Pastor Garafiano vs Aussie Poo - Breed Comparison

Aussiepoo is a hybrid breed mix of purebred Poodle and Australian shepherd. If one of the parents is miniature Poodle, the Aussiepoo will be smaller than usual - mini Aussiepoo. We do not know precisely their origin, but we know that this beautiful mix is originating from USA, Australia and Canada.

Breeders can't really know how pups are going to look like until they are born. No one actually can control the combination of the genes. Usually, Aussiepoo is silky-fur playable and friendly dog, and that is always more than enough for Aussiepoo lovers.

Hailing from the Canary Islands, the Pastor Garafiano is a dog which was once used for working purposes but which is essentially a pet today.

Also known as the Spanish Collie, it is not really sure if the dog really has any links to the Collie.There are dog experts who claim that there are actually very few pure specimens of this dog because of interbreeding with other breeds such as the German Shepherd.

There was a time that the breed almost disappeared but a working group was established to further establish breeding centers for the dog. Today the Pastor Garafiano is a recognized breed and he has been registered since 1982.

Every Aussiepoo depends on the size of the Poodle that was bred. If the parents are smaller than usual, the puppies will be smaller. Their colour also depends on the colour of the parents, and a litter can have puppies of a different colour. Their bodies are usually very muscled, with strong bones, but if you are not an outdoor type, there is a chance that your Aussiepoo will be obese. They are very active and they need a well-balanced diet.

These dogs are easy to train since they are intelligent and people oriented and you can train them while they are still puppies. Aussiepoo is generally friendly with strangers, always ready to play with children and they get along with other pets and animals. This breed is very affectionate and they like their humans to be close so it’s not recommendable to raise them to be loners.

This is a medium to large dog, with its hindquarters being a bit higher than the shoulders. The body is strongly built with a deep chest. He stands at between 55 to 64cm in height and weighs between 24 to 35kg.

The nose is black and the eyes brown. The ears are slightly erect. The double coat is long and thick and the color is almost golden or tawny, much like a lion. Puppies are born brown and the color changes as they get older.

The tail is long, and when the dog is in motion or alert the tail is lightly curled. He is an active dog requiring a lot of intensive physical exercise. It is therefore not recommended that he be kept on a small city property but that he be on a farm or have a large garden.

Temperament:

This is a good looking, confident sheepdog who is also intelligent and therefore easily trained. He makes a splendidly obedient pet when he has been trained and socialized.

He is docile, calm and friendly and good with children in the home who have been taught to be kind and gentle with him. Apart from regular play, make sure he gets his regular exercise and he is constantly allowed to be part of the family.

Children friendliness

Aussiepoo is a friendly kind. They are always ready to run and play with children, and they will tend to keep the children together (genes of the Australian shepherd). They are so playful that they will see no difference between an infant and a five-year-old, so be present if there are small children unstable to walk alone.

Special talent

Except the fact that they love water and that they are great swimmers, they have many agility talents.

Adaptability

Since Aussiepoo is a loving, caring and sweet kind of dog, they will fit in anywhere you take them.

They are super friendly with strangers, and that can be an issue if you don’t keep an eye on them. But, they should never be left alone, or leash free outdoors. They are not so good as a guard dog, so if you tend to keep him inside with stay-at-home family member, this breed if no a good choice.

Learning ability

They generally learn quickly. Therefore, they are easy to train. They respond better to the prize training methods.

The Pastor Garafiano is such a wonderful docile and friendly pet that he is guaranteed to make a wonderful companion for any family.

He is a dog that simply loves spending time with his human family and won’t do well when left alone in the backyard day after day. Take good care of this beautiful tawny dog and give him your attention and you will have a wonderful canine friend that is difficult to beat in terms of loyalty and devotion.

Risk of: eye cataracts, hip dysplasia (malformation of the ball and socket joint), epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (degeneration of the retina cusing progressive vision loss culminating in blindness), sebaceous sdenitis (an inflammatory skin disease that affects the skin glands), bloat, nasal solar dermatitis (sun sensitivity).

Pelger - Huet syndrome (abnormalities in blood cells. PHA testing is advised with this dog breed. PHA is inherited and dangerous only if both parents carry this abnormality.)

Von Willebrand's Disease (inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed for blood clotting. It can be detected by buccal mucosal screening.)

Your Pastor Garafiano can reach anything from 10 – 14 years of age if he is happy and well taken care of. Every dog however, can fall prey to one of the many common dog illnesses there are. Some of these are -

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited inflammatory disease of the skin, blood vessels and muscles. Signs of dermatomyositis can vary from mild to severe skin lesions and inflammation of muscles and even a decrease in muscle mass. Severely affected dogs can even have difficulty with swallowing. Symptoms of the disease are usually seen before the dog is 6 months of age.

Progressive Retinal atrophy:

This is an eye disease where there is a gradual deterioration of the retina. Dogs can become night blind early in the disease and as the disease goes on, they can even lose their daytime vision.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a very common dog ailment – the abnormal formation of the hip socket can cause pain, arthritis and even lameness. It is severe enough to know that dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred.

Feeding the puppy

It would be great to establish a feeding routine while the Aussiepoo is still a puppy. The best advice is to feed them three times a day, with the last meal around 5 p.m. After they finish their meal, leave them for a while. Make sure to feed your puppy with high-quality food rich in nutrients, and follow the recommendation of the dosage of the food. Avoid cheap dog food and addition meals.

Feeding the adult

Once you made a healthy feeding habit and your Aussiepoo is 6 months old, they won’t need three meals per a day. Leave the meal set for the morning and the one set for the evening. Avoiding night meals is a must. Don’t start any activity with the dog right after the meal. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water.

Points for Good Health

Activity, outdoor games, nutritional and balanced meals are the key for an Aussiepoo.

Games and Exercises

This breed is extremely intelligent. Since they are easy to train, you will be able to take them with you anywhere you go. They love to play in the water, but make sure they are not exposed to the sun for too long. They like smart games, mentally challenging, and they will be very playful with other dogs.

Grooming:

Groom your Pastor Garafiano at least twice a week. Your dog’s coat is fairly long and it sheds too and you want to make sure it doesn't become all matted. There are different brushes you can use for his beautiful coat.

You can also use this grooming session to check other areas of your dog. Check inside his ears, check his eyes and feel for new or unusual lumps. Make sure to keep his nails trimmed.

Exercise your pet every day. Take him on walks or hikes and provide him with ball or frisbee games. Exercise keeps him fit and healthy but also happy and content.

Diet:

Nutrition is of critical importance to your pet's wellbeing. It is important to know what your pet needs to stay healthy and have a strong immune system which can ward off disease.

There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market but it is important to choose the one that doesn’t come filled with toxic colorants, preservatives and fillers. Protein should be high on the list of ingredients listed on the pet food packaging. Also make sure to feed your pet food that had been made for his size, his breed, his age and his energy requirements.

To provide some variety to your pet’s diet, give him some tasty home-made food. Dog’s do well on simplicity and consistency. Some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots all chopped up and added into his dry kibble occasionally will keep him bright eyed and with his tail constantly wagging.

He’ll thank you for not varying his diet with things that can give him an upset stomach such as coffee, tea, popcorn, grapes, onions and chocolate.