Valley Bulldog vs Ariege Pointer - Breed Comparison

The Ariege Pointer is a French hunting dog, coming from the Ariegeois region of France.

Known as the Ariege Pointing Dog, French Pointer or Braque de l’Ariege, these dogs came from the old French Braque dogs that were crossed with the orange and white Southern Braques.

It was in 1990 that a team of breeders decided to devote themselves to the breed’s survival. The Braque de l’Ariege was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

The Valley Bulldog originates from Nova Scotia, Canada. It is thought that the Boxer, English Bulldog and the Olde English Bulldogge have been used to bring about the Valley Bulldog.

With these dog breeds included, he is somewhat larger than the regular Bulldog.

It is thought that the Valley Bulldog has been around since the 1990s.

The Ariege Pointer has always been a dog kept essentially for hunting and not as a companion dog. He stands between 55 – 67cm and weighs 25 – 30kg.

He is an attractive looking dog with quite a large head while the body is sleek and slender to look at. The ears are quite large and are floppy while the tail is traditionally docked to give him that distinctive look. These days the tail is often left long and hangs downwards.

The coat is short, single and rough and is white with tan or orange patches. The coat can also be speckled or ticked.

Temperament:

The Ariege Pointer is a hunting dog who is friendly towards strangers and therefore won’t make a particularly good watchdog.

These dog are lively, independent and good natured and they make excellent companion dogs. They are fairly docile and and get on well with children and pets in the home. Just like with any other dog, they need to be trained and socialized early.

The Valley Bulldog stands at between 36 and 46cm in height and he weighs in the region of 18 – 36kg. He is actually a taller version of an English Bulldog.

He is muscular and sturdy and has the true broad head of which the Bulldog is so familiar. He has small to medium floppy ears and a stump of a tail. He also has the flat muzzle.

The dog’s coat is short and smooth, making him fairly low maintenance, although he is a moderate shedder. It comes in typical Bulldog shades – tan, white, red, black and brindle.

Temperament:

The Valley Bulldog has an excellent nature, being completely non-aggressive, and when he has been trained and socialized you get a superb pet.

He’s intelligent so you won’t have any trouble learning any basic commands. He is able to get along with other pets in the home. He can be quite entertaining too as he becomes clownish, loving to be around his human family. He is also capable of being calm and gentle.

He makes a splendid playmate for children, loving the games as he is quite an energetic dog. He isn’t suited to life in a tiny home in the city because he loves to just run sometimes, and then he can be like a bull in a china shop.

The Ariege Pointer has always been an excellent pointing- and hunting dog. When it comes to being a family pet, he puts his hunting skills aside and becomes a loyal, loving, friendly pet.

They are considered to be rare dogs, and were at one time bordering on extinction. Those who have owned one of these hunting dogs will be glad to know that they are no longer considered endangered. They’re not your friendly, social kind of dog that you find in other dog breeds, but with training and socialization he will make a fine companion and family friend.

The Valley Bulldog is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet because he has such a sweet temperament.

He is such a social, playful dog too. Because of his intelligence, you won't have any trouble teaching him some basic commands. You’ll be amused and entertained by this wonderful dog in your life as his warm personality will ensure you have a true friend in him.

The Ariege Pointer is a working dog breed, used for hunting and retrieving prey. With good care the dog can live to be a good 12 – 15 years of age.

However, with every dog breed there are common dog diseases to watch for. This dog has long floppy ears and these can get damp and will need to be cleaned and dried regularly otherwise the long ears can be prone to infection.

Apart from being prone to health issues such as an ear infection, you want to be aware of very common dog ailments such as hip dysplasia which can cause lameness in your dog.

Whatever illness your dog has, and you see he isn’t acting his usual self, get him to the vet for a check-up and then make sure that all treatment and medication prescribed is adhered to.

Joint Problems:

It can be sad watching a dog becoming less mobile as joint problems set in. The vet can recommend a diet which can help to manage joint disease. Also, the pain associated with joint problems can be debilitating for your pet and you will want to get your pet to the vet so the pain can be managed.

These dogs have quite a few folds around the face and these areas need to be kept clean and dry. An overweight Valley Bulldog should be avoided at all costs as this can put additional weight on the joints.

This is a Brachycephalic breed so they tend to battle with breathing, particularly when they are stressed, agitated or hot. Sometimes these dogs will even gag so as to clear their airway.

Watch for coughing and choking. Such difficulties can be life-threatening for your Valley Bulldog so it is important to recognize respiratory problems with your dog.

Neutering and Spaying an Excellent Choice:

Your attractive Ariege Pointer will give birth to 2 – 8 puppies. If you don’t want puppies, then spaying or neutering is excellent and can actually have many health benefits for your pet.

Grooming:

This dog with its short coat requires very little maintenance, and a good brush twice a week will ensure the coat remains glossy and shiny, giving you the chance to also check for fleas and ticks.

Dental Care:

Don’t just assume every dog has bad breath. Bad breath can be indicative of dental disease, and dental problems can cause all kinds of other illnesses within the body. Make sure that while your pet’s teeth are healthy, that you brush them 2 or 3 times a week with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

Good Exercise and Diet:

The Ariege Pointer requires regular exercise as it is a lively, energetic dog. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but ideally he needs a place with a large garden.

Wherever you keep him as a pet, make sure you take him for walks every day and that you play ball- or rope games with him. Ignoring his exercise needs will turn him into a bored, frustrated pet, and that isn’t fair towards him.

Make sure you choose good quality commercially manufactured foods for him. Adding in some home-made food to his kibble such as cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be wonderfully good for him.

Every dog will require some raw meat added into his diet from time to time. Many skin diseases can be treated by adding in raw meat. After all, before dogs were domesticated they lived on raw meat, and including this ingredient back into their diet guarantees to make a remarkable difference in terms of good health.

Diet:

You need to be careful with a bulldog as they have sensitive stomachs and are prone towards indigestion and flatulence. They will certainly need to avoid some foods and you also want to avoid obesity at all costs. The wrong foods can also cause allergic reactions as well as dermatitis which can be very painful and frustrating.

If you have a Valley Bulldog, for your own peace of mind, speak to your veterinarian or a dog expert about the best foods for a bulldog and also the amount to feed. There are some foods that are totally toxic to bulldogs. Make sure your Valley Bulldog always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available that is easy to reach.

Grooming:

Have grooming sessions with your bulldog where you check inside his ears, inside his mouth for bad teeth and check his eyes and face. His nails will also need to be trimmed.

Exercise:

These dogs are more active than you think but you need to be careful that the exercise isn’t too strenuous. He isn’t the kind of dog that will do well with running next to you as you cycle.

Rather take him on a walk every day and give him some ball games in the garden where you can throw him a ball or allow him to pull on a rope.