East German Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

East German Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed ComparisonEast German Shepherd is originated from Germany but Cao da Serra de Aires is originated from Portugal. East German Shepherd may grow 10 cm / 4 inches higher than Cao da Serra de Aires. East German Shepherd may weigh 13 kg / 29 pounds more than Cao da Serra de Aires. Both East German Shepherd and Cao da Serra de Aires has almost same life span. East German Shepherd may have more litter size than Cao da Serra de Aires. East German Shepherd requires High maintenance. But Cao da Serra de Aires requires Moderate maintenance

History

east german shepherd - historyThe East German Shepherd is a line of the German Shepherd Dog breed. The German Shepherd Dog came about when the three types of “continental shepherd dogs” separated into the Dutch Shephers, German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd. In the 1800’s it was local shepherds who bred their dogs and selected the traits they needed in their geography. The result was dogs in various local areas who all could herd and guard flocks; who were intelligent, strong, fast and had a good sense of smell, but their appearance and skills varied from town to town. The changes in Germany from agriculture and sheep to industrial cities rendered the German Sheep Dog obsolete. But was it really? Many felt the dog could be a good working dog in the cities as well but needed some refinement in the breed according to Max von Stephanite. At a dog show in 1899, he found what he wanted – the perfect working dog.Stephanitz bought the dog and founded the Society for the German Shepherd. (Verein fur Deutsch Schaferhunde) Stephanitz is considered the developer of the German Shepherd Dog.

The East German Shepherd is a line of the same breed. There are several different lines of the German Shepherd Dog, with slight difference for the reason they were bred. For instance, the German Shepherd Dog is bred for looks while the East German Shepherd is bred to be a working dog. Often called a DDR German Shepherd, they came about from the Deutsche Democratic Republic or the Republic of East Germany. For about 40 years in East Germany these dogs were bred only within the DDR bloodline.

The East German Shepherd is stronger, heavier boned, leaner, more muscular and solid. During the time of the Berlin Wall, from 1961-1989, there were few German Shepherds for breeding stock on either side of the wall, but especially in the East. There the government controlled the development of the breed. They developed a separate registry for the DDR – East German Shepherd. With such strict standards for a perfect working dog and such little breeding stock, the only dogs allowed to reproduce were the ones that passed a rigorous test and were deemed perfect working dogs.

In West Germany they continued to breed for appearance. The West German Shepherd are the most popular ones and are usually simply called German Shepherds. The show dogs of today and the American line came from the West.

Preserving the East German Shepherd today is important and difficult. It means preserving not improving. The Strength of the East German Shepherd is their body line and style, Today’s breeder must maintain this while making sure there is enough diversity in the gene pool to keep the line healthy without losing its body style and working temperament. It is important that the East German Shepherd have a straight back rather than the sloping one of the German Shepherd Dog or the American lines of the GSD. The working dog is also more aggressive and has a much higher work drive than any of the other German Shepherd Dogs lines.

cao da serra de aires - historyAncestors 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.

Description

east german shepherd puppy - descriptionWhat are the differences between the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) and the East German Shepherd? The East German Shepherd has a straight back and a larger bone structure. He has a very large and block shaped head with a lean, athletic build. His lips are taunt and dark, and his nose must be black. He has a scissor bite and strong teeth. His eyes are medium sized almonds that are slanted slightly. The eyes are also very dark. His ears are erect and not too big. His legs, haunches and feet must all be coordinated so that he trots rather than runs.

cao da serra de aires puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Characteristics

east german shepherd dog - characteristicsThe East German Shepherd is a well- balanced dog. He is sure of himself, friendly, loyal and wants to please his owner. He is intelligent, resilient and attentive. He will make a great family pet. He is aggressive with a high prey drive but that can be tempered with good socialization and training. He is easy to train.

cao da serra de aires dog - characteristicsThe 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.

Health Problems

east german shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause the East German Shepherd line has been isolated behind the Berlin Wall, there are not many genetic health issues in the line. Most importantly the East German Shepherd shows no hip dysplasia which plagues most GSD. There are a couple of situations to look out for. They are:

  • Bloat

A life threatening issue that must be addressed immediately for fear of death. Bloat is caused when a larger dog with a deep chest eats too large a meal before or after strenuous exercise, eats too fast, or drinks too much water. The stomach distends with air or gas and twists. Sometimes it is completely inverted. Get help fast or your dog will die.

cao da serra de aires puppies - health problemsAs 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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

east german shepherd dogs - caringBecause these dogs were bred to work you need to feed them a high quality dry food, made for working dogs. It needs to have a good amount of calcium and glucosamine. Feed about 3-4 cups per day divided into 2 feeding times.

Health issues

In addition to bloat as mentioned above, the East German Shepherd can also have both air born, and food born allergies. These are easily treated by your veterinarian.

Exercise and games

The East German Shepherd is a high energy, high activity dog so you have some for him. He is agile and athletic. He needs serious exercise and a job is essential. If you can’t give an East German Shepherd a job, then don’t get this dog. He loves tracking and has a high prey drive. Keep him trained, challenged and working. Try tracking and herding trials, obedience, agility, fly ball and bar hunt.

cao da serra de aires dogs - caringAs 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
Germany
Portugal
Height Male:
60 - 65 cm
23 - 26 inches
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
Height Female:
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
29 - 40 kg
63 - 89 pounds
17 - 27 kg
37 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 33 kg
50 - 73 pounds
15 - 27 kg
33 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 9
3 - 6
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
East German Shepherd Dog, DDR, EGSD
Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog
Colors Available:
grey with darker shading, brown and yellow to light grey markings; single-coloured black, are black with reddish-brown, black saddle and mask
Fawn, gray, yellow and black
Coat:
double, dense
Long, shaggy, single-layer coat,
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Independent, Loving, Protective, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  2. Rough Collie vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. East German Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. East German Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  6. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  7. East German Shepherd vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  8. East German Shepherd vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  9. Saarlooswolfhond vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  10. Estrela Mountain Dog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Huntaway vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  13. South Russian Ovcharka vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  14. Mioritic Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. Labradoodle vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  17. Mixed vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  18. German Shorthaired Pointer vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  19. Great Pyrenees vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  20. Presa Canario vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Labrador Husky vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. Perro de Presa Canario vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Irish Setter vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  24. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  26. Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  27. Dutch Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  28. English Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  29. Catahoula Cur vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  30. Catalan Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  31. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  32. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  33. Queensland Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  34. German Coolie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  35. Croatian Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  36. Red Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  37. New Zealand Huntaway vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  38. Norwegian Buhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  39. Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  40. Mudi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  41. Schapendoes vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  42. Nenets Herding Laika vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  43. Scotch Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  44. Smithfield vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  45. Smooth Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  46. Spanish Water Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  47. Swedish Lapphund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  48. Swedish Vallhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  49. Thai Bangkaew vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds