Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison

Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia but Grand Gascon Saintongeois is originated from France. Hawaiian Poi Dog may grow 35 cm / 13 inches shorter than Grand Gascon Saintongeois. Hawaiian Poi Dog may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than Grand Gascon Saintongeois. Hawaiian Poi Dog may live 6 years less than Grand Gascon Saintongeois. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Grand Gascon Saintongeois has almost same litter size. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Grand Gascon Saintongeois requires Low maintenance.

History

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

grand gascon saintongeois - historyKnown also as the Virelade, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois hails from the Saintongeois region of France, being a newish addition to the hunting dog breed.

The Saintongeois hound and the Grand Blue de Gascogne are the ancestors of this scentdog as these two breeds themselves, are exceptional hunters. The Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large dog and favored by the French nobility for its ability to hunt.

After the French Revolution the popularity of the breed waned. It was Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour who tried to revive the Saintongeois Hound. The dogs were mated with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and were so outstanding that breeding was continued. The breed that was created is the Grand Gascon Saintongeois which we know today.

It was in January 1993 that the Grand Gascon Saintongeois was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club.

Description

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

grand gascon saintongeois puppy - descriptionThe Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large, well built breed of dog that looks strong and robust. His head is strong and covered with loose skin that forms wrinkles around the cheeks. He stands at 61-73cm and weighs 30 to 35kg.

He has straight, long legs. He has a short, smooth coat which is white with black patches. Sometimes you'll also find a speckled or ticked pattern. There'll be tan dots over the eyes.

The eyes are brown, the nose black and the long, thin textured ears are low on the dogs head and also well back on the skull. The tail is long.

Temperament:

He is known for his deep voice to voice an opinion. He is a loving, friendly, courageous and affectionate breed with a well balanced temperament, making him a splendid pet. He is also intelligent and so he won't battle at all to learn some rules. Training and socialization will be good for him even though he is such an amicable dog already, but then he just becomes extra obedient.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

grand gascon saintongeois dog - characteristicsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a true hunting dog breed and valued for his hunting prowess. He has another side to him though and is gentle, loving and calm with his human family.

He makes a wonderful family companion, getting on well with children as well as pets in the home. He may show a bit of aggression to strangers and this is why training and socialization works so well with him as it helps him behave well around family and strangers.

Training is never a problem as he is an intelligent dog. He is an energetic dog and won't fit well into city life in tiny properties, also because of his tendency to bark when bored. He fits well into country life or large properties.

When you provide your large pet with good food, a warm place to sleep, exercise and plenty of love and attention, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois is going to turn out to be one of the most loyal, affectionate pets you can imagine.

Health Problems

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

grand gascon saintongeois puppies - health problemsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a robust dog, who with good care can reach up to 14 years of age. You're not going to be running to the vet often with this strong looking dog, but even so, there are one to two problems that you'll want to look out for.

Ear Infections:

Long-eared dogs are more susceptible to canine ear infections. The symptoms of the infection will be dependent on how severe it is. Certainly your dog may experience pain and you'll see him shaking his head and pawing at his ear. If both ears are affected by inflammation, he may even walk in a wobbly fashion and the infection could lead to deafness. It is imperative that he get to the vet as soon as possible.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the ball and socket joint of the hip is malformed. It results in a joint rubbing and grinding. It can lead to loss of function of the hip joints. It is a common skeletal disease in young or old dogs, small or large dogs and in both males and females.

Large dogs are more commonly affected though with hip dysplasia which can see arthritis developing too. Your dog will display decreased activity and difficulty with standing up after lying down. Veterinary intervention will be required.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

grand gascon saintongeois dogs - caringThese large dogs with their short smooth coats have very little grooming needs. Regular brushing twice a week will remove dead hair and also ensure the good condition of the coat.

He has long ears and these will need to be checked regularly to avoid ear infections. It will be a good idea to learn how to clean the ears and to do it in such a way as to avoid damaging them. Signs of ear infection include redness, discharge, irritation and bad odor.

Diet:

Following the feeding instructions on the packaging of top quality kibble, provide your Grand Gascon Saintongeois with at least 2 meals a day. To steer away from the monotony of kibble every day, mix in some raw meat from time to time, and also include some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables as a tasty treat. Fresh, cool water should always be easily accessible to him.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Gun dog
Origin:
Indonesia
France
Height Male:
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
Height Female:
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
5 - 8 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
3 - 7
Size:
Small dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Virelade
Colors Available:
any color with white markings, brown mostly
White with black patches
Coat:
short and fine
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Mal-Shi vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Malti-Pom vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. PekePoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Schipperke vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Schweenie vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lhasapoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Meliteo Kinidio vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  9. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  10. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  11. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  12. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  13. Prazsky Krysarik vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Pugalier vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Kyi-Leo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Muggin vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Pomeranian vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Maltese vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  20. Pug vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  21. Maltipoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Miniature Schnauzer vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  23. Papillon vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  24. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  25. Irish Setter vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  26. Portuguese Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  27. Perdiguero de Burgos vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  28. Irish Red and White Setter vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  29. Pachon Navarro vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  30. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  34. Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  35. Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  36. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  37. Spanish Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  38. Spinone Italiano vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  39. Talbot vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  40. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  41. Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  42. Longhaired Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  43. Samoyed vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  44. Labradoodle vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  45. Mixed vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  46. Great Pyrenees vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  47. Old English Sheepdog vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  48. Presa Canario vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  49. Labrador Husky vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds