a bored dog that howls a lot.
He is a high energy dog breed and won’t be content with a walk every day. When you go cycling or jogging, you can definitely count him in as he will like nothing more than to run beside you. If you are lucky to live near the beach, a tennis racquet to send the ball flying across the sand will please him no end.
He will need training and socialization of course, and you won’t have trouble training him as he is an intelligent dog. He isn’t the kind of dog that slots easily into life in the city, and will ideally suit a property with large grounds where he can run and play.
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.
The Seppala Siberian Sleddog has always been a working dog so he will need lots of varied forms of exercise. He makes a splendid family pet as he isn’t an aggressive dog.
He does however make a good watchdog and will bark and warn you of strangers approaching.These beautiful wolf-like dogs are guaranteed to make you a loving, loyal pet, and they love nothing more than to be close to all his human family.
Treat him as a member of the family and you’ll be rewarded by having his fantastic friendship.
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.
The Seppala Siberian Sleddog, just like most other dogs, can suffer from any one of the common dog ailments there are. These illnesses are cancer, hip dysplasia and eye disease.
You are more than likely not to see any of these illnesses with your pet, but it’s being a responsible dog owner to be aware of them and to get your pet to the vet if necessary.
Cataracts are an imperfection in the lens of the dog’s eye. The lens should be clear, but a cataract can start off small and then grow much larger, causing blindness in the dog. Cataracts happen when the cells are damaged, and diabetes can cause cataracts as can exposure to ultraviolet light. It is also an hereditary disease.
Most times dogs with cataracts can still see, but in the event of mature cataracts, your canine friend can undergo surgery to remove them.
This is another common dog disease. It can be painful for dogs, with either one or both hips being affected. Hip dysplasia can affect both young and old dogs. It can be sad seeing your active pet becoming reluctant to play. He may also have difficulty getting up from a lying down position.
There is treatment for hip dysplasia, and you will want to make sure your pet is as mobile and pain free as possible.
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.
The thick coat of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog will need to be brushed at least twice a week. The coat sheds heavily a couple of times a year and brushing may even be necessary once a day during this heavier shedding period.
Just like human beings, you can enhance your dog’s health and longevity by giving him the best food there is. Commercially manufactured dog foods, when carefully selected, can be a good, choice and they’re convenient too.
It is advised to try and go for the high quality ones known for their natural, quality ingredients. Always read the labels because you'll be surprised to see how some of the inferior dog brands pack their foods with toxic ingredients.
To provide your Seppala with just a bit of variety in his diet, give him some home-made food. It can be added into the dry kibble about twice a week as a treat. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and give it to your dog in small portions.
To avoid skin infections, try to include some raw meat into his diet occasionally. Never leave your pet without a constant source 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.