Gaddi Kutta vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Gaddi Kutta vs East German Shepherd - Breed ComparisonGaddi Kutta is originated from India but East German Shepherd is originated from Germany. Gaddi Kutta may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than East German Shepherd. Both Gaddi Kutta and East German Shepherd are having almost same weight. Both Gaddi Kutta and East German Shepherd has almost same life span. Gaddi Kutta may have more litter size than East German Shepherd. Both Gaddi Kutta and East German Shepherd requires High maintenance.

History

gaddi kutta - historyThe Gaddi Kutta is mountain dog of the mastiff line from northern India. They are mostly found in the western Himalayas and Himachal Pradesh. It is also seen in Nepal and often named the Indian Panther Hound and the Mahidant Mastiff. They were bred to hunt but because of their strength and intelligence they are used to guard and herd goats and sheep. They are strong enough to defeat or scare off a panther or snow leopard and intelligent enough to work independently in finding strays and bringing them back to their pens. They have been known to protect herds of cattle from bears and leopards.3 or 4 of them working together can handle the guard duties for thousands of cattle.

Their reputation precedes them – as ferocious and courageous, unmatched in their instincts to protect what is theirs. In the line of the Mastiffs and Molosser, the Gaddi is powerful and agile, and considered to be of ancient heritage though no one is sure what their origin is. The local myth is that dogs were crossed with tigers. It is more likely that dingo-like wild hounds from the Himalaya were crossed with the Tibetan Mastiff to create the Gaddi Kutti. Also found in Pakistan, most lines of the breed have been crossed with others including the German Shepard and the Bully Kutta. Outside of the Himalayas there are not many if any pure lines. The Gaddi Kutta is a good family dog if you socialize him as a puppy. He will be gentle, calm and intuitive with his family, but aggressive toward strangers and other dogs.

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.

Description

gaddi kutta puppy - descriptionThe Gaddi Kutta is a mastiff but he is athletic, has tremendous speed and stamina. He is muscular and deep-chested, leaner than most of the mastiff lines. Their ears can be either natural or cropped, on a very large head. One of the most important traits of the Gaddi Kutta is the massive, arched neck that protects them from predators. He is sturdy with a heavily feathered, thick tail curling over the back.

They are massive, wolf like dogs, fiery and huge but intelligent and faithful to their people. They are scary even when they are trying to be affectionate. The muzzle is strong, and the mane is thick. The Gaddi has long, heavy legs and very large feet that are feathered, making him even more intimidating.

There are two types of Gaddi Kutti – the longhaired and the shorthaired. The longhaired is the most common and has a fuller coat with long feathering on the tail, legs and chest and some feathering on the feet. They are all usually solid colors of yellow, fawn and cream or they could be piebald, brown or brindle. They have a woolly dense undercoat.

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.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

gaddi kutta dog - characteristicsThey are not always great with children, but they will protect own children in their family. Do not leave unattended.

Special talents

They have the ability to bring down a wolf or even a bear or snow leopard.

Adaptability

Because of his size, temperament and coat he is not very adaptable. He is good outside in a colder region and with a lot of land to roam, but not in a hot region or in an apartment.

Learning ability

This breed is very smart, learns quickly on his own.

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.

Health Problems

However, they are prone to some of the same issues that any big dog would have.

  1. Hip/elbow Dysplasia
  2. Painful and can cause lameness and arthritis.
  3. Patellar luxation
  4. This is a moving knee cap. Can be repaired or can cause lameness.
  5. Obesity

gaddi kutta puppies - health problemsThe breed is prone to obesity if they do not get enough exercise or a decent diet.

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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

gaddi kutta dogs - caringShould feed a high quality dry puppy food for large dogs. Give 1-2 cups per day split into 2-3 meals.

Feeding the adult

Again you want to feed high quality dry adult dog food for large dogs. Give 3-4 cups per day split into 2 meals. Watch for obesity and if your Gaddi Kutta is gaining too much weight, cut back.

Points for Good Health

The Gaddi Kutti seems to be immune to the most common of canine diseases.

Games and Exercises

This is a breed of very large dogs that need daily exercise by walking and running. However, since they have been fairly isolated in India and the Himalayas, he has not been exposed to organized dog play and exercise such as agility, dock jumping or field trials. He would probably succeed at all three.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
India
Germany
Height Male:
55 - 71 cm
21 - 28 inches
60 - 65 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
53 - 69 cm
20 - 28 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
37 - 44 kg
81 - 98 pounds
29 - 40 kg
63 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 37 kg
70 - 82 pounds
23 - 33 kg
50 - 73 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 12
4 - 9
Size:
Giant dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Indian Leopard Hund, and Himalayan Chamba Gaddi dog, Himalayan Bhatia or Bhutia Sheepdog, Gaddi watchdog, Gaddi Mastiff, Himalayan Sheepdog Indian Panther Hound, Maidan Mastiff
East German Shepherd Dog, DDR, EGSD
Colors Available:
solid color of black and tan, dark fawn and sometimes reddish color.
grey with darker shading, brown and yellow to light grey markings; single-coloured black, are black with reddish-brown, black saddle and mask
Coat:
dry top coat, heavy, thick undercoat
double, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Independent, Loving, Protective, Social
Grooming:
High maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  2. Gaddi Kutta vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  3. Gaddi Kutta vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  4. Gaddi Kutta vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  5. Gaddi Kutta vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  6. Gaddi Kutta vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  7. Nebolish Mastiff vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  8. Newfoundland Dog vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  9. Leonberger vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  10. Irish Wolfhound vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  11. Mountain Burmese vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  12. Gaddi Kutta vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  13. Gaddi Kutta vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Gaddi Kutta vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Gaddi Kutta vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  16. Gaddi Kutta vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  17. Gaddi Kutta vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  18. Gaddi Kutta vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  19. Gaddi Kutta vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  20. Gaddi Kutta vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  21. Gaddi Kutta vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  22. Old English Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Rough Collie vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  24. East German Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. East German Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  27. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  28. East German Shepherd vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  29. East German Shepherd vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  30. Saarlooswolfhond vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Estrela Mountain Dog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Huntaway vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. South Russian Ovcharka vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Mioritic Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Samoyed vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. Labradoodle vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. Mixed vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. German Shorthaired Pointer vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Great Pyrenees vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Presa Canario vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Labrador Husky vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. Perro de Presa Canario vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Irish Setter vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds