Bracco Italiano vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Bracco Italiano vs Basque Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBracco Italiano is originated from Italy but Basque Shepherd is originated from Spain. Bracco Italiano may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than Basque Shepherd. Bracco Italiano may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Basque Shepherd. Both Bracco Italiano and Basque Shepherd has almost same life span. Bracco Italiano may have less litter size than Basque Shepherd. Bracco Italiano requires Low maintenance. But Basque Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance

History

bracco italiano - historyThe attractive and popular breed in Italy, the Bracco Italiano was used for tracking and retrieving, evolving in Piedmont and Lombardy. It is believed the Bracco Italiano came about from crossing the Segugio with the ancient Asiatic Mastiff.

There are people however, who believe that the breed goes back to the St Hubert Hound, but it is certain that both hounds and gundogs are part of the breed’s ancestry. The dog only arrived in Britain in the last decade of the 20th century.

basque shepherd - historyThe 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.

Description

His Looks:

bracco italiano puppy - descriptionThe Bracco Italiano is a large athletic, muscular dog. He stands at 58–67cm, weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. He reminds one somewhat of a German Short-haired Pointer. He has long ears and a serious expression, and this reminds one of a Bloodhound. He has short, shiny hair with his coat being white and chestnut or orange. The tail of the Bracco Italiano has always been docked, giving him an attractive, distinctive look but with rules and regulations coming in regarding docking, the long tail is often left intact. His eyes are brown.

His Temperament

Braccos are wonderful pets – they are intelligent, loving, gentle and amicable, getting on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. Socialize and train them and they become gentle and obedient. They long to be involved with their human family and will adapt to life in the city or the country so long as they are made to feel like family. He is alert and makes a good watchdog. As with most other dogs, they can’t be bought, loved as a puppy and then ignored and left to themselves when they grow into adults.

Two Varieties

basque shepherd puppy - descriptionThe 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.

An Intelligent Breed

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.

Characteristics

bracco italiano dog - characteristicsThe gentle, amicable Bracco Italiano is a versatile dog that can be a super sport companion for active people and it can also be an exceptional companion for families and older people. He has a sweet, gentle expression and his amicable nature makes him easy to love. He is alert though, and therefore can be both protector and friend at the same time.

Overall, this easy going dog with his low maintenance coat can make an excellent 4-legged addition to any family.

basque shepherd dog - characteristicsThe 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.

Health Problems

bracco italiano puppies - health problemsThere don’t appear to be any major health issues with your Bracco Italiano and he can live to be 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Because he is a large breed however, you will need to watch out for hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease with dogs and larger dogs have the genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia. Your dog can develop joint inflammation with pain and lameness.

Other health problems to look out for include kidney disease (Amaloidosis), cherry eye which results in dry eye. If you want to buy a Bracco Italiano, you should ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents.

basque shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause 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.

Chronic Ear Infections

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.

Hip Dysplasia

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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

bracco italiano dogs - caringThese dogs are moderate shedders so he will simply need a good brushing twice a week to ensure the coat is kept shiny and free from loose hairs. Nails should be clipped from time to time and he will also need to have his long ears checked for cleanliness. Long-eared dog breeds are more susceptible to canine ear infections.

Feeding:

The Bracco is a large dog and therefore he will require a high quality, large-breed dog food formula. Your veterinarian can even recommend a quality commercially manufactured food for large, energetic dogs and which comes with all the vitamins and minerals required for such a breed.

Your vet will recommend you steer clear of foods with cheap fillers, lots of preservatives, sugar and colorants. He has a glossy, dense short coat and you want to ensure he gets raw meat, rice and vegetables from time to time to ensure that the beautiful coat never becomes dull and dry.

Cool, fresh water must always be available to him. Diet and nutrition is an important decision for your pet as it will ultimately affect his long term health.

basque shepherd dogs - caringThis 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.

Grooming

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.

Training

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
Origin:
Italy
Spain
Height Male:
58 - 67 cm
22 - 27 inches
47 - 61 cm
18 - 25 inches
Height Female:
55 - 62 cm
21 - 25 inches
46 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
17 - 29 kg
37 - 64 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 40 kg
50 - 89 pounds
17 - 36 kg
37 - 80 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
6 - 9
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Italian Pointer Italian Pointing Dog
Basque Herder, Basque Sheepdog
Colors Available:
Orange and White, Chestnut and White with some freckling
fawn, yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black
Coat:
Short, dense and glossy
smooth and soft to rough and coarse
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Border Collie vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  2. Sakhalin Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Alaskan Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. Catahoula Leopard vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  5. German Pinscher vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  6. Portuguese Water Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Puli vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  8. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. Borador vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  10. German Spaniel vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. McNab vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  13. Porcelaine vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  14. Finnish Lapphund vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Berger Blanc Suisse vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. Griffon Nivernais vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  17. Hokkaido vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  18. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  19. Pumi vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  20. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Basque Shepherd vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  22. Basque Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  23. Basque Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  24. Istrian Sheepdog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Jamthund vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  26. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  27. Irish Setter vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  28. Bracco Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Portuguese Pointer vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  30. Perdiguero de Burgos vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Red and White Setter vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  32. Pachon Navarro vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  34. Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  35. Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  36. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  37. Spanish Pointer vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  38. Spinone Italiano vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  39. Talbot vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  40. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  41. Weimaraner vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  42. Longhaired Weimaraner vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  43. Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  44. Samoyed vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  45. Labradoodle vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  46. Cane Corso vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  47. Mixed vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  48. Bullmastiff vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  49. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds