Tweed Water Spaniel vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison

Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is originated from Ireland but Tweed Water Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Tweed Water Spaniel. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than Tweed Water Spaniel. Both Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Tweed Water Spaniel has almost same life span. Both Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Tweed Water Spaniel has almost same litter size. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier requires Low Maintenance. But Tweed Water Spaniel requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Sporting dog
undefined
Ireland
United Kingdom
Height Male:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 7
4 - 6
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Irish Staffie
Ladykirk Spaniel
Colors Available:
Fawn, black or brindle - bi-colored, tan
Liver
Coat:
Short and smooth
Medium length, wavy to curly
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

irish staffordshire bull terrierThe Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes from Staffordshire, England, but the Irish Staffie was later developed by Irish breeders so its origin is essentially Ireland. They were developed from bulldogs and different terrier breeds.

The dog was always used for bull baiting, but when this sport died out, the Irish breeders wanted to create a taller, leaner dog suited for dog fighting. When dog fighting was banned the breed became rare again, but today it has been restored and is essentially a popular companion pet.

The Tweed Water Spaniel is extinct. Fortunately, we have some beautiful dogs that come from this dog. It is involved in bringing about the Golden Retriever. They were athletic dogs from Berwick-upon-Tweed.

It was in 1816 that Richard Lawrence wrote of the origins of the Tweed Water Spaniel which is thought to have come from the Newfoundland dog. It is believed that huntsmen used these dogs to retrieve the ducks and geese they shot. This purebred dog wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club or the FCI.

Description

irish staffordshire bull terrier puppy - descriptionThe Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium sized pure-breed dog standing at roughly 43 to 48cm and weighing anything from 14 to 18kg.

He has a short, smooth coat which can be a mix of colors such as fawn, tan, black or brindle. The coat can also be bi-colored such as in fawn and white or black and white. He is a powerfully built dog with short legs which are fairly wide apart.

He has a large head and short muzzle with powerful jaws.Sometimes when he pants after a hectic bout of exercise he gets a comical, grinning look on his face. The ears are semi-erect, semi-upright and he has a long tail.

Temperament:

Your Irish Staffy is a feisty, confident dog that has been known to have a temperament which leads towards aggression. It is why he should be trained and socialized to make him more amicable and obedient. He is an intelligent and alert dog, so won't have difficulty with training.

A well trained and socialized Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier will get on well with children in the home as he is a playful, jovial dog, always ready for a game.

The Tweed Water Spaniel had a curly liver-colored coat with a long feathery tail and medium-sized floppy ears. It is thought that he was a large dog standing at between 50 to 60cm in height and weighing between 25 and 32kg.

The Tweed Water Spaniel, regarded as a moderate shedder, would have required being brushed from time to time.

Temperament:

The Tweed Water Spaniel had so many wonderful characteristics that made him a splendid family pet. He was smart and able to learn basic commands. He was also very playful and would have made a robust, playful friend for children.

They made gentle, loyal companions for their human family and wee able to get on well with other pets in the home. They would have got on well with other pets in the home too and it is believed that they were amicable enough to have been suited as a therapy dog.

They made good watchdogs too, being active and alert, just loving the outdoors. They’re well suited to life in the country or a home with a big garden and wouldn’t like to be cooped up on a small property in the city.

Characteristics

irish staffordshire bull terrier dog - characteristicsThe older Irish Staffie has always been an aggressive type dog used for fighting, but today the modern breed is capable of being a splendid, entertaining, amicable pet with an even temper. He is feisty for sure, being brave, fearless, loyal and loving with his human family members.

All it requires with this dog is to have a firm, loving upbringing, some training and socialization as well as good food and plenty of love and attention. Many dogs get labelled wrongly because of the humans that rear them the wrong way. When done correctly, the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier promises to be a wonderful, loving, loyal pet.

Intelligent, courageous and friendly, it seems such a pity that the Tweed Water Spaniel is extinct because he seemed to have been a super dog.

Luckily we have dogs such as the Golden Retriever that remind us of what a good family pet he was.

Health Problems

irish staffordshire bull terrier puppies - health problemsThe Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, just like with any other dog, has a good chance of living a good number of years if he is fed properly. He can live to be anything up to between 10 and 16 years.

Say what you like, good nutrition and the lifestyle you provide for your Irish Staffie will determine how long he lives. An unhappy dog that has to beg for love and attention won't do well. Your Irish Staffie can live to a ripe age but he is still at risk for certain health problems.

Mastocytoma:

These mast cell tumors are graded according to their location in the skin. Certain dogs like Boxers and bulldogs are more susceptible to mast cell tumors than other breeds, and the Irish Staffie isn't immune either. Most times the tumor develops in an older dog, though young dogs have also been known to develop the tumor. These tumors can be inactive for a while and then experience some rapid growth with some redness and fluid build up. Immediate veterinary intervention will be required.

Because this dog is extinct and because no health records were kept, it is assumed that he would have had the same health issues as a Golden Retriever. Typical health issues of this dog would include hip dysplasia, obesity, cardiomyopathy.

Obesity:

This is a preventable disease in dogs, and if dog owners only knew what damage they do by allowing their dogs to become obese. Certainly, obesity shortens a dog’s life.

It is mind-boggling to realize that scientific evidence tells us that fat tissue is biologically active, secreting inflammatory hormones and also putting stress on the dog’s joints. Obese dogs develop an increased risk for cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Cardiomyopathy:

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by an enlarged heart. The heart doesn’t function properly with the ventricles becoming enlarged. The muscle wall of the heart becomes thinner and this causes the heart to lose the ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Fluid can accumulate in the lungs. This can all lead to congestive heart failure. Your dog will battle to breathe, be panting and coughing, have an extended abdomen and may even collapse.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

irish staffordshire bull terrier dogs - caringThe Irish Staffie is an active dog, who is always game for anything. He will certainly need active owners who include him in all their activities. He has a lot of stamina and endurance and will want to join you on your walks, hikes and swimming. Ignoring his exercise needs can turn him into a restless, unhappy, frustrated, destructive dog.

Grooming:

Having a short, smooth coat means your Irish Staffie being a low maintenance dog. He does shed a bit so his coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs. Its always a good opportunity to check him for fleas and ticks too.

If the short coat gets too dirty, a wipe down with a damp cloth can keep the coat bright and shiny. Certainly avoid bathing him too often as this can aggravate the skin.

Check his nails and trim them if they get too long. Check his ears and teeth as these are all problem areas which can contribute to your dog becoming ill.

Diet:

Your Irish Staffie is such an energetic dog that he will need excellent food that promotes this energy. Whether you buy him the best commercially manufactured kibble, you want to also add in some home-made food such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as well as including some raw meat occasionally. The food you provide your Staffie with needs to be full of vitamins and minerals to avoid illness. Always make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The Tweed Water Spaniel had floppy ears and as a water dog, he may well have had ear infections in his day. One wonders if dog owners of that time were aware of the need to have the inside of the dog's ears clean and dry.

The Tweed Water Spaniel would have needed to have his eyes checked too. Pus in the eyes could indicate the dog wasn’t well.

Exercise:

The Tweed Water Spaniel would have required a lot of exercise and would have loved long walks and hikes. He wouldn’t need an invitation to go swimming and if you threw a stick or ball into the water, he’d be right there, jumping right in.

If you were a person that thrived on an active life this dog would have been for you.

Diet:

Nobody really knows what the Tweed Water Spaniel would have eaten in the 19th century when he was around. He’s the kind of dog you’d have to be careful with as he could put on weight easily.

If he were around today, you’d give him a high quality commercially manufactured food that was designed for large, active dogs. No doubt in those days, the owners gave the dog scraps off the table.

Today if you wanted to give your dog home-made food, you’d stick to healthy foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some healthy vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes.

Puppies would have required 4 bowls of food a day while the adult dog would require 2 meals a day.

Comparison with other breeds

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