Drentse Patrijshond vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison

Abruzzenhund was established as an individual breed in the middle of the 20th century. They are descendant of the big, white Eastern sheepdogs which came to Europe 2000 years ago. Abruzzenhund is a mix of Turkish sheepdogs Akbash and Karabash, the Kuvac, Slovakian breed Hungarian breed, Komondor, and a French sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Those dogs were much bigger than today’s breed. Abruzzenhund is still not very popular breed, but it is very common in Great Britain and Italy. They have been used as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and working dogs because they are very brave and strong.

The Drentse Patrijshond came about in the 1930-1950s. The breed developed from pointing dogs which originated in Spain, arriving in the Netherlands in the 16th century and being known as Partridge dogs.

The eastern part was known as the Province of Drenthe, and it is this area where these Partridge dogs were bred exclusively, not being mixed with other unknown breeds.

After World War II the Drentse Patrijshond was also recognized by the FCI. It was a popular dog in the Netherlands and the breed was also recognized by the Dutch Kennel Club in 1943. The Dretse’s popularity grew in other European countries too. In the 1960s some of the dogs entered the United States and in 2008 the Drentse Patrijshond Club of North America was established.

A height of Abruzzenhund variates between 60-73 cm, males are slightly bigger than females. While the weight is 30-45kg, again, males are heavier than females.

Lifespan of Abruzzenhund

Abruzzenhund lifespan is between 11-13 years, but since these dogs don’t have any weaknesses and don’t tend to get sick, they can live longer with a proper care and adequate food and training.

Litter size of Abruzzenhund

Litter size of Abruzzenhund depends, but as any large breed, they usually have 6-9 puppies. And that is a very good considering size of the breed.

Abruzzenhund is not the only name of this breed. There are more names that you might hear. You can hear names like Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog, and many similar names. Basically, they sound similar but there are differences.

Abruzzenhund is a friendly dog, but it is very powerful. Very strong jaw with a scissors bite makes them very strong. They have small but intelligent eyes, usually dark colored. The undercoat is dense, while the coat is white with segments of ivory to white yellow. Their long undercoat and coat make them winter resistant.

The Drentse Patrijshond is a medium to large sized dog standing between 55 and 63cm in height and weighing anything between 18 and 30kg. He is a working dog and known by other names such as Dutch Partridge Dog and Dutch Gundog among others.

The coat of the dog is medium length and dense and is mostly white with reddish brown markings. People looking at him liken him to a spaniel, pointer or setter kind of dog. He is athletic and muscular with a long feathery tail, floppy ears and a brown nose with amber colored eyes.

Temperament:

The Drentsche Patrijshond is an amicable family dog who is relaxed and calm around other pets in the home as well as children. In fact it is the kind of dog that forms a strong bond with his human family, not liking to be left alone.

He is a lively, alert and playful dog with a tendency to be a bit stubborn but this is easily dealt with when he undergoes training and socialization. He is an adaptable dog, being able to fit into life in the city or the countryside, just so long as his beloved owners are close by. However, he is very active and will require an owner who will take time out to take him on walks or involve him in lots of outdoor activities.

Abruzzenhund is a very well-balanced breed who loves spending time with other animals and people. They have a very good temper. They love being around families, and they are very gentle with children. It is important to train Abruzzenhund properly because the dog of that size should be a leader. A human with a strong character should train this breed. Training is important because they tend to make their own decisions which can be bad sometimes.

The Drentse Patrijshond is a breed of dog that is particularly human orientated – just loving being around his human family.

He forms a deep bond with those that care for him and he can’t bear to be separated from his human family. The dog has always had a strong hunting instinct but these days this sweet, loyal dog is much more a devoted family pet who is more than happy to come indoors and make himself at home among his family members.

A great thing about Abruzzenhund is that they are very healthy dogs. They don’t have any chronical health problems, so if you are feeding your dog properly, with a lot of exercises they will not have any health problems. It is also important to check genetics of the dog.

The Drentse is a fairly healthy dog breed, with a life span of 12 to 15 years. No matter how healthy your dog, there will always be some health issues it may face. Environmental factors and diet can play an important part in his wellbeing.

Health concerns with this breed can include progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia as well as hereditary stomatocytosis. This is a disorder that affects the dog’s cells walls.

Too much fluid gets into the cells and this damages red blood cells. Some breeds are more prone to this disorder, and the Drentse Patrijshond is one. It is an hereditary disorder that results in chronic anemia and liver disease.

They learn very quickly, but it requires strong will and constant training to keep them happy. They are great working dogs, and with the positive training, they are amazing. It is very important that they follow rules and to keep them in balance with training.

Feeding Abruzzenhund

They can eat a lot of food, depend on their activity. High-Quality dog food twice a day for a grown dog is a must. While puppies should eat 3-5 times, smaller portions of food. The food is important especially for working dogs, they need up to 2000-3000Kcal per day. Abruzzenhund will enjoy eating meat with a lot of vegetables and oil.

They are not recommended for small house or apartment. They need big yard because they require a lot of space. During the winter they can be outside because of their coat, but during the summer they need to be in the shade with a lot of fresh water available anytime.

Grooming the Abruzzenhund

The coat should be brushed and groomed very often because they have a thick coat. There is a lot of dead and loose hair in it. During shedding, period takes even more time to groom your dog properly. They love and they need exercise. Mental exercise is important as physical. Every day walking, running, playing with other animals is an important part of dog's activity. When they get enough quality exercise, they will sleep in the house.

Grooming:

This dog is quite a heavy shedder, but even so, he won’t need professional grooming – just a good brushing twice a week.

The teeth will need to be brushed 2 or 3x a week and because he has floppy ears, these will need to be checked for infection. It’s a good idea to clean them with some special dog ear cleanser, but if you’re not sure how, your vet or a professional groomer can do it for you.

Cut your dog’ nails, but once again if you think you might cut into the quick of the nail, causing bleeding and pain, a professional groomer can do it for you.

Diet:

The Drentsche Patrijshond will require quality dry dog food. Speak to your vet about the best kibble that ensures your pet gets his full quota of vitamins and minerals. Add in cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken from time to time and include some raw meat wherever possible. Adding in some raw meat helps to stave off dry, red, irritated skin. Your pet will also need access to fresh, cool water day and night.