Irish Jack Russell vs Double-Nosed Andean Tiger Hound - Breed Comparison

Originating in the United States of America, the Irish Jack Russell, also known as Short Jack Russells, was bred to bring about a calmer temperament and to also have a dog with shorter legs.

Always a working dog, breeders of the Irish Jack Russell wanted to create a dog with less of a hunting instinct in him and have a dog which would be more companionable.

These Irish Jack Russells look much like your regular Jack Russell but are more of a companion dog than a hunting dog. The Irish Jack Russell doesn’t adhere to any existing Jack Russell breed standard and isn't really recognized at major dog clubs and kennels. The truth of the whole matter is that there are different kinds of Jack Russells and different names given to them to differentiate between the taller Jack Russell and the short legged one. The shorter Jack Russell Terriers are known by many names such as Irish Jack Russell and Shorty Jack Russells.

This is truly a rare breed of dog with his double nose. He hails from Bolivia.

Twentieth century reports of this rare feature include one report of a certain Percy Fawcett in 1913 already. This report received wide press coverage in 2006. There were photographs of this unique dog breed and they were distributed in the leading press outlets, with some people thinking that this was just a genetic abnormality.

However it soon proved that this wasn’t an abnormality but part of the breeds unique features, and these dogs can be seen around Bolivia and Trinidad.

It is believed that this dog is descended from the Pachon Navarro, a type of Pointer dog believed to have been brought to Central- and South America in the 16th century. Today, no kennel club recognizes the dog.

Irish Jack Russells are small dogs standing at roughly 18 to 35cm and weighing in the region of 5 to 8kg for both males and females.

He looks much like your regular Jack Russell but he has shorter legs, and where the regular Jack Russell has an essentially white coat with orange-tan patches, the Irish Jack Russell can be solid tan or other color variations such as red, brindle, black and tan.

The coat can be short or fairly long and coarse. The Irish Jack Russell is a sturdy, compact dog with a flat skull, brown eyes and ears which are semi-erect, semi-floppy. He has a bright, alert, intelligent look on his face. The tail is set fairly high and has always been docked but these days it is inclined to be left long, taking away from the dog’s nice compact look.

Temperament:

The Irish Jack Russell is perhaps more placid than the regular Jack Russell and that is why he can adapt to life in the city or in the country. They’re intelligent dogs and therefore easy to train and have socialized.

Even though he is a small dog, training and socialization is important as he is a feisty, stubborn, know-it-all little dog. These are dogs which can become possessive of their owner and they can become quite aggressive when protecting their family. He is a highly trainable dog but it is important to have him trained as he tends to be aggressive with other dogs.

He is busy, active, happy and inquisitive and will require regular exercise to prevent him becoming restless and destructive. He has been a working terrier and he always wants to be busy.

The Double-nosed Andean Tiger Hound is a medium to large sized pure bred dog known specifically for this unique feature – the double nostril divided by a skin and fur band.

He stands at roughly 48 – 60cm and weighs 20 – 29kg. The dog has floppy ears or semi-erect ears with short limbs and a long tail.The coat of the dog is short and silky and it can be brown and white or black, grey and white or he can be a mixture of several of these colors.

Temperament:

Even though the dog’s name - Andean Tiger Hound - might make people think it is similar in character to a tiger, it is actually a sweet natured dog with a gentle nature that loves being close to its human family.

It lives peacefully with children and pets in the home. It is a brave, alert dog who makes a good watchdog. He is an energetic dog and will require regular exercise such as long walks. As with all dogs he can benefit with training and socialization and being an intelligent breed, he is actually easy to train.

The Irish Jack Russell is a self-confident, energetic dog who will like nothing more than to be involved with everything you’re doing. The busier he is the better, and because he has strong hunting instincts you may find him digging in your garden for rats.

Have him trained and socialized if you want to avoid certain problems with him and remember to exercise him and provide him with the attention he craves.

He is a social dog and will pine away if you just leave him to get by on his own. Make sure that he becomes every bit as part of your family as everyone else and he promises to make you a loyal, devoted companion.

This medium sized dog with the double nose is unusual in that respect, but he is no different from most other dogs when it comes to making a wonderful pet.

Loving, loyal, gentle, easy to please, amicable and intelligent, the Double Nosed Andean Tiger Hound guarantees to make you an excellent pet as he has so many of the desired characteristics of a good friend.

Your Irish Jack Russell is a dog that doesn’t battle with too many health issues, but nonetheless you still need to watch out for common health problems.

Jack Russell terriers are generally a healthy breed that can live up to 14 years of age, but still every dog is prone to the more common dog problems such as hip dysplasia, bloat, ear infections and dental disease among others.

If your Irish Jack Russell is in pain, he is lethargic and sick, don’t delay – take him to the vet right away.

The Double nosed Andean Tiger Hound, with good care, can reach 12 to 15 years of age.

Every dog has common dog ailments to contend with and some of these your dog might be susceptible to are -

Arthritis:

Atypical disease to look out for as your dog grows older. It can be heartbreaking to watch your bet battling to walk and battling to get up from lying down.

Cancer:

This is a disease with dogs that accounts for almost 50% of deaths in pets. It is a killer and you want to be looking out for drastic weight loss and lumps and get your pet to the vet.

Kennel Cough:

This is a respiratory infection and it can be easily be passed from one dog to the next. Your dog will have a raspy cough and will be lethargic too.

Worms:

This can cause weight loss in your pet and he can also have a swollen stomach and be lethargic.

Allergies:

Anything can cause your dog to have an allergy, whether it is fleas or ticks or even food. Common allergies can be treated by changing some of the things you believe could be aggravating your pet.

Remember that a healthy, balanced diet and good exercise are important for keeping your pet healthy and ensuring longevity.

Grooming:

The Irish Jack Russell is an average shedder with his short or longish coat which is easy to groom, requiring a brush once or twice a week. His nails grow quickly too and they can get caught on something and cause him damage. Trim your pet’s nails to prevent this.

Diet:

Feed your Irish Jack Russell good quality dog food each day. If you feed him commercially manufactured dog food, be certain to check the feeding instructions on the packaging.

He is a small dog, and overfeeding can be just as bad as under-feeding. It’s never a good idea to just go on and on feeding your pet dry or wet kibble day after day. Add in some cooked chicken, rice, pasta and vegetables as a treat and to also provide some variety for him.

Also a little bit of raw meat occasionally can do him the world of good and you’ll see the appreciation in his bright eyes and wagging tail.

Diet:

Feed your pet a quality diet – either from the top-range commercially manufactured foods or home-made food such as cooked rice, vegetables and chicken.

Steer well clear of over-feeding your pet as this can negatively affect your pet’s health in many ways.

Warm, Dry Living Environment:

Ensure your pet is always sheltered from the weather and that he has both sun and shade.

Exercise:

Your Double Nosed Andean Tiger Hound is an energetic dog and you want to walk him and make sure that he gets regular exercise to keep fit, lean and healthy.

Be Involved with the Pet:

Dogs are social creatures and to stick him in your back yard without any interaction with you is enough to make him ill and to take all the spirit out of him. Rather don’t get a pet.