St. John's Water Dog vs Santal Hound - Breed Comparison

Santal Hound is originated from India but St. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada. Santal Hound may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than St. John's Water Dog. Santal Hound may weigh 29 kg / 63 pounds lesser than St. John's Water Dog. Both Santal Hound and St. John's Water Dog has almost same life span. Both Santal Hound and St. John's Water Dog has almost same litter size. Both Santal Hound and St. John's Water Dog requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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India
Canada
Height Male:
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 12 kg
19 - 27 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 12 kg
19 - 27 pounds
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
4 - 6
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Seuta, Kukur
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
Colors Available:
Reddish brown or yellow-brown
black
Coat:
Short and smooth
short, thick coats
Shedding:
Minimal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

The Santal Hound has always been used for hunting and these Indian pariah dogs haven’t changed much over the years.

It is a small red Indian indigenous dog. It is named after the Santal tribe who used the dog for hunting. They sometimes refer to the dog as Seuta and Kukur.

When you do research on the Santal Hound, you will mostly find it among indigenous peoples. It isn’t only found in India but in Africa, being found among the different nomadic  hunting tribes in East Africa.

st john s water dogThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

Description

The Santal is considered a small to medium sized dog standing at between 40 and 45cm in height and weighing between 9 and 12 kilograms.

It is also slightly built with fine bones. The coat of the dog is reddish brown or yellow-brown, the eyes are almond shaped and brown and the muzzle is pointed. The ears of the dog are erect and point forward. The tail of this dog is usually curled over the dog’s back. The dog doesn’t really bark as such but howls instead. It has small paws and walks with a high-stepping style like a prancing horse.

Temperament:

These dogs are calm, independent, loving and loyal and also affectionate with their human family. He is cool with strangers.

They are alert, intelligent dogs and you certainly won’t have any trouble teaching him a few simple commands. He cleans himself like a cat. He seems to understand what you say as he always cocks his head to one side when you talk to him. He is a playful dog and will love to be involved with games with the children.

He can also get on well with other dogs in the family. He is capable of adapting to life in the city or the countryside just so long as his exercise needs are met.

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

Characteristics

The Santal dog is an unusual dog with some unique characteristics. He hasn’t got any particularly exceptional characteristics either, but he promises to make you a good pet.

He is capable of providing you with lots of love, and on top of that he is a low maintenance dog too.

When you bring him into your home, you’re going to get yourself a loyal, loving pet and companion.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

Health Problems

Dogs stand a better chance of avoiding sickness if they are fed well and they get a fair amount of exercise. But our fur kids can get sick anytime really, and it pays to know about some of the dangerous diseases they can succumb to -

Canine parvovirus:

Your dog will have a fever, he will be lethargic and have diarrhea with vomiting. It is a contagious virus affecting dogs that come into contact with the feces of an ill dog. It attacks a dog’s internal organs, and although the vet will do everything possible to help your dog, parvo is often fatal.

There are vaccines to prevent your dog getting this terrible disease.

Heartworm:

Your dog will be coughing, have respiratory problems, lethargy and weight loss. These parasites are found in your dog’s heart and are spread by mosquitoes. Check with your vet about treatments to prevent this horrible illness.

Rabies:

Have your pet vaccinated against rabies, a deadly diseases spread by saliva and a bite from an infected animal. It is fatal and once your dog has this disease, there is no treatment.

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

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Caring The Pet

Diet:

Provide your Santal Hound with top quality food to ensure his health. While there are some excellent commercially manufactured foods on the market, it is important to choose the high quality ones that have natural, good ingredients in them.

Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are super tasty and nutritious. Your dog will love such simple, good food as it doesn’t upset his stomach.

If you can, try and include a little bit of raw meat to his diet occasionally as this can go towards ensuring he doesn’t get skin diseases.

Trim your dogs nails, check his eyes and ears for infection and check his teeth too.

Provide your dog with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Don’t allow your Santal Hound to have puppies. There are so many unwanted puppies all over the world. Rather have him or her spayed or neutered to avoid puppies that nobody wants. It is beneficial for his health too.

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. St. John's Water Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. St. John's Water Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. St. John's Water Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. St. John's Water Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. St. John's Water Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. St. John's Water Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. St. John's Water Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. St. John's Water Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. St. John's Water Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. St. John's Water Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. St. John's Water Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. St. John's Water Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. St. John's Water Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. St. John's Water Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
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  24. St. John's Water Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. St. John's Water Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Santal Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Santal Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Santal Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Santal Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Santal Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Santal Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Santal Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Santal Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Santal Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Santal Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Santal Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Santal Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Santal Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Santal Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Santal Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Santal Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Santal Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Santal Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Santal Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Santal Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Santal Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Santal Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Santal Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Santal Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison