Irish Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Irish Terrier is a dog breed from Ireland and one of the many different terrier breeds there are.

Nobody is too sure of the Irish Terrier's history but it is one of the oldest terrier breeds. It appears as if the dog breed was developed from a wheat colored terrier and the extinct black and tan terrier.

It was always a common practice to crop the ears of terriers, but in 1889 the Irish Terrier Club required that the ears remain uncropped. The first Irish Terrier was shown in 1881, and the first Irish Terrier registered with the American Kennel Club was in 1885. The Irish Terrier Club of America was founded in 1896.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a part of all the confusion surrounding the group of “pit bulls”. The American Staffordshire Terrier is directly related to the English Bull Terrier and English Terrier. The breed of the English Staffordshire Terrier was bred in the early 19th century in the West Midlands. It was not until later that the breed came from Staffordshire. These English Staffordshire Terriers are also the source of contention by breeders who insist it was the Fox Terrier, White English Terrier, Tan and Black Terrier that are the ancestors of the English Staffordshire Terrier.

These terriers (AKA pit bull terrier) came to the United States in the mid 1800’s. By the late 1890’s they were accepted by the United Kennel Club (UKC)as the American Pit Bull Terrier – a new and distinct breed. There were also some that were accepted into the AKC as the Staffordshire Terrier. In England they were still known as the American Staffordshire Terrier. When the AKC accepted the breed in 1936 they were given a new standard, new purpose and new group – the terrier. In 1969 the American Kennel Club recognized these dogs as American Staffordshire Terriers and refused to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. The name was changed to move the breed away from its characterization as a bull fighter and to distinguish it from the smaller English Staffordshire Terrier. All American Staffordshire Terriers are directly related to the American Pit Bull Terriers.

The Irish Terrier is a medium sized dog who stands between 45cm and 50cm and weighs in the region of 11 to 12kg. He has a short, dense, wiry double coat which is a red, golden, sandy, wheaten color.

The ears of the dog are semi-erect/semi-floppy and the tail is held high and curved.The chest is deep and muscular and the front and back legs are strong, long and muscular.

Temperament:

The Irish Terrier is a companion dog today, even though he was once a guard- and hunting dog. He is an amicable dog while also being alert and active. He is also independent and strong-willed so he will require training and socialization as then he becomes obedient and relaxed and much easier to live with.

They're social dogs too, loving all the members of their human family, getting on well with children in the home.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a strong, powerful dog – stocky, muscular and graceful. At one point in time the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier were considered to be the same breed. Even today there are those that make that argument, but they have been recognized outside the AKC as separate breeds. The AKC only recognizes the American Staffordshire Terrier and not the APBT. However – even though there have been decades of separation in breeding the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are the very same dogs genetically.

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a broad skull, high set ears and pronounced cheek bones. Their ears should not be cropped by AKC standards and their eyes are far apart, round and dark. With a medium sized muzzle and a heavy muscular back, they are as powerful as they look, if not more so. Most have black noses. The AmStaff has a broad, deep chest with wide set forelegs and compact feet. The tail is short and tapered and it should not be docked.

Irish Terriers are good with people and want to be an active member of their human families.

They are active dogs and will require ongoing mental and physical stimulation. This is a lively dog, but he still loves to spend quiet time indoors with his family.

They’re intelligent dogs with a strong sense of loyalty towards their owner, making excellent family pets.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a loving, gentle dog that wants nothing more than to be with and please his people. Contrary to his reputation as a “killer”, this dog is actually a lover. They are great with children and want to be a part of the family. They even think they are lap dogs, regardless of their size. They are never going to be aggressive toward people and even though they are not one-person dogs, they are loyal, and they are devoted to the family and the “leader of the pack”.

This breed can tell who is their friend and who is not. They are not aggressive, but they will protect their own. They are courageous, confident, attentive, bold and strong-willed. The AmStaff gets along with other dogs most of the time, but they will never back down from a challenge and should never be left unsupervised with another dog. They should not be loose in a neighborhood or at a dog park. No matter how much you trust your American Staffordshire Terrier they can be killers in any fight with another dog.

In addition to this you must socialize and train your AmStaff. You need to be the pack leader and be in control. The AmStaff wants to please you so for a strong leader they will respond positively to positive training. They are intelligent and pick up quickly on what you want them to do. However, they are incredibly strong physically so training them to heel and walk with you obediently is a must. A well trained and exercised American Staffordshire Terrier is a happy dog and a loyal family dog.

The Irish Terrier is a healthy dog breed and you won't find yourself running to the vet often with him, but still he can land up with one of the common dog problems.

It is always wise to be aware of hip dysplasia as this is a disease which can occur in all dog breeds and all dog ages. Also look out for eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts as these can lead to blindness in your pet.

There is a disease known as cystinuria which is quite a concern with Irish Terriers. It’s an inherited kidney disease where increased amounts of arginine, lysine, amino acids cystine and ornithine are excreted in the urine.

In well-functioning kidneys, blood is filtered so as to create urine. Cystine is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream but with dogs affected with cystinuria they cannot reabsorb cystine back in their bloodstream, causing an accumulation in the urine. Dogs with cystinuria suffer inflammation of the urinary tract and can also develop urinary blockage and kidney failure. Immediate veterinary intervention is required.

For the most part the American Staffordshire Terrier, like most of the “pit bulls” is a hearty, healthy dog. They have a few tendencies that breeders should test for including hip dysplasia, allergies, and heart issues. They can test for Cerebellar ataxia, which has affected the AmStaff with a progressive decline in their ability to control their muscles and coordination.

Grooming:

The coat of the Irish Terrier requires a brush twice a week to keep it bright. If you intend showing your dog, the coat will need to be stripped a couple of times a year to maintain the texture and color.

Other Irish Terrier owners take their dog to the groomers to have the coat clipped. The dog doesn't shed a lot and they are referred to as being somewhat hypoallergenic.

As with any other dog breed, other grooming needs with your Irish Terrier will include clipping the nails, checking his teeth for plaque build-up and checking inside the ears for infection.

If you're unsure how to perform these grooming procedures with your pet, simply ask your vet who will explain to you precisely how to ensure your dog remains in tip top condition.

Exercise:

He's a fairly active dog so you want to make sure that you are attending to his exercise needs. Take him for a walk every day, and if you've got a good sized garden, throw a ball for him. If you're a jogger you can count him in.

Diet:

What you feed your Irish Terrier will depend a lot on his age and his activity levels. Every dog is a unique individual and nothing is set in stone regarding their diets. Just like people though, feeding him a lot of junk food will contribute to illness and shorten his lifespan.

He needs quality food. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure to read up on how much to feed him. Try and mix in some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat.

Learn to know what foods are toxic for him. Make sure he has a bowl of fresh, cool water constantly available to him.

feed You can feed your American Staffordshire Terrier either commercially purchased food or food you make yourself if the quality is high, nutrition is good, and the amount eaten is determined by the owner. Do not free feed. The AmStaff has the tendency to become obese. Its ok to use treats for training and rewards, as long as its use is controlled.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the American AmStaff Terrier has a tendency toward a few health issues. Hip Dysplasia – this condition causes a lot of pain and disability. It leads to different types of arthritis and degenerative joint disease. Cardiac Issues – Congenital heart disease consists of vessel malformation and lesions.

Allergies

Thyroid Issues

The AmStaff can be susceptible to Autoimmune Thyroiditis. This is a form of hypothyroidism developed by dogs. It is usually seen between 2 and 5 years of age. Continual retesting is recommended.

Cerebellar Ataxia

This is the most dangerous disease possibility that the American Staffordshire Terrier faces. There is a test for this condition which causes the AmStaff to display an inability to control their muscles and a loss of balance, to the point of falling. This is a progressive disease that often leads to euthanasia. The Staffordshire Terrier Club of America suggests that AmStaffs carrying the NCL genes should never be bred.

Exercise and games

The American Staffordshire Terrier is an energetic, and athletic dog that loves to play and needs plenty of exercise. This breed is oriented to people and should never be left alone in the yard all day as a way for her to exercise. She needs you to play with her. If you cannot do this, then you should not own this breed of dog. This breed also loves to play canine sports. They thrive on games like dock diving, agility and obedience competitions. They excel at search and rescue. These are competitive dogs that want nothing more then to please their people.