Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonSmooth Haired Weimaraner is originated from Germany but Formosan Mountain Dog is originated from Taiwan. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may grow 18 cm / 8 inches higher than Formosan Mountain Dog. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may weigh 22 kg / 49 pounds more than Formosan Mountain Dog. Both Smooth Haired Weimaraner and Formosan Mountain Dog has almost same life span. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may have less litter size than Formosan Mountain Dog. Both Smooth Haired Weimaraner and Formosan Mountain Dog requires Low maintenance.

History

smooth haired weimaraner - historyThe Smooth Haired Weimaraner is a beautiful silvery-grey dog that was once bred for hunting way back in the 19th century.

He has always been described as an all-purpose gun dog bred from crossing different German and French hunting dogs with the Bloodhound.

History of this dog dates back to 1897. This is when a club was formed in Germany for the breed.

formosan mountain dog - historyThe Formosan Mountain Dog is most often known as the Taiwan dog and it is a landrace indigenous to Taiwan. It is a small to medium breed of dog that was semi-wild at one time. The colonialization of Taiwan and other foreigners help to fully domesticate the Formosan Mountain Dog. They were found to be very trainable and uniquely suited for the terrain around Taiwan. The dogs were easy to train and now serve as hunting dogs, stunt dogs, guard dogs, rescue dogs, therapy dog and personal companions. There are three types of Formosans two smaller types and one medium. However, the original pure Formosan Mountain Dog is getting close to extinction again because the government and people have provided no protection or conservation efforts for them. These dogs have been living in Taiwan in the mountains and were called Formosan Mountain Dogs when Taiwan was known as Formosa. They come from a line of Southeast Asian hunting/gun dogs and they are considered ‘rare’ now.

According to historian Dr. Sung Yung-yi, the breed went through 4 major catastrophes that affected their development. The first of these was the Dutch Establishment in 1624. The Dutch colonized Taiwan and imported both people and dogs. The dog they brought in was called the Flying Dog and was either Greyhound or Pointer. Eventually, the Flying Dog bred with the Formosan Mountain Dog. This along with the slaughter of dogs belonging to the indigenous people by the government, starting the decline of the original Taiwan dog.

In 1895, it was the Japanese acquiring Taiwan following the First Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese bred the Formosan Mountain Dog extensively with the own Japanese dogs. This further diluted the line and authenticity of Taiwan dogs.

This was followed by World War II when German Shepherds traveled with the US Army and they cross-bred with the Formosan. This was the third major dilution of the Formosan Mountain dog line. At the same time, the Japanese government considered the Formosan Mountain Dog a sanitation threat and barbaric. They massacred them in large numbers in the name of sanitation.

The fourth and final dilution took place during the Kuomintang Era beginning in 1945 with the arrival of the Chinese Nationalist Party. They brought with them the culture of eating dogs. During this time the economy of Taiwan took off and business people began to import their own foreign dogs that were high priced purebreds. These dogs bred with the Formosan and other Formosans were just abandoned to die. The ranks of the breed became very thin indeed. Today’s pure Formosan is highly valuable and extremely rare. Because of all the crossbreeding over the centuries, today’s purebred Formosan Mountain Dog is very different from the Taiwan dog of old. Today’s Formosan is loved all over the island and is a companion and watchdog.

Today there is an effort by Taiwanese ecologists to put together a research project that would study and preserve the Formosan in its indigenous form. Dr. Yung-yi led this effort. He located only 46 dogs with a pure pedigree, 21 females and 25 males. They let the Food and Agricultural of the United Nations know and the dogs were labeled close to extinction. Reproducing from the indigenous dogs to purify and increase the breed was the goal. The government was not very supportive.

Today the Royal Air Force is looking at the Formosan Dog to use for military security. They are currently only using German Shepherds and needed another choice. It was decided that the Formosan Mountain Dog had a better sense of smell, dexterity, alertness, and hearing as well as better padding on their paws.

Through these efforts and those of foundation stock breeders and owners, the Formosan Mountain Dog in its indigenous form was brought back. Some call this dog a purebred Formosan while others consider it a new type. Standards were presented to the FCI for registrations as a purebred. This debate continues today

Description

smooth haired weimaraner puppy - descriptionThe lean, well muscled Smooth Haired Weimaraner is athletic to look at, brimming with energy and vitality. The coat is smooth and short and is a magnificent steel grey to silver coat which even tends to be a blue-grey color.

The short coat makes the dog low maintenance. He is also a low shedding dog. He is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 25 to 40kg.

The tail has always been docked, giving him that distinctive, dignified appearance. The tail then measures about 6 inches in length.

These dogs are also excellent water dogs with their webbed paws. The ears of the dog are medium length and floppy and the eyes are light amber or a blue-grey color.

Temperament:

You just have to look at the Smooth Haired Weimaraner and you can see how he just loves being with his human owner all the time, so much so that he is known for separation anxiety. Sometimes he can become so distraught separated from his owner that he can even injure himself trying to reach his owner. Being separated for too long can cause him anxiety issues.

Certainly this dog is going to need the right kind of training and socialization to calm him. They’re also full of energy too and are going to require a good amount of exercise.

formosan mountain dog puppy - descriptionThe Formosan Mountain Dog that was seen during Dr. Sung Yung-yi’s research is a medium-sized dog, athletic and fit. It has a deep chest and a slim waist. The ears are half-covered, the nose is black and there is a coating of black on the tongue. This black tongue is the most distinguishing attribute of the Formosan Mountain Dog. The breed has a strong jaw, the skull that is just slightly longer than the muzzle, which is flat and tapered, triangle face and almond eyes. They have a thick coat and upright, curved tail.

The dogs are known to be extremely agile with an ability to hop that is rare in dogs but helps when hunting animals like rats. The Formosan Mountain Dogs hunted in packs with each dog attacking the prey with one bite until it was too exhausted to fight them off any longer.

Characteristics

smooth haired weimaraner dog - characteristicsYour distinctive silvery-grey Weimaraner with his velvety ears and striking eyes is such a loving dog, desiring to be with his human family as much as possible.

They are also good with children. Their loving nature and eagerness to please will ensure that you have a fully integrated 4 legged family member in your home who wants to be involved with everything you're busy with.

Children friendliness

formosan mountain dog dog - characteristicsThe Formosan Mountain Dog is very child-friendly. He is affectionate and loyal to his family and protective of his children.

Special talents

He is intelligent and has exceptional hunting skills. He is a good guard dog due to his alertness, but they can be fear-aggressive.

Adaptability

He is very adaptable to living in any location as long as there is somewhere for him to get adequate exercise. He is friendly to people and animals.

Learning ability

He is intelligent and learns quickly.

Health Problems

smooth haired weimaraner puppies - health problemsThere are some common dog illnesses that most dog owners fear, and hip dysplasia is one. Fortunately the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals tells us that Weimaraners aren’t prone to this dysplasia the way some dogs are.

One cause for concern however is bloat, and as a deep chested dog breed, the Short Haired Weimaraner can be prone to this life threatening illness.

Known also as gastric torsion, the stomach swells up and the dog becomes lethargic and restless. Immediate veterinary intervention is required. One way to diminish your dog’s chances of getting bloat is to rather feed him two smaller meals a day as opposed to one large meal.

Also, skin allergies are fairly common with these dogs. If redness appears on the skin or the skin is dry and itchy with a rash and he is losing his hair, you may well need to get your pet to the vet. It is why we always recommend giving your pet some raw meat added to the diet and this can help to prevent skin allergies.

formosan mountain dog puppies - health problemsBecause there have not been any studies done on the health of the Formosan Mountain Dog, there is not a lot known about any inherent or genetic health issues. It would seem that some bloodlines are healthy, and others have some serious issues. Especially because there are no studies, it is important for breeders to test for eye issues and skeletal issues through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.

Some of the health issues the Formosan Mountain Dog might be susceptible to.

  1. Dysplasia: Hip and/or Elbow
  2. Can cause lameness and/or arthritis
  3. Luxating Patella
  4. Floating or dislocated kneecap
  5. PRA – Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  6. Degeneration of the retina – causes blindness
  7. Cataracts
  8. Can be removed/causes sight issues or blindness
  9. Mange Demodex/Demodicosis/Demodectic
  10. Caused by mites and can be treated

Caring The Pet

Training:

smooth haired weimaraner dogs - caringEvery dog, especially the Smooth Haired Weimaraner with his anxiety issues, should be trained and socialized, and these dogs are easy to train because they’re intelligent and they want to please.

Grooming:

The short silvery coat simply requires a good brush-down twice a week to remove the few loose hairs there are. Even if you don’t need to brush him, just do it because of the type of dog the Weimaraner is.

He loves the closeness of owner and dog. It’s a good time to check him over for ticks and fleas, to feel for unusual lumps, to look inside his ears for signs of infection, to check his eyes too, that they’re bright and clear.

Diet:

If you feed your Smooth Haired Weimaraner commercially manufactured dog food, it needs to be one of the best ones with fairly high protein content. If feeding kibble, you can enhance the food by adding in some tasty home-made food. The Weimaraner’s stomach is easily upset so you want to add in easily digestible home-made food free of exotic spices and richness.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Your Weimaraner will love such simple, good food and you can add a little to his dry kibble twice a week.

Also important is to add in some raw meat as this ensures a healthy skin. Make sure he has a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Feeding the puppy

formosan mountain dog dogs - caringFeed a high-quality puppy food for medium size dogs at the rate of a ¼ cup twice a day until 8 months then ½ to ¾ twice a day until 12-16 months.

Feeding the adult

1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food split into 2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Generally healthy breed. Keep clean and watch for mites.

Games and Exercises

This is an energetic breed and he needs a lot of exercise. He must have at least an hour of exercise daily but the more, the better. He loves swimming and jogging with his people. He’s athletic, smart and agile. He does well with field trials, tracking, agility, and obedience.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Germany
Taiwan
Height Male:
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
48 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
43 - 47 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
12 - 16 kg
26 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
10 - 13
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Weim, Grey Ghost
Taiwan Canis, Taiwanese Dog, Taiwanese Aboriginal Dog, Native Formosan Dog, Taiwanese Native Dog, Taiwanese Mountain Dog, National Dog Takasago Dog , and Taiwanese Dog., Formosan Hunting Dog, Formosan, Native Taiwanese Dog, Formosan Aboriginal Dog, Formosan Dog, Taiwanse Canis. Formosan Native Dog
Colors Available:
Silvery Grey
earthly yellow, Black, or yellow
Coat:
Short, sleek and smooth
smooth and oily
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  5. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  6. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  7. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  9. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  10. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  12. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  13. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  14. Spanish Pointer vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  15. Spinone Italiano vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  16. Talbot vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  17. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  18. Weimaraner vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  19. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. French Spaniel vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Formosan Mountain Dog vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  29. Formosan Mountain Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  30. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  31. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  32. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  33. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  34. Formosan Mountain Dog vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  36. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  37. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  38. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  39. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  40. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  41. Shikoku vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. Slovakian Hound vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  43. Small Munsterlander vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Sussex Spaniel vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  45. Kooikerhondje vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. West Siberian Laika vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  48. Wetterhoun vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  49. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds