If you’ve either never heard of a “Longdog” before or if your first instinct is to think of a Dachshund or “wiener dog” when some mentions the name “longdog” don’t fret because you’re not alone.
This is what…
A lot of folks initially think of when they hear the name “Longdog”. Which is why we wanted to take a moment and discuss exactly what a Longdog is and point out how this dog breed differs from others which may seem very similar.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Longdog Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Ireland
Original Purpose: Hunting
Breed Group: Mixes and More
Height: 24 to 30 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 35 to 100 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), but given its lineage, one would assume “hound group”
Life Span: 10 to 13 years
Origin of the Longdog
The Longdog has his origins in Ireland. People have been crossing dogs for more than 2,000 years now. The Egyptians did it, as did the Romans and the Greeks, and the Longdog is simply one more example of this.
You see…
The Longdog is one of the crossbreeds that have become a hit with dog owners over the last couple of decades. But it is hard to give an exact date on when they were first bred.
Particularly because…
These dogs were bred for coursing, which is a big sport in many parts of the world and not really for “show”. This means that their “creation” sort of happened on the “fly” and isn’t all that well documented.
Now at this point…
It probably makes sense to define exactly what “coursing” is, because, coursing involves setting sighthounds such as greyhounds on game animals such as hares.
And over the last…
Few centuries, there has been a large demand for really fast sighthounds that was capable of hunting the hare at a top speed of 72 km/h. That led to the cross-breeding of sighthounds such as Greyhounds with the Scottish Deerhound, Saluki, and Whippet.
And that was how the breed standard for the Longdog was created. This crossbreed is not recognized as by the American Kennel Club as of today.
Comparisons: Longdogs vs. Lurchers
Longdogs are often compared to Lurchers. Lurchers and Longdogs have the same lean, mean and hungry look, but they are different. A longdog is a cross between two sighthounds, while a Lurcher is a cross between a sighthound and a working dog.
But it should…
Be pointed out that Longdogs are much faster than Lurchers. But at least with Lurchers, you have a chance of catching up. With Longdogs – No chance!
They are perhaps…
The most athletic dogs out there, incredibly fast and blessed with amazing stamina. A Longdog can run for miles at top speed without stopping.
Physical Characteristics of the Longdog breed
Longdogs are very tall, reaching up to a height of 24 to 30 inches. They are not that heavy. They weigh in the range of 35 to 100 pounds. They are similar to Greyhounds in a lot of ways.
And Like a…
Typical hound, these crossbreeds have a muscular body, with a deep chest and arched back. They have a very small, narrow head, long muzzle, bright eyes and tiny, folded ears.
Longdogs have…
Long and muscular neck and legs, with well bent back knees and hocks. They have a smooth and short coat which comes in many different textures and colors.
Now you…
Won’t need to spend a lot of time or energy on grooming the Longdog. It should be more than enough to give his coat a good brush once a week, just to get rid of the dead hair.
Also, it is important to trim his nails and to clean his ears, so as to prevent infections of any sort.
Temperament and Personality
The temperament of a Longdog is not much different from that of a Greyhound. The Greyhound is, of course, one of the most ancient breeds that has been around for thousands of years.
The Longdog breed…
Like the Greyhound, is calm, composed, kind and generous with his human family. He is relaxed and laidback by nature. But when he goes on a hunt, he is almost like a predator on the prowl. There is no stopping him from getting to his target.
Longdog are also…
Very tolerant of children, but he is not exactly a playmate for kids like some of the other dog breeds. He doesn’t like cats, though, and is likely to see cats as food, more than anything else. He doesn’t like other pets either, but can get along well with other dogs.
Long Dog Health Problems
Longdog is a healthy breed for the most part. In fact, it is very rare for a Longdog to get sick. But if your dog doesn’t feel too good or looks more lethargic or quieter than normal, then you should take him to a vet.
While the Longdog is a healthy breed, it does pick up a few health disorders from its parents such as…
- Dermatitis,
- Liver Cancer,
- Gastric dilatation volvulus (Bloat),
- Cardiomyopathy,
- Achalasia,
- Osteosarcoma,
- Anesthetic Intolerance.
And while…
Many of these conditions may not be life threatening, they can certainly become quite expensive to deal with particularly if they become recurring issues.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
