Dogo Cubano vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Dogo Cubano is originated from Cuba but Abruzzenhund is originated from Italy. Dogo Cubano may grow 18 cm / 7 inches shorter than Abruzzenhund. Both Dogo Cubano and Abruzzenhund are having almost same weight. Dogo Cubano may live 3 years less than Abruzzenhund. Both Dogo Cubano and Abruzzenhund has almost same litter size. Dogo Cubano requires Low maintenance. But Abruzzenhund requires Moderate maintenance

History

The Cuban Mastiff which came from Cuba, was developed from breeds of Mastiffs, Bulldogs and cattle dogs, with the breed being thought to be extinct since the end of the 19th century.

The Dogo Cubano had a number of roles to fulfill in its day and they were used for guarding stock, for dog fighting and for chasing runaway slaves. After the abolishment of slavery, the large dog had no real role and it died out.

Known also as the Cuban Mastiff or Mastin de Cuba, there isn’t much accuracy as to its origins, with the most common story for their origin being that they are descendants of the Molossus.

The dogs were later introduced into Western Europe, becoming fairly common in England and Spain. The dog was also was also mentioned in the works of canine authors Stonehenge and George Wood.

abruzzenhund - historyAbruzzenhund was established as an individual breed in the middle of the 20th century. They are descendant of the big, white Eastern sheepdogs which came to Europe 2000 years ago. Abruzzenhund is a mix of Turkish sheepdogs Akbash and Karabash, the Kuvac, Slovakian breed Hungarian breed, Komondor, and a French sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Those dogs were much bigger than today’s breed. Abruzzenhund is still not very popular breed, but it is very common in Great Britain and Italy. They have been used as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and working dogs because they are very brave and strong.

Description

The Dogo Cubano was generally similar to other Mastiffs and stood at rough 48 – 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 45kg.

He was a large dog, powerfully built, muscular and strong. Images of the dog show that it had strong, straight legs with a long tapering tail and medium-sized floppy ears that were sometimes cropped upwards and close to the head.

The dog breed came in a variety of colors such as brown, tan, fawn and brindle. The muzzle was broad and short and black. The dog had pronounced jowls with its face being fairly wrinkly.

Temperament:

This large dog was known for being a courageous, independent and aggressive dog. He became attached to his owner, showing protective characteristics .In those days the dog would have received simple training and certainly if such a large dog still existed today, it would have to receive training and socialization as well.

The Dogo Cubano was an intelligent dog and easily trainable, requiring an owner with a firm hand. Being an aggressive breed, the dog possibly wouldn’t have been the best companion for children. He also wouldn’t have got on too well with pets in the home as he was trained to be a fighter in his day. Independent and strong-willed, the dog would not have suited a novice dog owner.

abruzzenhund puppy - descriptionA height of Abruzzenhund variates between 60-73 cm, males are slightly bigger than females. While the weight is 30-45kg, again, males are heavier than females.

Lifespan of Abruzzenhund

Abruzzenhund lifespan is between 11-13 years, but since these dogs don’t have any weaknesses and don’t tend to get sick, they can live longer with a proper care and adequate food and training.

Litter size of Abruzzenhund

Litter size of Abruzzenhund depends, but as any large breed, they usually have 6-9 puppies. And that is a very good considering size of the breed.

Abruzzenhund is not the only name of this breed. There are more names that you might hear. You can hear names like Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog, and many similar names. Basically, they sound similar but there are differences.

Abruzzenhund is a friendly dog, but it is very powerful. Very strong jaw with a scissors bite makes them very strong. They have small but intelligent eyes, usually dark colored. The undercoat is dense, while the coat is white with segments of ivory to white yellow. Their long undercoat and coat make them winter resistant.

Characteristics

The Dogo Cubano was bred to be a guard dog as well as for dog fighting, but this large dog, with training and socialization, no doubt became a loyal and devoted family pet.

It was actually a social dog, being aggressive towards other dogs. He would be described as a dog better suited to a home with older children.

He was protective with his human family but not very active, being too big to be leaping around like other dog breeds. It is a pity that this large dog has disappeared as he had some good qualities.

abruzzenhund dog - characteristicsAbruzzenhund is a very well-balanced breed who loves spending time with other animals and people. They have a very good temper. They love being around families, and they are very gentle with children. It is important to train Abruzzenhund properly because the dog of that size should be a leader. A human with a strong character should train this breed. Training is important because they tend to make their own decisions which can be bad sometimes.

Health Problems

The Dogo Cubano was a generally healthy breed, but just like with most other dog breeds, they were also prone to some of the more common dog problems. The chances of him getting sick were slim though.

When the dog first originated, there were unlikely to have been health clearance certificates, but today, you’d want health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

The reason for this is that hip dysplasia is a heritable condition, seen more often in large dogs, where the thigh bone doesn’t fit into the hip joint properly. The dog suffers with pain and discomfort and the condition can lead to lameness with the dog.

Gastric Torsion or Bloat is a life threatening condition that affects large dogs like the Dogo Cubano and those with deep chests. The stomach is distended with gas and it can twist.

The gas can’t escape and blood flow is hindered. The dog vomits, is lethargic and weak, and immediate veterinary help will be required.

abruzzenhund puppies - health problemsA great thing about Abruzzenhund is that they are very healthy dogs. They don’t have any chronical health problems, so if you are feeding your dog properly, with a lot of exercises they will not have any health problems. It is also important to check genetics of the dog.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

The Dogo Cubano was a large dog, so if he did become used to living in the city, he would have adapted better to life in the country.

He wasn’t a dog requiring too much exercise but he would have needed to go for walks. They were used as guard dogs long ago, and if he had been in existence today, you wouldn’t have been able to include him in your jogging and cycling as he was a dog that could easily overheat.

Diet:

Not all dogs require the same amount of food. Long ago the Dogo Cubano wouldn’t have had the same variety of dog foods available today. Maybe the dog in those days was fed the same kind of food that his owner ate.

Today, if these dogs were still around, they would require the best quality ‘large dog breed’ kibble.

The better the dog food, the more nourishing it is and the healthier the dog is. The Dog Cubano would likely have been a dog that drooled, leaving quite a bit of backwash in the water bowl, so it would have been important to wash out the drinking bowl and to regularly replace it with cool, fresh water.

abruzzenhund dogs - caringThey learn very quickly, but it requires strong will and constant training to keep them happy. They are great working dogs, and with the positive training, they are amazing. It is very important that they follow rules and to keep them in balance with training.

Feeding Abruzzenhund

They can eat a lot of food, depend on their activity. High-Quality dog food twice a day for a grown dog is a must. While puppies should eat 3-5 times, smaller portions of food. The food is important especially for working dogs, they need up to 2000-3000Kcal per day. Abruzzenhund will enjoy eating meat with a lot of vegetables and oil.

They are not recommended for small house or apartment. They need big yard because they require a lot of space. During the winter they can be outside because of their coat, but during the summer they need to be in the shade with a lot of fresh water available anytime.

Grooming the Abruzzenhund

The coat should be brushed and groomed very often because they have a thick coat. There is a lot of dead and loose hair in it. During shedding, period takes even more time to groom your dog properly. They love and they need exercise. Mental exercise is important as physical. Every day walking, running, playing with other animals is an important part of dog's activity. When they get enough quality exercise, they will sleep in the house.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Cuba
Italy
Height Male:
48 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
60 - 73 cm
23 - 29 inches
Height Female:
48 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
42 - 46 kg
92 - 102 pounds
30 - 45 kg
66 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
42 - 46 kg
92 - 102 pounds
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
6 - 9
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Cuban Mastiff, Mastin de Cuba
Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog
Colors Available:
brindle, Brown, fawn, tan
Black, Cream, White, Grey and Brown
Coat:
Short and smooth
Profuse and Long
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Courageous, Independent
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  2. Akbash Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  3. Abruzzenhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  5. Rough Collie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  6. Bouvier des Flandres vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  7. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  8. Saarlooswolfhond vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  9. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  10. Huntaway vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  11. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  12. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  13. South Russian Ovcharka vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  14. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  15. Akita vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  16. Samoyed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Labradoodle vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  18. Cane Corso vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  19. Alaskan Malamute vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  20. Mixed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  21. Bullmastiff vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  22. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  23. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  24. Bloodhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  25. Great Pyrenees vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  27. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  28. Presa Canario vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  29. Labrador Husky vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  30. Giant Schnauzer vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  31. Goldador vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  32. Dogo Cubano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  33. Dogo Cubano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  34. Dogo Cubano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  35. Dogo Cubano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  36. Dogo Cubano vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  37. Dogo Cubano vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  38. Dogo Cubano vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  39. Dogo Cubano vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  40. Dogo Cubano vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  41. Dogo Cubano vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  42. Dogo Cubano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  43. Dogo Cubano vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Dogo Cubano vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  45. Dogo Cubano vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  46. Dogo Cubano vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  47. Dogo Cubano vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Dogo Cubano vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Dogo Cubano vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  50. Dogo Cubano vs Central Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds