Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Ireland and known also as the Wicklow Terrier or just Glen, the Glen of Imaal Terrier was used to get rid of rats, badgers and otters as well as being a good all-round farm dog.

Using his strength, he was good at digging into burrows to root out badgers, but unlike other terriers, he wouldn’t go on and on yapping around his prey. He isn’t an excessive barker.

The terrier was recognised by the Irish Kennel Club in 1934 and later by the American Kennel Club in 2004. The Canadian Kennel Club recognized Glens in 2017.

The Bull Terrier belongs to the Terrier group of dogs and this already tell you that he is highly energetic and that he is essentially intolerant of other pets.

They are hunters by nature. The Bull Terrier is known as the Gladiator of the canine world. This breed came about through English breeders of the late 19th century, crossing old fighting dogs which carried Bulldog blood with Terriers. It was in the 1850s that James Hinks of Birmingham in the West Midlands was the first person to standardise breed type for the Bull Terrier. Hinks wanted his dogs to be white, and breeding was designed to achieve this.

Because of medical problems with the all-white dogs, Ted Lyon introduced color, using the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and these became a separate variety. It is however, the white strain that is famous for pets as well as for show purposes.

An interesting fact with the Glen of Imaal Terrier is that this is a dwarf breed, being a big sized dog on short legs, with the front feet turning out.

A typical Glen of Imaal Terrier stands at roughly 30 – 36cm and weighs up to about 16kg. Another interesting aspect with this dog is that it can take up to 4 years to reach maturity.

The head of this muscular dog is large, the ears are half erect, and while the tail has always been traditionally docked, it is often left long. The double coat of the dog is soft with the undercoat but he has a wiry outercoat. The color of the coat is essentially wheaten, tan or blue. The coat doesn’t shed much but some Glen owners strip excess hair a few times during the years.

Temperament:

Glen of Imaal terriers are energetic, easygoing and they make splendid pets for any family. He is more than happy to give up lying around for games and activity just to lie at his owner’s feet. He is an intelligent dog too and even though he is somewhat stubborn, he responds well to training and socialization. In fact training and socialization is important for every dog breed to prevent negative behavior and to ensure your pet is obedient.

Strongly Built and Muscular

The Bull Terrier is a strongly built, muscular dog with a distinctive egg-shaped head. The height of this dog is roughly 53 – 61cm and he weighs in at about 24 – 29kg. He has a short, dense coat which comes in different colors such as white, red, fawn and white or brindle.

The ears are medium sized and erect and the eyes are pig-like, small and dark. The medium length tail is carried slightly upwards.

A Temperament of Courage

The Bull Terrier is a determined, strong-willed, stubborn dog and he will require firm handling and training. With socialization and training, he becomes a friendly, loving dog who is good around children.

He tends to be possessive with his human family and their territory, making him aggressive with other pets. Bull Terriers actually have even temperaments and they are good, social dogs with people. He is courageous, brave, full of spirit and character.

The Glen of Ismaal Terrier is more docile than other terrier breeds, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t feisty. He loves to play and is an adventurous dog, always on the lookout for exciting opportunities and to chase prey.

He is a good natured pet and he gets on well with adults, children and pets in the home. He can adapt well to life in the city or in the countryside so long as he is with his family members.

He isn’t a couch potato dog though, and wherever he lives, he will need a good amount of exercising. Treat him with the love and respect he craves, and you’ll have a wonderful canine companion.

The way people bring their dogs up has a lot to do with the way they turn out. The Bull Terrier has often been thought to be a dangerous dog, but this is because of a bad upbringing.

A dog like the Bull Terrier who has received firm, fair and loving training is an absolute pleasure to have as a pet. Yes, he is a strong willed, stubborn and intelligent dog and he has the make-up to turn out to be a handful. It is perhaps why he isn't the best choice for first-time dog owners who aren’t familiar with the breed and who don’t raise him the right way.

If you choose a Bull Terrier, bring him up correctly, have him trained and socialized and never neglect him and he is guaranteed to become a wonderful, loving family member.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a feisty, healthy breed, particularly when he gets the best food there is, then he is not likely to get ill easily.

However, just like other dogs, he can be prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia. When a dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the socket part of the joint is poorly developed, so that is causes abnormal friction.

Inflammation and pain can be the result and your dog can become lame. Unfortunately, rapid weight gain with puppies can put more stress on the hips, and diets without the right balance of vitamins and minerals can be bad for good bone development.

Your Bull Terrier is a robust breed, but there are some health issues that you will want to be aware of. For instance, the white Bull Terrier is more prone to deafness than the Brindle or tri-colored Bull Terriers. With good food and lots of love and care, he can reach 14 years of age. However there are one or two ailments what you want to be aware of.

Patellar Luxation:

This is a common orthopedic condition with dogs, affecting both knees and resulting in loss of function and discomfort. Patellar luxation can sometimes come from a traumatic injury to the knee. However, with non-traumatic patellar luxation, the femoral groove for the knee cap is shallow or absent.

Skin Cancer:

Not every variety of skin cancer in dogs is caused by sun exposure, but sun damage to the skin of the pure white Bull Terrier can be a factor. Dogs with white coats are more susceptible to sun damage. Speak to your vet about symptoms so that a physical examination will reveal the reason for sores on the skin.

Caring for a Glen of Imaal isn’t going to be a huge job. This is what makes him such a wonderful pet as he is a straightforward pet, requiring little more than a brush to avoid the hair matting.

Check his ears, teeth and nails from time to time to ensure he is always in tip top condition.

Diet:

If you intend making use of the convenience of commercially manufactured dog foods, the top quality one will provide you with balanced nutrition for your Glen and you can mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken from time to time.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a small-breed dog and, he should be offered dog food that has been specially formulated for small, energetic dog breeds. You can also add in a little bit of raw meat into his kibble as a treat as this is important for keeping him free of skin allergies.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool drinking water.

Exercise:

The Bull Terrier is a stocky, robust breed and he will need plenty of exercise. He thrives on a good run, long walks and ball games. He is notoriously destructive, so you need to recognize this before you buy such a dog, because simply putting one in your back-yard and ignoring him will make him aggressive and destructive. This is a dog that needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise.

Grooming:

With the short coat, Bull Terriers are easy to groom, and a brushing twice a week will keep the coat in tip top condition. He will also love the time you spend with him. Shedding of hair with the Bull Terrier is more frequent in the Spring and Fall.

Nail clipping and brushing of teeth are two other grooming routines for your dog. Remember that with teeth brushing, don’t be tempted to use human toothpaste as this can be toxic for your pet. Speak to your vet if in any doubt about how to brush your pet’s teeth.