St. Bernard vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison

St. Bernard vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed ComparisonCiobanesc de Bucovina is originated from Romania but St. Bernard is originated from Switzerland. Ciobanesc de Bucovina may grow 7 cm / 3 inches higher than St. Bernard. Both Ciobanesc de Bucovina and St. Bernard are of same weight. Both Ciobanesc de Bucovina and St. Bernard has almost same life span. Ciobanesc de Bucovina may have less litter size than St. Bernard. Both Ciobanesc de Bucovina and St. Bernard requires High Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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Romania
Switzerland
Height Male:
68 - 78 cm
26 - 31 inches
63 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Height Female:
64 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
60 - 69 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
50 - 90 kg
110 - 199 pounds
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
Weight Female:
50 - 80 kg
110 - 177 pounds
52 - 85 kg
114 - 188 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
8 - 10 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 9
Size:
Giant
Giant
Other Names:
Bucovina Wolf Dog, Bukovinak, Capau, Dulau, Bucovina Sheepdog, Bucovina Mountain Dog, Bucovina Shepherd, Bukovina Bucovina Sheepdog Bucovina Shepherd Southeastern European Shepherd, Ciobanesc de Bucovina
St. Bernhardshund Bernhardiner Alpine Mastiff (archaic)
Colors Available:
black or black with red-fawn reflections. , Clear white or white-beige with distinct patches of grey
redish- Brown and white with a black mask to blond and white with black mask
Coat:
double coated, long and full top coat
rough or smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn
Affectionate, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
High Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

ciobanesc de bucovinaThe Ciobanesc de Bucovina is a breed that developed naturally in the Carpathian Mountains (Romania and Serbia) and some regions of Bulgaria. The breed was especially useful in the Romanian northeast regions, the county Bucovina and in the northeastern region of Serbia. These dogs are bred for guarding and herding of flocks as well as guard dogs for the family home.

When the area was split between Russian and Romania, the dog continued to thrive in the mountains because of the need that the shepherds had for this type of dog with the build, working ability and temperament of the Bucovina.

Finally, in the 20th century, Romania began to urbanize and industrialize. People moved to the cities from the hills and many brought their dogs with them. This allowed many non-mountain Romanians to come into contact with the Bucovina Shepherd for the first time. He became a great family dog and offered guard dog protection as well.

The Romanian Kennel Club accepted the Ciobanesc du Bucovina in 1982 and wrote the first standard then. It has since been updated in 2001 and 2002 with today’s standard. They are not accepted by the international clubs nor the big clubs in the US and Europe. This is one factor in keeping the breed rare because it is little known outside of Romania.

st bernardThe St Bernard breed was once called the Alpine Cattle Dogs or the Alpine Mountain Dogs. They have always been farm dogs and mountain dogs in the French and Swiss Alps. They come from the border land of Switzerland and France. They were herding dogs, hunting, search and rescue, watchdogs and draft dogs.

Their ancestors are considered to include the Sennenhunds and molosser breeds that came to the Alps with the ancient Romans. There are four Sennenhund breeds that are believed to have contributed to the original St. Bernard. These included the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund), the Appenzeller (Appenzeller Sennenhund), the Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennenhund) and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Entlebucher Sennenhund) Today the St. Bernard is considered a Molossoid breed.

The first we know of the St. Bernard in any written records was in 1707 at the Great St. Bernard Pass and Great St. Bernard Hospice run by monks. There were found paintings of the dogs dating back into the late 1600’s. It is told that Barry saved upward of 100 people in the St. Bernard pass, and it is from these stories that the dogs gained their snow rescue reputation.

The St. Bernard of that time did not look like the St. Bernard does today as there was much crossbreeding. Many dogs dies during rescues in the avalanches of the mid 1800’s and so they Saint was crossed with the Newfoundland to preserve the breed. You can today see the resemblance in the build and looks of the two breeds. This cross brought about the long haired St. Bernard whose fur was too heavy for rescues.

The St. Bernards of mountain rescue fame were only about the size of a German Shepherd dog and were short haired. After crossing with the Newfoundland and moving into clubs and dogs shows, they have been bred to be much larger. Before the stud book was closed, it is thought that many larger breeds such as the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, the English Mastiff, the Tibetan Mastiff, the Rottweiler, the Great Pyrenees, the English Bulldog, the Great Dane, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Boxer and the Caucasian Oycharka all contributed to today’s St. Bernard.

In 1884 The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded and the breed entered the Swiss Stud book as its first entry in 1884. It was 1888 when the standard was approved and the breed became the national dog of Switzerland. Before the name St. Bernard came to be common, these dogs might be called, Barry Dogs, Alepnmastiff, Noble Steeds or Saint Dogs.

The dogs came to England in the early 1800s and to the United States soon after. They were recognized by the European kennel clubs first and by the early 1900’s they were the most popular breed in the AKC.

Description

ciobanesc de bucovina puppy - descriptionMost large mountain dogs resemble the Bucovina Shepherd, but this breed is more slightly built and has a lighter coat than most of the mountain dogs. They are still a very large dog weighing in between 70 and 120 pounds. They are powerfully built even if more slender than other mountain dogs. They have a long thick coat that makes it difficult to see how their bodies are formed, but they are a very muscular dog.

Their large head does indicate how powerful a dog he is, and he has a wide muzzle that tapers off at the end. The breed has small eyes that are either hazel or brown and his v-shaped ears hang downward on the side of his head. He has a wide, black nose and thick, dark lips. His tail is bushy and long.

st bernard puppy - descriptionToday’s St. Bernard is not a large dog, he is a giant dog. Weighing in at 140-200 pounds and standing 28 to 35 inches tall, he is a lot of dog. Bred with mastiffs and large mountain dogs, they have proportional and powerful build. They are strong, sturdy and well muscled. They have either a smooth or rough (short or long) coat. Their eyes are brown or occasionally blue. They have tight lids, and square heads and muzzles.

There are two coat types called smooth and rough, or short and long. The smooth shorter coat is tough, flat and close against the body and the long, rough coat is dense, wavy and heavy around the legs, neck and ruff. Both types have long tails that hang low and are heavy. Saints are known to slobber, drool and snore.

Characteristics

ciobanesc de bucovina dog - characteristicsBred to herd and guard cattle against the wolves and bears, it is a very dominant, self-assured, breed. They are intelligent yet laid back when no threat is suspected. They love children but can be hard to train. A dominant adult is needed to train and control the Ciobanesc de Bucovina. They are quite protective of their families and will patrol the property if left outside at night.

The breed has a strong mistrust of strangers but loves his adopted family. Unless threatened the Ciobanesc de Bucovina is calm and chilled. He is loyal, affectionate and dedicated. They attempt to frighten strangers with barks and growls but will attack if necessary. They are also very driven to chase prey so make sure they are in a locked fence. They can be difficult to train and seem to need a strong, alpha adult presence.

1Children friendliness excellent

2.Special talents tracking

st bernard dog - characteristics3.Adaptability no - these are giant dogs that need a lot of room. A large fenced yard or farm is best. They won’t do well in an apartment. They need exercise every day and loping around a yard is very good for them. They love to play in the snow, carry a backpack or pull a cart. They love to have a “job”

4.Learning ability – They are smart and highly trainable if motivated. They may appear lazy but they are just laid back and need a motivation.

Health Problems

ciobanesc de bucovina puppies - health problemsNot much has been done to study the health of this breed so not much is known for certain. It is known that they have good health as they have survived the harsh winters in the mountains while tending to the flocks.

Given their size and the history of mountain dogs, they could be susceptible to visual and skeletal amount of food and at the right times can prevent this. They could be susceptible to arthritis, knee and elbow dysplasia, and cataracts.

st bernard puppies - health problemsThe first problem this breed faces is how fast they grow and gain weight. This can lead to serious health issues if not controlled. Their bones can be damaged by this excessively fast rate of growth. Other issues facing the breed include:

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause arthritis and lameness.
  • Bloat – can be fatal if not treated immediately.
  • Bone Cancer or Osteosarcoma – tends to be fatal.
  • Entropion and Ectropion – eyelids turn in or out and can be corrected.
  • Epilepsy – controlled by medication
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy – can be fatal.
  • Eczema – skin disease can be treated.
  • Be careful of extreme heat.

Caring The Pet

Caring for Pet

Feeding

ciobanesc de bucovina dogs - caringIt is important not to over feed or to feed to much at one time. Even though they are large and powerful dogs, massive meals can cause bloat, so you are better off with 2-4 smaller meals per day. Also, don’t feed right before or right after strenuous exercise.

Health issues

As previously mentioned this breed does not appear to have many health issues. As they developed naturally in the mountains they have not been exposed to many things there.

Bloat

This was already mentioned but it is a very serious condition and requires veterinary assistance immediately under threat of death.

Dysplasia

They can have either hip or elbow dysplasia. Can lead to arthritis of lameness.

Exercise and games

This is a calm, even tempered dog not needing a lot of exercise. However, he is a big dog and can get obese without daily exercise. A large fenced in yard would be appreciated and a nice brisk walk every day. They would probably enjoy flyball and leurcatch. Any herding or hunting would be enjoyed.

st bernard dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy – You want to control their growth. Do not overfeed, and make sure they exercise but not too much. Feed a high quality large breed puppy food 3-4 X a day in small amounts.

2.Feeding the adult – The problem you face with he adult St. Bernard is the potential for Bloat. Don’t over feed. Don’t feed before or after strenuous exercise. Feed 2-3 X a day in smaller amounts to prevent Bloat. Feed a high quality breed specific food if possible or an extra large breed formula.

3.Points for Good Health stamina and strength in cooler weather.

4. Games and Exercises They need exercise but not as much as you might think. The St. Bernard is a laid back lumbering character so don’t over exercise her. They enjoy weight and cart pulling but they are not athletes who enjoy frisbee or agility. Search and rescue trials and tracking trials are perfect athletic endeavors for them.

Comparison with other breeds

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  9. St. Bernard vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. St. Bernard vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  26. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Ciobanesc de Bucovina vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison