Puli vs Glen of Imaal Terrier - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hailing from Ireland and known also as the Wicklow Terrier or just Glen, the Glen of Imaal Terrier was used to get rid of rats, badgers and otters as well as being a good all-round farm dog.

Using his strength, he was good at digging into burrows to root out badgers, but unlike other terriers, he wouldn’t go on and on yapping around his prey. He isn’t an excessive barker.

The terrier was recognised by the Irish Kennel Club in 1934 and later by the American Kennel Club in 2004. The Canadian Kennel Club recognized Glens in 2017.

The Puli’s history is ancient, going back about 2,000 years. It is believed that Sumerians used Puli-type dogs to herd sheep thousands of years ago.

Ancient excavations show signs of Puli dogs. It is believed that Magyar tribesmen brought Pulis to Hungary for their herding abilities. The Puli was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1936, and the Puli Club of America was formed in 1951.

An interesting fact with the Glen of Imaal Terrier is that this is a dwarf breed, being a big sized dog on short legs, with the front feet turning out.

A typical Glen of Imaal Terrier stands at roughly 30 – 36cm and weighs up to about 16kg. Another interesting aspect with this dog is that it can take up to 4 years to reach maturity.

The head of this muscular dog is large, the ears are half erect, and while the tail has always been traditionally docked, it is often left long. The double coat of the dog is soft with the undercoat but he has a wiry outercoat. The color of the coat is essentially wheaten, tan or blue. The coat doesn’t shed much but some Glen owners strip excess hair a few times during the years.

Temperament:

Glen of Imaal terriers are energetic, easygoing and they make splendid pets for any family. He is more than happy to give up lying around for games and activity just to lie at his owner’s feet. He is an intelligent dog too and even though he is somewhat stubborn, he responds well to training and socialization. In fact training and socialization is important for every dog breed to prevent negative behavior and to ensure your pet is obedient.

The Puli is a medium sized dog from Hungary standing at between 36 an 45cm in height and weighing 10 to 13kg. He has always been a herding dog and his long,corded coat has been his trademark.

The color of the coat can be black, white or cream but black is the color most seen with the Puli. The dog may well be a low shedder, but the coat is still going to need a lot of maintenance to keep it looking reasonable. It gets longer and longer and will need to be groomed to keep the cords neat and clean.

Temperament:

The Puli is an intelligent dog and it can be trained to respond to some simple commands. If the dog gets enough exercise, he can adapt to life in the country or in the city. As a herding dog he is used to being busy and will need walks, a run off his leash in the park and ball games.

They get on well with children and with other pets and are loyal to their owners and wary of strangers. They are highly active dogs these, and they just love playing games throughout their adult lives.

Because they are dogs which need a lot of exercise and space, they are more suited to life in the countryside as opposed to life on a small property in the city. They also make good faithful family guardians.

The Glen of Ismaal Terrier is more docile than other terrier breeds, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t feisty. He loves to play and is an adventurous dog, always on the lookout for exciting opportunities and to chase prey.

He is a good natured pet and he gets on well with adults, children and pets in the home. He can adapt well to life in the city or in the countryside so long as he is with his family members.

He isn’t a couch potato dog though, and wherever he lives, he will need a good amount of exercising. Treat him with the love and respect he craves, and you’ll have a wonderful canine companion.

Your Puli is a self-confident, strong willed dog that is intelligent and can learn to be obedient and well mannered. They are also social and playful, and will love to be a family pet, being prepared to provide friendship and loyalty.

Because he has always been a herding dog, he takes his role of guardian and protector of his human family seriously. He makes a splendid pet if you’re ready to tackle the long coat which makes sure he doesn’t fit into the low-maintenance category.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a feisty, healthy breed, particularly when he gets the best food there is, then he is not likely to get ill easily.

However, just like other dogs, he can be prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia. When a dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, the socket part of the joint is poorly developed, so that is causes abnormal friction.

Inflammation and pain can be the result and your dog can become lame. Unfortunately, rapid weight gain with puppies can put more stress on the hips, and diets without the right balance of vitamins and minerals can be bad for good bone development.

Joints, eyes, and skin problems can cause problems with the Puli dog. Hip dysplasia is a problem with many dogs that can cause pain and also lameness.

Check your pet over with grooming sessions and make sure both the ears and eyes are free of discharge and redness.

The coat is thick and the Puli will require you to watch his skin for bacterial infections which can be caused by a lot of itching and scratching. Other common canine health issues to look out for are cancer and bloat.

Caring for a Glen of Imaal isn’t going to be a huge job. This is what makes him such a wonderful pet as he is a straightforward pet, requiring little more than a brush to avoid the hair matting.

Check his ears, teeth and nails from time to time to ensure he is always in tip top condition.

Diet:

If you intend making use of the convenience of commercially manufactured dog foods, the top quality one will provide you with balanced nutrition for your Glen and you can mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken from time to time.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a small-breed dog and, he should be offered dog food that has been specially formulated for small, energetic dog breeds. You can also add in a little bit of raw meat into his kibble as a treat as this is important for keeping him free of skin allergies.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool drinking water.

Training:

Training and socialization is important for any dog and not just the Puli. Well trained dogs are a joy to have around – they are obedient and well mannered. The Puli is intelligent enough for you to train him yourself or you can have a professional trainer do it for you.

Exercise:

The Puli is an athletic dog but you don’t want to start with any strenuous exercise with a young dog less than a year of age. Take your young dog for walks and give him some ball games. Only start more strenuous exercise later on to spare unnecessary pressure on the joints which could lead to hip dysplasia later on.

Grooming:

Every dog needs to be brushed and groomed to ensure its health. A dog like the Puli will need additional grooming because of the long dreadlocks for a coat. Many Puli owners prefer to have the hair cut short.

The coat of the Puli luckily doesn’t shed much but the coat, if you keep it long, will require a special wide tooth comb. You’ll need to check inside his ears, check that his eyes are bright without any discharge and also trim his nails.

You will have to check inside his mouth too. He can’t tell you if he has a rotten tooth that is painful and causing him to be sick. You need to regularly check his teeth.

Diet:

It is important to know how much to feed your Puli. A healthy diet is so important for good health and a long life. All dogs have different appetites depending on their age, their breed, their size, the season of life they’re in and their activity levels.

It is better to feed your dog twice a day as opposed to one meal a day to avoid life threatening illnesses such as bloat. There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, but also bad ones, so you want to make sure that the kibble you choose is a high quality one with lots of vitamins and minerals.

You want to give him some home-made food too, keeping it simple and uncomplicated – the way dogs like it. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet.

Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week. Some raw meat added in from time to time will contribute to him being healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.