Irish Terrier vs Bull Terrier Miniature - 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.

Less well known than the Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier which actually follows the same breed standard, has a height of 35cm. The Bull Terrier and Miniature are classified as the same breed. The weight of the smaller Miniature is only about 15kg.

It was in the early 1800s that the Miniature Bull Terrier was developed, descending from the English Bulldog as well as the White English Terrier which is now extinct. This blend produced the Bull and Terrier, which was later shortened to the Bull Terrier. They came in a number of colors such as pure white, white and tan as well as white-and-black-patched or tri-colored.

Breed fanciers wanted a compact dog which looked much the same as the larger Bull Terrier. It was in 1938 that Colonel Glyn founded the Miniature Bull Terrier Club in England and the Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America was formed in 1966.

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.

Miniature Bull Terriers, just like the regular Bull Terriers have short, glossy coats and these coats can be white, tan, brindle or tri-color such as black, tan and white. This is a muscular little dog, with the same very distinctive egg-shaped head and small, closely-set dark eyes and erect ears. The medium length tail is carried horizontally.

The Miniature Bull Terrier isn’t particularly good with small children, but he still makes a good companion for people, whether he lives in the city or the country. In fact, this smaller breed Bull Terrier makes a great pet for people with smaller spaces, and like the Bull Terrier, he is a loving, devoted pet. He has an entertaining personality, is playful and energetic, making him a good watch dog.

However, even though he is small, he is always more than ready to take on any larger pets and therefore isn’t considered the greatest pet to have if you have other animals in the house. However, with excellent training and socialization, this handicap can be overcome.

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 attractive Miniature Bull Terrier is just a small version of the regular Bull Terrier, and many people are drawn to them because they have all the spunk of the larger breed but are easier to manage. He is such an entertaining little dog and guarantees to make an excellent family companion. He is just longing to be involved in every family activity happening around him.

He becomes attached to his human family, but this deep bond between him and his family can lead to separation anxiety. Never leave him alone day after day in the backyard. You wouldn’t to that to one of your children, and he is a family member, albeit a 4-legged one.

Just like the standard Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier is going to need firm training from a young age. Then he becomes an exceptional pet as he understand the boundaries in your particular home.

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 Miniature Bull Terrier can live to be 10 to 12 years of age. Their most serious health issue is blindness which is caused by lens dislocation, showing up more or less after 3 years of age. With the white dogs, other breed health concerns can include congenital deafness and compulsive tail chasing.

Tail Chasing:

Some Bull Terriers develop a compulsive neurologic disorder where the dog turns round and round chasing his tail. As soon as you see this, try and distract him with an exciting game, because allowed to develop, it’s a habit that can become difficult to control.

Dental Disease:

This is a common problem with dogs and you need to watch that tartar build-up on the teeth which can lead to infection of the gums. Brush your pet’s teeth with special dog toothpaste and toothbrush 2 or 3 times a week so that he doesn’t lose any teeth. Bad teeth can affect other organs such as the kidneys and heart.

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.

Grooming:

With his short, smooth coat, the Miniature Bull Terriers requires little grooming. He’ll need a good brush down twice a week to remove loose hairs.

Spaying or Neutering:

This is one of the best things you can do for your Bull Terrier if you don’t want them having puppies. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers too.

Diet:

Keep your dog’s diet consistent, varying between a top quality commercial produced dog food appropriate to his age. You can include home-made meat, vegetables and rice and some raw meat every now and then. Never feed him human-food such as peanuts, crisps and chocolate. Always have fresh, cool water available night and day.