MyDogBreedsSwiss Shorthaired Pinscher is originated from Switzerland but Greek Harehound is originated from Greece. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Greek Harehound. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Greek Harehound are having almost same weight. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Greek Harehound has almost same life span. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Greek Harehound has same litter size. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Greek Harehound requires Low maintenance.
The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an ancient dog breed and dates back to 1780. It is believed that this dog breed is extinct, but that the German Pinscher of today is family of this dog breed. The dog used to be good on the farm as an all-purpose working dog.
When you look at the history of dogs, there are so many that have come and gone, never to be seen or heard of again. Other animals become extinct because of environmental factors, but with dogs it’s a bit different and most, like the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, died out simply because it became unfashionable.
Maybe the jobs that this dog was designed to do no longer existed and he died out because he was no longer needed.
Known also as the Hellenic Hound, the Greek Harehound is an ancient breed, and it is a dog which has come down through the ages with very little change to the way he looks.
The ancestors of the Greek Harehound go back thousands of years and are believed to be the ancient ‘Laconikoi’ dogs of the Peloponnese.
In was in 1996 that the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the Hellenic Hound. The Greek Harehound was also recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006.
Described as a medium sized dog, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an extinct variety of the German Pinscher. Like that dog, the Swiss Shorthaired had a muscular, strong square build.
Possibly he also had his ears and tail docked at that time. It is thought that he stood between 40 – 48cm in height and weighed in the region of 11 to 15kg.
He had the typical looks of the Doberman Pinscher with short smooth hair in black and tan, short erect ears and a tail that was traditionally cropped. He was lean and muscular with brown eyes. They were working dogs in their day and were not considered the best dogs to have for the first time dog owner.
These dogs have always been hardworking, brave and fearless. They make good family pets too and get on well with children. They would have been adaptable too to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he got his exercise.
A well bred Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher was alert and a good guard dog, and one wonders why this dog with its good qualities died out.
These dogs have a short, dense coat which is black and tan in color. He is a medium sized, well proportioned, deep chested dog standing at roughly 47 – 55cm in height and weighing between 17–20kg.
His legs are straight, well boned and strong. The skull of the dog is fairly flat, the eyes are brown while the ears are set high and are floppy. The tail is long, tapering down to a tip.
Lively and outgoing, the Greek Harehound is a skilled, brave hunter. These are active dogs and will require quite a bit of exercise if you get one as a pet. He becomes devoted to his owner, making a good, all-round family pet.
He has always been used in the past to hunt in packs so he gets on well with any other dogs in the family.
As a scenthound, the Greek Harehound is an independent, stubborn, strong-willed dog that will respond well to a firm, strong owner. His stubborn, strong-willed nature means it will be important to have him trained and socialized so that he becomes a well-rounded, obedient pet.
If you're looking for a true around-the-house family pet, this isn't the ideal choice as he is essentially a hunting dog, wanting to be running off on a hunt as opposed to lying quietly indoors. He is therefore better suited to life in the country than being cooped up in a small city property.
The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is no longer around but he would no doubt have made a good family pet. He would have wanted to protect his human family.
He was a stubborn, bold dog, and maybe socialization and training didn’t exist then, but he would have benefited from it.
He’s the kind of dog that would have adapted well to life in the city or the countryside, but you could never neglect his exercise needs. In the right environment, this Pinscher would have made a loving, loyal pet.
Fast, courageous, smart, playful, independent and strong willed, the Greek Harehound is a slow maturing breed and he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and not so stubborn.
Once trained he becomes a truly wonderful companion, being affectionate, loyal and outgoing. He makes a good friend of children too.
He is friendly and non-aggressive, though he still makes a good watchdog. He is a low maintenance pet too, and even though he is essentially a hunting dog, he can make anyone a splendid pet.
It is not too sure about the health status of this extinct dog but we can assume that he would have been prone to some of the typical dog illnesses there are.
Hypothyroidismd, bloat, cancer, cataracts, infections and obesity were just some of the diseases this dog would have had to contend with.
The thyroid glands in the neck produce hormones. These hormones affect the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism in dogs is usually caused by shrinkage of the thyroid gland or inflammation.The disease occurs more often in Pinscher dogs.
You may notice a dulling or thinning of your dog’s hair, weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also tend to battle more with ear- and skin infections. Veterinary treatment will become necessary.
It causes a whiteness,cloudiness or opacity on the lens of the eye. It's not painful for a dog but it can cause loss of vision. Surgery can improve vision for the dog.
The Greek Harehound is a healthy dog breed with no particular genetic defects. But like other dogs with floppy ears, they are more prone to infections and the insides of the ears will need to be cleaned frequently. Always do this with the utmost care to avoid damaging your pet's ears.
He is a deep chested dog and this puts him at risk of gastric dilation and volvulus which is commonly referred to as bloat. Its a life threatening health issue where the stomach can twist. The stomach is sealed off as a result and gas builds up. The dog can go into organ failure.
In those days of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, maybe commercially manufactured dog foods weren’t available. If the dog were still around today, you would feed him dry kibble for medium sized dogs.
Probably the owners of these dogs fed them from the food they ate. It can be a good idea to feed any dog you have with some homemade food.
This can include things such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This is the kind of simple food that dogs love.
Being a farm dog in his day, he was probably tossed raw meat occasionally and this would have done him the world of good.
Although the short, smooth hair of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is looked upon as low maintenance, the dog would have needed a good brush twice a week just to keep it shiny and healthy.
After a hard day of work on the farm, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher would have required a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.
The Greek Harehound is happiest when he senses he is free to follow scents and run. This is why this particular dog breed isn’t suited for life in the city where he has a small garden. He requires large pieces of ground to run free. If you own one of these dogs, he should be taken on daily walks and be involved in lots of sporting activities and games. If you’re a jogger or cyclist, this dog will be thrilled to join you.
Dog owners love that this dog is a low maintenance breed. The short coat simply requires a brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs and to also keep his coat shiny and healthy.
Every new puppy will require a series of vaccinations in his first year to make sure he doesn't develop some of the serious dog diseases there are such as distemper, parvo-virus and rabies among others.
Dogs are carnivores and without human interference have always eaten fresh meat in the wilds. For convenience many people feed their dogs commercially manufactured food.
There are some excellent brands. Choose the best one for your pet and mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked rice, chicken and vegetables.
Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.