MyDogBreedsOld English Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but American Pit Bull Terrier is originated from United States. Old English Terrier may grow 11 cm / 4 inches shorter than American Pit Bull Terrier. Old English Terrier may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than American Pit Bull Terrier. Both Old English Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier has almost same life span. Both Old English Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier has almost same litter size. Old English Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But American Pit Bull Terrier requires Low maintenance
Known also as the Black Terrier, by the 18th century, the Old English Terrier was available as a rough-coated dog as well as a smooth-coated dog.
The dogs were established in England. The dog was developed to work and by the 19th century the Old English Terrier was to be found all over the world.
The dog was developed based on the work it was required to do, leading to variations in the coat texture, the body and size. The Old English Terrier is recognized today by the National Terriers Club LLC.
The history of the American Pit Bull Terrier might be a confusing one to some dog lovers and certainly to the general public that tends to lump all the “bully” breeds into a category called “pit bull”. This is because of the negative reputation this group of breeds has acquired over the past 30-50 years due to misuse and mis-breeding by the dog fighting industry. This categorization includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, The American Staffordshire Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
There is major confusion and disagreement on the difference between the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. The AKC does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a separate breed, but its founder and the UKC, ADBA do so. In the 1930’s the American Pit Bull Terrier was a recognized breed and in response to the negativity of pit-fighting, they renamed it as the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The American Pit Bull Terrier was developed to be a little larger in size than the Staffordshire in both height and weight. This breed comes from crossing various Bull and Terrier breed to get a working dog. The Amstaff for the most part is bred to be a show dog and is not usually a “street dog” used in dog fighting rings. The direct ancestors of the APBT are the Old English Bulldogs and the Old English Terriers. These dogs are great family dogs, gentle beyond comparison unless raised to fight. They make great therapy dogs as well as police dogs. They are not by nature cruel, aggressive or attack dogs.
Both professional confirmation breeders and street fight breeds have developed new strains of the American Pit Bull Terrier. A few are worth mentioning here.
One of the oldest strains of the American Pit Bull Terrier they are red in color and that red is a very unique tone. They have a copper colored coat and nose with red nails, red lips and amber or red eyes. These dogs were originally from Ireland and when they came to America they had the red nose. Originally bred for gameness, it is the red color that is sought after now.
These are another old breed, but they have black noses and were initially bred by John P. Colby in the late 1800s. These dogs were known to be indominable fighting dogs and were bred into almost every line of American Pit Bull Terriers that exist today. The line is still maintained by the Colby family.
The Old English Terrier is a working dog, a sporting terrier known for his athleticism. This is a vibrant dog, both physically and mentally, and the dog will require plenty of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation.
If you go to a reputable pet shop, you will find many stimulating toys for such a clever dog. He is also social and friendly and makes a wonderful pet.
Your Old English Terrier stands at between 30 – 45cm and weighs between 6 and 15kg. The face of the dog is wedge-shaped and the eyes are set wide apart. The ears are erect and the tail has been docked but is left long these days.
The coat of the dog can be either rough or smooth and it is available in solid black or white or a black and tan mix.
The Old English Terrier is a working and sporting terrier. He makes a wonderful companion pet. He is an intelligent, boisterous type of dog and early training and socialization are necessary to make him obedient and more amicable around people and pets.
They are loving with their human family, but because they require such vigorous exercise, they are better suited to life in the countryside as opposed to living in a cramped space in the city.
True to their reputation as fighters, the American Pit Bull Terrier looks like one – powerful, strong and well built. This belies their gentle disposition but too often they are judged by their looks. With a broad, brick shaped head, thick neck and deep chest, they are stocky, muscular and agile. They usually have cropped ears, but the tails are not docked. Their legs are strong and hindquarters especially muscular. These dogs are much stronger than they look. Round soulful eyes are one of the traits that people who keep these dogs as companion animals love about them. They have a scissor bite and one of the strongest jaws of all domesticated canines.
Your Old English Terrier is a working dog and while he is known to be independent and sometimes quite stubborn, he is intelligent and trainable.
He should be trained and socialized and then he becomes a great family pet, being amicable with children and other pets. He is a good natured pet but he has lots of energy and will rely on you to provide him with walks and games, whether you live in the city or the countryside.
Give him the right upbringing and you can be assured of the most splendid pet and companion.
For those who live with the American Pit Bull Terrier there is no better dog. The APBT loves people and loves children. They think they are lap dogs, and they certainly are watch dogs. They love their people but their barks at strangers at home are not because they are protecting their people but rather they are greeting the strangers into their home. Unfortunately, they will not greet another dog in the same way. However, when their people are seriously threatened they will give their lives to defend them.
These are strong, confident dogs who want to please their people. They love children and make great family dogs but require a strong owner and a strong pack leader. The need to be under control around other dogs and because of their strength, need a strong owner. It is their aggression towards other animals that must be controlled.
There are some health problems with a dog that can be inherited, but some illnesses develop because of bad lifestyle and bad diet along with lack of exercise.
Your Old English Terrier can live to anything from 10 to 14 years of age, but there are always some common dog diseases that you may want to be aware of.
Dental disease, skin allergies, hip dysplasia, cancer, epilepsy, bloat and eye diseases are just some of the diseases that are highly unlikely, but which can be worrisome for your pet.
Though the American Pit Bull Terrier is healthier than most large dogs, they do have an issue with hip dysplasia. Breeders have been working to breed this out of the APBT and their work in this area has helped with the other issues with the patella, heart and thyroid. The APBT can have skin allergies and Demodex Mange. This condition can be either deadly or just a localized skin issue. Immunizations and testing is essential for this breed. When not immunized, American Pit Bull Terrier puppies have a greater incidence of parvovirus than other breeds. They also might have cataracts and congenital heart disease.
Looking after your Old English Terrier is easy, whether you choose the short- or long haired breed, requiring you to brush him twice a week to remove those loose hairs. Check in and outside the ears for ticks and fleas and check around the eyes for infections.
Always run your hands over your dog to make sure there are no unusual lumps which could be indicative of cancer.
Make sure your pet has a nice dry, warm place to sleep, and if he is outdoors, make sure he has a spot to lie down in that is out of the sun and rain.
He is an active dog and will require a walk each day as well as ball- and rope games.
Every dog will benefit from a high quality diet, both commercially manufactured food and home-made food. Dogs want their meals to be simple, tasty, consistent and delicious.
Dry kibble needs to be of a high quality and you can add in simple home-made food to his kibble and which is simple – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. When you can afford it, some raw meat added into the kibble will be a welcome treat.
Such a simple diet will ensure you don’t battle with your dog’s digestion and it will keep him bright-eyed and healthy. Ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
How you feed your American Pit Bull Terrier puppy is important to her health as an adult and long life. The adult dog should be fed one and a half to two and a half cups of high quality food twice a day. Puppies should be fed more often as they grow. DO not feed your APBT soft or canned dog food. Their food should be dry. Be careful not to feed too much as you do not want an obese American Pit Bull Terrier.
As previously mentioned this is a healthy breed with problems with:
These are usually inherited, and the pup may show signs early, or they could be developed later in life. They can be removed.
Hip dysplasia as in many larger, stronger breeds this can be a major problem. Breeds should test for it and APBT breeders are attempting to breed it out of the APBT.
This is a congenital issue that breeders are also breeding against and if they have it your American Bit Bull Terrier was likely born with it.
Many APBT are allergic to grasses or out outside allergens. Shots or medication can deal with these.
This is an athletic, joyful breed that loves to play, love sports and loves any activity that bonds it with its family. Some of the many sports the American Pit Bull Terrier likes to participate in include: agility, obedience competition, weight pulling, lure coursing and fly ball. He also needs backyard exercise and daily walks.
When walking your American Pit Bull Terrier, make sure she is on a leash as the breed has a tendency to be aggressive with other dogs coming into their space. The APBT loves to work. They are good therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, even service dogs.