Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes from Staffordshire, England, but the Irish Staffie was later developed by Irish breeders so its origin is essentially Ireland. They were developed from bulldogs and different terrier breeds.

The dog was always used for bull baiting, but when this sport died out, the Irish breeders wanted to create a taller, leaner dog suited for dog fighting. When dog fighting was banned the breed became rare again, but today it has been restored and is essentially a popular companion pet.

Descendent of the English Talbot Hound, the Black and Tann Coonhound is nevertheless an American creation. Developed by crossing the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound with the Bloodhound in the very early years of the American experience. It is said that George Washington owned several. The very first Coonhound that was given American Kennel Club registration was the Black and Tan in 1945. They had been admitted to the United Kennel Club in 1912. The Black and Tan Coonhound is a traditional hunting dog – known by hunters as a “trail and tree hound”. This is a dog that finds its prey and trees it. They have incredibly strong instincts to hunt and need to hunt. They can track their prey for miles and if they have a scent you cannot get their attention back. They have been valued because they can “cold track”, following the scent of an animal that left the scene long ago. They are known to have tracked mountain lions and bears as well as deer and coon. They were developed to keep the American settlers safe and well fed, but also to keep them company on the trails or by the fireplace. They are the American Dog.

The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium sized pure-breed dog standing at roughly 43 to 48cm and weighing anything from 14 to 18kg.

He has a short, smooth coat which can be a mix of colors such as fawn, tan, black or brindle. The coat can also be bi-colored such as in fawn and white or black and white. He is a powerfully built dog with short legs which are fairly wide apart.

He has a large head and short muzzle with powerful jaws.Sometimes when he pants after a hectic bout of exercise he gets a comical, grinning look on his face. The ears are semi-erect, semi-upright and he has a long tail.

Temperament:

Your Irish Staffy is a feisty, confident dog that has been known to have a temperament which leads towards aggression. It is why he should be trained and socialized to make him more amicable and obedient. He is an intelligent and alert dog, so won't have difficulty with training.

A well trained and socialized Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier will get on well with children in the home as he is a playful, jovial dog, always ready for a game.

The Black and Tan Coonhound looks like we all imagine a coonhound would look. They have strong and muscular legs, an oval skull and a scissors bite. They have brown or hazel eyes that are very expressive. The ears of course are long like the bloodhound, far back on the head and thin. His nose is amazingly sensitive as he is scent hound. His nostrils are always black. He is a large, strong dog.

The older Irish Staffie has always been an aggressive type dog used for fighting, but today the modern breed is capable of being a splendid, entertaining, amicable pet with an even temper. He is feisty for sure, being brave, fearless, loyal and loving with his human family members.

All it requires with this dog is to have a firm, loving upbringing, some training and socialization as well as good food and plenty of love and attention. Many dogs get labelled wrongly because of the humans that rear them the wrong way. When done correctly, the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier promises to be a wonderful, loving, loyal pet.

The Black and Tan Coonhound is intelligent, calm, affectionate, independent, strong, and stubborn. They love children and are gentle with them, but they are also very independent and may not do what the child wants them to do in play. They are loyal to their family and will bay at strangers. They are incredibly adaptable and happy-go-lucky. They will end up on the couch or bed so don’t try to fight it. They like cars and enjoy traveling. If you get a BTC be ready for that booming voice.

The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, just like with any other dog, has a good chance of living a good number of years if he is fed properly. He can live to be anything up to between 10 and 16 years.

Say what you like, good nutrition and the lifestyle you provide for your Irish Staffie will determine how long he lives. An unhappy dog that has to beg for love and attention won't do well. Your Irish Staffie can live to a ripe age but he is still at risk for certain health problems.

Mastocytoma:

These mast cell tumors are graded according to their location in the skin. Certain dogs like Boxers and bulldogs are more susceptible to mast cell tumors than other breeds, and the Irish Staffie isn't immune either. Most times the tumor develops in an older dog, though young dogs have also been known to develop the tumor. These tumors can be inactive for a while and then experience some rapid growth with some redness and fluid build up. Immediate veterinary intervention will be required.

his is a very healthy breed but like any long eared, floppy eared dogs are prone to ear infections and more seriously ear cancer. They can acquire hip dysplasia like any larger dog and they can have eye issues as well.

Exercise:

The Irish Staffie is an active dog, who is always game for anything. He will certainly need active owners who include him in all their activities. He has a lot of stamina and endurance and will want to join you on your walks, hikes and swimming. Ignoring his exercise needs can turn him into a restless, unhappy, frustrated, destructive dog.

Grooming:

Having a short, smooth coat means your Irish Staffie being a low maintenance dog. He does shed a bit so his coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs. Its always a good opportunity to check him for fleas and ticks too.

If the short coat gets too dirty, a wipe down with a damp cloth can keep the coat bright and shiny. Certainly avoid bathing him too often as this can aggravate the skin.

Check his nails and trim them if they get too long. Check his ears and teeth as these are all problem areas which can contribute to your dog becoming ill.

Diet:

Your Irish Staffie is such an energetic dog that he will need excellent food that promotes this energy. Whether you buy him the best commercially manufactured kibble, you want to also add in some home-made food such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as well as including some raw meat occasionally. The food you provide your Staffie with needs to be full of vitamins and minerals to avoid illness. Always make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.

Feeding

This coonhound is a big, rugged, working dog and needs to be fed accordingly. Feed him at least twice a day in smaller portions and not right before or right after exercise. Don’t send him on a hunt with a full stomach. Don’t overfeed.

Health issues

1. Hip Dysplasia – get certification on your puppy tested by breeder
2. Ear Infections – clean daily
3. Ear Cancer – most serious issue facing the breed
4. Eye Issues – cataracts, cherry eye, and eyelid abnormalities such as entropian and ectropian

Exercise and games

Not that the Black and Tan Coonhound is lazy, but he can be a couch potato when he is not working. He needs moderate exercise everyday and he does well at activities like barn hunt and field games. If he does catch a scent outdoors and he is not confined in a fence, he will follow the scent with no attention to your calls at all. He can run for miles on end when pursuing prey, but he’d also enjoy just jogging along side you or your bike. He loves long walks but make sure he is on a leash and can’t follow his nose.