Irish Bull Terrier vs Collie - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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.

The Irish Bull Terrier is a variant of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is also known as the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrie.

The dog isn’t particularly well known outside of Ireland and it is also unrecognized by any kennel clubs, although there are some dog organizations which recognize the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier and this includes the Dog Registry of America as well as the United National Kennel Club.

Although descended from the Irish Bulldog and the original Staffordshire Pit Terrier, the breed has also been influenced by other dog breeds such as the English White Terrier among others.

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.

Bred essentially for dog fighting, the Irish Bull Terrier, known also as the Irish Staffie, is a medium sized dog which stands at roughly 43 to 48cm and weighs in at anything from 14kg to 18kg.

The dog is muscular, lean and strong with a strong jaw, deep chest, a broad head, short muzzle with round, brown eyes. The ears are half-erect and he has a long, straight tail. The coat of the dog is short and smooth and in different shades of red, fawn, black and brindle. Sometimes there are white markings.

Temperament:

The Irish Staffie has an aggressive temperament when it comes to fighting other dogs, but he loves being with a human family, being a social dog.

Those who have owned the dog say he is a courageous, confident, strong-willed, affectionate, loyal pet who is playful and loves getting up to mischief. He is intelligent too and can be easily trained and socialized, getting on well with children in the home.

This dog seems to have a constant grin on his face and he just loves life. He loves working hard and playing hard and even though he has a history of fighting, with people he is loving and devoted.

He is boisterous and better suited to a strong-minded, active family as he tends to be stubborn, wanting his own way. He can adapt well to life in the city or the country, but wherever he lives, he will require his owners to give him a good amount of exercise.

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.

Lots of contact from his human family is what your Irish Bull Terrier will want from you. He is a loving, social dog and close human contact as well as lots of good food and exercise is what he will require from you.

With training and socialization he becomes an awesomely obedient pet, getting on well with adults and children in the home. He is such an entertaining, happy dog and once you've had an Irish Bull Terrier you will find your home empty without one.

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.

Looked after well, your Irish Bull Terrier can reach 14, 15 or 16 years of age. Just like with other dogs, he is prone to some common dog illnesses, of which eye illnesses can be one.

Glaucoma:

Production and drainage of fluid is supposed to be balanced in the eye, and Glaucoma comes about when this balance is disrupted. Symptoms include red eye, pain, increased tear production and corneal cloudiness. Your vet may recommend treatment that will decrease inflammation in the eye.

Cataracts:

The lens of the eye is usually clear but sometimes it develops a cloudy cataract which blocks light from reaching the back of the eye. The result is poor vision and even blindness. Cataract surgery is available for dogs and your vet can advise you further.

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.

Grooming:

An Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier isn't going to require you spending a lot of money on him in terms of grooming. He is a low maintenance dog and his short, smooth coat will only require a good brush once or twice a week as he isn't a heavy shedder.

Brushing him has several advantages – he loves the attention you’re giving him, its a time to check on fleas and ticks and it is excellent conditioning therapy for his coat. A damp cloth can also be used to wipe him down, and this is far better than bathing him with a shampoo that could aggravate his skin.

Exercise:

Your Irish Bull Terrier is an energetic breed and he certainly won't do well in a home where the family leaves him to his own devices day after day in the back yard.

Social and energetic, your pet will want to join you with your daily walks and he finds a ball irresistible. As a responsible dog owner, you will need to see that he gets a fair quota of exercise otherwise you should rather settle for a less active breed.

Diet:

It goes without saying that such an active dog will require a good diet so ensure he can remain happy and active. Always try and feed your pet the best quality food there is.

If its commercially manufactured food, make sure its high quality and isn’t packed with unwholesome fillers and preservatives. Your vet can always offer sound advice on this aspect.

Some homemade food such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables added to his kibble will do him the world of good and if you can afford it, mix in some raw meat from time to time. Make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.