MyDogBreeds
Irish Terrier is originated from Ireland but Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) is originated from Belgium. Irish Terrier may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois). Irish Terrier may weigh 18 kg / 39 pounds lesser than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois). Both Irish Terrier and Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) has almost same life span. Irish Terrier may have less litter size than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois). Irish Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) requires Low maintenance
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 Laekenois, from a variety of 4 Belgian Shepherds, and one of the rarest, is a working- or herding breed of dog which originated in Belgium. It is believed to have been around since the Middle Ages. The intelligent dog was also used for sending messages during the 1st World War. In most countries, all 4 of the dogs are considered the same breed with different varieties in coat types, but there are some instances where they are recognized as separate breeds.
An interesting aspect of these dogs is that until the advent of dog shows in the 1900s, the 4 varieties were intermixed, and today purebred Laekenois can sometimes give birth to smooth-coated puppies which can be registered as Malinois.
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.
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 Laekenois is a highly talented dog, highly energetic and extremely intelligent. He will make a superb family pet with owners who are firm and fair with him. The dog is bright, obedient, protective and somewhat territorial. He’ll guard what he believes is his as he is instinctively protective.
He will get on well with children in the home, and he can also be socialized to get on well with other pets in the home. Of course, the way an owner treats the dog, and any other dog for that matter, brings out different temperaments in a dog. To get the best from him he should be trained and socialized from an early age. He will need plenty of exercise if you don’t want him becoming destructive from sheer boredom.
The body is well proportioned, muscular and sturdy. He has an alert, intelligent face with erect ears, bright brown eyes and the nose black. The hair is dense on the long tail, but with no feathering like with the other breeds. The most common color is fawn with a reddish undertone. The chest is deep and the legs strong and straight. The Laekenois's medium length rough, wire coat can include colors from fawn to brownish and black in between.
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 Belgian Laekenois is an energetic herding breed dog, and even though he will do well in an apartment if he is sufficiently exercised, big gardens and farms would be first choice for him. Wherever you offer him a home, make sure to exercise him regularly and give him plenty of attention, as he loves his human family.
He’ll make an exceptional watchdog and because he is so intelligent, he learns easily, responding readily to his owner’s instruction. He’ll protect his human family with his life. Social, lively, attractive and bright, anybody who has owned a Laekenois will vouch for his loyalty and devotion, making him a splendid pet.
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.
The lifespan of the Belgian Laekenois is between 10 and 14 years of age, and he is a pretty robust breed, not prone to getting sick easily. However, as with most other dog breeds, he is predisposed to some concerning health conditions.
A frightening health issue in Belgian Shepherds is inherited epilepsy. It occurs in all four varieties. Your dog will have uncontrollable shaking that can last a few minutes. There are many causes of seizures but it is mostly an inherited disorder.
The most common eye disease is cataracts.
This is an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly. He may even have difficulty getting up from lying down.
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.
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.
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.
The long, double coat of your Laekenois will need to be trimmed about twice a year otherwise he could look dirty and unkempt. Certainly with the coat he has, you will need to brush him at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs.
He is a well muscled, athletic, energetic dog and his food, whether home-made or commercially manufactured, needs to be a high-quality food high in protein and packed full of minerals and vitamins. If you’re not sure about food type, speak to your vet, because as a dog expert, they will advise you on food appropriate to this dog breed and his energy needs. Whether you own a male or female Laekenois, feeding should be such that weight for an adult is maintained around 25–30kg.