St. John's Water Dog vs Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher - Breed Comparison

St. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada but Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is originated from Switzerland. Both St. John's Water Dog and Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher are having almost same height. St. John's Water Dog may weigh 26 kg / 58 pounds more than Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher. Both St. John's Water Dog and Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher has almost same life span. Both St. John's Water Dog and Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher has almost same litter size. Both St. John's Water Dog and Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher requires Low maintenance.

History

st john s water dog - historyThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an ancient dog breed and dates back to 1780. It is believed that this dog breed is extinct, but that the German Pinscher of today is family of this dog breed. The dog used to be good on the farm as an all-purpose working dog.

When you look at the history of dogs, there are so many that have come and gone, never to be seen or heard of again. Other animals become extinct because of environmental factors, but with dogs it’s a bit different and most, like the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, died out simply because it became unfashionable.

Maybe the jobs that this dog was designed to do no longer existed and he died out because he was no longer needed.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Canada
Switzerland
Height Male:
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
2 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
Glattharidge
Colors Available:
black
Black and tan
Coat:
short, thick coats
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

Described as a medium sized dog, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an extinct variety of the German Pinscher. Like that dog, the Swiss Shorthaired had a muscular, strong square build.

Possibly he also had his ears and tail docked at that time. It is thought that he stood between 40 – 48cm in height and weighed in the region of 11 to 15kg.

He had the typical looks of the Doberman Pinscher with short smooth hair in black and tan, short erect ears and a tail that was traditionally cropped. He was lean and muscular with brown eyes. They were working dogs in their day and were not considered the best dogs to have for the first time dog owner.

Tempeament

These dogs have always been hardworking, brave and fearless. They make good family pets too and get on well with children. They would have been adaptable too to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he got his exercise.

A well bred Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher was alert and a good guard dog, and one wonders why this dog with its good qualities died out.

Characteristics

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is no longer around but he would no doubt have made a good family pet. He would have wanted to protect his human family.

He was a stubborn, bold dog, and maybe socialization and training didn’t exist then, but he would have benefited from it.

He’s the kind of dog that would have adapted well to life in the city or the countryside, but you could never neglect his exercise needs. In the right environment, this Pinscher would have made a loving, loyal pet.

Health Problems

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

-

It is not too sure about the health status of this extinct dog but we can assume that he would have been prone to some of the typical dog illnesses there are.

Hypothyroidismd, bloat, cancer, cataracts, infections and obesity were just some of the diseases this dog would have had to contend with.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands in the neck produce hormones. These hormones affect the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism in dogs is usually caused by shrinkage of the thyroid gland or inflammation.The disease occurs more often in Pinscher dogs.

You may notice a dulling or thinning of your dog’s hair, weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also tend to battle more with ear- and skin infections. Veterinary treatment will become necessary.

Catarats:

It causes a whiteness,cloudiness or opacity on the lens of the eye. It's not painful for a dog but it can cause loss of vision. Surgery can improve vision for the dog.

Caring The Pet

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

Diet:

In those days of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, maybe commercially manufactured dog foods weren’t available. If the dog were still around today, you would feed him dry kibble for medium sized dogs.

Probably the owners of these dogs fed them from the food they ate. It can be a good idea to feed any dog you have with some homemade food.

This can include things such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This is the kind of simple food that dogs love.

Being a farm dog in his day, he was probably tossed raw meat occasionally and this would have done him the world of good.

General Care:

Although the short, smooth hair of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is looked upon as low maintenance, the dog would have needed a good brush twice a week just to keep it shiny and healthy.

After a hard day of work on the farm, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher would have required a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. St. John's Water Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  2. St. John's Water Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  3. St. John's Water Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  4. St. John's Water Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  5. St. John's Water Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  6. St. John's Water Dog vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  7. St. John's Water Dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  8. St. John's Water Dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. St. John's Water Dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  10. St. John's Water Dog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  11. St. John's Water Dog vs Presa Canario - Breed Comparison
  12. St. John's Water Dog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  13. St. John's Water Dog vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. St. John's Water Dog vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  15. St. John's Water Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  16. St. John's Water Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  17. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  18. St. John's Water Dog vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  19. St. John's Water Dog vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  20. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  21. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  22. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  23. St. John's Water Dog vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  24. St. John's Water Dog vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. St. John's Water Dog vs Mackenzie River Husky - Breed Comparison
  26. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  28. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Sakhalin Husky - Breed Comparison
  29. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  30. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  31. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  32. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  34. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Puli - Breed Comparison
  35. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  36. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  37. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  38. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  40. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  41. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  42. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  43. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  44. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  45. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  46. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Pumi - Breed Comparison
  47. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  48. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  49. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds