Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison

Perro de Pastor Mallorquin is originated from Spain but Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin may grow 35 cm / 14 inches higher than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin may weigh 25 kg / 56 pounds more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin may live 5 years more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Both Perro de Pastor Mallorquin and Hawaiian Poi Dog has almost same litter size. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin requires Moderate maintenance. But Hawaiian Poi Dog requires Low maintenance

History

perro de pastor mallorquin - historyKnown also as the Majorca Shepherd Dog or Ca de Bestiar, the very name Perro de Pastor Mallorquin means Shepherd dog of Mallorca.

The dog hails from Spain and has been used as a general purpose farm dog. The diligent work of fans of the dog to encourage its development were rewarded when the dog - both short- and long haired varieties - gained recognition from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

The dog is really only popular in its homeland where it is appreciated for its guarding and herding abilities.

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.

Description

perro de pastor mallorquin puppy - descriptionThe Perro de Pastor Mallorquin is a large dog which stands between 62 and 73 cm and weighs between 35 and 40kg. Most of them are short haired, ensuring low grooming requirements for the owner. The coat is black, in fact the Fédération Cynologique Internationale says its the only color which is acceptable. He has floppy ears and the tail is long, rising when the dog is on the move.

Temperament:

The Perro de Pastor Mellorquin is a dominant, independent and wilful dog that will need to be trained and socialized if he is to be obedient. He is fiercely devoted to his owner, being loving and protective. This training is actually important as the Majorca Shepherd Dog doesn't take easily to strangers and can in fact show signs of aggression when around them.

It is qualities like this that make him a good guardian and watchdog. With training and socialization he will be able to get on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught how to respect- and be kind to animals.

He is an active dog too and it is better to have such a dog in the suburbs or the countryside as opposed to living in a small city property.

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.

Characteristics

perro de pastor mallorquin dog - characteristicsThe Perro de Pastor Mallorquin is a dog known for its devotion to its owner, taking on his role as guardian and protector very seriously.

It is a courageous dog, strong willed and confident and isn't recommended as a first choice of dog for the novice dog owner, although there have been first-time dog owners who bring their dogs up correctly and have tremendous success with them.

Provide your dog with a firm consistent, kind, patient and loving home, and you can also be one of those first-time dog owners who highly recommend this dog as an awesome pet for any household.

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.

Health Problems

perro de pastor mallorquin puppies - health problemsA dog can live a long, happy life when he has been looked after well. Makig sure he doesn't become obese, giving him enough exercise and loving him can ensure longevity. Your Perro de Pastor Mallorquin can live to be 13, 14 or 15 years of age, but there are always some common dog illnesses to be aware of -

Canine Hip Dysplasia:

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint isn’t formed properly. The result is a joint that rubs as opposed to sliding smoothly. This is one of the most common skeletal diseases in dogs seen more often in large dogs. The disease can start while the dog is still young and it can lead to osteoarthritis an decreased activity.

Eye Diseases:

One of the eye diseases is when the uvea of the eye becomes inflamed, creating a painful condition known as anterior uveitis or inflammation of the front of the eye.

This disease can threaten your dog’s vision. It is painful with redness of the eye, there could be a discharge too as well as excessive watery eyes. Cancer, infections and injury can all be to blame and your vet will want to examine your dog.

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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

perro de pastor mallorquin dogs - caringThe Majorca Shepherd Dog isn't a heavy shedder but still, he will require some basic grooming such as brushing the coat twice a week to remove loose hairs and to retain his natural shine.

Other care and grooming routines for your pet are to check inside his mouth for dental disease as problem teeth can cause a host of diseases in the body.

Check inside his ears too and make sure they aren't red and itchy as this could be indicative of an ear infection.

Nail clipping is also important as his nails can hook onto things and rip open the flesh around the paw area.

Exercise:

These dogs are lively and energetic, having been used to do lots of work herding and guarding sheep. He isn't a dog to be left in the backyard day after day without human inter-action and exercise. He will require some hectic exercise every day and will love to join you with your jogging or cycling, running beside you. Take him with you on our walks and hikes.

Diet:

Only the best dog food is recommended for this dog of yours. If you intend feeding your pet commercially manufactured food, make sure its the best quality ones – those with protein listed at the top of the ingredient list and with a good amount of vitamins and minerals.

Choose the food according to your dog's size, his age and his energy levels. If you're going to give your pet home-made food, keep it simple to avoid upset stomachs and vet's bills.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots are wonderful for a dog when added into the kibble occasionally as a tasty treat. You can also try to include some raw meat into the kibble from time to time.

Dog's just want simple, wholesome foods like this, no unpleasant surprises of spicy, 'people foods'. Never leave your pet without a supply of fresh, cool water.

Vaccines:

Take your puppy to the vet to have his vaccines, as the canine parvo-virus (CPV) infection for instance, isn't only a very contagious viral illness that affects dogs, it can be a killer. Keep a check on your adult dog too and see that he gets to the vet at any sign of illness.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Companion dog
Origin:
Spain
Indonesia
Height Male:
62 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
Height Female:
62 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
35 - 40 kg
77 - 89 pounds
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 13 Years
5 - 8 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
3 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Ca de Bestiar, Majorca Shepherd Dog
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Colors Available:
Black
any color with white markings, brown mostly
Coat:
Short- and long haired
short and fine
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Rough Collie vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  2. Saarlooswolfhond vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  3. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  5. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  7. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  8. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  9. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  10. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  11. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  12. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  13. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  14. South Russian Ovcharka vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  16. Presa Canario vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  17. Perro de Presa Canario vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  18. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  19. Saluki vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  20. Rajapalayam vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  21. Schnauzerdor vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  22. Pyredoodle vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  23. Sarplaninac vs Perro de Pastor Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  24. Mal-Shi vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  25. Malti-Pom vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. PekePoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Schipperke vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Schweenie vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Lhasapoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Meliteo Kinidio vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  32. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  33. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  34. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  35. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  36. Prazsky Krysarik vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  37. Pugalier vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Kyi-Leo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  40. Muggin vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  41. Pomeranian vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. Maltese vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  43. Pug vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Maltipoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Schnauzer vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. Papillon vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds