English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Bisben - Breed Comparison

Bisben is originated from India but English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is originated from United Kingdom. Bisben may grow 41 cm / 17 inches higher than English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan). Bisben may weigh 51 kg / 113 pounds more than English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan). Both Bisben and English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) has almost same life span. Bisben may have more litter size than English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan). Bisben requires Low Maintenance. But English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
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India
United Kingdom
Height Male:
50 - 76 cm
19 - 30 inches
25 - 35 cm
9 - 14 inches
Height Female:
48 - 74 cm
18 - 30 inches
22 - 33 cm
8 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 55 kg
39 - 122 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 52 kg
35 - 115 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
1 - 7
Size:
Giant
Toy
Other Names:
Bisben Sheepdog, Bisben Shepherd, Himalayan Bisben, Himalayan Bisben Sheepdog, Himalayan Bisben Shepherd, Himalayan Sheepdog, Himalayan Shepherd, Indian Sheepdog, and Indian Shepherd
ETT, English Toy Terrier – Black and Tan
Colors Available:
jet black, either solidly or with white markings on the feet and chest. Other commonly seen colors are tan, tricolor, and “wolf-color,” which probably means grey, brown, black, and/or various shades of sable.
black and tan
Coat:
long, wiry, coarse, harsh
Short, close-lying, thick, glossy
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Aggressive, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Friendly, Intelligent, Loyal
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

There is a lot of mystery surrounding this large herding dog said to come out of the Himalaya Mountains of Asia. The belief is that sheepdogs were crossed with wolves toward the end of the 18th century, but his origin is basically unknown. They are both herding dogs and guard dogs. Others theorize that rather than a wolf, the breed arose from the Mastif family. Still others claim that the Bisben is not a breed at all but rather a “landrace”. A landrace is an animal group that is only found to exist in the local area or is bred locally for a specific reason, while a breed is developed intentionally and from a select purebred with pedigree. The Bisben may be a landrace since it is very popular in India but hardly known anywhere else. What is known is that the Brisben was in existence at the end of the 1700’s and its job was to protect and herd livestock. There are three main theories about the origin of the Bisben. They are, in no particular order:

1. The Bisben was developed by mixing several different Himalayan and Indian Sheepdogs with wolves. The wolf population in the Himalayas and in India live in very close proximity to dogs and people and this population is quite large. These Tibetan and Indian wolves are known to be smaller, more comfortable with people and less aggressive than wolves from other parts of the world.

2. The Bisben was developed by mixing local sheep herding dogs with the Tibetan Mastiff. This gave the breed its protective nature and its large size according to this theory.

3. The Bisben was developed by mixing local dogs with the ones the British, Portuguese and French imported to the India subcontinent.

There is a fourth theory as well and it combines all three of these, supposing that the Bisben is a product of crossing local dogs with wolves, Tibetan Mastiffs and European dogs.

Regardless of their origins, the Bisben grew into one of the most respected animals in the Southern Himalayas. Their assistance to the shepherds of the area was unquestioned and irreplaceable. They were touch enough to herd flocks of goats or sheep across several treacherous and unstable mountain passes. The environment in which these dogs worked when herding is one of the harshest environments on the face of the earth. Temperatures were dangerously cold, altitudes dangerously high and the terrain just plain dangerous. Many deadly large predators live there as well. This included tigers, Asiatic black bears, golden eagles, Himalayan brown bears, snow leopards, fox, dholes, wolves, and small cats. The Bisben had to be able to fight off all of these predators. In addition to these herding and protecting duties, the Bisben was also known throughout the region as an excellent hunting dog. They are capable to this day of hunting large prey such as antelope or deer. They are equally comfortable hunting alone or in a pack. He has grown into one of the most popular hunting dogs in all of India.

The Himalayas, being so rugged and treacherous, were inaccessible to most of India for many centuries and the Brisben was unknown as well. Through the British imperialist expansion across all of the Indian subcontinent, the lowlands people were connected to the highlands and mountain people for the first time. This also meant that the Brisben was no longer unknown. The entire country began to appreciate the dog for its protection and herding of livestock, as well as a companion animal who would protect its owner and family as well. As India continues to grow the popularity of the Brisben grows as well and its numbers increase regularly. The breed, if it is a breed, remains an Indian secret. They have migrated to the countries around India, but their number are small. It is only in India that they are revered and prosper. They are not present in any great numbers in Europe, North America, Japan, or most of Asia.

Whether or not the Bisben becomes a recognized breed depends upon those who own and fancy them. Most Bisbens are bred to only other Bisbens in an effort to purify the breed. However, few dogs have pedigrees and the practice of breeding the Brisben to other breeds and mixed breed to acquire specific characteristics continues to this day. It is unlikely that the Bisben will ever be a purebred dog. It is quite variable in how it looks depending upon what the breeding line of the individual dog actually is. Does it look like a wolf? Does it look like a larger version of a local or European dog? There will always be these questions around the Bisben. Is it a breed or a landrace?

english toy terrier black and tanThey English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is closely related to the Manchester Terrier and the Old English Black and Tan Terrier. The English Toy Terrier was developed to entertain humans in the rat pit due to its speed and agility. This is a sport that was very popular in English cities during Victorian times. Terriers went into the pits with a large number of rats and the winner would be the dog that killed a certain number of rats the fastest. The watchers would take bets on their favorite dog.

The English Toy Terrier was developed to be smaller than the Manchester Terrier, because smaller dogs were desired for the pit. In 1848 a small 2.5 kg black and tan terrier took less than an hour to kill 300 rats. When the Kennel Club was formed the sport of rat killing was outlawed. Because it was such a good looking dog, the black and tan was soon excelling in the show ring. To begin with there was one breed of Black and Tan Terriers and two weight classes. In 1920, the two were divided into separate breeds – the Manchester Terrier and the Black and Tan Terrier. It wasn’t until 1962 that the name changed to the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan).In 1959, the declining numbers of Manchester Terriers caused the AKC to combine them again into one breed with two kinds: Toy and Standard.

Today the English Toy Terrier is one of the most vulnerable of the native breeds and efforts are in place to increase the gene pool and popularity of the dog. The UKC has also re-registered the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) in the stud book if it is a certified Toy. The breed is not AKC recognized.

Description

As mentioned in the previous section the appearance of the Brisban can vary greatly from one dog to another based on the individual dogs’ ancestry. Breed or landrace, the Brisban breeding line is not very pure. Therefore, appearance can vary greatly from what is described here and there is no standard by which to measure the Brisban. Most are distinctly large animals, being as tall as the European mountain dogs – the Newfoundland or the Bernese Mountain Dog, Swiss Mountain Dog. St. Bernard and Great Pyrenees. Reports are that it is perhaps the largest dog in India. At least it is one of the largest dogs in India. The Bisben is said by some to be a large, bulky, husky dog while others claim it to be tall and athletic, leaner than the Mastiff bred. Again, there is disagreement on the size and shape of the Bisben’s head with some claiming it is massively square like a Mastiff while others say the head is long and like that of a wolf not a Mastiff. The long hair of the Bisben and its confusing heritage may be the cause. They are most often black but might also be found to be tricolor, tan and “wolf-color” or brown, grey, shades of sable and black. No matter how it looks, this is a dog that was designed to work in the harshest conditions known and their physical appearance should make that abundantly clear.

english toy terrier black and tan puppy - descriptionThe English Toy Terrier is a small compact breed that resembles the Miniature Pinscher and the Manchester Terrier. The English Toy Terrier has a narrow but long head with a black nose, wedge muzzle and dark, almond shaped eyes. The ears are flame shaped and the chest is deep and narrow. He has thick legs and a tapered tail. The breed is of course black and tan – with the tan on the face, chest and legs.

Characteristics

The Bisben was so important to the people of the Indian subcontinent because of her temperament. He is a loyal, productive and courageous worker who took care of her flocks, her family and her pack. They are devoted to their family and if raised with children will care for them as well. He is suspicious of strangers. They are territorial and great watchdogs. They can take on any large challenger if need be to protect what they consider to be theirs. They can be highly dog aggressive and must be socialized as a puppy. Do not mix them with strange, unknown animals as the Bisben might attempt to kill them. If he sees them as his “pack” he will love and protect them, but not if he does not know them. Take as much time as you need to introduce him to a new animal and do not leave them unsupervised. They are not easy to train as they are stubborn, intelligent, want to be dominant and is a problem solver. If he doesn’t want to learn something forget it – he won’t. You can still train them. It just takes time and patience.

english toy terrier black and tan dog - characteristicsThe English Toy Terrier is a stubborn, strong willed little dog. It has a fearless disposition and its alertness make it a great candidate for a guard dog despite its size. They will chase small animals due to their innate prey drive. They are affectionate and loyal and need to be with people. They love to be cuddled and petted, but usually choose one person that they become very close to. He is more than a lap dog. He can be playful, or he can be a small working dog.

Health Problems

Because he is not a purebred and is probably a land range, there have not been a lot of health studies done and written up on the Brisban. It is believed that the Bisben is for all practical purposes a healthy working dog. As long as the breeding practices are not compromised it should remain a healthy line. It is bred for temperament and work not for appearance and showmanship. Some problems that plague large dogs have been noted in the Bisben. These conditions include hip and elbow dysplasia; optical issues such as Entropion, Ectropion and cataracts; ear infections; and Demadex and Demodectic mange. Most of these conditions can be tested for either in DNA or early in a pup’s life and should be tested for by the breeder before a puppy is sold

Health Problems

english toy terrier black and tan puppies - health problemsLike many Toy dogs, the English Toy Terrier is susceptible to:

Patellar Luxation

Dislocated kneecap – many small breeds are susceptible to this.

Deafness

There has been a congenital line of deafness in the English Toy Terrier since it was developed with a cross from the English White Terrier. Unfortunately, some still breed these deaf dogs and continue to pass on the condition.

Glaucoma

More painful than in the human eye, pressure builds up behind the eye ball. Dogs build up more pressure than humans and this can lead to blindness.

Caring The Pet

The Bisben is a large working dog that needs a lot of calories if you are keeping him busy. Do not let him get overweight. The Bisben should not be free fed but rather given two controlled portion meals per day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned, the Bison was developed with the harshest of conditions in mind and long hours of hard work. It is a healthy breed that is however prone to any of the issues that any large dog is prone to including dysplasia and mange and well as optical issues.

Exercise and games

The Bisben needs a lot of exercise as the breed is developed for hard work. Walks are essential but if you have more than one dog, pack walks are even better and pack time at the dog park or in a fenced yard is great. The Bison was bred to hunt in packs as well as alone and they love to play in packs. In any respect they need at least an hour of strong exercise daily. If they don’t get enough exercise, they can become aggressive, destructive and fearful. This could result in destructive activity, barking and excess excitability. They are not very happy in the city and thrive in the countryside.

Feeding

english toy terrier black and tan dogs - caringAs a high energy small dog feed a high quality dry food that is designed specifically for small dogs. Feed about ¼ of a cup of food split into 2 meals.

Health issues

In addition to the health issues mentioned above:

Von Willebrand’s Disease – VWD

This is an inherited blood disease in which a lack of protein has a negative effect of the platelets. This causes them not to form clots and so the dog has a bleeding issue.

Legg-Perthe-Calve’s Disease

Degeneration of the femur ball joint due to a blood deficiency issue. This can lead to arthritis.

Lens Luxation

Affects the lens by blocking the drainage from the eye creating a glaucoma like pressure.

Skin Issues

The English Toy Terrier can develop skin issues so watch him closely.

Exercise and games

The English Toy Terrier can be very energetic but that doesn’t actually mean she needs a ton of exercise. Because she is small she does not need as much as you might think. A half hour walk once a day is enough or just letting her run in your fenced yard.

He is an intelligent little dog who needs mental stimulation as much if not more than the solution. Play games like catch, hide and seek, frisbee, and performing tricks.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bisben vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Bisben vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Bisben vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Bisben vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Bisben vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bisben vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Bisben vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Bisben vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bisben vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Bisben vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Bisben vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Bisben vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Bisben vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Bisben vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Bisben vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Bisben vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Bisben vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Bisben vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Bisben vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Bisben vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  22. Bisben vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Bisben vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Bisben vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Bisben vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison