Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Beago - Breed Comparison

Made up of two purebred dog breeds, the Beagle and the Golden Retriever, Beago is kind of new breed. Some say that they were bred on purpose during the 1980s, in a desire to create a smart and loving dog that will be a smaller size than the Golden Retriever since this will make them ideal for indoor life.

The 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.

Beago is a medium-sized dog with a usually tri-coloured coat that can vary in some colours. They have usually short hairs because sometimes happens that they have longer hairs if the Golden retriever genes are stronger. Their hairs are soft to the touch and they don’t shed a lot and that makes them easy to maintain. They have dark coloured eyes, floppy ears, and they have the body shape of the Beagle, but they are very active and muscular like the Golden Retriever.

The 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.

Children friendliness

They are very good with children of all age.

Special talents

Hunting, search, rescue dog, agility competitions.

Adaptability

Beago will love living in a house with a bog yard. As well, he will have a happy life in the apartments as long as you take him out for his daily activity. They get along with other pets, so any other dog or cat will be great company for him. They are usually well mannered in public places, if you train them and socialize, but they will always bark if there is someone strange in your house. They are very good with children of all age.

Learning ability

Beage is very smart breed. They will pick up new tricks very quickly and remember it forever. They would love learning new tricks once you include treats as rewards, but you must be careful not to overfeed him.

The 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.

There are no general health issues with this breed. The health history shows that they have common health problems as any other active dog – problems with hips and elbows. Because of their floppy ears, they are prone to infections and diseases caused by lack of ear hygiene. Some of them have skin allergies. The best advice is always to make regular vet checks. Then you and your Beago can live a happy and long life.

The 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.

Diet tips

The best tip is to feed them with quality dry food. Canned food can be given once in week or less. They will love cheese and meat in their meal. Since they like to munch, they will eat almost any raw fruit or vegetables. Until you Beago is six months old, feed him tree time per day. Keep the feeding schedule unchanged to form a habit and avoid problems with metabolism.

Points for Good Health

Since they don’t shed a lot, grooming your Beago will be easy. They won’t need an everyday brush, but it will be good if you could brush him two times per week and bathe once in a month. Their floppy ears need regular care as well. They need to be cleaned with the ear cleaning solution at least once a week. They will need regular nail trimming as well. They need quality food because they are very active dogs. Make sure not to overfeed them. Daily activity is a must.

Games and Exercises

Beago is very active breed. They like to spend time outdoors, running, playing fetch, jumping. They will love visiting the dog park or any park that is close to your house. They are very good if taken hiking.

Exercise:

The 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.