Valley Bulldog vs Northern Inuit Dog - Breed Comparison

Looking at the beautiful Northern Inuit Dog, you’ll think that this crossbred dog is a wolf.

As with many other dogs, there are sometimes different stories regarding their history. It was in the 1980's that founder of the breed, Eddie Harrison, bred a number of mixed-breed rescue dogs with Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds and Alaskan Malamutes to produce the early Northern Inuit dogs. This is a dog that closely resembled a wolf in looks but which has the more companionable characteristics of the domesticated dog.

The dog is only recognized by its own independent breed club, but by none of the other major kennel clubs.

The Valley Bulldog originates from Nova Scotia, Canada. It is thought that the Boxer, English Bulldog and the Olde English Bulldogge have been used to bring about the Valley Bulldog.

With these dog breeds included, he is somewhat larger than the regular Bulldog.

It is thought that the Valley Bulldog has been around since the 1990s.

Friendly, calm and gentle, the Northern Inuit Dog is a crossbreed, described as a medium to large sized dog that stands at roughly 58– 81cm in height, male and female, and weighs in the region of 25–48kg.

He has a double coat in typical wolf shades of grey, white, black and cream. He is regarded as a moderate shedder. The ears are erect, the face bright, intelligent and alert and the tail long, bushy and straight.

Temperament:

The Northern Inuit dog is independent, strong-willed and stubborn, and if you want to own one of these dogs, your dog will respond well if you are firm, fair, strong, kind and consistent. This is because the dog is stubborn, sharp, independent and intelligent.

The owner of such a dog must be a firm leader. Training and socialization should start when the dog is still young. He is good with kids, being playful and affectionate with them.

The Valley Bulldog stands at between 36 and 46cm in height and he weighs in the region of 18 – 36kg. He is actually a taller version of an English Bulldog.

He is muscular and sturdy and has the true broad head of which the Bulldog is so familiar. He has small to medium floppy ears and a stump of a tail. He also has the flat muzzle.

The dog’s coat is short and smooth, making him fairly low maintenance, although he is a moderate shedder. It comes in typical Bulldog shades – tan, white, red, black and brindle.

Temperament:

The Valley Bulldog has an excellent nature, being completely non-aggressive, and when he has been trained and socialized you get a superb pet.

He’s intelligent so you won’t have any trouble learning any basic commands. He is able to get along with other pets in the home. He can be quite entertaining too as he becomes clownish, loving to be around his human family. He is also capable of being calm and gentle.

He makes a splendid playmate for children, loving the games as he is quite an energetic dog. He isn’t suited to life in a tiny home in the city because he loves to just run sometimes, and then he can be like a bull in a china shop.

It’s not surprising that people who love wolves would want a similar looking pet. However, they also want this wolf-like dog to be a friend and companion. This is precisely what they get with the beautiful Northern Inuit dog.

With his bright, alert face, the Inuit is actually a calm, gentle dog, bonding closely with his human family and not showing any aggression.

Intelligent and social, and somewhat stubborn, when you provide him with the home he deserves, you’ll see that this beautiful creature can be relied on to be a wonderful family pet.

The Valley Bulldog is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet because he has such a sweet temperament.

He is such a social, playful dog too. Because of his intelligence, you won't have any trouble teaching him some basic commands. You’ll be amused and entertained by this wonderful dog in your life as his warm personality will ensure you have a true friend in him.

There are some genetic problems with this dog breed, although with good care, you are highly unlikely to see your dog with them.

Some of these are hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hips are always a worrisome aspect with dogs as it can bring on lameness. There are some things that can be done to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia.

Joint laxity in dogs occurs when the head of the femur doesn’t fit into the acetabulum properly. This could be the result of several things such as the dog being overweight, injury or something else.

Epilepsy:

Epilepsy in dogs is a chronic condition that results in seizures. This neurological disorder is actually a life-long disease, occurring when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain and which changes a dog’s behavior.

Some breeds are more predisposed to epilepsy than others but you will need to get your dog to the vet when you see your pet jerking uncontrollably. Most of these epileptic fits happen without warning, they last a few seconds to a minute or so and stop on their own.

Joint Problems:

It can be sad watching a dog becoming less mobile as joint problems set in. The vet can recommend a diet which can help to manage joint disease. Also, the pain associated with joint problems can be debilitating for your pet and you will want to get your pet to the vet so the pain can be managed.

These dogs have quite a few folds around the face and these areas need to be kept clean and dry. An overweight Valley Bulldog should be avoided at all costs as this can put additional weight on the joints.

This is a Brachycephalic breed so they tend to battle with breathing, particularly when they are stressed, agitated or hot. Sometimes these dogs will even gag so as to clear their airway.

Watch for coughing and choking. Such difficulties can be life-threatening for your Valley Bulldog so it is important to recognize respiratory problems with your dog.

It’s no longer cheap caring for a dog – just like with a child, by bringing a dog into your home, you have a responsibility to care for it.

If you bring a puppy into your home, you will need to feed him 4x a day. If you feed him commercially manufactured food it will need to be specially formulated for puppies. You will have to read on the packaging to make sure you get the right food.

Later on your pet can start having one or two meals a day. Two smaller meals is best as then he doesn’t gobble up his food too fast which can lead to a life-threatening condition known as bloat. Home-made food is always a welcome treat for your pet, but keep it simple and consistent. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach chopped up and added to his dry kibble can offer him some variety from time to time as well as also adding in some raw meat when you get the chance. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Your puppy will be due at the vet for his first vaccinations. Your puppy's first vaccination will usually be at about 8 weeks of age.

Your new pet will require a warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep and to retreat to.

You will need to provide him with chewy toys to stimulate him both mentally and physically.

You will need to exercise your pet – nice long walks, ball- and rope games etc.

Nearly every dog sheds, and the Northern Inuit will require you brushing him twice a week to remove all those loose hairs. During the brushing session, check him over for fleas and ticks and run your hands over him and make sure there are no unusual lumps on his body.

Diet:

You need to be careful with a bulldog as they have sensitive stomachs and are prone towards indigestion and flatulence. They will certainly need to avoid some foods and you also want to avoid obesity at all costs. The wrong foods can also cause allergic reactions as well as dermatitis which can be very painful and frustrating.

If you have a Valley Bulldog, for your own peace of mind, speak to your veterinarian or a dog expert about the best foods for a bulldog and also the amount to feed. There are some foods that are totally toxic to bulldogs. Make sure your Valley Bulldog always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available that is easy to reach.

Grooming:

Have grooming sessions with your bulldog where you check inside his ears, inside his mouth for bad teeth and check his eyes and face. His nails will also need to be trimmed.

Exercise:

These dogs are more active than you think but you need to be careful that the exercise isn’t too strenuous. He isn’t the kind of dog that will do well with running next to you as you cycle.

Rather take him on a walk every day and give him some ball games in the garden where you can throw him a ball or allow him to pull on a rope.