Cao da Serra de Aires vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison

Ancestors of the Cao da Sera de Aires were used for herding livestock in the Serra de Aires and Alentejo, Portugal. This herding dog is native to Portugal and throughout the 20th Century he was kept as a working dog.

Known also as the Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog or Serra de Aires Mountain Dog, there are some questions surrounding the breed's ancestry as there are few records of dogs before 1900. The dog is thought to be related to the Pyrenean and Catalan Sheepdogs and that it has descended from Briards which were imported into Portugal and crossed with the Pyrenean Sheepdog.

The Cão da Serra de Aires breed standard was accepted by the Portuguese Kennel Club, and the breed was recognized internationally in 1996. The dog was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 2006.

The Australian pinscher exists from the early nineteenth century in Australia. They were originally breed and raised to be great family pet and the guard of the property. They don’t have the gene for a hunting and that’s why they were kept close to the family. Since they were thought to live in areas where they can roam and run free, they have a high daily need for the activity.

The beautiful Cão da Serra de Aires is a medium-sized dog. He stands at 45 to 55 cm at the withers and weighs about 17 to 27 kg. He is recognizable by the long, shaggy, single-layer coat, of straight or slightly wavy hair. Don’t be deceived by the coat as below, the dog has a muscular, athletic body.

The coat comes in different shades such as fawn, gray, yellow and black. The dog has a long tail which is held straight out or down and he has medium-length, floppy ears. You’ve got to look hard, as the facial features of the dog are hidden by its shaggy coat. He has a lot of facial hair that sometimes you have to wonder if he can see out of his eyes.

Temperament:

The Cao da Serra de Aires is a wonderful canine companion and is devoted and loyal, forming strong bonds with their human family. He is a playful, amicable dog and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is intelligent and trainable, and when properly trained and socialized,he becomes an even nicer pet to have around and is obedient to his master’s voice. He is territorial, strong willed and dominant and makes a good watchdog too.

The Australian pinscher, medium sized dog breed, with strong and solid body muscularity, is a happy dog with generally very positive personality. They don’t weight much, and they have usually athletic bodies because they are very active dog kind. Their head is built as a roundish triangle with wrinkled wide forehead and strong cheekbones. They have strong scissor bite and usually darker lips. They have brown or golden brown lively eyes, medium to small ears that fit perfectly to the head size. Their tails are most of the time happy and up in the air, usually fluffy because of the longer hairs on the tails.

The Cão da Serra de Aires is such a loyal dog to his human family that he makes a splendid pet. He is active, having worked historically at herding and guarding.

Socialization and obedience training ensure that he becomes an exceptional pet and he has a host of positive attributes to his name – he is intelligent, energetic, loyal and loving. He may have been used long ago to guard livestock, but today he is selected as a pet specifically for his excellent companionship and for his protective nature.

Children friendliness

If you decide to have an Austrian pinscher as a pet in a family with small children, you will make a great choice. Their playful nature and energetic behaviour have been accepted by the children very well. They have an affectionate attitude towards their family, and they will be the great watchdog for your children.

Special talents

Guarding a farm, large yard, animals on the farm or in a yard. Guarding and playing with children, long runs or long bike rides. They will follow you anywhere.

Adaptability

Since they are great with the family and children as well, they can’t be rated with a five-star grade for stranger friendliness and other dog’s friendliness. Sure, they can be trained to be very socialized if you have the time and the patience, but if you don’t you shouldn’t be surprised if they are generally not stranger friendly. It’s their nature. They are devoted only to the family and they usually have a hard time when their family leaves them. This breed is not advisable to be kept indoors or with the seniors that don’t move much.

Learning ability

The Austrian pincher's ability to learn fast and be trained quickly is not super good. They do well – they will listen to their owners always but they are not so great when it comes to learning trick for fun. They will be more than happy to run to catch the ball, but they won’t give it back because they can play alone. They can be learnt to do the basic things, but their lovable and playful nature will overall and they will end up asking for an ear scratch or a belly rub.

As with most dogs that are looked after well, their health can be good. The Cao da Serra de Aires isn’t likely to keep you at the vet often. Just like with any good dog, there are some health disorders that can benefit you to know about.

Being forewarned , you can get your pet to the vet quickly before the illness gets out of hand.

There are some pet owners who want to have their pets tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as well as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to rule out health defects such as hip dysplasia and cataracts before they manifest themselves in their pets. This is of particular importance to breeders so as to prevent the parent dogs passing bad genetic conditions to the puppies.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. It can be terribly painful for your pet to get around. It’s a genetic condition and while it is more prevalent in big dogs, any breeds are susceptible.

Your dog will battle along with painful joints and sometimes his hind-end will be lame. You’ll notice that once lying down, he battles to get up again. Fortunately vets are well acquainted with this ailment and they have different options to treat and manage it.

Cataracts:

Cataracts in your dog come about from a disease process which affects the lens of the eye. The eye loses its transparency and impairs vision. There are some instances where cataracts can cause blindness. You’ll see a whitish gray area in your pets eye. The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. Get your pet to the vet who will do certain tests to evaluate the eyes and make a recommendation.

They usually have no health issues like skin irritations, problems with eyes or ears, but they need to be groomed regularly because they shed a lot. They don’t need the regular baths, but when you do bathe them, take a good care of washing and rinsing their thick undercoat. Keep their ears clean and their claws tidy, and you will be happy together. There is a normal percentage of the joint injuries and heart malfunctions due to the increased activity. But, if you take a good care of your Austrian Pinscher, you wouldn’t have to worry about this at all.

As a working dog used to long hours of action, the Cao da Serra de Aires will need lots of activity. He’ll need you taking him for long walks and playing ball games with him. He can become frustrated and destructive when left without any physical stimulation.

Grooming

The Cao da Serra de Aires may have long hair but he isn’t high maintenance. He won’t require professional grooming, but will require a good brush a least twice a week. This is because the long coat can tangle.

To keep him looking his best, you’ll want to be trimming the hair around his paws. Another important grooming task is checking his ears and cleaning them. You have to be careful about cleaning your pet ears if you don’t know how, as it could damage the ears. Your vet can always advise you on how this is done.

How to feed the Austrian pinscher

Just like any other active dog, the Austrian Pinscher loves to eat. But they usually know their limit and they are almost never obese. While they are pups, it is best for them to have meals in the morning, afternoon and in the evening. Meals should be rich in nutrients and in small portions. When they grow up, they will need two meals during the day. Take a good care while feeding them – read about the portion needed for their weight and don’t give him extra portions or human junk food. They generally don’t like raw meat, but you can chance on of the daily portions with some meat cooked in the water without any spices.

Good Health tips

Organize your day to have an hour or two for this lovely pet. Austrian pinscher likes to be cuddled, petted and being played with. Be affectionate towards this dog breed because they will be happier and more protective towards you. They like to show love but they also have a need to be appreciated and loved. Keep them off the leach as much as possible and don’t leave them alone for a long period.

Games and Exercises

This lively and energetic dog breed will do well while they have enough place to run. If you have a small yard, take them for a run with you or drive a bike and let them follow. They like to bark, and they will do that if they want your attention.