Spinone Italiano vs Komondor - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Spinone Italiano vs Komondor - Breed ComparisonSpinone Italiano is originated from Italy but Komondor is originated from Hungary. Spinone Italiano may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than Komondor. Spinone Italiano may weigh 21 kg / 46 pounds lesser than Komondor. Spinone Italiano may live 3 years less than Komondor. Both Spinone Italiano and Komondor has almost same litter size. Spinone Italiano requires Moderate maintenance. But Komondor requires High maintenance

History

spinone italiano - historyThis Italian breed has an ancient blood line tracing all the back to 500 BC. Originally bred to hunt, he is today a friendly, alert and loyal companion. He is intelligent enough to do any job you give him. The Spinone is thought to be one of the oldest gun dogs ever, but it is not entirely clear that he came from Italy. There are some who think he may have come from somewhere in these European countries – Italy, Greece, France, Celtic Ireland, Spain or Russia. However, most believe the breed came from Italy in the Piedmont area.

The most common thinking is that he is a descendent of the Spanish Pointer and/or the Russian Setter. One other theory is that setters from Greece were brought to the Roman Empire and crossed with a variety of Italian dog to make the coarse haired Spinone we see today. Then the French put in their claim that the breed is a cross of many French pointers.

The theory that counts might just belong to the Italians who believe the ancestor to the Spinone includes the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Pudelpointer and the Wirehaired Pointer. It was not until the 19th century that the name Spinone was officially given to the breed.

Before that it might have been known as a Spinoso and named after a thorn bus in Italy called the Spino. This bush was so thick and sharp that small prey animals learned to hide under it because the predators could not get through it. The Spinone however was able to fight through the briars with its thick, coarse hair and tough skin.

The breed almost became extinct during the second world war as before and after the hunters in Italy had started to use other breeds for hunting. Breeders also began to cross the Spinone with wire hairs like German Wirehaired Pointer, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and the Boulet.

The most popular hunting dog in Italy today is the Bracco Italiano while the Spinone is still used for hunting.

komondor - historyLooking like a giant mop, and sometimes being referred to as 'mop dogs' the Komondor, known also as the Hungarian sheepdog, hails from Hungary.

The dog was brought to Europe centuries ago so he is a well established breed. It has been declared as one of the country's national treasures.

He is a dog related to many other dogs such as the Pulim the Ovcharka, the Bearded Collie, Old English Sheepdog and others.

Description

spinone italiano puppy - descriptionThe breed is made up of strong, solid and muscled dogs that have an almost square build. His legs are made to travel any terrain and his head is long with an occipital that is pronounced and unique to the Spinone. They are said to have “human appearing eyes”, with a docked tail in countries allowing it and webbed paws.

Shorter hair covers their feet, head, legs, muzzle and ears. They have longer hair on their eyebrows and it is stiff, with soft hair on the muzzle and cheeks with a beard and mustache. It is a single coated dog though the coat is rough. They should have skin, lips, nose, and pads in colors that coordinate with their coats. For white dog it is a red-orange color, brown in dogs that are roan colored and dark red-orange in the orange and white colored dog.

komondor puppy - descriptionKnown for his unique long corded, singular white coat, the Komondor, a molosser dog, is large. Females start at 64cm in height and both males and females can reach up to 76cm in height.

This unusual coat of theirs is wavy and actually forms cords or dreadlocks as the dog matures. You can't easily see the dog's face because of all the hair.You also can't see the tail easily, in fact you might think he hasn't got a tail as it is obscured by the hair. The tail is medium length and held low.

He has a large head, dark brown eyes, and floppy ears. The coat is certainly going to require grooming even though the dog doesn't shed much. His body is robust and well muscled with the body being slightly longer than the height of the dog.

Temperament:

The Komondor has been a dog used for guarding livestock, and while his character is calm and balanced, when the livestock is threatened, he can show another side – more aggressive – as he defends his flock. He makes an excellent watchdog.

He is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a gentle playmate of children. He is slightly reserved and wary of strangers, and is willing to guard and protect his human family from them.

He is also good with other family pets. When you look at him you might think of him as not being very energetic, but he is an athletic dog, fast and powerful. Because of his size and speed, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he can be obstinate. Training him makes him obedient.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness – yes they live kids.

2.Special talents – Digging and running.

spinone italiano dog - characteristics3.Adaptability – Young dogs need a lot of attention but they don’t need a lot of space. The young dogs are energetic while the adult dogs are laid-back. They need exercise every day and at least a small back yard.

4.Learning ability – good/stubborn/intelligent.

komondor dog - characteristicsThe Komondor is known for his strong guardian characteristics, especially with his human family. He is loving and loyal towards them while being wary of strangers.

True, his coat can make people think twice before making this dog a pet, but if you're game and ready to attend to his coat, he can make an excellent family pet. They're fine with other pets too, and he is also an intelligent dog, capable of being easily trained.

He needs a good deal of exercise and can become noisy and destructive without the right amount of stimulation. If you do your part with the Komondor and provide him with a loving, caring home, he will be an awesome pet and guard you with his life.

Health Problems

spinone italiano puppies - health problemsThis is an ancient breed with not a lot of documented genetic issues, but it does have one deadly condition.

• Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is inherited and hits the puppies. Because it is a recessive gene both the mother and father must carry it for the puppy to inherit it. This makes it less likely than it would be otherwise. Puppies with the condition do not live more than a year. Since it is a genetic problem there is now a test for it that identifies carriers at a 95% accuracy rate.

• Like many other large breed dogs, they are susceptible to hip dysplasia. This can cause arthritis and/or lameness. There are now hip replacement surgeries available for this condition.

• Bloat is again common in large dogs and you need to watch for it with the Spinone. It can be deadly if not treated immediately. Let your dog rest quietly after eating. Do not let her exercise or play energetically after eating.

komondor puppies - health problemsThe Komondor is a healthy dog breed who can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years if you look after him well. There aren't any known genetic disorders prominent with the dog, but it pays to know about some of those that could strike -

Entropion:

This is an irritating eye problem where the eyelash rubs up against the eyes.The result can be scratching of the cornea and eye infections. It is an eye problem which can be corrected with surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a serious genetically inherited disorder and common in large dog breeds. It is caused by a malformation of the hip joint. It can cause problems for the dog, weakening the hip and making it incapable of supporting the weight of the dog.

It also leads to pain for the dog, difficulty with moving and even total lameness. Weight, size of dog, age and genetics are all factors which can increase the dog's likelihood of developing hip dysplasia.

Whimpering, lethargy and refusing to put weight on the leg are common signs of hip dysplasia and your vet will go ahead with ways to relieve the pain and symptoms of your Komondor.

Caring The Pet

spinone italiano dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – feed a high quality dog food for puppies of large breeds. Feed 3-4x day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating even as a puppy.

2.Feeding the adult - feed a high quality dog food for large breeds. Feed 1-2X day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating.

3.Points for Good Health – Active and strong

4. Games and Exercises – The Spinone is an active breed, but not a fast dog. In fact, they like to travel at a trot so it becomes a great dog for jogging or running with. They love to jump, track, hunt, hike. They do well with agility, retrieving, flyball, carting, being a therapy dog, a rescue dog and a watchdog.

Grooming:

komondor dogs - caringThe Komondor is most certainly not a low maintenance dog with that extraordinary coat.Before the dog turns 1, the coat begins to form its cords. These cords can become discolored and matted, In fact the cords will need to be separated to keep the dog clean and free of matted hair.

For those who keep the dog as a pet and who don't want him to be a show dog, he can be trimmed, otherwise the coat and its maintenance could turn out to be a real issue.

Of course once the distinctive coat has been sheared, he loses that typical and recognizable Komondor look.

Check his ears on a regular basis for wax- and dirt buildup so as to prevent ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked regularly to prevent tartar buildup and if you don't have the time or the knowledge to keep his teeth clean and maintained, take him to the vet as the teeth-treatments they do there will promote healthy teeth and gums.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
Origin:
Italy
Hungary
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
34 - 39 kg
74 - 86 pounds
40 - 60 kg
88 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 37 kg
70 - 82 pounds
40 - 60 kg
88 - 133 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 9 Years
8 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 11
3 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Spinone Italian Spinone Italian Griffon Italian Wire-haired Pointer Italian Coarsehaired Pointer
Hungarian sheepdog, Mop dogs
Colors Available:
white with orange markings, white with brown markings, and brown roan with or without brown markings , orange roan with or without orange markings, solid white
White
Coat:
tough, slightly wiry, and close fitting. rough
Long, thick, corded or dreadlocks
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Spinone Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Spinone Italiano vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Spinone Italiano vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  5. Spinone Italiano vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  6. Spinone Italiano vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  7. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Spinone Italiano vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  9. Spinone Italiano vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  10. Spinone Italiano vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Spinone Italiano vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  12. Spinone Italiano vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  13. Spinone Italiano vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  14. Spinone Italiano vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  15. Spinone Italiano vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  16. Talbot vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  17. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  18. Weimaraner vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  19. Spinone Italiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Spinone Italiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Spinone Italiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Spinone Italiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Spinone Italiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Spinone Italiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. Samoyed vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  26. Presa Canario vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  27. Labrador Husky vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  28. Mackenzie River Husky vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  29. Pyredoodle vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  30. Lurcher vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  31. Maremma Sheepdog vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  32. Sarplaninac vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  33. Mountain View Cur vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  34. Native American Indian Dog vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  35. Komondor vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  36. Komondor vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  37. Komondor vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  38. Komondor vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  39. Komondor vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Komondor vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  41. Komondor vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  42. Komondor vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  43. Komondor vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  44. Komondor vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  45. Komondor vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  46. Komondor vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  47. Komondor vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  48. Komondor vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  49. Komondor vs Goldador - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds