The Mucuchies dog is quite unknown in Europe and Asia, but truly iconic in some places. Such is the case of Venezuela, where it is the most emblematic dog breed and considered the national dog breed. And it's not by chance, there are historical reasons for this.
The Mucuchies is an affectionate and very caring dog. He lives by and for his family, as he is extremely protective, which gives him the long tradition of watchdog in the Mucuchies region. Do you want to know a little more about this mysterious breed of dog?
At PlanèteAnimal, we want to transmit all the key data to understand a little better the history and characteristics of Mucuchies, as well as the main care they need.
Origin
- America
- Venezuela
Physical Characteristics
- Muscular
- Proportional
Size
- Large
Height
- 45-55
Adult Weight
- 25-45
Life expectancy
- 12-14
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Strong
- Very loyal
- Smart
- Active
- Affectionate
- Docile
Ideal for
- Children
- House
- Walking
- Shepherd
- The guard
Recommended climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Long
- Smooth
- Hard
- Big
Origin of Mucuchies
The Mucuchies dog is originally from Venezuela and veterinarian Wilender Ferrari receives the paternity of the crosses that gave birth to the first litter of this breed. This breed has a renowned ancestry, with breeds like the Spanish Mastiff, Pyrenean Mastiff or Aïdi in its pedigree.And that's no surprise, as Mucuchies are said to originate from crosses between dogs brought to Venezuela by settlers to act as guard and herding dogs in the 15th-16th century.
However, it is not its genetics that make the Mucuchies dog famous. In fact, after being offered to him, this dog accompanied Simón Bolívar, after having been offered to him as a gift, in his numerous political campaigns saving his life. This caused the breed to proclaim itself the breed of the nation, growing in leaps and bounds throughout Venezuela. In 1961 an official breed club was created, which was declared official breed of Venezuela in 1964.
Features of Mucuchies
The Mucuchies dog is large in size, with a height at the withers between 55 and 71 centimeters and a weight between 33 and 50 kilograms in males and between 30 and 37 in females.
These dogs have a strong and robust body, an athletic build, so they are really impressive.They are of balanced proportions, with strong but agile limbs, normally they have a double spur on the hind legs and a single one on the front legs, as well as a long tail covered with dense and abundant fur. The coat is woolly, with two varieties: smooth and wavy, although it is always hard, long and very dense.
The head is elongated, generous in size and with a pronounced muzzle that ends in an always black nose. The ears, of medium size, generally fall on the sides of its head, have a triangular shape, but with rounded ends, maintaining smooth and rounded lines throughout its constitution. His eyes, oblique and very expressive, have a brown color and an extremely soft gaze.
Mucuchies Dog Colors
Registered colors for the Mucuchies breed are:
- Pure White Plain Solid Color
- White tinted honey color in different shades
- White with black spots
However, colors such as black with white spots, gray or red spots are considered undesirable, being classified as a defect when evaluating each specimen's breed standard.
The Mucuchies Puppy
The Mucuchíes dog is calm by nature from its puppy stage. So, although he likes play and attention, he is not restless at all, he is obedient and very sleepy and not very nervous in his first months. However, from an early age, his deep-seated guardian instincts began to be noticed, reacting suspiciously and even aggressively when in contact with strangers.
Therefore, in breeds like Mucuchies, which have traditionally been guard dogs, extensive socialization while still a puppy is recommended. This prevents them from being overly suspicious and reacting aggressively to those they consider strangers, when they may be visiting as friends or family.
Mucuchies Character
The temperament of a Mucuchies dog is characterized by its strength but its balance. In other words, these dogs usually have a determined character and lack fear, and they are also very intelligent, active, noble, docile and gentle.
Although they are very wary of strangers, they are extremely loving and affectionate towards family and loved ones. They act as protectors of all, so they are not afraid to risk their lives to save those they want. Likewise, their skills as a guard dog stood out, as they are attentive and very patient with the little ones.
Despite the advantages of the breed, it should be noted that it is a dog that needs space, both indoors and outdoors, so it is not advisable to keep in a small apartment or a small house. He needs daily physical activity because he becomes very restless and nervous if he leads a sedentary lifestyle.
Mucuchia Care
Caring for a Mucuchies is not a difficult task, as they are not a very demanding breed in terms of care. In fact, it is an extremely popular breed in this area as well. Perhaps the aspect that requires the most attention is that of daily exercise, since it is a dog that needs to be active through walks and games. He loves to run, so he usually needs wide open spaces to be able to do so freely and safely, away from hazards such as roads, cars or trains.
Related to the previous point, the other category of Mucuchie care to consider is environmental enrichment at home. Being an active dog, it is essential to provide him with a variety of toys and to play intelligence games at home.
On the other hand, the fur of the Mucuchies does not require too much attention. If it is true that it must be brushed several times a week given its characteristics.As for the baths, it is recommended to limit them to what is strictly necessary, with a regularity of at least a month and a half between baths. Both when brushing and bathing, it is recommended to check the animal's fur to see if it has external parasites such as fleas or ticks, or if there are spikes between its pads, ears or his nose, which are annoying and painful if they persist.
Education of Mucuchies
Mucuchies are, as we mentioned earlier, are traditional guardian dogs that have always performed watchdog duties on farms and homes. For this reason, being guard dogs, they are wary of strangers. This can cause violent or unpleasant reactions during visits or on walks, which is why it is necessary to educate him with an emphasis on socialization. In this sense, it is advisable to carry out early socialization, that is, when the animal is still a puppy, although it is also possible to socialize an adult dog.
Besides socialization, this breed doesn't need much more specific training beyond learning basic commands and those needed to complete their tasks, because it doesn't will not be the same training for a companion dog, which in this case will be more focused on familiar coexistence, than that of a guard dog. In any case, we are faced with a dog that learns quickly and generally shows a lot of interest during the sessions, so it is essential to take advantage of this predisposition to educate and train it through activities and games. . Positive reinforcement is always the best option when training a dog of any breed or mixed breed.
Mucuchies He alth
The he alth of a dog of the Mucuchies breed is quite solid, since there are no traces indicating that he can suffer from congenital diseases. Of course, given his large size, he can develop joint conditions typical of giant and large breeds, such as hip dysplasia.In this case, the best is prevention, so it is advisable to perform periodic radiological assessments to be able to detect joint abnormalities early.
Apart from the above, the only thing Mucuchies need to be he althy is regular visits to the vet, during which general checks are carried out, including periodic vaccinations and dewormers. Thus, mucuchies can be protected against such serious viral and bacterial diseases as deadly rabies.
Where to adopt a Mucuchies?
The Mucuchies dog is not a very common dog except in certain countries, such as Venezuela, where it is particularly popular and abundant. For this reason, it can be a difficult task to adopt a Mucuchies if your country of residence is not one of those in which it is most common to find it. However, at PlanèteAnimal, we always recommend that you go to associations and shelters close to your place of residence to discover animals that are looking for a home, and who knows, maybe you could find one of these dogs there.
Anyway, the important thing is to be aware of what adoption entails, to see it as a commitment for life, until the animal leaves. go after a life full of love and affection. This is not a toy, so deciding to adopt a pet should be a very thoughtful and thoughtful decision.
Mucuchies pictures
