Schweenie vs Miniature English Bulldog - Breed Comparison

The Schweenie is a hybrid dog, with the parent breeds being the Shih Tzu and the Dachshund.

The Schweenie dog has been around for about 4 decades when breeders were looking for a dog that would be free of the health issues of the purebred parent breeds.

Because the Schweenie is a mix breed, it doesn’t qualify to be part of the American Kennel Club. He is however recognized by the Designer Breed Registry and some other clubs.

The Miniature Bulldog is such a cute little dog, hailing from England in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The exact development of the dog is unclear and it seems as though the breeders weren’t working together and were working in two different directions.

There is a lot of debate about the very name ‘miniature’ too because some breeders gave this name to a hybrid mix of a Pug and Bulldog. It seems some breeds were created by crossing English Bulldogs with French Bulldogs to decrease their size. Certainly the origins for the Miniature Bulldog are unknown and there isn’t one particular breeder who can be credited with developing the breed.

Because the Miniature Bulldog is a hybrid breed, it isn’t accepted by the AKC, but it is accepted by the American Canine Hybrid Club as well other registries.

The Schweenie will be a smallish dog standing at roughly 27cm to 50cm and weighing 4 – 9kg.

Because of the Dachshund parent, he will likely have a long body. The coat is shortish to medium length and can be a variety of colors – from a rusty color to brown, black, grey and even a cream shade. The ears are floppy and the tail medium length.

Temperament:

He is a small dog who is smart and bright and who wants to please his human owners. He loves people and wants to be around them and involved in their activities.

Small and cute though he is, he can be a stubborn dog and become a little big aggressive too if he is feeling a bit moody. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to obey your simple commands such as sit, stay, lie down and come.

He is intelligent enough to learn these simple commands with ease.He is both alert and vigilant, and this makes them good watchdogs.

Because the Miniature Bulldog is a cross between two purebred breeds – the Pug and the English Bulldog. You can expect different looks and characteristics from each breed.

Your mini Bulldog is a small breed dog standing between 25 and 35cm male and female and weighing between 11 and 18kg. The average litter size for these dogs is about 4 puppies.

The Miniature Bulldog has a short coat which sheds moderately and that comes in different colors such as tan and white, brindle, with black and grey also having a show in.

Temperament:

The Miniature Bulldog is a social, friendly breed who is able to get on well with all members of the family, including children and pets in the home. His very stature makes it that he isn’t the most active of dogs, but nonetheless you still want to exercise him and take him for walks to avoid obesity.

As with all dogs, training and socialization are imperative because this is a strong-willed dog who wants to go his own way.

The Schweenie can be somewhat reserved and they need exercise regularly as well. If they don’t get enough exercise, they tend to become jittery and this can make them become a bit snappy. The are more prone to be snappy and aggressive with children who haven’t been taught how to treat animals gently and with respect.

They’re small enough to adjust to life in the city or countryside but will still need to be exercised.

The little Schweenie, with the right kind of owner can become a great little pet and companion.

You’ll love having one of these entertaining, friendly dogs by your side. He is docile, social, fun and a bit stubborn too but he is able to get on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He can adapt to life in the city as well as in the countryside as he doesn’t require too much exercise.

Take special care of him and he’ll make you a splendid family pet.

With good care, your Schweenie can live to be 12 to 15 years of age. Every dog, no matter how healthy, can get some of the health problems that plague many dogs.

Intervertebral Disk Disease:

This is where the cushions between each vertebra come into contact with the spinal cord. It can result in nerve damage and sometimes even paralysis. Because the Shih Tzu is one of the parent breeds, you will need to be aware of this ailment as these dogs are more susceptible to this disease.

Hypoglycemia:

Hypoglycemia is fairly common in small dogs and it is where there is a drop in blood sugar. It can be brought on by stress. It can also be referred to as low blood sugar and it can be deadly. If your pet is hypoglycemic, you will notice a loss in appetite, extreme lethargy, trembling and unusual behavior. You will need to get your Schweenie to the vet immediately for tests and treatment.

Unfortunately the origins of the Miniature English Bulldog are not 100% clear and therefore other important information isn't readily available.

These dogs are always prone to breathing and nasal abnormalities because of the shape of their faces as well as being prone to heart deficiencies. Snoring, grunting and quite a bit of panting is part and parcel of the mini English Bulldog.

They’re also prone to overheating, cherry eye and hip dysplasia. It is most unlikely that your Miniature English Bulldog is going to get any of these illnesses and the good news is that he can live to be up to 12 years of age.

Your Schweenie will need to be brushed at least twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Because of his floppy ears, you will need to clean them and check for redness. If you don’t like the idea of probing inside the ear, professional groomers or the vet will do it for you.

Trim his nails if they don’t wear down on their own.

Provide him with a nice dry, warm spot to sleep.

Provide him with nice chewy toys that will keep him occupied.

Exercise him every day. Taking him on walks and playing ball games with him will keep him fit and trim but also help with staving off boredom.

Ensure his vaccines against deadly diseases are up to date. See that he gets to the vet when he appears to be under the weather.

He is a small dog so you have to be careful about how you feed him. You need to feed him a nutrient-rich dry kibble. Read the packaging and buy dog food according to his size, age and activity levels.

Try and include some home-made food into your dogs diet. A little bit of boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach all chopped up will do him good and can be added into the dry kibble twice a week. Some raw meat should also occasionally be added in as this can help to prevent some skin problems. Be sure that cool, fresh water is available for your pet at all times.

Diet:

Feeding the Miniature English Bulldog is hugely important. It is imperative that he doesn't become obese. Buy the best dog food there is and see to it that he also gets some home-made food. Chop up boiled chicken, brown rice ad vegetables for your pet and mix occasionally into his dry kibble.

Dogs love simple food – their stomachs can’t cope with different foods. They appreciate consistency with uncomplicated but nutritious foods. The bulldog is a dog which can easily overheat, so make sure he has constant access to fresh cool drinking water. On a hot day you can even use a spray bottle and allow some spray mist sprayed into his face to cool him down.

Grooming:

The Mini English Bulldog is a dog that sheds so you will need to brush him at least twice a week to get rid of loose hair.

Check around his eyes and inside his ears for infection.

Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to get rid of plaque so as to prevent dental decay which can be detrimental to his health.

His face and body have wrinkles, making him more susceptible to skin allergies and you’ll need to keep your eye open for these as they can be terribly painful and frustrating for your pet.

Keep his nails trimmed.

He is neither sleek, agile or quick and you can see just by looking at him that he isn’t designed for being sporty. A slow walk every day will be enough for him as well as some easy-going games inside.