Yochon vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Yochon is a “designer dog” – a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Bichon Frise. They are not a purebred and are not recognized by purebred dog clubs such as the American Kennel Club (AKC). They are small, playful, families dogs. Most of them bear the best characteristics of each of their founding breeds, but because they are crossbreeds and most will be multi-generational cross breeds, there are no two dogs alike. Though not recognized by the traditional purebred clubs they are recognized by several hybrid canine clubs. The cross was developed in the United States.

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.

Yochons go by many different names but in general they are toy dogs, weighing in at under 20 pounds, most weighing 6-12 pounds. They have black noses, long tails, and round eyes. Their muzzles are blunt and their skulls are also round. They have fluffy, full coats that can range from tan, to brown to black. They can also be white or cream. Their ears can be either hanging or erect.

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.

1 Children friendliness -yes very good but watch careful that children do not hurt them as they are so small and fragile. 2.Special talents – Loves families and playing 3.Adaptability – adapts well to apartments can play indoors 4.Learning ability – intelligent and independent

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.

Both founding breeds are vulnerable to a few medical conditions. These include: • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease – insufficient blood to hind legs, thigh bones causing lameness. • Patellar Luxation – slipped kneecaps can also cause lameness. • Dental Issues – keep teeth brushed and cleaned. • Hypothyroidism – can be treated with medication. • Reverse Sneezing • Allergies • Collapsed Trachea due to small size – be careful with them at all times.

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.

3.Feeding the puppy – do not overfeed. Use a high quality puppy toy breed kibble. Feed 3-4 X day. 2.Feeding the adult – do not overfeed. Use a high quality adult toy breed kibble. Feed at least twice a day. 3.Points for Good Health hearty/general good health and stamina 4. Games and Exercises does not need a lot of exercise . They enjoy obedience and agility trials.

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.