Parson Russell Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Parson Russell Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd is originated from Belgium but Parson Russell Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Belgian Shepherd may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than Parson Russell Terrier. Belgian Shepherd may weigh 22 kg / 49 pounds more than Parson Russell Terrier. Both Belgian Shepherd and Parson Russell Terrier has almost same life span. Both Belgian Shepherd and Parson Russell Terrier has almost same litter size. Both Belgian Shepherd and Parson Russell Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Terrier dog
undefined
Belgium
United Kingdom
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
33 - 36 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
52 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
33 - 36 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
4 - 8
Size:
Large
Small
Other Names:
Belgian Sheepdog Chien de Berger Belge
Parson, Jack Russell Terrier
Colors Available:
depends on variety - black with white, brown
White, black - tri-colored, tan, fawn
Coat:
short- and long-haired varieties
Short and smooth, rough or broken
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

belgian shepherdThere are different varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog – but these all differ only in color, length and texture of coat. The interesting aspect of the names of the different Belgian Shepherds, is that the names of the different varieties are taken from the individual towns in Belguim from which each variety comes from.

This breed dates back to the middle ages, but it was only in 1891 that Professor A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School established standards for the types and actually separated- and distinguishing them. In the UK they are shown as one breed.

parson russell terrierThe Parson Russell Terrier hails from England and is a small to medium sized dog dating back to the 18th century. It is believed that Reverend John ‘Jack’ Russell was the developer of this dog. The Parson has always been involved with England’s sport of foxhunting.

They’re spritely and quick and have been able to keep up on a hunt and take on a fox in its lair. The dog was first recognized in 1990 in the United Kingdom as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier and in America in 1997.

All the top kennel clubs recognize this dog as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier.

Description

Different Varieties

belgian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Belgian Shepherd is a well proportioned, muscular medium-to-large dog breed. There are the different varieties but they generally stands at 56 – 66cm in height and weighs anything from 25 to 30kg. You get the short haired Malinois and then you also get the Belgian Tervuren and the Groenendal which are fairly long-haired varieties. Their colour shades vary so you can find black with white markings on the chest and feet, you can find light to dark brown and some are even inclined to be brown.

Not Aggressive but a Great Guardian

All the varieties have long tails, pointed, fully erect ears and black noses. While the Belgian Shepherd isn’t an aggressive dog, he makes an excellent guard dog, being alert, highly energetic and intelligent and easy to train. As with most other dogs, you’ll want to see to it that he is trained and socialized because then he makes a super pet suited to life with a family where there are children and other pets. He has an independent nature and is loyal and protective with his human family.

parson russell terrier puppy - descriptionThe Parson Jack Russell is essentially a white dog with black and tan or orange-fawn patches. He can be tri-colored too. The coat is either smooth, rough or broken.

He stands at between 33–36cm tall at the withers and weighs between 5 and 8kg. Unlike the Jack Russell, the Parson Russell Terrier has longer legs. He has some longer hair on the head, legs and body. The ears are floppy wit the tip pointed forward. The tail has always been docked but when left long it it held high, slightly curving over the back.

Temperament:

Feisty, brave, cheeky and alert, the Parson Russell Terrier is an energetic dog who gets on well with children as he knows that this is essentially where his games come from.

He is bold and clever and you’ll be able to have him trained and socialized without any trouble. These little dogs are full of life and they are protective of their humans and their property, making excellent watchdogs.

Characteristics

belgian shepherd dog - characteristicsEnergy is a big factor with this beautiful dog, so before you consider one as a pet, be sure that you can take care of his exercise needs. He belongs to the working group of dogs so he won’t enjoy just lazing around day after day. He is wired to be herding livestock and that natural instinct doesn’t disappear once he becomes a pet in your home. With so much energy, he wants a nice sized garden and wouldn’t do well cooped up indoors at all.

He is a strong, loving dog, and in exchange for your care of him, he will be a loyal, loving, protective friend who will love you to the end.

parson russell terrier dog - characteristicsIn general the Parson is a friendly,loving dog, fairly small but packed full of feisty personality.

They make excellent pets for the entire family. He is an intelligent dog, but typical of most terriers he can be stubborn, but this can easily be fixed with training and socialization. With good care, he’ll make you a wonderful little pet and companion.

Health Problems

belgian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Shepherd is a hardy dog so if you do your part to provide him with good quality nutrition from the food he eats and you exercise him, he’ll reach the 10-14 years allotted to him. Just like with any dog, there will be some minor concerns that you need to watch out for -

epilepsy, eye problems, cancer, skin allergies and hip dysplasia.

remember to check his teeth and for ticks and parasites as both, if just left, can jeopardise his health seriously.

see that he get his first puppy vaccinations at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

parson russell terrier puppies - health problemsYour Parson Jack Russell can live to be between 12 and 15 years but nonetheless he does have some breed-related health issues to watch for.

Eye Disorders:

Eye conditions which can affect this dog include primary lens luxation,cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy. With cataracts the lens of the eye develops a cloudy look resulting in poorer vision and sometimes blindness. Cataract surgery is available for dogs.

Obesity:

Your Parson Jack Russel should be lean and muscular and always full of energy. Avoid feeding him unhealthy treats which can lead to obesity and other health problems.

Parasites:

All kinds of parasites such as ticks, fleas and worms can invade your dog’s body. Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms can cause havoc with their health and some of these parasites can even be transmitted to humans. It’s why it is important to get your puppy to the vet to be de-wormed and to get his first injections.

Liver Problems:

A liver disorder known as portosystemic shunt can mean that some of the blood supply doesn’t get to the liver and it doesn’t function properly. This will mean the liver can’t remove toxins from the bloodstream effectively.

Caring The Pet

Exercise

belgian shepherd dogs - caringYour Belgian Shepherd is an energetic dog breed who is social and who wants to be included in your family activities. You can’t just keep him cooped up in your back yard and expect him to do well. He’ll need daily exercise – walks, swims if there is water close by, chasing the ball as well as your companionship.

Grooming and shedding

These dogs are shedders so you’ll certainly be needing to watch your clothes for hairs. You will need to give them a good brush at least twice a week to get rid of all that loose hair and to keep his coat shiny and in tip top condition. Also, he likes the closeness the brushing provides between him and his human caretaker.

Feeding your Belgian Shepherd

The Belgian Shepherd is a robust, healthy breed of dog, but many ill dogs are brought to veterinary clinics because they are suffering with itchy skin problems, they have digestive problems and they’re generally run down. This is because they aren’t provided with a varied and balanced diet plan. Apart from eating a quality dry- or wet dog food as recommended by your vet, he’ll most certainly need some raw meat in his diet too.

parson russell terrier dogs - caringThe Parson Russell Terrier has different coat types – the smooth and rough and both will require regular brushing. Rough coats will require plucking or clipping to avoid matting.

Check his eyes and ears regularly. Look inside his ears for excess wax and dirt which could lead to an ear infection. His nails should also be trimmed.

No Puppies – Spay or Neuter:

The best thing you can do for your Parson Russell Terrier if you don’t want your pet producing puppies is to have it spayed or neutered. Spaying for females or neutering for males decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers too so it can be beneficial.

Diet:

Diet is hugely important for a Parson Russell Terrier and the food you decide for him can impact his health. Many time those ‘treats’ you feed your pet do nothing more but give him a stomach ache.

It's tempting to pop chocolates, popcorn, nuts and ice cream into your pets mouth when he is so adorable but in the long run it is shortening his life. All he basically requires and needs is a simple, consistent diet of the top commercially manufactured foods mixed with some tasty home made food from time to time.

Boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach will do your pet wonders. Ensure he always has fresh, cool water available to him.

Comparison with other breeds

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