Utonagan vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Utonagan is originated from United Kingdom but Moscow Water Dog is originated from Russia. Utonagan may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than Moscow Water Dog. Utonagan may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than Moscow Water Dog. Utonagan may live 3 years more than Moscow Water Dog. Utonagan may have less litter size than Moscow Water Dog. Both Utonagan and Moscow Water Dog requires Moderate maintenance.

History

utonagan - historyThe Utonogan is such a wolf-like dog, you couldn’t be blamed for thinking you’d come face to face with a true wolf. They’re a rare dog breed that came about from crossing the Siberian Husky, the German Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute.

The dog was developed by Edwina Harrison and it was in the 1980s that the dog was introduced into the UK.

The Utonagan is a rare dog with only a few breeders. Take care with where you buy your Utonogan from and certainly steer clear of backyard breeders or puppy mills.

The Moscow Water Dog was developed in the Soviet Union around the same time as other classic Soviet dogs. The Moscow Watchdog and the Black Russian Terrier are a couple of these other dogs. The Water Dog came from crossing the Caucasian Oytcharka with the Newfoundland. The breed is known by many names including the Vodolaz which means “diver of deep Water”. The Moscow Water Dog was only bred in the Russian state’s Red Star Kennels as working dogs for the military.

Following the second World War, most of the working dogs had been destroyed during the war. Not enough dogs could be imported to begin a breeding program for any working breed. So, the Soviet Red Star Kennels began to create several working breeds. Included in this group with the Moscow Water Dog, were the Moscow Newfoundland, the Moscow Great Dane, the Black Russian Terrier, and the Brudasty Hound.

The only really successful breed coming from this program is the Russian Black Terrier. All the rest are either extinct or found only in Russia today. The Moscow Water Dog was supposed to be a life saver/water rescue dog, but the dogs they developed were too aggressive, and the program was scrapped. It seemed that the cross had bred a dog that had too much of the working water dog traits and not enough of the rescue dog traits. The military breeders tried to pass the dogs off as a Russian Newfoundland and sell it to the non-military.

These non-military owners of the few “Russian Newfoundland”, did not try to change the dogs through breeding. Instead over time they bred the Russian Newfoundland with pure bred Newfoundlands almost eliminating the “Russian” portion of the breed. By the early 1980’s the stock had been so diluted with the pure Newfoundland that the Russian Newfoundland was basically extinct.

The Red Army kennel had other breeds with some of the genes of this breed in their lines. This included the Brudasty Hound, the Moscow Great Dane, the Caucasian Oycharka, the Moscow Watchdog and the Russian Black Terrier. The Russian Navy was unhappy with the situation and never again let the army developed the Navy’s waterdog.

Description

utonagan puppy - descriptionThese dogs are large and lean, looking vibrant and strong. They stand at between 63-84 cm in height and weigh roughly between 32-40 kg.

The body is long with strong but slender legs with webbed paws. They look like wolves with the sharp muzzle, the erect ears, bushy tails and slanted eyes with black eye rims. The double coat is thick and straight. Colors of the coat can be silver or gey, cream, brown, or black. The coat becomes thicker in the Winter.

Temperament:

The Utonagan is a very social dog, wanting to spend a lot of time with his human family. They have so many excellent qualities that make him a splendid pet - loving, loyal and gentle.

Whether you have other pets in the home or children, he is a dog that is able to get on with everyone. He is wary of strangers though and with training ad socialization he is going to be the most fantastic pet and companion.

The Moscow Water Dog was intelligent, vigilant, an excellent swimmer, and great in artic waters. However, he was too aggressive and instead of saving the swimmer, they would attack them. The Moscow Water Dog is a tall, balanced and powerful dog. They have a wide muzzle and a square head like the Newfoundland. Their eyes are dark and small while the ears are triangular. The nose and lips are black. He has webbed feet of course and a hanging tail.

The coat on the Moscow Water Dog was of course waterproof and double. The top coat is very dense, straight and soft. It is usually a dark brown with some black and white.

Characteristics

utonagan dog - characteristicsThe Utonagan is an intelligent dog and also very social and people-oriented. He wants to be part of his human family, with a friendly, playful nature.

He will certainly not like being left alone and outside day after day. He can become frantic with frustration and this can be laid at the feet of an irresponsible dog owner.

Give him the life he wants and deserves, and this beautiful wolf-like dog will be your friend for life.

Children friendliness

yes

Special talents

Swimming and stamina

Adaptability

Yes but needed some land. Better in countryside.

Learning ability

This is an intelligent dog, but he could not be trained out of his aggressiveness.

Health Problems

utonagan puppies - health problemsYur Utonagans can live to be between 12 and 15 years of age, but a few issues can include cancer and joint dysplasia.

Cancer is a major cause of death in dogs old and young. There also seems to be some dog breeds that are more prone to cancer than others.

Thankfully most of the cancers are curable if you get them in the nick of time. The warning signs of cancer in your dog is much the same as with people and you’ll discover a new lump on your pet or a wound that simply won’t heal.

When you detect that your pet is lethargic and not acting his usual perky self, it is time to get him immediately to the vet.

Because the breed was around for such a short period there is not a lot of documentation or information regarding genetic or propensity health issues. There are however a few issues that just his heritage and Newfoundland blood would lend itself to.

  • Tendency toward obesity. Do not free feed.
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – could lead to arthritis.
  • Bloat or gastric torsion – could be fatal.
  • Cardiovascular issues.
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Hypothyroidism

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

utonagan dogs - caringThese are very high energy dogs and they will need exercise every day. While they will love a walk, they would be happier with something more vigorous such as a hike.

Swimming, ball games and hide and seek will all need to be on this dog’s menu of events. It is why it’s a dog that is better suited to life in the country as opposed to life in the city.

Diet:

If you opt to buy this dog commercially manufactured food, he will need to have a high quality one high in vitamins and minerals and designed for energetic dogs. Try and avoid the inferior brands as they are packed with ingredients that can be of no value to your pet. There are ingredients which can actually make him sick.

Home-made food is always a good thing for dogs, especially when it is simple, nutritious food that won’t aggravate the stomach.

You can’t go wrong with foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice, and vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato. A little bit of raw meat added in occasionally can be excellent as well. Always make sure that a bowl of fresh water is available to your pet around the clock.

Grooming:

This is such a beautiful dog, you want to keep him that way. His thick coat is going to require regular brushing to keep it free from matting. Not only that, grooming stimulates the skin. You can also check him over at the same time for ticks and fleas and make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps on the body.

This type of dog values the grooming session as it is a bonding time for him, making him that much happier and content.

Other grooming needs will include taking care of his nails and checking inside his ears and mouth for signs of infection.

Feeding the puppy

Required high quality food made specifically for large or giant puppies. Feed 3-4 times a day a total of 21/2 -3 cups.

Feeding the adult

Required high quality food made for large or giant dog breeds. Feed twice a day a total of 2 cups.

Games and Exercises

The Moscow Water Dog did not need a high level of exercise, but they did have a lot of stamina. They loved to swim. Not overly active – more of a couch potato.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Working dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
Russia
Height Male:
63 - 84 cm
24 - 34 inches
66 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
63 - 84 cm
24 - 34 inches
64 - 74 cm
25 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 40 kg
70 - 89 pounds
45 - 55 kg
99 - 122 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 40 kg
70 - 89 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
8 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
5 - 12
Size:
Large dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
Ute, Twatha Utonagan
Moscow River Dog, Московский Водолаз, Moscow Vodolaz, Moskovsky Vodolaz, • Russian Newfoundland,Moscow Diver, Vodolaz, Moscow Retriever,
Colors Available:
Silver or grey, or black., cream,brown
dark brown to black, black
Coat:
Medium to long, thick and straight
double coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Aggressive, Alert, Courageous, Intelligent
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Utonagan vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  2. Utonagan vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  3. Utonagan vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  4. Utonagan vs Bernedoodle - Breed Comparison
  5. Utonagan vs Schnauzerdor - Breed Comparison
  6. Utonagan vs Giant Maso Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  7. Utonagan vs Pastor Garafiano - Breed Comparison
  8. Utonagan vs Shepard Labrador - Breed Comparison
  9. Utonagan vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  10. Utonagan vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Utonagan vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  12. Utonagan vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  13. Utonagan vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  14. Utonagan vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  15. Utonagan vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  16. Utonagan vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  17. Utonagan vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison
  18. Utonagan vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  19. Utonagan vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  20. Utonagan vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  21. Utonagan vs Dogue De Bordeaux - Breed Comparison
  22. Utonagan vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  23. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  24. Spanish Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  25. St. Bernard vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. Moscow Water Dog vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Moscow Water Dog vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Moscow Water Dog vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Moscow Water Dog vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  30. Moscow Water Dog vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  31. Moscow Water Dog vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  32. Moscow Water Dog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  33. Moscow Water Dog vs Moscow Watchdog - Breed Comparison
  34. Moscow Water Dog vs Kars Dog - Breed Comparison
  35. Moscow Water Dog vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  36. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  37. Mountain Burmese vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Nebolish Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Scottish Deerhound vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  40. Shiloh Shepherd vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  41. Moscow Water Dog vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  42. Moscow Water Dog vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds