Mioritic Sheepdog vs Bluetick Beagle - Breed Comparison

Among the hound group of dogs, there are some ancient breeds. The history of the Beagle and the Bluetick Beagle more specifically is fairly uncertain as breeds as we know them today didn't really develop until the 19th century. It was in the mid-1800s the Reverend Phillip Honeywood established Beagles in Essex, England and American breeders started importing Beagles from England to improve the looks of their own dogs. The breed was developed from a number of breeds and possibly the Bluetick Coonhound had some input into the markings of the Bluetick Beagle.

Today the American Kennel Club recognizes many colors and color combinations in Beagles. with white, tan and black being the more common color. Beagles can also sport ‘markings’ such as blue and red freckles or ticks. If there are black ticks, it can be referred to as blue-ticked.

This is a large dog coming from the Carpathian mountain area of Romania.

He has always been an excellent working dog, guarding and protecting sheep. Farmers always kept these dogs as working dogs, with no written records being kept about the development of the breed.

The breed is ancient, possibly dating back to ancient Roman times. It was in the 20th century that interest in the breed was ignited, and in 1981 the first official breed standard was recorded. The breed was also registered with the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 2005.

Lean, Compact and Muscular

The Bluetick Beagle is a small sized hunting dog. As part of the Hound group of dogs, he has an excellent sense of smell. He has always been used as a hunting dog, and it is why this particular dog is a popular choice for law enforcement agencies – it’s that keen sense of smell.

He is lean and compact with muscular legs, a broad head, fairly long floppy ears and a broad chest. His coat is short-haired and smooth and its the short blue coloration in his coat sets the Bluetick Beagle apart from the regular Beagle.

Temperament

The Blue Tick Beagle can have a bit of a stubborn streak, but be that as it may, he still responds well to training and socialization. Alert, he has an amicable nature, and this is what makes this breed such a great family pet He’ll get on well with children in the house as well as with other pets.

The Blue Tick Beagle isn’t an aggressive dog breed. He is lively and playful and full of energy and will require you taking him on walks, runs in the park and lots of games at home.

He loves the companionship of his human family and can’t just be left in the back yard on his own for long periods of time. He can suffer with separation anxiety and also become bored and then he starts with long, mournful howls.

The Mioritic Sheepdog looks very much like the Old English Sheepdog with his huge body covered with long hair.

His head is also large with a black nose and smallish to medium length floppy ears. The color of the double coat is usually white, cream or pale gray, and sometimes you will find patches of these colors.

The tail has always been traditionally docked, otherwise the tail is left long with a slight curl at the end. The height of the dog is 65 to 75cm and he weighs roughly 50–60kg. Below the thick coat is a muscular dog with strong, straight legs which can help him become quite agile and speedy when needed. Allowed to breed, they can produce anything from 3 to 9 of the most adorable looking puppies.

Temperament:

The Mioritic Sheepdog is a balanced dog, loving to be with his owners but being wary of strangers. He is a brave dog, willing to guard his human family with his life.

He is also a strong-willed and dominant so it will be to his benefit to be trained and socialized so that he becomes obedient and easy to have around.Training won’t be difficult as he is an intelligent breed and already naturally obedient.

He is an energetic dog too so he will need to have regular exercise and games. He therefore gets on well with children in the home, loving to join in with all their games. He will need to be supervised around small children just because of his cumbersome, large size.

Your Blue Tick beagle is an active, cheerful dog and he makes a good companion for adult or child. He is fairly adaptable and can happily fit into a home in the city- or country. A Blue Tick Beagle doesn’t want to be left alone day after day, so think about your work commitments before you buy buy your Blue Tick and leave him alone.

Being a hound, although he is gentle and amicable, he can also be stubborn which means he will require some patient training. Because he is a scenthound, he is inclined to catch an aroma and want to go after it, so you’ll need a well fenced garden to keep him in.

Other than that when he is with you, he makes a dedicated and loving companion.

The Mioritic Shepherd has always been used to guard and protect livestock, but even though he has always taken this role seriously, he is calm and loving around his human family, making a splendid family pet.

He also plays the role of guardian and protector of his human family seriously. He is a big strong dog and training and socialization will become necessary as he can become aggressive with certain people who he doesn’t trust.

Inviting one of these dogs into your home will ensure having a constant and loving companion at your side.

Beagles are healthy dog breeds, and with good care, can enjoy an average lifespan of between 12-15 years. Like many other dogs, the Blue Tick beagle is more prone to a number of medical conditions, and more so as it ages. It is essentially a hardy breed that won’t require any particular special care, but common dog problems such as hip dysplasia and skin allergies will need to be watched.

Ear Infections

There are always some health concerns with every dog breed that every dog owner needs to be aware of. Dog with floppy ears such as what the Blue Tick Beagle has will always be prone to ear infections. The ears will need to be kept clean but you can’t just go prodding around in a dog’s ear as you could damage the ears. A visit to the veterinarian will clear up any ear problems.

Cherry Eye

This particular condition - prolapse of the gland of the nictitating membrane – is important to clear up quickly as it could lead to more serious problems. The longer the third eyelid gland is problematic, the more irritated and inflamed it becomes.

The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is a truly hardy dog breed and with good care such as good food and exercise can reach 14 years of age.

There are always some common dog illnesses to look out for and because he is a large dog, hip dysplasia can be a problem.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a disease where there is abnormal growth of the hip joints. Smooth movement of the joint is hindered and this leads to inflammation and pain.

At first you may find your dog limping and then you may find that after lying down, he battles to get up again. The joint becomes thickened with less mobility and the dog is reluctant to play like he used to. He will certainly need to get to the vet for treatments to make him more comfortable.

Diet

A good, nutritious diet will help your Blue Tick Beagle steer clear of ill health. He is an energetic breed so will require either home prepared food or commercially manufactured dog food with the right mix of vitamins and minerals to keep his energy levels up.

As mentioned, your BlueTick can be prone to hip dysplasia and skin allergies so a supplement which includes omega 3 is an excellent choice for your dog’s overall health. Make sure to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet and always ensure a constant supply of fresh water.

Grooming

Your Bluetick Beagle isn’t a huge shedder with his short-haired coat, but he will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep his coat in tip-top condition and to remove all those loose hairs. Bathing a dog is never encouraged as it removes the dogs natural oils, but of course there are always exceptions when a dog will require a bath.

The Mioritic Sheepdog’s long hair is coarse and will need to be regularly brushed to keep it free of tangles. It will certainly need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week, while some owners of this dog will prefer to have the coat professionally clipped. Because of the long hair, while brushing him it is an excellent time to check for ticks and fleas.

Diet:

The food you give your pet plays such a critical role in his health and longevity. Always make sure that you’re giving your pet an uncomplicated diet to avoid stomach upsets.

Give him the best commercially manufactured kibble. To provide him with some variety, add in some boiled chicken, cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach to his kibble from time to time. He will also benefit greatly from having some raw meat added into the kibble occasionally.

Learn to know which human foods are totally toxic to him and avoid these. Make sure he is never without cool, fresh water.