Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic vs Bandog - Breed Comparison

The Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic, also referred to as the Istrian wire-haired or short-haired scenthound is a very ancient dog breed. Apparently the dog has been found in paintings that go way back to the early 1700s.

The dog can either have a short, smooth coat or a rough, wiry longer coat. He has always been popular with hunters, used for hunting rabbits and fox.

An interesting fact with this dog is the correlation between the Dalmatian dog and the Istrian short-haired hound. According to veterinary investigations, there are strong likenesses between the two breeds.

The truth is, the origin of the Istrian has been a matter of dispute for some time but in 2003 the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed as hailing from Croatia.

The original Bandogs were bred for guarding and protecting. It is believed that the dogs were developed from eastern shepherds, the American Pit Bull Terrier and Mastiffs and crossed with western Bullenbeissers and hounds, and it is thought that the hybrid breed came into existence way back, around 1250-1300 in Middle England.

Although it isn’t possible to say exactly how the Bandog originated, it is certain that the dogs were bred with a functional purpose – to guard and protect. In fact in the late 1960s a veterinarian by the name of Swinford started a breeding program, even though breeders of Bandogges disagree on the breeds that went into Swinford's original breeding scheme. It is believed to have been 50% American Pit Bull Terrier and 50% molosser.

Medium in size, the Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic stands at roughly 43 to 60cm at the withers and weighs roughly 12 to 27kg. The chest of the dog is broad and deep, the skull slightly rounded while the muzzle is strong and rectangular shaped. The nose is dark brown or black.

The ears are floppy and are nearly always in the orange color while the tail is long and is carried low. The coat of the rough haired dog is of medium length. In fact the coat can either be short and smooth or longish and wiry with a woolly undercoat. The color of the coat is white with orange markings.

Temperament:

This breed of dog is sought after for his cheerful personality. He is loyal to his human family and is a social dog, loving to spend time around his family.

He is energetic, confident and strong-willed and this is why, as with most other dogs, he will benefit from training and socialization, as this makes him obedient and responsive to his owner. He is evenly tempered, being gentle and docile.

A Hulk of a Dog

The Bandog is a powerful, stocky, muscular dog with small, upright ears. His tail is long and tapered, but most people prefer to have the tail docked. With his broad skull, wide shoulders and powerful chest, he is also confident and intelligent. He is a rugged dog, heavily boned and muscled, and quite aggressive when provoked. This characteristic comes from the intentional breeding to combine the courage and tenacity of an American Pit Bull Terrier with the size of the Bull Mastiff and its guarding instincts.

A Devoted, Gentle Pet

Even though the breed has a history of competitive fighting, today when he is trained and socialized he can be a devoted, controlled and amicable family pet, even getting on well with children and being social and affectionate with his human family members. They can be aggressive with strangers, more so if provoked or threatened by them.

Bandogges are able to get along with other animals in the home if they are raised with them, but can be aggressive with pets they aren’t familiar with. You won’t find a better guard dog and with his low barking tendencies, he quietly watches, waiting to go for any intruders.

The Istrian Wire-haired Scenthound or Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic as he is also referred to is a strong, well built hound which is elegant in appearance.

He has a remarkably striking coat - bright white with orange markings. He has always been an excellent hunting dog, even to this day. This background hunting of his will require that he receives ongoing exercise as well as mental stimulation.

Treat this beautiful dog well - exercise him, groom him, feed him well and love him and you will be rewarded with the loyal and devoted friendship of an amazing dog.

This is certainly an intimidating looking breed, having been developed from a variety of stock breeds, Because of this, there isn’t a standard set for the dog and his appearance can vary. He isn’t recommended for first-time dog owners, because he is quite complex – being both docile and aggressive – not your regular dog. He will certainly require an owner who shows them who is boss.

Guardian, Protector and Friend

The Bandog may well have a reputation of being a fighter, but once he has had training and socialization, he turns out to be just a gentle giant. With a strong, firm owner, he is good with children too and becomes a devoted guardian to the entire family.

Dental Disease:

There are people who don’t take dental disease seriously in dogs as they think that it simply affects the teeth, when in fact dental disease can affect the dog’s entire body.

Dental- and gum disease is to be regarded with concern as it can be painful and even life threatening. It affects many dogs, and unfortunately your Istarski is also likely to have problems with his teeth. Tartar build-up and infection of the gums can lead to tooth loss but also damage to the kidneys, heart and joints.

Dogs need to have their teeth attended to regularly and if this is something new to you, speak to your vet and find out about special canine toothpaste and toothbrush and how to use them.

Infections:

Dogs can be susceptible to bacterial and viral infections such as rabies, distemper and parvo, and that is why visits to your vet are so important. These life-threatening diseases for your Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic are preventable through vaccinations.

Your Bandog is generally a robust, healthy breed, but he may well be prone to health concerns. Some of these are hip and elbow dysplasia and Bloat

hip and elbow dysplasia

This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can, if left unattended, lead to lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. eye problems.

Bloat

His size and his deep chest also mean he is prone to bloat. Known as gastric dilatation and volvulus, this isn’t good for your dog as the stomach becomes distended with gas, putting pressure on the diaphragm, which can cause breathing problems.

Vaccinations

Just because your Bandog is a healthy breed, it doesn’t mean your puppy is immune from his puppy shots. Your puppy will need his first vaccinations from 6 to 8 weeks of age for parvovirus, distemper, rabies and hepatitis.

Check your country’s vaccination regulations, because in the United States, most states require that all dogs be vaccinated against rabies.

Taking care of an Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic dog is much like caring for a child – doing everything you can to keep him healthy and happy, after all, he is a member of your family.

You want to be watching his diet and making sure that it is the best quality there is, full of vitamins and minerals to keep his eyes bright, his nose wet and his tail wagging.

There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market today and the best ones ensure excellent nutrition for your dog to keep him in optimal condition through each stage that he goes through. Try to include some home-made food into this kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables and it can be to his benefit to just to include some raw meat from time to time.

Make sure your Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic is well exercised, that you check his teeth and ears to ensure there are no infections and to call the vet immediately you suspect something is wrong. Make sure you have him examined as a puppy and that he gets his necessary injections as there are diseases that can kill your dog.

These large, short-haired dogs have a short coat and they are easy to groom. Remove loose hair with a rubber brush twice a week. The breed is an average shedder and if you start regular brushing from when he is a young dog, he will be happy to let you do it as an adult. Check his ears and eyes regularly and clip his toe nails.

Exercise

The Bandog is an energetic breed that will require a good deal of exercise. This is one breed you can’t leave alone in your garden day after day. He will require games and walks to avoid boredom and frustration.

Feeding

The Bandog puppy will grow and develop quickly, so his diet should be good quality dog food. He is big and thirsty and there must be a ready source of clean drinking water. Because he is inclined to drool, his water bowl will need to be cleaned out regularly to avoid him drinking contaminated water.