Toy Australian Shepherd vs Perro Cimarron - Breed Comparison

These beautiful little dogs interestingly don’t originate in Australia. They were originally bred in the western U.S. as herding dogs.

Today they are mainly companion dogs. Their lineage goes back to a pair of sibling dogs - the Wildhagen Dutchman and Fieldmaster of Flintridge and these two dogs began the lineage to which the Miniature Australian Shepherd belongs.

Known also as ‘Aussie’, there are different stories to its exact origins. It is thought that some Basque farmers brought dogs with them when they came to Australia, taking them to the United States during the 1849 California gold rush.

The dog has been crossed with a number of breeds to bring about a dog that could cope with harsh temperatures.

The Perro Cimarron, also known as the Uruguayan Cimarron is a molosser type dog which originated in Uruguay. The dog is believed to have descending from European dogs which were brought to the country by early colonizers.

These dogs are the official mascot of the National Army of Uruguay. The dog is also recognized in Uruguay as well as by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. The dog was exported to the United States and then recognized by the United Kennel Club in the category Guardian Dog.

The Toy Australian Shepherd, also referred to as the Mini- or Miniature Australian Shepherd is a small dog standing at between 26 - 36 cm in height and weighing between 3 to 9kg.

He looks very similar to the standard Australian Shepherd.

He has a medium-length, weather-resistant coat which is white with tan, black, red or blue merle. The coat is long, and slightly wavy with feathering around the legs and neck.

They eyes can be blue or brown or he can have two differently colored eyes.The tail of these dogs can be a natural bobtail or it is docked. They do shed but they don’t require that much grooming.

Temperament:

These playful little dogs may be small, but they are brave and full of courage. They’re also easy going, and love nothing more than to be around their human family.

They love the games that children play and are always ready to join in, making excellent playmates for children. Lively and alert, they also make good watchdogs and because they are so intelligent, they are easy to train and socialize.

Their intelligence means they need to be physically and mentally stimulated otherwise they can become destructive from sheer boredom. They’re full of energy and will require regular exercise every day.

The Perro Cimarron is a large dog standing at between 58 to 61cm and weighing 38 to 45kg, both males and females.

He is a muscular dog with the coat being short and smooth and in a pale fawnish color or brindle and with a black face.

The Uruguayan Cimarron is a multi-purpose working dog but today he is mainly a family companion. This large mastiff type dog is muscular and athletic. He has a large head, the ears are high set and floppy but sometimes they are still cropped and made erect. The tail is thick, low set and reaches to the hock. He has a black nose, brown eyes and a black mask.

Temperament:

Strong, alert, self confident and brave, the Perro Cimarron may not have a particularly friendly face but he loves his human family and is loyal to them. He is calm and cool but even so, he will need to be trained and socialized and then he becomes calm around different people and in different situations. He is a dog that can get on well with children and pets in the home.

The Toy Australian Shepherd is such a clever little dog and eager to learn too. You won’t have trouble getting him trained and socialized as he is eager to learn.

He bonds closely with his human family, becoming a loyal, devoted pet. They are also great playmates for children. They’re the kind of dogs that will require mental and physical stimulation if they are to to be prevented from becoming bored and frustrated.

They need social interaction with their human family and will be devastated if they were to be stuck in the backyard and all but forgotten.

They have a lifespan of 12 – 14 years and you want to make sure they’re happy, contented years, because he is wiling to play his part and make you a wonderful pet and companion.

The Uruguayan Cimarron is not looked upon as a pet for the first time dog owner. He is strong willed, stubborn, somewhat aggressive and independent and will require a strong, firm, consistent owner.

He will make a loyal, affectionate pet for the person who takes time to socialize and train him. He also makes a good watchdog.

The way any dog breed is brought up will determine how he turns out, and if this particular dog is brought up the right way and given the right amount of care and exercise he needs, he can make as good a pet as any other dog breed.

Make sure your Toy Australian Shepherd sees the vet as a puppy to be dewormed and to get his first puppy injections.

Dental Disease:

Dental disease is far more serious than you think. It can affect other areas of your dog’s body. Plaque and inflamed gums lead to bone- and tooth loss.

Bad breath is a sign of periodontal disease. Find out from your vet what to do to guard against periodontitis. It’s important because ignoring bad teeth can lead to heart disease, with bacteria constantly entering the blood stream.

Parasites:

Fleas and ticks are your pet’s enemy as well as heartworm. Dogs can die from heartworm infestations. Heartworm is linked to mosquito bites, so if you live in warm areas, check with your vet for preventative measures.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another common dog illness to watch out for. This is a painful condition where the hip joint isn’t formed properly and it can lead to terrible pain and lameness.

Skin Allergies:

Just like people endure endless misery with eczema, dogs too can develop skin allergies. They can create endless frustration and misery for any pet because of the terrible itch and pain. All the licking and scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections too.

Most dogs, when they are well cared for, don’t get sick often. The Cimarrón is a robust kind of dog but even so he can get any one of the many common dog illnesses there are such as hip dysplasia, bloat, dental disease, cancer, obesity and others.

Urinary Tract Infection:

This infection can make your dog restless and you will notice your dog trying to wee often but unable to. It can be terrible watching your dog battling, and you will need to get your pet to the vet soon.

Parasites:

Your dog can pick up parasites anywhere such as ticks ad fleas. There are also internal parasites such as tape- and heartworms. They can bring your pet down, making him lethargic and nauseous, so it is best to research canine parasites so you can know what steps to take to protect your dog.

Skin Problems:

Don’t for one minute think that skin problems are a minor ailment. The pain and itching can drive your dog to despair. The skin can be red, inflamed and oozing. There are so many things that can cause your pet to get a skin allergy and you will need to get him to the vet to get some kind of relief for him.

Diet:

Your puppy will need 4 small bowls of food a day. If you’re wondering just how much, either speak to your vet or follow the portion-guide on the packaging of the puppy dog food.

As your puppy grows older, you feed less frequently so that he is getting two meals a day as an adult. For feeding an adult, there are excellent commercial dog foods available - remember to choose a good brand for your dogs age, size and energy levels.

Try and give him some tasty home-made food too from time to time – nothing exotic and spicy – just plain foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. Dogs thrive on simple, healthy food like this. Make sure he always has a bowl of cool, fresh water to drink.

Exercise:

These energetic little bundles of fur will need regular exercise – every day in fact. He’s a smart little dog too, so you need to provide him with stimulating games that will keep his mind and his body physically fit.

Grooming:

Reduce shedding and loose hair by brushing the long hair a least twice a week. This will also help to get rid of matting. Trim nails and check for fleas and ticks.

General:

Provide your Toy Australian with a warm, dry, peaceful place to sleep. If he is outside often, make sure he has both sun and shade to lie in as well as a sheltered spot for when it rains.

Exercise:

As a high energy, intelligent dog, the Cimarron Uruguayo needs plenty of exercise. He won’t be content to sit around and will be frustrated and even destructive if he doesn’t receive lots of attention and exercise. Daily walks will be imperative as well as other forms of physical and mental stimulation.

Grooming:

Your Uruguayan Cimarron is a low maintenance dog because of the short coat which will still require brushing twice a week as he does shed quite a bit. Other forms of grooming include nail clipping, checking the ears and teeth as both of these can become seriously infected if not checked and attended to.

Diet:

If you have a Uruguayan Cimarron dog as a pet, you will need to be looking at the best food for him as he is large and energetic. There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market and you want to be sure that you read the ingredients list so that the food can benefit your pet.

It’s never a good idea to just go on and on feeding your pet kibble. A break every now and again can do your pet the world of good. Some home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will delight your dog when added into his kibble occasionally. He loves the tasty simplicity of such a diet and will never have to worry about digestive problems.

For such a dog, some raw meat added in from time to time will also do him good. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.