Tweed Water Spaniel vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison

Both Tweed Water Spaniel and Old English Bulldog are originated from United Kingdom. Tweed Water Spaniel may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Old English Bulldog. Tweed Water Spaniel may weigh 10 kg / 23 pounds more than Old English Bulldog. Both Tweed Water Spaniel and Old English Bulldog has almost same life span. Tweed Water Spaniel may have less litter size than Old English Bulldog. Tweed Water Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance. But Old English Bulldog requires Low maintenance

History

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.

old english bulldog - historyThis is an extinct dog breed. It is believed that the dog came from ancient dogs such as the old Mastiff. The Old English Bulldog was the original English Bulldog but quite different from the modern variety, with longer legs as well as a longer muzzle and more aggressive.

It is believed that the Old English Bulldog was the ancestor to many breeds and there have been efforts to recreate the Old English Bulldog, bringing about quite a few new Bulldog breeds. Records are actually unclear as to its origins and when you read up on its ancestry, you see that a lot of the information is conflicting.

A number of breeders have attempted to recreate this extinct breed with some success, but it must be borne in mind that these recreations aren’t the Old English Bulldog, as the genetics of it are extinct.

Description

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.

old english bulldog puppy - descriptionThis dog is extinct but he used to be a fairly broadly set, muscular dog, taller than the bulldog of today.

The average height of this dog was 36 – 40cm, weighing in at about 18 to 22kg. One of the dog’s more noticeable characteristics was his lower jaw that projected quite a bit in front of the upper jaw. The dog was deep-chested, the head broad and the nose and muzzle short.

The breed was developed for bull baiting, but in England, with the adoption of the Act of cruelty to animals, there was a decline in the interest for the dog, leading to it becoming extinct. There are old paintings from the 1800s and one such painting, Crib and Rosa, gives an idea of the form and size of the Old English Bulldog.

Temperament:

The regular English Bulldog today is often confused with the Old English Bulldog but it is a far sweeter breed than the Old English Bulldog. It is believed that the Old English Bulldog was an aggressive dog, bred to be this way because of his role in bull baiting.

As a pet though, brought up as a companion, he no doubt would have made a loving, loyal pet.

Characteristics

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.

old english bulldog dog - characteristicsNot much information is available on this extinct dog. Perhaps because of his history of being used for bull baiting, he wouldn’t have made a good family pet as he was too aggressive. He wouldn't have been a good choice for a first time dog owner and he wouldn't have been a good choice of pet for children.

He was possibly owned by a single person who made money from him. Small wonder then that he became extinct when he was no longer required for this role.

Health Problems

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.

old english bulldog puppies - health problemsThis dog, although extinct would have battled with common dog illnesses that can still be seen in the modern bulldog today.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome:

Brachycephalic airway syndrome is all about upper airway abnormalities and can be quite a problem in your Old English Bulldog because of the shortened muzzle of these breeds. These particular dogs have a smaller upper jaw and an overcrowding of of teeth and you will see that effort is required to inhale. They breathe more easily through the mouth then the nose. They have noisy breathing, particularly during exercise and in hot weather.

Cherry Eye:

Dogs have 3 eyelids, and cherry eye is the term used for prolapsed nictitating membrane, or the 3rd eyelid, when the eyelid comes out of place and you get a pink mass. It is a common condition found in Bulldogs, a genetic problem where surgical intervention or medicine may be recommended.

Caring The Pet

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.

old english bulldog dogs - caringIf the Old English Bulldog were still around today, you would have cared for him like you would most other dogs -

Feed your Old English Bulldog puppy 4 times a day with high quality puppy food.

At 6 months of age you can be giving your young dog 2 meals a day.

Commercially manufactured food is fine if its a high quality one. Always check out the top 5 ingredients on the packaging – the first 2 should be protein or meat. Follow a simple, consistent diet to minimize symptoms. Your adult dog can have kibble and sometimes you can add in chopped boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. A little bit of raw meat can also be added to the kibble once in a while. Never leave your dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Even though the dog is extinct, dog owners of that time would have had to watch their dogs for ticks and fleas and any of the common dog illnesses of that time.

The dog would have had some kind of grooming – a brush down a couple of times and he would have been checked for ear and eye infections.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Companion dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
3 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Ladykirk Spaniel
None
Colors Available:
Liver
tan, brown, grey, White, black
Coat:
Medium length, wavy to curly
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Breed Comparison
  3. Tweed Water Spaniel vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  4. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Bull Arab - Breed Comparison
  5. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Gordon Setter - Breed Comparison
  6. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Magyar Agar - Breed Comparison
  7. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Eurohound - Breed Comparison
  8. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir - Breed Comparison
  9. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  10. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore - Breed Comparison
  11. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  12. Tweed Water Spaniel vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  13. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  14. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  15. Tweed Water Spaniel vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  17. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  18. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  19. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  20. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  21. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison
  22. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  23. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Mixed - Breed Comparison
  24. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  25. Pomsky vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Bulldog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Old English Bulldog vs Golden Doodle - Breed Comparison
  28. Old English Bulldog vs Aussie Poo - Breed Comparison
  29. Old English Bulldog vs Eurasier - Breed Comparison
  30. Old English Bulldog vs Irish Doodles - Breed Comparison
  31. Old English Bulldog vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  32. Old English Bulldog vs Bordoodle - Breed Comparison
  33. Old English Bulldog vs Dalmador - Breed Comparison
  34. Old English Bulldog vs Hairless Khala - Breed Comparison
  35. Old English Bulldog vs Jindo - Breed Comparison
  36. Old English Bulldog vs Hermes Bulldogge - Breed Comparison
  37. Old English Bulldog vs Elo - Breed Comparison
  38. Old English Bulldog vs Kromfohrlander - Breed Comparison
  39. Old English Bulldog vs Dutch Smoushond - Breed Comparison
  40. Puggle vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  41. Schnoodle vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  42. Sanshu vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  43. Pandikona vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  44. Renascence Bulldogge vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  45. Serbian Tricolour Hound vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  46. Valley Bulldog vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  47. Whoodles vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  48. Mini Sheepadoodles vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  49. Beabull vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds