Bull Terrier Dog Breed

The bully English Bull Terrier that originated in the early 1800's may have had been a fierce thing that excelled in dog fights and varmint extermination but today they are impressive show dogs and fantastic companions. Popular on TV and noted for their charm and obedience in show ring, you might believe this is the perfect dog for you (and perhaps it is). We encourage owners to remember the breed is still very much Terrier-like with an abundance of mischievous energy that must be burned off each day. They can be independent, stubborn and, if bored or lonely, complete nuisances but a well trained, socialized and exercised Bull Terrier can be charming, adventurous and affectionate! We have to mention, while Bull Terrier attacks are rare these days, one that has not been properly socialized with new people and pets may be overprotective and, therefore, an unintentionally dangerous liability. We recommend an active owner or family that can give them plenty of attention and exercise, plus access to a yard is idea. Here are some Bull Terrier facts so you can evaluate the problems and benefits associated with the breed:

PROS

• Loves children, playful companion
• Friendly with most people and strangers
• Enjoys living indoors and spending time with his/her family
• Fairly healthy
• Needs little grooming
• Exercise companion
• Makes decent alert dog
• Can be obedient for firm owner
• Excellent show dog
• Charming, funny, quirky

CONS

• May not get along well with other pets
• May be overprotective if not trained and socialized well
• Needs daily outdoor access and an hour of playtime
• Not hypoallergenic
• Can be stubborn, independent and difficult to train
• Nuisance, destructive behaviors will result if bored, lonely or not exercised
• English Bull Terriers may be banned in your apartment building, city or country

The bull terrier comes in two different sizes, standard and miniature. Miniature bull terriers weigh between 20-35 pounds while standard bull terriers range from 40-80 pounds. The breed's characteristics and behavior is the same regardless of the size.

Even though bull terriers were originally bred to fight, the breed has become much more gentle. Today the breed is a fun-loving friendly companion dog. However, bull terriers can still become aggressive towards other dogs, so it's recommended to socialize them at a young age and consider neutering males. The breed is known to become attached to their owners, so they are not recommended for families who spend the majority of their day away.

Bull terriers are fairly easy to groom. Their short coats need to be brushed once weekly and they only need to be bathed as needed to prevent odors from developing. The breed needs moderate exercise daily, which can be met with 30-60 minutes of walking or play time. Lack of exercise can cause hyperactivity which may lead to destructive behavior.

Bull Terrier history as you might expect, contains a bit of fighting, a bit of pest extermination and a lot of companionship. The origin is all in the name-- Bulldogs were crossed with various EuropeanTerriers in the name of creating a more agile fighting dog; bloodsports were, of course, legal during this time but the modern Bull Terrier has been through quite the evolution. Although popularity skyrocketed among lower classes of England, with the downfall of cruel dog fighting the breed's skills were seen in a different light by a new set of fanciers. Since there were no strict standards at the time (only performance mattered) it was James Hinks of Birmingham that decided to create a gentleman's dog out of this scrappy bull and terrier mix.

The first English Bull Terrier was shown in 1862 and it is supposed that Hinks included breeds such as the bulldog, English White Terrier and Dalmatian in his program to make the Bull Terrier. He specifically bred for white individuals and the breed was therefore dubbed "The White Cavalier". The breed was a hit in the show ring due to his unique looks and charming, obedient temperament. Later, breeds such as the Whippet, Spanish Pointer, Borzoi and Rough Collie were used to refine the look and eliminate the stop-- giving them the characteristic "egg shaped" flat head.

The popularity of Bull Terriers continued to climb and they were recognized by the AKC in 1885. Unfortunately, the selection for white individuals had resulted in a high incidence of deafness among these dogs so, in the early 1900s, the breed was crossed with Staffordshire Bull Terriers to introduce color to the coat (to reduce the incidence of deafness causing genes). Today, most Bull Terriers and extremely loving, friendly companions!

First and foremost, this breed is about the impression they give off-- they should appear muscular, strong, active and spirited. The most notable characteristics, in most people's minds, involve the Bull Terrier head and face. First, it is long and full (not tapering to the muzzle) with triangular, dark eyes set towards the sides of the face. The Bull Terrier's ears are medium sized, erect triangles set atop the head. Who can forget the English Bull Terrier's nose-- it's the physical hallmark of the breed! There is no stop between the skull and muzzle so there is a curve downwards into the nose; although blue or red nose Bull Terriers may be desirable to some, the color is not considered standard and black is preferable.

English Bull Terriers have coats that are short, lie flat, and have a little glossiness to them, however, they are rough to the touch. The legs are solid boned and thick and the short, tapering tail is usually carried horizontally.

Unlike many breeds, there actually is an official size variant for the BT. The Miniature Bull Terrier is AKC recognized as a separate breed but is almost identical to the standard Bull Terrier. The Roman Nose, charming personality and comical quirks are still there, just the size is smaller than the big Bull Terrier. Minis stand 10-14 inches at the shoulder; as with the standard, the wight should be in proportion as to give them a compact, strong, muscular look.

Be weary of those offering Teacup or Toy Bull Terriers as these are not an officially recognized types of English Bull Terriers. The biggest Bull Terriers don't often exceed 65 pounds and the smallest aren't usually larger than 10 inches and healthy individuals will most often fall within specified ranges.

The Bull Terrier's temperament, according to the AKC, is like that of a young child. Frisky and mischievous, yet loyal and charismatic, the Bull Terrier's personality and characteristics have a way of drawing you in. It's easy to get frustrated with their independence and stubbornness sometimes, so the breed is best for an experienced owner. That's not to say they don't respond well to training-- they do and they can be very obedient and reactive to correction, however, you must be as consistent and willful as they are. They respond well to treat and toy based training.

For those wondering "Is the Bull Terrier temperament protective?", the loyal Bull Terrier does exhibit protective behavior. They are extremely people friendly dogs, however, and won't likely exhibit this trait (or even bark, really) unless they deem it necessary. To be frank, their look is more intimidating than their personality. The English Bull Terrier temperament proves to be a great asset when children are involved, playful and exuberant, he/she is also a child at heart. They will need intensive early socialization to get along well with other pets.

This breed usually has a lifespan up to 9-15 years with 9 being the average; this means there are some individuals that don't make it to 9 while others live to a ripe old age. Bull Terriers, like all breeds, are prone to a few health issues-- some hereditary, some not. A responsible breeder will be able to answer any of your health related questions and some will even have certifications of hip, eye or genetic testing done for the parents. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't skip your routine veterinary visits!

Here are the most concerning health problems your Bull Terrier may face:

• Patellar Luxation is when the knee slips out of place, causing pain and disability
• Lens Luxation occurs when the ligament holding the lens diminished over time, causing it to slip out of place in the eye.
• Skin issues including hair loss, rashes and very hard, uncomfortable skin
• Deafness affects up to 18% of the breed and more often is seen in white Bull Terriers
• Heart problems including valve issues and narrowing arteries
• Kidney disease is a common serious problem that usually results in early death. Polycystic Kidney is one such example; these issues can be detected via blood test.

Here's a few English Bull Terrier Facts that may not have been mentioned above:

1. Although there is a fair amount that consider the Bull Terrier ugly, the process of breeding the Roman Nose into the original "White Cavalier" was purposeful and involved mating with breeds such as Borzois and Rough Coated Collies. There are thousands searching for Roman Nosed Bull Terrier Puppies for sale every single month.
2. There is an AKC recognized Mini version of the English Bull Terrier.
3. Deafness may affect up to 18% of all BTs, especially the white coated ones.
4. They are prone to OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) so if they repeatedly perform the same activity (more than normal) he/she may have this psychological disorder.
5. All colors other than white were once considered a separate breed.
6. English Bull Terriers are popularly used on TV and in print ads.