MyDogBreedsRafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal but Beagador is originated from United States. Rafeiro do Alentejo may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Beagador. Rafeiro do Alentejo may weigh 42 kg / 93 pounds more than Beagador. Rafeiro do Alentejo may live 3 years less than Beagador. Rafeiro do Alentejo may have more litter size than Beagador. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Beagador requires Moderate maintenance.
Known also as the Portuguese Mastiff, the Rafeiro do Alentejo comes from Portugal and has always been used as guardian for livestock. Their numbers declined quite a bit when there was no longer a need for this kind of job.Today it is essentially a companion dog.
The official standard of the Rafeiro do Alentejo was established in 1953. The dog is is recognized as a breed by the Portuguese Caniculture Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Interationale.
The Beagador, the gorgeous medium size dog, is a mix of two beautiful breeds: Labrador retriever and a Beagle. This mix was made on purpose in the USA and resulted in a breed that got all the best of both breeds. The Beagador is an intelligent dog, very good in sports and very sociable. This made him very popular around the globe and one of the most desirable dog pets.
The Alentejo is a large dog standing at between 64 and 75cm in height and weighing 45 to 60kg. He is a powerful dog with a deep chest, dark eyes, floppy ears. His coat is short to medium length, thick and straight. The color of the coat is a mix of fawn, a wolf grey, white, cream and black.
This is a serious dog with a calm demeanour about him. It doesn’t matter how calm he is though, as every dog will require training ad socialization if you want to enjoy having an obedient, well mannered dog around you. This is particularly important with a large, independent, self-confident, territorial dog like this.
He isn’t an aggressive dog but he is protective, wanting to guard and look out for his human family. They are dogs that get on well with children and other pets in the home, being wary of strangers.
They’re not recommended for life in small properties in the city as he requires a large garden at least.
The Beagador got his height genes from the Beagle. That means that he is a bit shorter than the Labrador. Generally, they look a lot more like the Labrador, but in some cases, the puppies actually look more like a Beagle. So, actually, there is no rule about this. They have the short coat, usually very smooth. Sometimes it turns out softer and sometimes it doesn’t. They come in many colours, and they are usually two-coloured. So, the real truth is that Beagador breed appearance depends on the stronger genes between parent mix of Beagle and Labrador.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a quiet dog, but intelligent and strong-willed. Training and socialization will make him easy to get on with.
He will become an excellent companion, and can come indoors because he is well mannered and considerate. He was bred to be a guard dog, and the responsibilities he had taking care of livestock has been transferred to looking out for- and protecting his human family.
He makes a wonderful pet and companion, even with children and other pets, more so when brought up correctly by loving, firm, consistent dog owners.
The Beagador is a friendly breed. They will make no difference between adults and children, and they will bond easily even with complete strangers. But, children are usually more active than adults, so, in situations where he can choose, he will definitely choose to play with children. Some say that this dog never grows up in his heart. Maybe that is the reason they like children more.
Hunting, sports
The Beagador has the sweetest temper. But, for him, everything is a game. He might be a little bit too happy for other dog breeds. He likes to chase, jump, wrestle and be very physical with other animals. Some animals will enjoy this, but most of them won’t. If you start training him while he is still a puppy and socializing him from his early days, he will learn how to fit in and take a break once in a while.
The Beagador is very intelligent breed. They will be easy to train but only if you are experienced teacher. If you are not, they will try to get the things on their own way and you will end up being trained. It is advisable to use the reward technique, but make sure you don’t prise your Beagador with food. Early training is a must.
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a generally healthy dog breed, and with good care can get to 11, 12 or 13 years of age.
Of course with a large dog like this, it is always a good idea to be aware of canine hip dysplasia, particularly because this is a large dog with a deep chest.
This makes him also vulnerable to bloat, a condition where the stomach swells with gas and which can be life threatening. Other things to watch for are ear infections and parasites.
The problems with their third eyelid, high risk of corneal wounds since they get too playful all the time, a disease that causes the dysfunction of the tear glands, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, blindness.
When the puppies are born with skeletal defects that causes them to remain small.
Atopic dermatitis – very dry skin. If not treated, it will result in wound made by scratching the itchy and dry skin.
Since they have dropped ears, they don’t have the natural airflow and that causes the most of the infections.
Make your grooming time with this serious, calm canine friend of yours a special bonding time. His coat simply requires a brush twice a week to keep it healthy and shiny.
While bushing him, run your hands over him to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Check inside the floppy ears to make sure they’re not red which could be the start of a painful ear infection.
Look a his nails and trim them if they’ve become too long. Check inside his mouth and make sure there aren’t any black, rotten teeth as this can seriously impact the health of your pet.
Options for exercise will include long walks and a chance to run off his leash. In the back yard it will be to his benefit to throw balls for him to fetch. You can even bring him indoors and play some calm games with him. He should have exercise every single day.
Good food is needed for good health. It is always convenient to make use of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are on the market.
You don’t want to feed this to your dog day after day so provide your pet with some tasty home-made food too. Dogs want simplicity and consistency with their diets so they don’t battle with upset stomachs and an unnecessary trip to the vet.
Some home-cooked food twice a week and added to the dry kibble can keep him healthy and happy. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be perfect for him. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week.
Some people even cook it in bulk, refrigerate it and warm up small portions to add to the kibble. Raw meat added in occasionally can also be a good treat. Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
One of the first things you will notice is – you will never be able to feed your Beagador. He is always hungry, and he can always have just one more bite. But, this usually leads to very dangerous obesity. Make sure you feed him with prescribed portions: three times a day until he is 6 months old, and two times per day once he grows up. Their diet must be sugar-free.
The Beagador is one of the lovable breeds. They need a lot of love and they show a lot of love. They have playful nature and they get happy just by being with people. They shouldn’t be left alone for too long because they will easily develop the separation nervousness. They like to eat and they will use any chance to beg for food. That makes them very obese in no time. Keep in mind that giving them the prescribed proportion is for their own good. They need moderate grooming since they shed regularly. If you bathe them once in a month and brush them two times per week, they will do just fine.
The Beagador is a very active dog. They need daily activity. Since they are very friendly, you will have a great chance to meet a lot of people at the dog park! They will run with you, run along while you drive your bike, play in the water, fetch.