Seppala Siberian Sleddog vs Bospin - Breed Comparison

The Bospin is a fairly new breed of dog and is the result of cross-breeding between the Boston Terrier and the Miniature Pinscher.

Mixed breed dogs are often healthier than full blood dogs and are becoming a popular choice. The origin of the Bospin is unknown. We know that the Boston Terrier hails from Boston in the USA and the Miniature Pinscher from Germany.

This is a rare working dog breed whose job it has been to pull sleds. The Seppala Siberian Sleddog hails from Canada and was regarded as the same dog breed as the Siberian Husky.There is the International Seppala Siberian Sleddog Club which works to preserve this amazing dog as a working breed.

It was during the 1990s that the breed was recognized as a new breed. In 2002 the Seppala Siberian Sleddog lines found their way to the USA .

The Bospin’s Looks

The Bospin, a cross between the smooth haired Boston Terrier and the Miniature Pinscher can actually get any combination and characteristics of either of these two breeds. found in either breed. The Bospin in a small to medium sized dog who can live to be up to 15 years of age.

He has a short coat, but his looks will essentially depend on which is the more dominant breed. Regardless of which breed he takes after in looks, he will be a muscular little dog with long, lean legs and a long tail. They have small muzzles and a fairly long nose with brown eyes and upright ears. The short coat can be in a number of colours such as brown, beige or brindle, with black and white being a more common colour.

Temperament

The Bospin’s personality can be a blend of the Boston Terrier and the Miniature Pinscher. They’ve become such popular little dogs, full of fun and just loving to be with their human family. Because they are fairly even tempered, they make excellent family pets and will get on well with children in the home as well as other pets. This is a small dog but he isn’t a yapper. He isn’t going to make a wonderful watchdog as he can be quite friendly with strangers.

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog is a medium-sized dog that stands at between 56 to 58cm in height and weighs between 18 to 23kg.

It’s a beautiful wolf-like looking dog that used to be the same breed as the Siberian Husky, but it is now considered a separate breed.

The legs of this dog are longer, and they’re slightly more slender and lighter. The ears too, are taller and held very erect. The bushy tail is held high, curving over the back when alert.

The thick coat is medium length and there is also a thick undercoat. Coat colors vary and are wolf-like too - white, cream, grey, black and some reddish rusty colors. Eyes can be blue or brown or the dog can even have one brown eye and one blue.

Temperament:

Because this is an active working breed, he will need some robust exercise. Neglecting this side of him will result in a bored dog that howls a lot.

He is a high energy dog breed and won’t be content with a walk every day. When you go cycling or jogging, you can definitely count him in as he will like nothing more than to run beside you. If you are lucky to live near the beach, a tennis racquet to send the ball flying across the sand will please him no end.

He will need training and socialization of course, and you won’t have trouble training him as he is an intelligent dog. He isn’t the kind of dog that slots easily into life in the city, and will ideally suit a property with large grounds where he can run and play.

The Bospin is an adaptable dog and can easily fit into farm life or city life. When he is trained and socialized he makes an amicable pet, ready to be a loyal and devoted companion.

The Bospin’s personality can actually lean more towards either the Boston Terrier or the Miniature Pinscher, but you’re always going to have fun and games with these entertaining little dogs. They just love the companionship of their human family.

A Bospin needs to be brought into a stable environment so that he can adapt to his new home easily and not be confused by constant changes. Be responsible with your pet and make him one of your family and you’ll be rewarded with an entertaining, fun, loyal 4-legged friend.

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog has always been a working dog so he will need lots of varied forms of exercise. He makes a splendid family pet as he isn’t an aggressive dog.

He does however make a good watchdog and will bark and warn you of strangers approaching.These beautiful wolf-like dogs are guaranteed to make you a loving, loyal pet, and they love nothing more than to be close to all his human family.

Treat him as a member of the family and you’ll be rewarded by having his fantastic friendship.

Your Bospin is a healthy dog breed, but the most healthiest pets can fall victim to health problems. There are some conditions that are specific to certain types of dogs and smaller breeds have their own set of worrisome dog ailments.

Dental Problems

Smaller dogs or toy breeds have smaller skulls and sometimes their smaller mouths have to find room to house the 42 teeth that dogs have. This over-crowding can lead to dental disease.

Collapsed Trachea

This is a common problem in brachycephalic breeds – those dogs that have short, broad muzzles such as the Boston Terrier. Toy breeds are more prone to tracheal collapse, a common cause of airway obstruction in dogs where the dog develops a rasping cough and labored breathing.

Legg Calve Perthes Disease

This is a developmental orthopedic disease where you see degeneration of the femoral head and which can lead to arthritis. The disease affects young animals and more specifically toy breeds. Your dog will have trouble walking and will usually hold one leg up. Your dog can battle along with pain and arthritis.

The Seppala Siberian Sleddog, just like most other dogs, can suffer from any one of the common dog ailments there are. These illnesses are cancer, hip dysplasia and eye disease.

You are more than likely not to see any of these illnesses with your pet, but it’s being a responsible dog owner to be aware of them and to get your pet to the vet if necessary.

Eye Disease - Cataracts:

Cataracts are an imperfection in the lens of the dog’s eye. The lens should be clear, but a cataract can start off small and then grow much larger, causing blindness in the dog. Cataracts happen when the cells are damaged, and diabetes can cause cataracts as can exposure to ultraviolet light. It is also an hereditary disease.

Most times dogs with cataracts can still see, but in the event of mature cataracts, your canine friend can undergo surgery to remove them.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another common dog disease. It can be painful for dogs, with either one or both hips being affected. Hip dysplasia can affect both young and old dogs. It can be sad seeing your active pet becoming reluctant to play. He may also have difficulty getting up from a lying down position.

There is treatment for hip dysplasia, and you will want to make sure your pet is as mobile and pain free as possible.

Grooming

Because of the short coat and minimum shedding, your Bospin will only require minimal maintenance. Brush him down at least twice a week to keep the short coat free of loose hair and to also keep it shiny and glossy. As with any other dog breed, he should have his teeth brushed at 2 or 3 times a week with special dog toothpaste and toothbrush. Don’t be tempted to use human toothpaste. Check his ears too to make sure they are free of dirt and infection.

Activities

The Bospin is a hybrid breed and because he comes from two energetic dogs, you’ll need to provide him with activities to keep him busy. He will love to go on a walk with you and you can play ball games with him in the garden or even indoors. He isn’t a working dog so he isn’t going to demand too much activity, but it is better to get into the habit of exercising him regularly to keep him in good shape and to maintain his good health.

Diet

Bospins need to be fed carefully to avoid weight issues or health problems. Puppies need to eat frequently - 4 times a day. For your Bospin, always go for top quality commercially produced dog foods where meat is the top ingredient. Home made foods are always a wonderful choice for your pet and this can include meat, rice and vegetables.

If you’re unsure about feeding your dog, get advice from your vet. Always have fresh, cool water available and make sure you wash out the water bowl regularly.

Grooming:

The thick coat of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog will need to be brushed at least twice a week. The coat sheds heavily a couple of times a year and brushing may even be necessary once a day during this heavier shedding period.

Diet:

Just like human beings, you can enhance your dog’s health and longevity by giving him the best food there is. Commercially manufactured dog foods, when carefully selected, can be a good, choice and they’re convenient too.

It is advised to try and go for the high quality ones known for their natural, quality ingredients. Always read the labels because you'll be surprised to see how some of the inferior dog brands pack their foods with toxic ingredients.

To provide your Seppala with just a bit of variety in his diet, give him some home-made food. It can be added into the dry kibble about twice a week as a treat. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and give it to your dog in small portions.

To avoid skin infections, try to include some raw meat into his diet occasionally. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water