Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Collie - Breed Comparison

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was first developed in the northern sections of Birmingham and in Staffordshire, England. The Staffie is a cross between a Black and Tan Terrie and the Bulldog, but had other breeds crossed in over time in order to create a bull-baiting dog and a fighting dog. In the Victorian age these sports were banned but dog fighting went underground and continues on some level today.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was exceptional at these “sports” due to his build, power and jaw strength. Today’s Staffie is a descendent of those early Bull Terrier crosses. Together with the Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull, the Staffie also traces its roots back to those original English Bully dogs. All three breeds have the Bulldog in common.

After dog fighting and bull baiting were banned the Stafforshire Bull Terrier was further developed as a companion and pet. Still their reputation as fighting dogs cost them recognition in the official kennel clubs for some time. They finally made the UK registry in 1935, but it was not until 1974 that the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted them.

The Collie is a herding dog from Scotland and is also known by other names such as Rough Collie or Lassie Collie.

The first Collies used to be more in size as today’s Border Collies and they were also essentially black. Queen Victoria stepped in to save the Collie from obscurity, bringing some back to England where their popularity soared.

The looks started changing as they were bred and in 1860 they were shown at a dog show in Birmingham, England as ‘Scotch Sheep Dogs’.Later on the sable coat color was introduced.

In 1879 the first Collie was imported to the United States and a club for the dog breed was formed in 1886.

Description

The Staffordshire is a muscular, stocky and unusually strong breed, small to medium size in height and build. They have broad, powerful chests, wide set, strong legs, strong shoulders, broad head with a fairly short muzzle. Their ears are not cropped but they are short and fold over. The coat is stiff, close and short and the tail is medium and carried low. Most Staffies are brown, but they can be red, brindle with white, fawn, black, white or blue.

The modern Collie is a medium to large sized dog that stands at 51 – 61cm and weighs between 20 – 29kg. You could say that the popularity of the Collie grew because of the dog Lassie, a Rough Collie dog in the film ‘Lassie Come Home’. People who saw this film learned what a wonderful pet the dog could be.

The Collie has two looks – the full coat which is known as the Rough Collie and the shorter coated Collie known as the Smooth variety. The coat comes in different colors but is essentially tri-colored in white, tan and black tips. The Collie has erect ears and a long, feathery tail.

Temperament:

Temperament of a dog is affected by a number of factors, including lifestyle of owners, heredity as well as whether the dog had training and socialization.

The Collie is a good-natured, friendly dog with no aggressiveness in him. He adapts well to city and country life, so long as he is with his human family, but he will need lots of exercise.

He will do well with training and socialization, turning into an even more splendid pet than he already is. He loves the children in the home and loves playing with them and watching over them. The Collie is intelligent and loyal and is easily trained.

1.Children friendliness The breed adores children but care should still be taken because they are so strong and their jaws are so powerful.

2.Special talents they adore children and they one of the most powerful jaws among canines.

3.Adaptability they need exercise and space, they are not apartment dogs.

4.Learning ability very smart, but very stubborn

Your Collie is an intelligent dog who will need physical exercise as well as mental stimulation too, otherwise he can develop some destructive behavior patterns that could be avoided just by seeing to his exercise needs.

He is easy to train and is a sensitive dog, wanting to learn and wanting to please.

A well trained Collie makes a wonderful pet. He is such a loyal dog that he will go to the ends of the earth for his owner, and guarantees to be every bit as affectionate, brave and loyal as the film-star dog, Lassie.

The breed is basically healthy, but they do have some hereditary health issues.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia- can cause arthritis.

• Patella luxation otherwise known as a slipped kneecap- can cause pain and some lameness.

• Skin allergies and even a tendency toward Mange which is chronic in some forms and fatal in others.

• Heat issues and breathing issues due to their short, compressed faces.

• Like most active dogs their size, they are susceptible to bloat which can be fatal if not treated immediately.

The Collie is a healthy dog breed generally, but just like with all other dogs, they are also prone to certain health conditions. It’s not to say that your Collie will get these diseases, but it can be beneficial to you and your pet’s health to be aware of them if you’re looking at the Collie as a pet.

Collie Nose:

This is a condition where the skin of the nose peels and oozes and left untreated, it can be painful for your pet and could even lead to cancer.

Collie Eye Anomaly:

This is an inherited eye disease that can actually lead to blindness. When certain parts of the eye don't develop properly it can lead to CEA - a genetic disease found in Collies as well as other dog breeds. The disease is also known as Choroidal Hypoplasia and brings about changes and abnormalities in the eye.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket and certainly dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred as it can lead to pain and lameness.

1.Feeding the puppy Don’t over feed as he grows fast. Feed a high quality dog food for medium size puppies. Feed 1-2 and a quarter cups in 3-4 meals per day.

2.Feeding the adult Don’t exercise right before or after eating due to potential for bloat. Feed 1-2 times a day a high quality medium breed dog food.

3.Points for Good Health immense strength and power.

4. Games and Exercises They are terriers after all and they dig. Need a fairly large yard with a strong fence. They love to play ball, frisbee and can excel at cart pulling.

Grooming:

The Collie will need grooming because of his long hair, and you will need to brush it at least twice a week to rid it of loose hairs and to keep it free from tangles. This is especially important if you live in the country and he leads an active lifestyle running through fields.

Keep a constant check on your Collie’s ears because dirt build-up can lead to an ear infection. Your vet can advise you on how to clean your dog’s ears. Make sure you have your Collie’s nails trimmed.

Diet:

To cater for your Collie’s size and activity levels, make sure to feed him good food that meets his nutritional needs. Protein is the most important nutritional need for dogs, and apart from feeding your dog quality kibble, protein should also come from raw, animal-based sources such as meat, fish and poultry.

You can also include some cooked brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken to provide variety. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water available.