Mackenzie River Husky vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison

The name Mackenzie River Husky was given to these huskies by those wanting to name the freight huskies of a certain area. The name took hold in the 1960’s, but the dog began to disappear with the introduction of snow machines.

They’re a mixture of native sled dogs - Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Staghounds and Wolf. As a mixed breed, they have always been regarded as classic sled dogs.

The Bull Terrier belongs to the Terrier group of dogs and this already tell you that he is highly energetic and that he is essentially intolerant of other pets.

They are hunters by nature. The Bull Terrier is known as the Gladiator of the canine world. This breed came about through English breeders of the late 19th century, crossing old fighting dogs which carried Bulldog blood with Terriers. It was in the 1850s that James Hinks of Birmingham in the West Midlands was the first person to standardise breed type for the Bull Terrier. Hinks wanted his dogs to be white, and breeding was designed to achieve this.

Because of medical problems with the all-white dogs, Ted Lyon introduced color, using the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and these became a separate variety. It is however, the white strain that is famous for pets as well as for show purposes.

The beautiful Mackenzie River Husky stands at 66 to 74cm in height and weighs between 29 and 47kg.

This deep chested dog has a long, straight coat with the colors being typically wolf-like – white, cream, black, tan, blonde and red. He has erect ears, long legs and a long, bushy tail.

Temperament:

This wolf-type dog is strong willed and independent and was always a pack dog. They wouldn’t be described as a good choice for the first time dog owner as they do seem to have some wolf traits and will require a strong, firm, level headed owner.

Strongly Built and Muscular

The Bull Terrier is a strongly built, muscular dog with a distinctive egg-shaped head. The height of this dog is roughly 53 – 61cm and he weighs in at about 24 – 29kg. He has a short, dense coat which comes in different colors such as white, red, fawn and white or brindle.

The ears are medium sized and erect and the eyes are pig-like, small and dark. The medium length tail is carried slightly upwards.

A Temperament of Courage

The Bull Terrier is a determined, strong-willed, stubborn dog and he will require firm handling and training. With socialization and training, he becomes a friendly, loving dog who is good around children.

He tends to be possessive with his human family and their territory, making him aggressive with other pets. Bull Terriers actually have even temperaments and they are good, social dogs with people. He is courageous, brave, full of spirit and character.

Your MacKenzie River Husky is such a likeable pet to have. True, he does tend to be a bit stubborn and independent but there is nothing that training and socialization won’t do for him. You’ll find him much more obedient and amicable, and he gets on well with children and pets in the home.

He is an intelligent dog too and very energetic so will require an owner who is active, firm and consistent. He thrives on human company and just wants to be around his owner all the time, ready to join in with any activity happening in his life.

He is therefore far more suited to life in the countryside than to the city. Loyal, devoted and loving, a MacKenzie River Husky isn’t only a beautiful dog to own, he promises to offer everything you want in a 4-legged friend.

The way people bring their dogs up has a lot to do with the way they turn out. The Bull Terrier has often been thought to be a dangerous dog, but this is because of a bad upbringing.

A dog like the Bull Terrier who has received firm, fair and loving training is an absolute pleasure to have as a pet. Yes, he is a strong willed, stubborn and intelligent dog and he has the make-up to turn out to be a handful. It is perhaps why he isn't the best choice for first-time dog owners who aren’t familiar with the breed and who don’t raise him the right way.

If you choose a Bull Terrier, bring him up correctly, have him trained and socialized and never neglect him and he is guaranteed to become a wonderful, loving family member.

Your MacKenzie River Husky, regardless of how healthy he is, can suffer with some common health problems that all dogs are prone to.

Perhaps one of the more common health problems that this particular dog breed has to contend with is cataracts, hip dyslasia and hypothyroidism.

Cataracts:

Many people associate cataracts in dogs with age, little realizing that there are many medical reasons as to why our pets develop cataracts. Cataracts can start as early as 6 months of age, although this is unlikely. They come about because of a disease which affects the lens of the eye, causing the lens to lose its transparency.

You’ll notice a whitish/grey shade in your dog’s eye and this can actually impair vision. Cataracts are particularly the lot of diabetic dogs. It can certainly help to have your dog’s eyes checked by a vet regularly.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another fairly common problem with Huskies. It’s almost like a death sentence if your MacKenzie is a working dog because it can lead to lameness. The disease can lead to problems in the hip joint which cab be debilitating ad give your dog a lot of pain.

It doesn’t strike old dogs only, but can be the lot of young dogs too. Sometimes treatment will require surgery but there are non-invasive options too. You want to make sure that you don’t allow your pet to become overweight as this can contribute to developing hip dysplasia.

Your Bull Terrier is a robust breed, but there are some health issues that you will want to be aware of. For instance, the white Bull Terrier is more prone to deafness than the Brindle or tri-colored Bull Terriers. With good food and lots of love and care, he can reach 14 years of age. However there are one or two ailments what you want to be aware of.

Patellar Luxation:

This is a common orthopedic condition with dogs, affecting both knees and resulting in loss of function and discomfort. Patellar luxation can sometimes come from a traumatic injury to the knee. However, with non-traumatic patellar luxation, the femoral groove for the knee cap is shallow or absent.

Skin Cancer:

Not every variety of skin cancer in dogs is caused by sun exposure, but sun damage to the skin of the pure white Bull Terrier can be a factor. Dogs with white coats are more susceptible to sun damage. Speak to your vet about symptoms so that a physical examination will reveal the reason for sores on the skin.

Exercise:

Huskies like this one will require a good deal of exercise every single day. These are working dogs who have always had a job to do and you can certainly count him in when you do your hiking walks, swimming – you name it. The only thing he will object to is that he doesn’t do well in hot weather. Strong-willed, you’ll want your MacKenzie River Husky trained and socialized if you want him to be a companionable dog.

Diet:

Dogs need to be fed according to the size, their age and their lifestyle. If your MacKenzie River Husky is an active working dog, his food must be the very best and contain enough calories to cover the daily caloric expenses.

Quality and the amount of vitamins and minerals in the food is most important for a dog like this. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure its high quality and not made up of fillers, and other bad stuff. Read the label and understand exactly what’s going into your dog’s stomach.

Simplicity with feeding is best for your pet. Treat him occasionally to cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and cooked or raw vegetables which can be added into his dry kibble. A dog like this will require some raw meat as well to ensure his coat and eyes are always shiny and bright.

Grooming:

Grooming of the MacKenzie River Husky must be done at least twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.

Exercise:

The Bull Terrier is a stocky, robust breed and he will need plenty of exercise. He thrives on a good run, long walks and ball games. He is notoriously destructive, so you need to recognize this before you buy such a dog, because simply putting one in your back-yard and ignoring him will make him aggressive and destructive. This is a dog that needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise.

Grooming:

With the short coat, Bull Terriers are easy to groom, and a brushing twice a week will keep the coat in tip top condition. He will also love the time you spend with him. Shedding of hair with the Bull Terrier is more frequent in the Spring and Fall.

Nail clipping and brushing of teeth are two other grooming routines for your dog. Remember that with teeth brushing, don’t be tempted to use human toothpaste as this can be toxic for your pet. Speak to your vet if in any doubt about how to brush your pet’s teeth.