Utonagan vs Treeing Tennessee Brindle - Breed Comparison

The Utonogan is such a wolf-like dog, you couldn’t be blamed for thinking you’d come face to face with a true wolf. They’re a rare dog breed that came about from crossing the Siberian Husky, the German Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute.

The dog was developed by Edwina Harrison and it was in the 1980s that the dog was introduced into the UK.

The Utonagan is a rare dog with only a few breeders. Take care with where you buy your Utonogan from and certainly steer clear of backyard breeders or puppy mills.

There doesn’t seem to be 100% clarity on how the dog came about but it originated in USA. It appears as though it was only since 1995 that records have been maintained through the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service Program.

A Reverend Earl Phillips, who was a writer for a hunting magazine became aware of a Brindle Cur with a brown coat and tiger stripes. In fact ‘treeing’ is a type of hunting, where the dog chases an animal into a tree to escape. He heard about the dog’s amazing hunting skills.

In the early 1960s, he later formed The Treeing Tennessee Brindle Breeders Association, designed to protect the breed. It was in 2013 that the dog got foundation stock status with the American Kennel Club, but isn’t registered with the American Kennel Club.

These dogs are large and lean, looking vibrant and strong. They stand at between 63-84 cm in height and weigh roughly between 32-40 kg.

The body is long with strong but slender legs with webbed paws. They look like wolves with the sharp muzzle, the erect ears, bushy tails and slanted eyes with black eye rims. The double coat is thick and straight. Colors of the coat can be silver or gey, cream, brown, or black. The coat becomes thicker in the Winter.

Temperament:

The Utonagan is a very social dog, wanting to spend a lot of time with his human family. They have so many excellent qualities that make him a splendid pet - loving, loyal and gentle.

Whether you have other pets in the home or children, he is a dog that is able to get on with everyone. He is wary of strangers though and with training ad socialization he is going to be the most fantastic pet and companion.

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a medium sized, deep chested breed of Cur, descending from the Old Brindle Cur dog.

These strong dogs have a short, smooth brindle coat that is fairly soft to the touch. The coat's color is a mix of tan, black and a little bit of white.

He stands at between 41 and 61cm in height and weighs between 14 and 23kg both male and female. The Treeing Tennessee Brindle has a loud bark and it is best that this dog lives on a farm or in the suburbs as opposed to living in a small space in the city.

Temperament:

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a friendly, social dog and this is why he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

He gets on well with children in the home as well as other dogs, not showing any aggression towards them.

They’re intelligent dogs and it will be a good idea to have them trained and socialized to make them well balanced and well behaved.

The Utonagan is an intelligent dog and also very social and people-oriented. He wants to be part of his human family, with a friendly, playful nature.

He will certainly not like being left alone and outside day after day. He can become frantic with frustration and this can be laid at the feet of an irresponsible dog owner.

Give him the life he wants and deserves, and this beautiful wolf-like dog will be your friend for life.

This brindle-colored cur dog is brave, intelligent and lively and his temperament allows him to be a good companion for his human family.

Even though they are friendly around strangers, they still make good watchdogs and will alert you to all kinds of visitors to your property. They do best in a home with large grounds and an active family where they can explore and sniff around. At the end of the day, they love to lie contentedly at your feet, a loyal, loving companion.

Yur Utonagans can live to be between 12 and 15 years of age, but a few issues can include cancer and joint dysplasia.

Cancer is a major cause of death in dogs old and young. There also seems to be some dog breeds that are more prone to cancer than others.

Thankfully most of the cancers are curable if you get them in the nick of time. The warning signs of cancer in your dog is much the same as with people and you’ll discover a new lump on your pet or a wound that simply won’t heal.

When you detect that your pet is lethargic and not acting his usual perky self, it is time to get him immediately to the vet.

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a robust, healthy breed. You’re not likely to battle with too many health issues with him.

Watch out for ear infections which are more common in floppy eared dogs. Other common dog diseases that you need to know about -

Canine Distemper:

This is a viral disease which is highly contagious and with no known cure. It’s why there is a vaccine against it. Coughing, lethargy, high temperature and loss of appetite with vomiting are symptoms of this disease.

Canine Influenza:

This is another highly contagious respiratory viral infection transmitted between dogs in close proximity to each other, like in kennels for instance.

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, breathing difficulties, lethargy and loss of appetite. It’s important to get veterinary assistance as pneumonia could set in.

Exercise:

These are very high energy dogs and they will need exercise every day. While they will love a walk, they would be happier with something more vigorous such as a hike.

Swimming, ball games and hide and seek will all need to be on this dog’s menu of events. It is why it’s a dog that is better suited to life in the country as opposed to life in the city.

Diet:

If you opt to buy this dog commercially manufactured food, he will need to have a high quality one high in vitamins and minerals and designed for energetic dogs. Try and avoid the inferior brands as they are packed with ingredients that can be of no value to your pet. There are ingredients which can actually make him sick.

Home-made food is always a good thing for dogs, especially when it is simple, nutritious food that won’t aggravate the stomach.

You can’t go wrong with foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice, and vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato. A little bit of raw meat added in occasionally can be excellent as well. Always make sure that a bowl of fresh water is available to your pet around the clock.

Grooming:

This is such a beautiful dog, you want to keep him that way. His thick coat is going to require regular brushing to keep it free from matting. Not only that, grooming stimulates the skin. You can also check him over at the same time for ticks and fleas and make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps on the body.

This type of dog values the grooming session as it is a bonding time for him, making him that much happier and content.

Other grooming needs will include taking care of his nails and checking inside his ears and mouth for signs of infection.

Grooming:

A brush once or twice a week will be sufficient for this dog. Look inside his ears for signs of redness which could indicate an ear infection. Make sure his eyes are still bright and not red and with a pus discharge. Trim his nails too.

Exercise:

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a high energy dog and he is going o want more than just a walk every day, although he will love that and rely on you for this daily outing.

He will also want ball games and hide and seek games.The breed needs an active owner who will take him on long walks and hikes.

Diet:

Whenever you opt to give a dog commercially manufactured dog food, you need to check that the dog food is made with high-quality ingredients which are mostly made up of protein or meat.

Certainly a puppy will need protein in his food for proper growth and he will require 4 bowls of food a day. An adult dog will require 2 bowls of food a day.

The type of commercial dog food you buy will depend on the age of your dog as well as his activity levels. If your dog has a known allergy or illness, there are dog foods manufactured with that in mind.

Try and in include some homemade food into his diet. Nothing spicey and exotic as this can cause stomach problems. A good guide is boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.