Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison

Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed ComparisonRafeiro do Alentejo is originated from Portugal but Hortaya Borzaya is originated from Russia. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Hortaya Borzaya are of same height. Rafeiro do Alentejo may weigh 25 kg / 56 pounds more than Hortaya Borzaya. Rafeiro do Alentejo may live 3 years less than Hortaya Borzaya. Both Rafeiro do Alentejo and Hortaya Borzaya has almost same litter size. Rafeiro do Alentejo requires Moderate maintenance. But Hortaya Borzaya 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.

hortaya borzaya - historyThe Hortaya Borzaya is an ancient sighthound from Asia with its origins in Kievan Rus = Grand Duchy of Lithuania = Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Empire of Russia. The Hortaya is a large dog, especially a long in body dog with a muscular build suitable for running fast. He is one of the most talented of sighthounds, able to track moving prey at quite great distances. He is an intensely active when running prey and quiet and well balanced when not working.

In Asia and Russia, it is still a working hunting dog, hunting a variety of game such as Saiga antelopes, wolves, foxes, and hares. With tremendous endurance, the Hortaya can run at great speeds and great distances on the hunt. The Hortaya Borzaya is a long distance runner rather than a sprinter like the greyhound we are all so familiar with. He also needs very little rest between runs of up to 4 km. The Hortaya uses his sense of smell as well as sight in the hunt. They hunt solo, in pairs or in packs.

It was not until 2004 that the Hortaya was first exported to Europe and given full breeding papers. They went to Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 2004. They went to Switzerland and Finland in 2005 and to the United States around 2005. Prior to this the Hortaya Borzaya was bred only in its original territory for thousands of years.

Unlike Western breeding programs, the Hortaya is not bred for the purpose of improving the breed. Like Asian thoroughbred horses the breed is considered “finished”. Because of this there was no inbreeding, linebreeding or incest. This is true for about 4-6 generations of a line. This helps the breed to stay healthy.

The breed was developed centuries ago being bred by many different groups of people throughout the region, making it impossible to say exactly where and how this Central Asian/Afghanistan/ southern Russian breed developed. The Russian Kynological Federation (RKF) member of the FCI, developed a standard for the Hortaya Borzaya, which unlike most breed standards, does not tell you what the Hortaya must be like. Instead it tells you what he cannot be.

It gives boundaries that the dog must fit inside in order to be considered a Hortaya Borzaya. This is because the breeds of these dogs in their native territories want to preserve as many different types and sub-types as possible under the banner of one breed. To most people these dogs would look like very different breeds. For this reason, they have not been accepted into International Breed Groups and Associations. The breeders of these dogs do not want to be tied down to one standard. They do not want the breed to be separated into western lines and the original line or show lines and working lines. They wish to keep all the dogs within one grouping.

The breed is recognized on the national level by the originating countries and federations, including Russia’s. There are an estimated 2500-3500 dog of this breed in existence to day. Only a few dozen of the breed exist outside of the original countries. In other Eastern and European countries, the dogs may be registered with hunting associations instead of a breed association.

The breed is held mostly by hunters in remote, local areas and villages that are fairly isolated. Here the Hortaya is seen as a partner in feeding the hunters family and the dog is invaluable. In these remote areas a good hunting dog is equal in value to the good horse. Both are essential to the hunter and his family’s livelihood.

The Hortaya Borzaya is a pack dog and does well with the family as well as an athletic hunter. They hunt in packs, small groups or alone and bring their catch back to the hunter for the family meal. No hunter had to go with the dog. In fact, the hunters would send the dogs several times for food. The Hortaya might travel for miles across tough terrain to get food for the family.

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.

hortaya borzaya puppy - descriptionThis athletic sighthound is a handsome dog, ranging from large to giant. Remember there are many different ‘types’ of dogs within the one line/breed of Hortaya. Breed standards are exclusionary, and performance based rather than inclusionary, and appearance based. Still most of the breed lines share many of the same traits.

They are a long legged breed with a very deep chest and flexible spine. They have immensely strong lungs and a narrow but long skull. Their gait is fluid, effortless trotting when not hunting. When she is hunting, they gallop like a horse and cover a lot of ground.

There eyes are usually black but can be any color and their fur is also any color. It is thick and dense. Finally, in the 2000’s, there were some dogs in a subline exported to Europe and to North America. Here, for this subgroup, a standard was established based on appearance and the color or the coat was now set at only white, blue, black, cream, red, sable and brindle, and piebald. They might or might not have a saddle. Definition of this type is still going on and has not been entirely settled yet. This standard is only for the European and American market show dogs.

These dogs, bred for show, have the same ability to run like the wind and for a very long time with his muscled body and long legs. The breed has strength and stamina that will fool you. He also has a long neck and broad back. He has thin, short ears.

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.

Children friendliness

hortaya borzaya dog - characteristicsChildren friendliness - yes, they are very good with children and will play with them for hours.

Special talents

They have tremendous stamina, speed and intelligence to hunt on their own without the hunter and bring the prey back in good shape for the hunter’s family to eat.

Adaptability

No they are not very adaptable in terms of living arrangements. They will not do well in an apartment and probably not in the city as they need land to run.

Learning ability

Learning ability yes, they are intelligent and learn easily.

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.

hortaya borzaya puppies - health problemsAs previously mentioned, the original breed is isolated and therefore has a pretty good health track record. Most of the breed specific illnesses or conditions that usually are inherited barely exist in this breed.

They have a propensity toward obesity and diet is essential to prevent other issues.

Chronic or acute pancreatitis is possible because the breed developed eating small meals and hardly any meat. Too much meat or fat could cause this.

No tolerance for high protein dog food. Can cause puppies to have life threatening damage to bones and cartilage that is irreversible.

Bloat – because of the deep chest and the intolerance for large meals they are prone to bloat.

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.

Feeding the puppy

hortaya borzaya dogs - caringAs mentioned above do not overfeed a Hortaya Borzaya puppy. There is serious risk of irreversible damage if you do. Feed small meals 3-6 times a day with lower protein.

Feeding the adult

3 cups of an average protein high quality dog food served at least 3-4 times per day. To avoid bloat do not feed large meals before or after exercise and don’t let your dog drink a lot of water at one time.

Points for Good Health

They have tremendous stamina and speed.

Games and Exercises

This is an extremely active dog bred to hunt 5-6 times a day over wide expanses of various and rough terrain. They need exercise. If you run, they will run with you happily and they will outlast you. They are good at and enjoy fetch, chase, agility, and field trials. They will last hours at any game they play.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Portugal
Russia
Height Male:
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
64 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
18 - 35 kg
39 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 60 kg
99 - 133 pounds
16 - 32 kg
35 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
14 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
6 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Portuguese Mastiff
Hort, Chortaja borzaja, Kурч, Kurtas Chortaj Hortaya Horty, Xорт, Hrt, Chort
Colors Available:
Fawn, cream and black. , white, a wolf grey
brown, black, white, red, piebald , brindle
Coat:
Short to medium length, dense
short yet dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
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, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  2. Saluki vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  3. Mountain Cur vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  4. Rajapalayam vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  5. Plott Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  6. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  7. Otterhound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  8. Mudhol Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  9. Ibizan Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  10. Rampur Greyhound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  11. Majestic Tree Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  12. Polish Hunting Dog vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  13. Segugio Italiano vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  14. Sloughi vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  15. Tasy vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  16. Treeing Walker Coonhound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  17. Hortaya Borzaya vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  18. Hortaya Borzaya vs Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hortaya Borzaya vs Francais Blanc et Noir - Breed Comparison
  20. Hortaya Borzaya vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  21. Hortaya Borzaya vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  22. Hortaya Borzaya vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  23. Hortaya Borzaya vs Black Mouth Cur - Breed Comparison
  24. Hortaya Borzaya vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  25. Hortaya Borzaya vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - 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