King Charles Spaniel vs Gull Terr - Breed Comparison

Classified as a toy breed, the King Charles Spaniel is a small, pure breed dog that originated in the United Kingdom. The dog was named after King Charles II of Britain.

The dog actually has quite a long, illustrious history. People mistake them for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but they are 2 different breeds, just sharing the same coat colors.The King Charles Spaniel was crossbred with the Pug early in the 19th century to shorten the length of the dog's nose.

With a face similar to that of the Pug, it is thought that these toy spaniels may have originated in the Far East.The earliest recorded pictures of toy spaniels in England were in paintings of Queen Mary 1 and King Philip.

The Gull Terr hails from Pakistan. Having been introduced to the country by the British Raj, the dog has always been valued for its guarding and fighting abilities.

The British army, on bringing English Bull Terriers with them, mated them with local dogs. The dog was in other words, created from the old bull terrier which became extinct, and the Bully Kutta.

The Gull Terr or Pakistani Bull Terrier as he is known is a rare breed of dog. Today they are usually found in rural areas of Pakistan as well as in the Indian Panjab area, becoming popular as both pet and watchdog. It is no longer used for dog fighting as this has been banned.

The King Charles Spaniel is a medium sized dog that stands at roughly 23 – 28cm and weighs anything from 3 to 8kg. He is smaller than the Cavalier King Charles.

He has a long coat which can be white, black and tan or a reddish-brown color. He has a domed head with a short, turned up nose and 'squashed' face similar to the pug. The eyes are large and dark and also protruding. The ears are set low and are long and floppy and the tail, once docked, is now left long and feathery.

Temperament:

Friendly, while being somewhat reserved, the King Charles Spaniel is looked upon as a lap dog as he loves to spend time indoors with his human family.

He isn't particularly energetic, but will still need some exercise like ball games and going on a walk. With training and socialization he becomes quiet and obedient and is known as a popular therapy dog. They are kind and loving with kids and pets in the home.

As a medium sized dog, the muscled Gull Terr stands as 45 – 66cm in height and weighs in the area of 40 – 45kg.

The dog has a short, smooth coat which is white, but you may find some black spots on him. He has a egg shaped head, ears are naturally erect, dark slanted eyes, and he has a long tail which is held upwards. Muscled and agile, he is a powerful working breed and makes a good watchdog.

Temperament:

This is an aggressive dog breed, and first-time dog owners might want to have a more amicable kind of pet to start off with.

He is a fearless dog, somewhat aggressive and suspicious towards strangers and therefore wants to protect his owner from them. With training and socialization he can be good with children in the home, although he is inclined to be boisterous and stubborn. He has fierce protective instincts, even though he is considered not as aggressive as some other Pakistani dog breeds.

The Gull Terr will need an experienced dog handler. Even though he has been a fighter in his day, he is capable of being an excellent family pet as well. You won't have trouble training him as he is intelligent. He then becomes more obedient and more manageable. He is a very active dog and therefore he won't fit into city dwelling where there are small spaces. He needs a place to run and on top of that he will require a good deal of exercise.

Your King Charles Spaniel is such a joy to have in the home and because he is intelligent he will easily learn some simple commands too.

He wants to please you and be with you wherever you go. He is a social dog and thrives on your attention, and if you open your home and your heart to this sweet dog, you’re going to have a devoted, loving, loyal friend beside you every day.

Your Gull Terr love the attention he receives from his human family and he won’t flourish at all if he is put into the back yard for watch dog purposes only. He is a dog that needs to come indoors to be with his family.

He tends to be somewhat aggressive and this is why he isn’t looked upon as the ideal pet for first-time dog owners and those with young children in the home.

He is a confrontational dog, willing to enter into a fight with provocation. Strong willed he will require early training and socialization, and when he is brought up by a firm, consistent, kind owner, he can get over his aggression and become a loyal, devoted, protective and loving pet.

Eye Problems:

The eye problems that you might need to know about with a King Charles Spaniel are entropian, cataracts and corneal dystrophy.

Heart Conditions:

Heart conditions could include mitral valve disease where the blood flows backwards through the chambers of the heart, leading to congestive heart failure.

Breathing Problems:

The King Charles Spaniel is a brachycephalic breed and these dogs can have upper airway problems. Breathing difficulties can also occur because of an abnormally small windpipe which is a characteristic common to brachycephalic breeds. You may notice rapid breathing with your dog , snoring, frequent panting, coughing and difficulty with swallowing.

Vet Checks:

As a dog owner, you have a responsibility to your pet. He will need to visit the veterinarian for all his puppy vaccinations as well as other vaccinations as an adult dog. He will also need to be de-wormed.

If you don’t want him or her becoming a parent, make sure your pet is neutered or spayed. If your pet is showing signs of an illness that he doesn’t get over quickly, get him immediately to the vet.

Bloat:

The Gull Terr has a deep chest and this means he is more prone to bloat, a condition known as gastric dilation volvulus.

Your pet's stomach fills with air and this leads to decreased blood flow to vital organs. The stomach can twist and this is when the condition becomes life threatening as blood supply to the stomach is cut off. Instead of feeding him large meals, feed him smaller meals more frequently.

Deafness:

Deafness in your pet can be temporary or permanent, in one ear or both. There are are so many reasons why your pet could be deaf and it could be a birth defect, an infection or old age. Certain dogs such as the white coated Gull Terr are also more predisposed to congenital deafness.

Get him to the vet who will examine your dog’s ear canal for wax and debris and discuss the way to go for your beloved pet.

Your King Charles Spaniel has a long, silky coat that will require brushing twice a week to control shedding and keep his coat free of matting.

His nails will also require regular trimming to ensure they don’t hook on anything. His long ears are also prone to ear infection, so be sure to check them inside and out for ticks and fleas and to also remove excess wax and dirt.

Teeth should also be regularly brushed with canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

Be sure to keep your King Charles Spaniel content and healthy by ensuring he goes on a long walk and that you play with him to build a strong bond between you and to ensure he doesn’t become bored.

Excellent, quality food is important for your spaniel. The best dog food manufacturers have age- and breed-specific formulas and there is the perfect one for your King Charles Spaniel. Homemade food is also excellent for this dog and you can add some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables into his kibble as a nutritious treat.

Make sure your spaniel has a warm, dry, peaceful place to sleep and wash the bedding regularly to keep him healthy and happy.

Ensure he always has a cool, fresh bowl of drinking water nearby.

Grooming:

Easy to look after with his short coat, the Gull Terr will only require a brushing twice a week to keep the coat shiny and healthy.

Because his coat is white, it can show dirt easily, and it will simply require taking a damp cloth and wiping the mark off him. You don't want to be bathing him often as this dries his skin out – rather just wipe the coat down.

Exercise:

Your Gull Terr is a highly energetic dog and he loves nothing more than to be involved in robust exercise and games. He is best suited in a home with large grounds and if you do opt to have him in the city, you will have to pay close attention to his exercise needs – lots of walks, runs, ball games, swimming and running with you as you cycle.

Diet:

You want to be sure that your energetic Gull Terr has a healthy diet full of important proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Protein is always important for a dog like this and you want to make absolutely sure that apart from his high quality kibble, you mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked chicken, fish, brown rice and vegetables.

When looking for a commercially manufactured dog food, look for high-quality animal protein as a top ingredient. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water available to him.