South Russian Ovcharka vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison

Known also as the South Russian Sheepdog or the Ukranian Shepherd Dog, the South Russian Ovcharka’s history isn’t well established, and there are different stories to its history.

Whatever their history, this large dog is closely related to the wolf and has also been crossed with sight hound dogs. Their numbers have been under threat when their role as herding dog was no longer needed for rural life.

It was in the 1920s however that the breed’s numbers were restored and the UKC officially recognised the South Russian Ovcharka in 1996.

These dogs are classified within the Herding Dog Group.

Alano Espanol is a very old breed and first data originate back in the 5th century. Alano has been used as dogs for war and dogs that traveled with explorers. After some, time Alano Espanol becoming more and more popular for bullfights and wild boar hunting. Nowadays, Alano Espanol is still not recognized worldwide, but it seems like this breed is getting more and more popular. They are excellent hunters and amazing working dogs.

A large, big boned, well muscled herding dog, the South Russian Ovcharka stands at between 62 and 66cm in height and weighs between 46 and 52kg.

The dog has a thick, fairly coarse, weather-proof coat that can become long and this coat has always protected them from the harsh Russian winters.

He has small, floppy ears and the tail is medium length and also covered in thick fur.

Temperament:

These dogs need a lot of exercise and if you keep one as a pet he will need a lot of space to run and play. He guards his property too and makes a good watchdog.

He isn’t suited to living in small spaces in the city. He is a dominant, independent and strong willed dog so training and socialization will be important if you don’t want him to be unruly.

With the right kind of training, the South Russian Ovcharka can get along with pets and children in the home. He isn’t aggressive but he has strong guardian characteristics.

The first time dog owner would need to be firm, strong, confident, consistent and kind to handle this strong willed dog.

On average, Alano Espanol approximately weights 34-40kg, while their average height is 56-64cm. Females are slightly smaller than male dogs.

A lifespan of Alano Espanol variates but on average it is 11 to 14 years.

Litter Size is 4-8 puppies, but it depends on every dog.

Other Names for Alano Espanol are Spanish Bulldog and Spanish Alano.

The South Russian Ovcharka may well be independent and strong headed but there is nothing that a little bit of training and socialization can’t do.

He is intelligent and will pick up some obedience commands easily. He is is dog that will like a strong, firm, consistent owner - someone who likes to include him in all the family activities.

He can get on with children but is better suited to life on a larger property as opposed to living in a small city place. Treat him with firmness and fairness and you’ll get yourself an excellent pet and companion.

Alano Espanol is an extra-large breed but they are very well balanced breed and they tend to be very reliable and calm. They are not very comfortable living in the small apartments. They are better in houses. They are also very good with kids. Alano Espanol needs a lot of daily exercise with a minimum of 3 walks per day. Even though people used them for dogfights and bullfights through the history. They are not recommended for the first time owners because they are strong-willed dogs who tend to be leaders in the pack. Strong will and constant training are very important for them. They are very dominant breed and have Alpha character. Socialization is also very important for Alano Espanol because they are very powerful and they can easily hurt other animals. They will listen the master but it is important that they play and socialize with other animals from very young age. Alano Espanol can be a very good with other animals even in the same household, but only with proper socialization. If the dogs are the same sex, they tend to show dominance. Basically, they can be amazing pets, but it is important to train them properly.

This large breed has a lifespan of 9 to 11 years. Some of the health conditions to which this big dog can succumb are -

Hip Dysplasia:

This is something that affects many dogs, but particularly large dogs. When the hips haven’t formed properly, it can lead to pain, disability and arthritis.Lifestyle changes can help, like making sure your dog doesn’t pick up too much weight. For pain management you will need to get your pet to the vet.

Bloat:

Also known as Gastric Dilatation. The dog’s stomach fills with gas and can twist, and this in itself can be fatal. As soon as you see your pet pacing restlessly and he has a swollen stomach, he will need to get to the vet just as soon as possible.

Alano Espanol is a very strong and healthy breed. They do not have any major health issues. Aldo, as with every large breed you should be careful of dogs genetic because they might have dysplasia. However, they are very healthy dogs with no health issues so your dog will live happy and healthy life with a proper care and occasional vet examination.

The long coat is certainly going to need a good brush at least twice a week as it can so easily become matted.

Because he has floppy ears, you will need to check inside the ears that they aren’t showing signs of redness, indicating the possibility of a ear infection. Check at the same time for ticks and fleas.

Exercise:

This dog is going to need a good deal of exercise to keep him content. He will love a long walk out and about. Robust games will also need to be provided. It’s why he isn’t looked upon as a dog suited to the city. He needs a lot of space and can become frustrated and destructive if his exercise needs aren’t met.

Diet:

A dog is part of the family and he therefore deserves a good meal too. Good food is beneficial as it means your dog is less likely to get sick.

Like many dog owners, you’ll no doubt appreciate the convenience of commercially manufactured dog foods. You’ll need to choose the best one though because the inferior ones are made up of bad ingredients – fillers that have no goodness whatsoever.

To provide your South Russian Ovcharka with a tasty treat, try and give him some home-made food. Boiled chicken, rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are simple and tasty and won’t trouble your dog’s stomach.

Chop some of it up and add a small portion of this into his dry kibble twice a week. Your dog’s wagging tail will tell you how much he loves it.

To avoid skin infections, try to include some raw meat into his diet too when you can. Make sure your dog has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding Alano Espanol

Feeding habits of any dog depend on daily activity and size. Alano Espanol should eat approximately 4-5 cups of high-quality food divided into two meals. You can also add some vegetables, fruit, oil or basically anything that you see your dog enjoy eating.

Feeding Alano Espanol puppy

Alano Espanol puppies need more food divided into 3-5 meals per day. It is very important that puppy has all the necessary vitamins and minerals to develop into a big and healthy adult.

Grooming Alano Espanol

Alano Espanol is a very easy breed to groom. They have short hair with no undercoat, so minimal grooming is all that it takes. Alano does not drool, so it is not very hard to keep them clean. They will need occasional baths, but only when they are dirty because if you bath your dog too much, the skin could dry and start to itch.