Moscow Watchdog vs Danish Swedish Farmdog - Breed Comparison

The Danish Swedish Farmdog has over the centuries been a versatile dog, working on farms. The history of this dog goes way back to the 1700s, being found in Denmark and Sweden where they originated.

Today these dogs are also found in other countries. As life changed, the dog’s functions on the farm became less and the dog seemed to disappear somewhat. Both the Danish and Swedish Kennel Clubs worked together to bring back the breed, resulting in the first breed standard in 1987.

The Danish-Swedish Farmdog was also recorded in the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Services in 2011. Today, most of these dogs are owned as family or companion dogs.

The Moscow Watchdog is a cross between the Caucasian Oytcharka, the St. Bernard and other Russian hound dogs. This large breed dog was developed in the Soviet Union for the purpose of being guard dogs. It had the awareness and assertiveness of the Oytcharka and the size, intelligence and attractiveness of the St. Bernard. The breed is common in Russia today but hardly seen anywhere else even though they were exported to the United States and Europe. The breed had the first U.S. born litter in 2015 and it is not AKC recognized.

Following the second world war crime was on the rise in the Soviet Union and a new breed of dog was needed to counter this trend. The dog had to be adaptable to very cold temperatures, snowy weather and have a guard dog personality and ability. The breed was called on to guard such locations as railroads, government offices, warehouses, infrastructure and labor camps.

The project to develop this breed was led by General Medvedev beginning in 1946 at the Central School of Military Kynology – which was a department of the Soviet Ministry of Defense. It took many years to develop the Moscow Watchdog which then became a very successful breed.

It took until 1985 for the breed to be “officially” recognized in the Soviet Union and until 1992 to be recognized by the Federation of Dog Breeders in Russia and until 1997 for the standard to be approved by the Russian Kennel Club. They are still working with the FCI to gain international recognition for the breed. At the moment they are considered a part of the Molosser group and shown in the “Special Show” in Russia.

Committed breeders brought the Moscow Watchdog to Hungary in 1986 in order to make the breed more popular. In addition to this there were many breeders from previous Soviet States that wanted to preserve the breed as well. There were about 500 Moscow Watchdogs in Hungary around then. Currently there are about 27 Moscow Watchdogs in the United States. The breed is known to be a gentle giant and very much a family dog these days.

Nobody could be blamed for thinking that the Danish Swedish Farmdog is a Fox Terrier, because he looks very similar. He also has a short, smooth coat which is odor-free and he is a wonderfully low maintenance breed. The coat does however shed throughout the year.

The coat’s main color is white with patches of black, fawn or chocolate brown. He can also be tri-colored. He is a small to medium sized dog with a compact body, standing between 32 - 37 cm and weighing about 7 – 12kg. He has a deep chest while the head is lean, small and triangular shaped. The ears are semi erect or they can be floppy while the tail is long.

Temperament:

The Danish Swedish Farmdog is not only intelligent, but he has other excellent characteristics that make him such a splendid pet. He isn’t aggressive, he is playful, loving, loyal, social and energetic.

He therefore makes an exceptional pet. He is an amusing pet who will prove to be entertaining too. He loves being part of all the family’s activities and gets on well with children and pets in the home.

You want to be sure that you provide him with exercise and games so that he doesn’t become bored, frustrated and destructive. After all, he is a breed that is used to be busy and he won’t do well with a family who puts him in the back yard and just leaves him.

The Moscow Watchdog is related to the mountain dogs and is a very large breed. They are sturdy, muscular and powerful. They have big heads and a thick double coat that sheds profusely four times a year. They have a long tail, an arched chest and an air of confidence.

He is in the Mastiff family and is smart and trainable. He is not clumsy but has big bones. He is surprisingly agile and active for a dog his size. Unlike the St. Bernard he is not a couch potato. He is also differentiated from the St. Bernard because he does not drool.

Temperament:

These dogs are large but they’ve got a gentle temperament and are good with kids, being playful and energetic with them.

Even though he is a docile dog, you want him trained and socialized, and then he gets along well with other pets too. His sheer size makes it that it is best to supervise him when he’s around small children. He is also a protective dog breed, willing to bond closely to, and protect his human family.

The Danish Swedish Farmdog has got everything going for him that makes him such a wonderful pet to have. He fits well into city- or country life, although wherever you live, you’ll need to ensure he is well exercised.

He is a child-friendly- and pet-friendly pet and he also happens to be low maintenance. You just need to brush him twice a week. You aren't likely to spend much on vet's fees with him either.In exchange for his love and devotion, make sure that you give every everything he needs to ensure his health and happiness.

This is a large dog who likes to be involved and busy, even though he is so big. He isn’t suited to city life and being confined to a tiny garden as he needs space.

They’re independent dogs too and you can leave them alone during the day. He is social, so while you can leave them during the day while you’re at work, he’ll want your attention when you get back. They're such loving, loyal family pets that you owe it to him to make this gentle giant of a dog as happy as can be.

Danish-Swedish Farmdogs have a lifespan ranging from 11 to 15 years. They are hardy dogs, not suffering from any breed specific genetic issues.

However, it pays off to know of some of the common dog illnesses there are. If you provide your dog with high quality, nutritious food, good exercise and plenty of love and care, he can reach 15 years of age. Some of the more common dog illnesses to look out for -

Hip Dysplasia:

It is always a good idea to have this testing for your dog. In fact, hip testing can spare you a great deal of anguish later on with your pet.

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disorder in dogs and although it is more prevalent in large dogs, smaller dogs can also get it.

You’ll notice your pet running with a strange gait and sometimes when he lies down, he’ll battle to get up again.

Recognizing the clinical signs of hip dysplasia is important to spare your dog a whole lot of pain, discomfort and even lameness.

Moscow Watchdog is looked upon as a fairly healthy dog breed but there are some risks such as hip dysplasia as well as some other large breed problems.

With big dogs like this, hip dysplasia is a threat. Its an hereditary condition where the parent dogs pass down the problematic genes. Hip dysplasia results in inflammation and pain for your pet, and where once he loved to play, he is reluctant to and battles to get up after lying down.

Grooming:

The Danish Swedish Farmdog isn’t going to be requiring too much grooming. He has a short, smooth coat which actually repels dirt.

Because his coat is odor-free, he certainly can get by without bathing. This is good news, as bathing a dog strips the skin of its natural oils. You can always just wipe his coat down with a damp cloth to rid it of dust and give his coat a good brushing twice a week to remove it of loose hairs.

General Grooming tips:

It is always a good idea to check your pet’s ears to see that they remain free of debris and wax. There are ways and means to do this, and if you’re not sure how, your vet or doggy parlor can explain the process.

Check his nails to ensure they don’t get too long. This is prone to happen when your pet runs constantly on grass and doesn’t come into contact with a hard surface which files the nails down naturally.

Also, dental care is most important, and you need to brush your pet’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week with special toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Bad teeth don’t only affect the mouth of the dog, they can be detrimental to every part of your dog’s body.

Excercise:

The Moscow Watchdog is a giant sized dog and will require a lot of regular exercise, and apart from a fairly brisk daily walk, will also need games and a run in the park.

As a large dog requiring a regular dose of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation, he is better suited to life in the country or at least where there is a large garden.

Grooming:

The Moscow Watchdog has a medium length coat, and as a moderate shedder, you will need to simply brush his coat twice a week to remove loose hair. There is no professional grooming required for these dogs.

Diet:

Homemade food is always a treat for a dog, but if you’re feeding your Moscow Watchdog commercially manufactured food because of the sheer convenience it provides, make sure the packaging says 'large- or giant dog breed' food. This way you know your pet is getting the right amount of minerals and vitamins for his size.

Always buy the best quality food to avoid giving your pet an overdose of colorants and preservatives. Try and give your pet some home-made food such as boiled chicken, some brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. These can be added to his kibble every now and again.

A simple diet like this agrees with your pet and he will be healthy and happy with his lot.