Perdiguero de Burgos vs Glen of Imaal Terrier - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Ireland and known also as the Wicklow Terrier or just Glen, the Glen of Imaal Terrier was used to get rid of rats, badgers and otters as well as being a good all-round farm dog.

Using his strength, he was good at digging into burrows to root out badgers, but unlike other terriers, he wouldn’t go on and on yapping around his prey. He isn’t an excessive barker.

The terrier was recognised by the Irish Kennel Club in 1934 and later by the American Kennel Club in 2004. The Canadian Kennel Club recognized Glens in 2017.

The Iberian Peninsula is thought to be the place of origin for many of the pointing breeds of Europe, and the Perdiguero de Burgos hails from Spain. Known as the Spanish Pointer, the dog has contributed to the development of other pointer breeds.

The dog has been around since the 1500s and believed to be a descendent of the Perdiguero Navarro and the Sabueso Español.

Today's Perdiguero de Burgos is smaller and lighter so as to make it into a better bird-hunting dog.

The Perdiguero de Burgos has always been used to hunt deer but today it is used as a pointer of smaller animals and birds.

An interesting fact with the Glen of Imaal Terrier is that this is a dwarf breed, being a big sized dog on short legs, with the front feet turning out.

A typical Glen of Imaal Terrier stands at roughly 30 – 36cm and weighs up to about 16kg. Another interesting aspect with this dog is that it can take up to 4 years to reach maturity.

The head of this muscular dog is large, the ears are half erect, and while the tail has always been traditionally docked, it is often left long. The double coat of the dog is soft with the undercoat but he has a wiry outercoat. The color of the coat is essentially wheaten, tan or blue. The coat doesn’t shed much but some Glen owners strip excess hair a few times during the years.

Temperament:

Glen of Imaal terriers are energetic, easygoing and they make splendid pets for any family. He is more than happy to give up lying around for games and activity just to lie at his owner’s feet. He is an intelligent dog too and even though he is somewhat stubborn, he responds well to training and socialization. In fact training and socialization is important for every dog breed to prevent negative behavior and to ensure your pet is obedient.

The Perdiguero de Burgos is a large dog with straight, strong legs and a strong, musculr body. He stands at between 52 - 64 cm and weighs between 22 - 32 kg.

The short, smooth coat is white and liver and the coat is heavily flecked or speckled. The ears are Long and floppy, the nose dark brown, the eyes dark hazel and the tail long and fairly slender. The tail has always generally been docked.

The chest is deep, it has a strong, square shaped head with the muzzle being long and quite broad. This dog isn’t recommended for life in the city as they are active dogs requiring a lot of open spaces.

Temperament:

These are wonderfully calm dogs, being gentle and intelligent and with a quite, confident expression to them. Even on the hunt these gun dogs are calm and steady. He is obedient and intelligent, easy to train and patient with children and other dogs.

Training and socialization of this excellent dog simply makes him even more obedient, amicable, Loving and loyal, making him a splendid pet.

The Glen of Ismaal Terrier is more docile than other terrier breeds, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t feisty. He loves to play and is an adventurous dog, always on the lookout for exciting opportunities and to chase prey.

He is a good natured pet and he gets on well with adults, children and pets in the home. He can adapt well to life in the city or in the countryside so long as he is with his family members.

He isn’t a couch potato dog though, and wherever he lives, he will need a good amount of exercising. Treat him with the love and respect he craves, and you’ll have a wonderful canine companion.

Your Perdiguero de Burgos is such an amicable dog, making a splendid family pet. He can sometimes be a little reserved but he is never aggressive.

He can be stubborn but he is intelligent and responds well to training and socialization. He is lively, playful, energetic, calm and loving and he will be willing to join you when you go out jogging or riding your bicycle.

When it comes to grooming he is also pretty low maintenance, so you can see that when it comes to choosing a fantastic family pet, this easy-going, calm dog should be a top consideration.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a feisty, healthy breed, particularly when he gets the best food there is, then he is not likely to get ill easily.

However, just like other dogs, he can be prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia. When a dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the socket part of the joint is poorly developed, so that is causes abnormal friction.

Inflammation and pain can be the result and your dog can become lame. Unfortunately, rapid weight gain with puppies can put more stress on the hips, and diets without the right balance of vitamins and minerals can be bad for good bone development.

All dogs can develop health problems, and with the Perdiguero de Burgos you will need to be made aware of some of the common heath problems there are -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly and the hips partially dislocate. It makes it very painful for the dog to get around. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, although diet and environmental factors can play a big part too. Rapid weight gain can also contribute to hip dysplasia as the extra weight puts strain on the joints.

Hypothyroidism:

This is caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer can also cause hypothyroidism, and it occurs more often in large breed dogs. A common sign of low thyroid function in dogs includes thinning of the hair and a dull, lifeless coat. There is also weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also are inclined to have ear infections as well as skin infections. Your pet will need to get to the vet for blood tests and treatment.

Other health problems include eye problems, allergies, bloat and even epilepsy. Once you buy a puppy, it is your responsibility to protect him from some of the deadly diseases there are and take him to the vet for his puppy vaccines.

Caring for a Glen of Imaal isn’t going to be a huge job. This is what makes him such a wonderful pet as he is a straightforward pet, requiring little more than a brush to avoid the hair matting.

Check his ears, teeth and nails from time to time to ensure he is always in tip top condition.

Diet:

If you intend making use of the convenience of commercially manufactured dog foods, the top quality one will provide you with balanced nutrition for your Glen and you can mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken from time to time.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a small-breed dog and, he should be offered dog food that has been specially formulated for small, energetic dog breeds. You can also add in a little bit of raw meat into his kibble as a treat as this is important for keeping him free of skin allergies.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool drinking water.

Exercise is of critical importance to these energetic dogs. That is why it is important for them to live in a home where there is plenty of opportunity to run, swim and hike. They’re way too energetic to be confined to a tiny city property.

Grooming:

The dog is an average shedder and the smooth coat of the Perdiguero de Burgos simply requires a brush-down twice a week. A rub down too with a chamois will be therapeutic for your pet and leave the coat shiny and vibrant.

Rubbing your pet down like this will give you the opportunity to feel for any unusual lumps and check for fleas and ticks. It is also your chance to check inside the dog’s ears. The ears are floppy and because the dog loves water so much, dirt, wax and moisture can be a breeding place for bacteria and painful ear infections.

Diet:

If you feed your Perdiguero de Burgos a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure you choose a high quality one that has been manufactured particularly for large, energetic dogs. Some of the poor quality foods have bad ingredients in them such as colorants, preservatives and worthless, toxic fillers that can have a detrimental affect on your pets health.

Try and include some tasty homemade food into your dog’s diet too. Tasty, nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and wholesome vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach will do your pet the world of good. You can every now and then, also include some raw meat.

All a dog wants is a simple, wholesome diet like this as it ensures he doesn’t have any digestive upsets. Dogs like simplicity and consistency. Make sure your pet has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.