Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Phalene - Breed Comparison

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 Phalène is a toy breed, and in fact the Papillon and Phalène differ only by their ears, but are exactly the same in all other ways.

Thought to have developed in Western Europe, its exact origin isn’t clear but it is an ancient breed, as paintings seem to indicate that it has been around since the 16th century.

It is essentially a companion dog today. The dog is classified as a variety of the Papillon by the AKC, with the FCI classifying it as a separate breed.

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.

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.

This toy breed stands at between 20 – 28cm in height and weighs around 4 – 5kg. He has floppy, silky ears and is a Papillon dog, and a Papillon with dropped ears is known as a Phalène.

The dome of the head is rounded and the Phalene has a slim muzzle with bright, alert brown eyes and a black nose. The tail is well plumed and is carried over the back. The coat isn’t a double coat like many other dogs, but it is lustrous, being straight, long and smooth. The coat is available in a number of coat colors, essentially being a blend of white, tan, black and orange or fawn.

Temperament:

The Phalène is an intelligent dog, and they will be able to learn quickly and easily when you teach them how to sit, lie down or stay. Training and socialization is always excellent for dogs, even small ones like this as it teaches them to be obedient and well mannered.

The Phalene is a sociable, friendly dog but is inclined to be reserved around strangers. Phalènes are essentially lap dogs and they make great companions for all kinds of people as well as being great playmates for disciplined, kind children. Because he is small and calm, he makes a great pet for country- or city dwellers.

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 Phalene is such a sweet little dog, and you can definitely count him as as ‘man’s best friend’. He just loves to be wherever his human family is, lapping up their attention indoors but also loving being with them outdoors. When well trained and socialized, these dogs make splendid playmates for children too.

Small though he is, he makes a good watch dog too and he will bark to warn his human family of danger. Give him the love and care he so rightly deserves, and he promises to make you a splendid pet and companion.

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.

Your jaunty little Phalene can live to be up to 12 or 15 years of age if well cared for. Even so, there are always some of the more common dog illnesses worth knowing about, and we look at a few -

Epilepsy:

Any dog can get epilepsy – when your pet suddenly has a seizure or fit for no apparent reason. It can be disturbing to see, but with medication your pet can live a normal life.

Eye Diseases:

Always keep a check on your pet’s eyes because there are a few eye diseases that can affect your pet and these are cataracts, progressive retina atrophy and entropion. Thankfully a veterinary ophthalmologist can help with the best treatment.

Grooming:

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.

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.

Exercise:

These are energetic little dogs and will require getting a regular dose of exercise. He loves a walk and being allowed off his leash for a good run. He also loves ball games. Exercise is important for small dogs like this to ward off obesity.

Grooming:

These little dogs will need to have their ears checked and cleaned if you want to avoid ear infections. If you’re not sure how to clean the inside of the ears, rather leave it to an expert who can show you how its done. Small dogs always need to have their teeth checked regularly. He will also need to have his nails trimmed.

To maintain the long, silky coat, brush your dog at least twice a week. Some Phalene dog owners take their pet to the vet to have the coat professionally groomed and trimmed.