Yoranian vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

The Yoranian is a mixed breed, hybrid or “designer” breed. They are a cross between the Pomeranian and the Yorkshire Terrier and are very small dogs. They were developed in Yorkshire, England in the 19th century. It is a very playful, family dog that is not registered with any pure breed club such as the American Kennel Club or AKC.

Also known as the Cao da Serra de Estrela, the large Estrela Mountain Dog from Portugal is an ancient breed, having been used for centuries to guard homesteads and livestock.

The Estrela, as a herding dog, has been developed over a long period of time because shepherds particularly wanted a dog that could survive in the mountains and be strong enough to guard livestock from predators.

The first official recorded breed standard was published in 1933, with an attempt to make the Estrela a distinct breed with a hooked tail and double dew claws.

Today the Estrela is a dog which can be found in other countries beyond Portugal, and in fact in 1973 pairs of the dogs were imported to the United States.

The Yoranian is a toy breed, as are both its founding breeds. It checks in at only 7 pounds and stands only 6-10 inches tall. It can have medium or long fur in any combination of the parent’s colors including tan, black, blue or white. They have small ears that stand upright and erect, a small muzzle, medium tail and large round eyes. They can be long and slender like the Yorkshire Terrier or barrel shaped like the Pomeranian.

The large Estrela Mountain Dog stands between 62 and 72cm and weighs between 30kg and 50kg.

The dog has 2 coat types – short and long but always coarse and thick. The coat is available in a number of colors, from fawn to gray to yellow and brindle and there can be white and black mixed throughout the coat.

The head of the dog is large and long, the neck fairly short and thick, he has dark brown eyes, a bright, intelligent expression with small, floppy ears which are set high on the skull, falling backwards against the side of the head. The tail is long and thick and the dog has a deep chest.

Temperament:

A large, athletic dog, the Estrela Mountain Dog is actually a calm dog, while still being protective towards his human family.

He is an intelligent dog who responds well to training and socialization. He is an independent dog, so this training and socialization is important - will be good for him, turning him into an obedient, relaxed pet who gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

1.Children friendliness absolutely but monitor so that the dog does not get hurt. They are fragile. 2.Special talents – high energy and lots of enthusiasm 3.Adaptability – very adaptable small apartments are great. 4.Learning ability very high gets bored easily

The Estrela Mountain Dog loves his human family and takes guarding them and protecting them seriously. He is a strong willed, independent dog that will require training and socialization. He makes an excellent pet, and is calm and gentle with children.

The Estrela Mountain Dog has so much going for him – he is beautiful to look at, he is loyal and protective with his human family, he is intelligent, loving and a healthy type of breed, and he is just waiting to become a member of your family.

The Yoranian has some medical challenges such as: • A very fragile neck and back. They can be hurt easily. • Low Blood Sugar must be monitored. • Eye irritations and dry eyes without enough tear production. • Dental issues with decay and loss of teeth. • Patellar Luxation of slipped kneecaps causing lameness. • Retinal Atrophy can lead to blindness.

The Estrela Mountain Dog can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age, but as with any large dog, he will have a tendency to suffer from hip- and elbow dysplasia.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is another common heart failure disease found particularly in large-breed dogs. The Estrela is prone to this disease and you’ll notice he has shortness of breath, abdominal swelling and coughing. The disease may not be curable, but there are certainly treatments for it.

1 Feeding the puppy don’t overfeed and feed small pieces of toy dog food. 3-4 x per day ¼ cup daily 2.Feeding the adult don’t overfeed/ high quality adult toy dog food. Make sure pieces are small. ¼ to ½ cup daily 3.Points for Good Health – lots of energy and enthusiasm 4. Games and Exercises high energy and enthusiasm at least 2 walks a day. loves to play inside

Diet:

The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large dog and thankfully, when it comes to feeding him, experts in dog feeding have come up with commercially manufactured dog feeds that particularly cater for a dog’s age, his size and any illnesses he may have.

As a large dog, your Estrela Mountain Dog can suffer with joint problems such as hip dysplasia. For hip dysplasia you want to be looking at a dog food for large dogs which contains joint-health ingredients. An ingredient in the dog food such as glucosamine can work to reduce the damage brought about by hip dysplasia.

Mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken into his kibble from time to time. You want your pet to live a long, healthy life and raw meat added in occasionally can increase your pets energy levels, reduce the risk of joint disease and ensure a shiny, soft coat. Raw meat can provide iron, zinc, vitamins, minerals and potassium.

Grooming:

The Estrela isn’t a huge shedder, but his beautiful, thick coat will require brushing twice a week. It’s your chance to check him over for fleas and ticks as well, and the entire grooming process – checking his ears, nails and teeth – is an excellent bonding experience for you and your canine friend.

Exercise:

The Estrela may be large, but he is fairly calm. He’ll love to join you on your daily walks or for a ball game in the garden. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but his big size will mean he isn’t suited to a tiny property.