Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison

Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed ComparisonRafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal but Catahoula Leopard is originated from United States. Rafeiro do Alentejo may grow 7 cm / 3 inches higher than Catahoula Leopard. Rafeiro do Alentejo may weigh 12 kg / 27 pounds more than Catahoula Leopard. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Catahoula Leopard has almost same life span. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Catahoula Leopard has almost same litter size. Rafeiro do Alentejo requires Moderate maintenance. But Catahoula Leopard requires Low maintenance

History

rafeiro do alentejo - historyKnown 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.

catahoula leopard - historyThis working dog breed originates from America’s Deep South. In fact it was originally named after a small village in the state of Louisiana and was made the state’s official dog in 1979. The dog is believed to have come from the Mastiff and Greyhound.

Known as war dogs they were left with local tribes who crossed them with wolves, and French Beauceron blood was also included.

A number of Catahoula dog Associations were started and the Louisiana Catahoula Cur Association was formed in 1976, followed by others. These Associations work to promote the breed. In 1995 the United Kennel Club was the first national dog registry to recognize the Catahoula.

Description

rafeiro do alentejo puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Temperament:

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.

catahoula leopard puppy - descriptionKnown as the Leopard dog because of the distinctive spotted patches on his short to medium length coat, this interesting looking spotted dog can have a coat of many colors such as solid colors, brindle and a blend of several colors including blue merle and red merle, black and tan.

He is a muscular and athletic dog of medium to large size with sturdy legs and deep chest. He stands at 56 – 68cm and weighs 20 – 50kg. Many of these dogs have webbing between the toes which gives them an advantage when running through marshy areas or when swimming.

With his floppy ears, the tail is long or bobtailed. An unusual aspect with the dog is his eyes – having what is known as marbled glass eyes which are blue or blueish-white in color.

Temperament:

The Catahoula Leopard Dog can be stubborn and he is also energetic, fearless and highly intelligent. You’ll want to have him trained and socialized early as then he becomes a more relaxed, obedient dog. He is an assertive dog but not aggressive by nature.

Catahoulas in general are even tempered and they are willing to share their space with children in the home as well as other pets. They are protective of children and of their entire human family, making good watchdogs.

Characteristics

rafeiro do alentejo dog - characteristicsThe 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.

catahoula leopard dog - characteristicsThe Catahoula makes a fine family pet but he is a dog which shouldn’t be left outside day after day. He is a companion dog and won’t thrive without the companionship of his human family.

He is highly intelligent and also energetic, and if you want him to be relaxed and amicable around other humans and pets in the home he will require training and socialization. For training and ownership, the Catahoula Leopard will require a strong, firm, confident personality and he’ll be an obedient, loving and loyal companion.

Health Problems

rafeiro do alentejo puppies - health problemsThe 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.

catahoula leopard puppies - health problemsYour Catahoula Leopard is a healthy dog breed and with good care he can live to be 10 to 14 years of age. However, there are a number of reasons why some of the healthiest dogs can become ill.

Knowing about these illnesses means you can take action and minimize the pain and suffering your pet might have to otherwise endure.

Ear Infections:

You’ll notice your pet shaking his head and maybe even scratching his ears. Ear infections are more evident in dogs with floppy ears and there can be an ear discharge. When left untreated, the ears can become painful and then it is time to get him to the vet.

Urinary Tract Infection:

This is a common illness in dogs and can be terribly uncomfortable and debilitating for your pet as he tries to urinate all the time with no success. Signs of UTI can include this excessive urination with little urine coming out, lethargy and discomfort. Take your pet immediately to the vet to be checked over.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

rafeiro do alentejo dogs - caringMake 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.

Exercise:

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.

Diet:

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.

catahoula leopard dogs - caringA dog makes such a splendid pet, willing to give loyal and loving friendship to humans, even those who don’t treat him properly. When you think of the unconditional love your Catahoula Leopard dog will give you, surely you want to provide him with good food and shelter.

Love and treasure this 4-legged friend of yours as he is a friend like no other.

Provide identification for Him:

It can be devastating if your dog goes missing, and if he has no identification, to find him might only mean telling people what he looks like. Rather put a collar on him and an ID tag so that your chances of getting him back are just that much better.

You can also have him micro-chipped by your veterinarian and these chips have a unique code which can provide useful information on your pet.

Vaccinations:

Make sure that your pet is vaccinated as a puppy against diseases which could be deadly such as rabies.

Spay or Neuter your Catahoula Leopard:

If you have no intention of allowing your Catahoula Leopard to have puppies, rather have him neutered or spayed if its a female. It is better for them and they can live longer and be free of some ailments that at un-spayed or un-neutered dog may get.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Portugal
United States
Height Male:
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
56 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Height Female:
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
53 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
20 - 48 kg
44 - 106 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
18 - 48 kg
39 - 106 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
8 - 12
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Portuguese Mastiff
Louisiana Catahoula, Catahoula Hound, Leopard Dog
Colors Available:
Fawn, cream and black. , white, a wolf grey
Brindle, blend of several colors - blue merle, red merle, black and tan
Coat:
Short to medium length, dense
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Sakhalin Husky vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  2. Catahoula Leopard vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  3. Catahoula Leopard vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  4. Catahoula Leopard vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  5. Catahoula Leopard vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  6. Catahoula Leopard vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  7. Catahoula Leopard vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Catahoula Leopard vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  9. Catahoula Leopard vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  10. Catahoula Leopard vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Catahoula Leopard vs Canaan Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. German Pinscher vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  13. Portuguese Water Dog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  14. Puli vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  15. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  16. German Spaniel vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  17. McNab vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  18. Porcelaine vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  19. Finnish Lapphund vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  20. Griffon Nivernais vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  21. Hokkaido vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  22. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  23. Pumi vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  24. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  25. Istrian Sheepdog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Rafeiro do Alentejo - Breed Comparison
  27. Sarplaninac vs Rafeiro do Alentejo - Breed Comparison
  28. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  29. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  30. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  31. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  32. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  33. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  34. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  35. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  36. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  37. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Presa Canario - Breed Comparison
  38. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  39. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  40. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  41. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  42. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  43. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  45. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  46. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  47. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  48. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  49. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  50. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds