St. John's Water Dog vs Schweenie - Breed Comparison

St. John's Water Dog vs Schweenie - Breed ComparisonSt. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada but Schweenie is originated from United Kingdom. Both St. John's Water Dog and Schweenie are having almost same height. St. John's Water Dog may weigh 32 kg / 71 pounds more than Schweenie. St. John's Water Dog may live 3 years less than Schweenie. Both St. John's Water Dog and Schweenie has almost same litter size. Both St. John's Water Dog and Schweenie requires Low maintenance.

History

st john s water dog - historyThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

schweenie - historyThe Schweenie is a hybrid dog, with the parent breeds being the Shih Tzu and the Dachshund.

The Schweenie dog has been around for about 4 decades when breeders were looking for a dog that would be free of the health issues of the purebred parent breeds.

Because the Schweenie is a mix breed, it doesn’t qualify to be part of the American Kennel Club. He is however recognized by the Designer Breed Registry and some other clubs.

Description

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

schweenie puppy - descriptionThe Schweenie will be a smallish dog standing at roughly 27cm to 50cm and weighing 4 – 9kg.

Because of the Dachshund parent, he will likely have a long body. The coat is shortish to medium length and can be a variety of colors – from a rusty color to brown, black, grey and even a cream shade. The ears are floppy and the tail medium length.

Temperament:

He is a small dog who is smart and bright and who wants to please his human owners. He loves people and wants to be around them and involved in their activities.

Small and cute though he is, he can be a stubborn dog and become a little big aggressive too if he is feeling a bit moody. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to obey your simple commands such as sit, stay, lie down and come.

He is intelligent enough to learn these simple commands with ease.He is both alert and vigilant, and this makes them good watchdogs.

Characteristics

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

schweenie dog - characteristicsThe Schweenie can be somewhat reserved and they need exercise regularly as well. If they don’t get enough exercise, they tend to become jittery and this can make them become a bit snappy. The are more prone to be snappy and aggressive with children who haven’t been taught how to treat animals gently and with respect.

They’re small enough to adjust to life in the city or countryside but will still need to be exercised.

The little Schweenie, with the right kind of owner can become a great little pet and companion.

Health Problems

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

-

schweenie puppies - health problemsWith good care, your Schweenie can live to be 12 to 15 years of age. Every dog, no matter how healthy, can get some of the health problems that plague many dogs.

Intervertebral Disk Disease:

This is where the cushions between each vertebra come into contact with the spinal cord. It can result in nerve damage and sometimes even paralysis. Because the Shih Tzu is one of the parent breeds, you will need to be aware of this ailment as these dogs are more susceptible to this disease.

Hypoglycemia:

Hypoglycemia is fairly common in small dogs and it is where there is a drop in blood sugar. It can be brought on by stress. It can also be referred to as low blood sugar and it can be deadly. If your pet is hypoglycemic, you will notice a loss in appetite, extreme lethargy, trembling and unusual behavior. You will need to get your Schweenie to the vet immediately for tests and treatment.

Caring The Pet

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

schweenie dogs - caringYour Schweenie will need to be brushed at least twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Because of his floppy ears, you will need to clean them and check for redness. If you don’t like the idea of probing inside the ear, professional groomers or the vet will do it for you.

Trim his nails if they don’t wear down on their own.

Provide him with a nice dry, warm spot to sleep.

Provide him with nice chewy toys that will keep him occupied.

Exercise him every day. Taking him on walks and playing ball games with him will keep him fit and trim but also help with staving off boredom.

Ensure his vaccines against deadly diseases are up to date. See that he gets to the vet when he appears to be under the weather.

He is a small dog so you have to be careful about how you feed him. You need to feed him a nutrient-rich dry kibble. Read the packaging and buy dog food according to his size, age and activity levels.

Try and include some home-made food into your dogs diet. A little bit of boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach all chopped up will do him good and can be added into the dry kibble twice a week. Some raw meat should also occasionally be added in as this can help to prevent some skin problems. Be sure that cool, fresh water is available for your pet at all times.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Companion dog
Origin:
Canada
United Kingdom
Height Male:
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
27 - 50 cm
10 - 20 inches
Height Female:
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
27 - 50 cm
10 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
4 - 9 kg
8 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
4 - 9 kg
8 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
2 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
None
Colors Available:
black
grey and cream shade, Rusty color to brown, black
Coat:
short, thick coats
Medium length, wavy or straight
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schweenie vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  2. Schweenie vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  3. Schweenie vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  4. Schweenie vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  5. Schweenie vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  6. Schweenie vs Malti-Pom - Breed Comparison
  7. Schweenie vs PekePoo - Breed Comparison
  8. Schweenie vs Schipperke - Breed Comparison
  9. Schweenie vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  10. Schweenie vs Lhasapoo - Breed Comparison
  11. Schweenie vs Meliteo Kinidio - Breed Comparison
  12. Schweenie vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. Schweenie vs Prazsky Krysarik - Breed Comparison
  14. Schweenie vs Pugalier - Breed Comparison
  15. Schweenie vs Kyi-Leo - Breed Comparison
  16. Schweenie vs Muggin - Breed Comparison
  17. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Schweenie - Breed Comparison
  18. Scottish Terrier vs Schweenie - Breed Comparison
  19. Schweenie vs Pomeranian - Breed Comparison
  20. Schweenie vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  21. Schweenie vs Pug - Breed Comparison
  22. Schweenie vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Schweenie vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  24. Schweenie vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  25. Schweenie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. St. John's Water Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  27. St. John's Water Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  28. St. John's Water Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  29. St. John's Water Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  30. St. John's Water Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  31. St. John's Water Dog vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  32. St. John's Water Dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  33. St. John's Water Dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  34. St. John's Water Dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  35. St. John's Water Dog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  36. St. John's Water Dog vs Presa Canario - Breed Comparison
  37. St. John's Water Dog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  38. St. John's Water Dog vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. St. John's Water Dog vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  40. St. John's Water Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  41. St. John's Water Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  42. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. St. John's Water Dog vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  44. St. John's Water Dog vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  45. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  46. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  47. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  48. St. John's Water Dog vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  49. St. John's Water Dog vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. St. John's Water Dog vs Mackenzie River Husky - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds