Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Field Spaniel - Breed ComparisonRafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal but Field Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom. Rafeiro do Alentejo may grow 29 cm / 12 inches higher than Field Spaniel. Rafeiro do Alentejo may weigh 35 kg / 78 pounds more than Field Spaniel. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Field Spaniel has almost same life span. Rafeiro do Alentejo may have more litter size than Field Spaniel. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Field Spaniel requires Moderate 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.

field spaniel - historyThe Field Spaniel was developed to retrieve game, being developed in 19th century England as a hunting companion. Today they are still used as hunting dogs but he is essentially a family companion and show dog.

He was developed to be a medium-sized, all-black dog. Until 1901, spaniels were divided by weight, with the Field Spaniel being the bigger dog.With developing the breed, the Basset Hound was introduced and then English Springer Spaniels were also brought into the mix.

Today the Field Spaniel is still a rare breed even in the UK. To promote the breed, the dog has been registered as a Vulnerable Native Breed by the Kennel Club.

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.

field spaniel puppy - descriptionThe Field Spaniel is a medium sized dog, standing at 43–46cm in height and weighing between 18–25kg. The single coat of the Field Spaniel is fairly long with the traditional feathering at the legs, belly, chest and tail.

The coat comes in solid colours of black, liver or roan. You might also find some ticked markings of white. The tail of the Field Spaniel is traditionally docked with the ears being long and floppy.

Temperament:

Happy, busy and active, the Field Spaniel makes an excellent family pet. They get on well with children and with other pets in the home. It is the kind of dog, that while friendly with all members of his human family, he forms a strong bond with one member whom he regards as special.

Bright and intelligent, he is also a dog that does well when socialized and trained, being more docile and less excitable than Cocker spaniels. The Field Spaniel is a dog who thrives on being busy and won’t relish lying around with nothing to do. He loves water and where there is a dam or pond, he’ll be there and want you to join him.

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.

field spaniel dog - characteristicsOnce people have owned any of the Spaniel breeds, they discover what a wonderful friend the dog is. He is loyal, loving, protective, brave, confident, fun-loving and smart. He isn’t aggressive but he may not like a stranger to reach out and pat him.

The Field Spaniel is a wonderful dog and he will adapt to life in the city or in the countryside, just so long as he has his beloved human family close by.

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.

field spaniel puppies - health problemsThe Field Spaniel is a robust dog breed and can live to be 12 – 14 years of age. Apart from watching for ear infections with his long ears, there are some common dog illnesses that are worth knowing about -

Cataracts:

Most older dogs have hardening of the lens and this is when the lens turns a whitish or greyish colour. However if your dog has cloudy eyes, it doesn’t simply mean he can’t see well as he often can. Once a lens has a cataract, some people try nutritional support of the lens which can work to lessen the severity of developing cataracts.

Surgery can help but a veterinary ophthalmologist can determine if cataract surgery is needed as most times it isn’t. If you can’t afford surgery, it is still important to have your dog evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist so that you avoid further complications with your pet’s eyes.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another eye disease, a degenerative disease that affects the photo-receptor cells where they deteriorate over time and can eventually lead to blindness in the affected dog.

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.

Grooming:

field spaniel dogs - caringThe Field Spaniel has medium-length to long hair and to avoid matting of the hair, the coat will need to be brushed a least twice a week. Many Spaniel owners take their pets to professional groomers to get the coat and ears trimmed.

Check your Spaniels ears inside and out regularly, because loving water the way he does, the ears inside can remain damp and become a breeding spot for infection.

Remember to also check your Field Spaniel’s teeth as dental disease can be the root cause of many diseases.

Diet:

Your Field Spaniel is an active breed and you want to be sure to feed him a high-quality commercially manufactured dog food which has been formulated for his activity level. Every now and again mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken and also add in a bit of raw meat from time to time. Ensure cool, fresh water is always available.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Portugal
United Kingdom
Height Male:
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
43 - 46 cm
16 - 19 inches
Height Female:
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
43 - 46 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
2 - 6
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Portuguese Mastiff
Field
Colors Available:
Fawn, cream and black. , white, a wolf grey
Black, Liver or Roan
Coat:
Short to medium length, dense
Medium length, wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
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, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. French Spaniel vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  2. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  3. Finnish Spitz vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  4. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  5. Field Spaniel vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  6. Field Spaniel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  7. Field Spaniel vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  8. Field Spaniel vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  9. Field Spaniel vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  10. Field Spaniel vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  11. Field Spaniel vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  12. Field Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  13. Field Spaniel vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  14. Field Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  15. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  16. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  17. Shikoku vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Slovakian Hound vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  19. Small Munsterlander vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. Sussex Spaniel vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  21. Kooikerhondje vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  23. West Siberian Laika vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. Wetterhoun vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Field Spaniel - 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