Osterreichischer Kurzhaariger Pinscher vs Miniature English Bulldog - Breed Comparison

The Miniature Bulldog is such a cute little dog, hailing from England in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The exact development of the dog is unclear and it seems as though the breeders weren’t working together and were working in two different directions.

There is a lot of debate about the very name ‘miniature’ too because some breeders gave this name to a hybrid mix of a Pug and Bulldog. It seems some breeds were created by crossing English Bulldogs with French Bulldogs to decrease their size. Certainly the origins for the Miniature Bulldog are unknown and there isn’t one particular breeder who can be credited with developing the breed.

Because the Miniature Bulldog is a hybrid breed, it isn’t accepted by the AKC, but it is accepted by the American Canine Hybrid Club as well other registries.

Hailing from Austria, the Osterreichischer Kurzhaariger Pinscher, better known as the Austrian Short-Haired Pinscher has always been depicted on paintings from the Baroque period.

The dog is a terrier-type canine and has always been used as a watchdog but he was also used to hunt because of the terrier qualities he possesses.

This dog has always been used for working on farms. Breeding of this dog started in 1921 and the dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

Because the Miniature Bulldog is a cross between two purebred breeds – the Pug and the English Bulldog. You can expect different looks and characteristics from each breed.

Your mini Bulldog is a small breed dog standing between 25 and 35cm male and female and weighing between 11 and 18kg. The average litter size for these dogs is about 4 puppies.

The Miniature Bulldog has a short coat which sheds moderately and that comes in different colors such as tan and white, brindle, with black and grey also having a show in.

Temperament:

The Miniature Bulldog is a social, friendly breed who is able to get on well with all members of the family, including children and pets in the home. His very stature makes it that he isn’t the most active of dogs, but nonetheless you still want to exercise him and take him for walks to avoid obesity.

As with all dogs, training and socialization are imperative because this is a strong-willed dog who wants to go his own way.

As a medium sized dog, both males and females stand at between 42 and 50cm in height and the dog weighs roughly between 14 and 20kg.

The coat is shortish, dense and smooth and is essentially black and tan with some white, fawn or brindle. The ears of the dog are fairly short and they look as though they wanted to be erect but then decided to be floppy. The nose is black and the eyes dark brown.

The tail is usually docked but when it is left long, it curls over the back. If you want your dog to be bred you can expect between 4 – 6 puppies.

Temperament:

These are playful dogs, getting on well with their human families and wanting to get involved in their activities. They are suspicious of strangers. They are good with kids, making them a good playmate, but they don’t like small children being allowed to climb over them.

They are able to get along well with any other pets in the house. It would be to your benefit to have the dog trained and socialized as he becomes obedient and good around people in social settings. He is an intelligent dog and will find training easy.

They also take their role as guardian and protector seriously.Because he was bred to be a farm dog, he wouldn’t e able to adapt to life on a tiny property in the city.

You’ll love having one of these entertaining, friendly dogs by your side. He is docile, social, fun and a bit stubborn too but he is able to get on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He can adapt to life in the city as well as in the countryside as he doesn’t require too much exercise.

Take special care of him and he’ll make you a splendid family pet.

Have your Osterreichischer Kurzhaariger Pinscher trained and socialized if you want him to be amicable and obedient around you and your visitors.

He does well with a human family who are firm, kind and patient with him. He loves to be kept busy with both mental and physical exercise, thriving on challenging activities, and he will become frustrated if he is left day after day just to lie around.

Take him with you on walks, buy him nice chewy, stimulating toys, throw a ball or frisbee with him and include him in your activities.

This is a dog more suited to life in the countryside as opposed to life in the city. Care well for this splendid family pet and you’ll quickly begin to see why dogs like him are known as man’s best friend.

Unfortunately the origins of the Miniature English Bulldog are not 100% clear and therefore other important information isn't readily available.

These dogs are always prone to breathing and nasal abnormalities because of the shape of their faces as well as being prone to heart deficiencies. Snoring, grunting and quite a bit of panting is part and parcel of the mini English Bulldog.

They’re also prone to overheating, cherry eye and hip dysplasia. It is most unlikely that your Miniature English Bulldog is going to get any of these illnesses and the good news is that he can live to be up to 12 years of age.

The Austrian Short-haired Pinscher is a robust kind of dog that isn’t going to have you rushing to the vet very often. True, he does have some hereditary health issues but it is highly unlikely that you will find these health issues in your pet.

Nonetheless it pays to know about one of the more serious conditions -

Congenital Heart Condition:

This is a heart disease that is present from birth and could have been passed down from the parent dog to the puppy. A congenital heart defect occurs as a malformation of any valve, with the most common congenital heart diseases in dogs being patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis as well as subaortic stenosis, all potentially inherited defects.

Sometimes a dog can live a fairly normal life with this disease but other times there are complications which can lead to congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation, causing symptoms such as difficulty with breathing, cough and weakness. Your dog will need to get to the vet to discuss treatment options.

Diet:

Feeding the Miniature English Bulldog is hugely important. It is imperative that he doesn't become obese. Buy the best dog food there is and see to it that he also gets some home-made food. Chop up boiled chicken, brown rice ad vegetables for your pet and mix occasionally into his dry kibble.

Dogs love simple food – their stomachs can’t cope with different foods. They appreciate consistency with uncomplicated but nutritious foods. The bulldog is a dog which can easily overheat, so make sure he has constant access to fresh cool drinking water. On a hot day you can even use a spray bottle and allow some spray mist sprayed into his face to cool him down.

Grooming:

The Mini English Bulldog is a dog that sheds so you will need to brush him at least twice a week to get rid of loose hair.

Check around his eyes and inside his ears for infection.

Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to get rid of plaque so as to prevent dental decay which can be detrimental to his health.

His face and body have wrinkles, making him more susceptible to skin allergies and you’ll need to keep your eye open for these as they can be terribly painful and frustrating for your pet.

Keep his nails trimmed.

He is neither sleek, agile or quick and you can see just by looking at him that he isn’t designed for being sporty. A slow walk every day will be enough for him as well as some easy-going games inside.

Exercise:

They need quite a lot of exercise, and even though they can adopt to life in the countryside or the city, they will require regular walks, ball- and rope games to prevent them becoming bored, frustrated and destructive.

Grooming:

The Austrian Short-haired Pinscher sheds quite a bit so he will need to be brushed at least twice a week to remove the loose hairs.

Diet:

As a medium sized, energetic dog, you want to ensure you maintain your dogs energetic nature by providing him with excellent food.

Choose your commercially manufactured food carefully as some of them are of a poor quality and can actually be detrimental to your dog’s health. Choose a high quality kibble that has quality ingredients.

Home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes all chopped up and added to his kibble occasionally will do wonders for this dog. He will thrive on also getting in some raw meat from time to time.

Ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water.