Description

The Bull Terrier, also known as English Bull Terrier, belongs to the Terrier family of dogs. The Bull Terriers’ built is pretty strong and muscular. The Bull Terrier has a well rounded body with a short, but strong back. The most unique feature about the Bull Terrie is its long, strong oval shaped head. The head is often described as “egg shaped” when viewed from the front. The head is almost flat at the top with an even slope down to its nose. The Bull Terrier’s triangle shaped eyes are yet another unique feature in this breed of dogs. The eyes, also referred Almond shaped, appear sunk and are dark in color. The neck is long and robust and the shoulders are very strongly built too. The Bull Terrier’s tail is short and pointed. The Bull Terrier carries its tail horizontally and walks with self esteem and confidence and hence is popularly known as the “Gladiator of the Canine Race”.  On an average, the Standard Bull Terrier stands at a height of around 20-24 inches and weighs anything between 44-85 pounds. The Miniature Bull Terrier stands at a height of 10-14 inches and weighs in between 24-33 pounds.

Coat

The Bull Terrier’s coat is dense, short, close and flat. The coat is very shiny and is slightly harsh to the touch. The Bull Terrier’s coat comes in two color varieties, all white with no other marks except on the oval shaped head, and any color other with a few patches of white here and there. Most popular color varieties include black, brindle, red and fawn. All these varieties have patches of white.

History

In the early 1800s animal based blood sports reached the peak of its popularity. One such popular game was the fight between bulldogs and bulls. Enthusiasts of this sport decided to create a dog that was fiercer and had the ability to attack with agility. They decided to cross the Old English Bulldog (now extinct) and the Old English Terrier.  They also decided to add a little bit of blood of the Spanish Pointer. The result of this is the Bull Terrier breed. This new breed was a combination of the qualities of both the breeds used in cross. The new breed retained the tenacity and stubbornness of the bulldog, and had the agility and speed of the Terriers. However, this new breed proved to be a failure in most combat situations. In 1860, James Hinks, a dog dealer started breeding the white coated variety. This soon caught the fancy of people who liked fashionable pets. Brindle Staffordshires were used to create the colored variant of the Bull Terrier by back crossing. The breed has long been used as a guard and a watch dog. The breed was sometimes also used as a ratter and herder too. The miniature variant, aimed to have similar traits with a smaller size, was developed as the “Standard Bull Terrier”.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) was the first to recognize the “Standard Bull Terrier” in 1885. They recognized the Miniature Bull Terrier in 1991. The AKC considers the Standard Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier as two different breeds although the standard requirements are the same except for the size. Other clubs such as the Federation Cynologique (FCI) recognizes both of them as different variants of the same breed namely, the Standard and the Miniature. The United Kennel Club also recognizes the Bull Terrier and it doesn’t consider the height and weight restriction and just requires the dog to be proportionate.

Temperament

The Bull Terrier was known to be extremely fierce and was once also being referred to as the fierce gladiator. However, over the years the breed has toned down temperamentally and is now very gentle and amiable. Bull terriers are known to be courageous and fearless. If in a spot of bother, the Bull Terrier might just do anything to defend its owner. Apart from its brave and fearless attitude, the dog is also known to be very active, clownish and funny. The Bull Terrier is a very loyal to its owner. They tend to become very attached with their owners. The Bull Terrier loves its owner and is very polite with them. The Bull Terriers enjoy affection and crave for companionship; they tend to fit well with active families, where they get lot of attention and supervision. The Bull Terrier can be a wonderful companion and pet if groomed and socialized extensively from its formative years. The Bull Terrier is fond of people of all ages. However, lack of physical and mental exercise makes them too energetic for small children. The Bull Terrier doesn’t respond well to situations where they are left unattended or alone for 8 hours a day.  Extensive socialization will help the dog get along with other male dogs. Males and females however, usually love each others company. The Bull Terrier is not recommended with other pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and hamsters. They are very active and make excellent watch dogs.
This breed of dogs is not a good match with inexperienced dog owners, hence not recommended for inexperienced dog owners.

Health

The Bull Terrier is prone to slipped patella. Slipped Patella is a dislocation of the knee caps. The breed is also prone to heart disorders, kidney complications, and skin and flea allergies. Bull Terriers are allergic to excess protein doses therefore it is recommended to have a right mix of other ingredients in the diet. Chicken meat should not ideally exceed 30% of the total ingredients. Insect bites, such as those from fleas and mosquitoes, sometimes might lead to rashes, itching or other allergic responses. To keep this problem in check, it is recommended to keep the dog out of contact from these insects. The Bull Terrier is prone to suffer from a zinc deficiency, which can potentially cause death.  The Bull Terrier tends to put on weight pretty easily. So overfeeding is not recommended. White Bull Terriers are prone to deafness. It is recommended to have all the puppies, white or otherwise, checked for deafness. Deafness usually occurs among 20% of the white and 1.3% of the colored Bull Terriers. Umbilical Hernia and Acne are also known to be among common ailments of a Bull Terrier.
A Bull Terrier’s average lifespan is around 10-12 years. Depending on their nutrition and medical care a few might live longer. A male Bull Terrier in South Wales, UK by the name of "Buller" was reported to live up to the age of 18 years. The oldest female Bull Terrier named "Puppa Trout" lived till the age of 17 in Australia. The average litter size of a “Bull Terrier” is 5 puppies

Grooming

The Bull Terrier is very easy to groom as it doesn’t have a large coat. The Bull Terrier sheds around twice every year. Combing and brushing once in a while will be enough. The loose hair can be removed by rubdown with special rubber gloves on a daily basis. It is recommended rub down the coat with a damp soft cloth. This helps to give a shiny and glossy look to the coat. Also, adding oils to its food will add some shine to the coat. Brushing the teeth and trimming the nails are also recommended once in a while.

Exercise

Bull Terrier is a high energy dog that has a reputation to become lazy and gain weight easily, hence vigorous exercise on a daily basis is highly recommended. The daily exercise should include long walks and small sprints. However, young ones should not be over worked as this causes strain to its muscles. The ideal time to take out the dog for a walk or a sprint is early morning or in the evenings. Hot afternoons should be avoided for exercise.

The Bull Terriers, if sufficiently exercised, can manage to live in apartments. They are fairly active indoors and a small yard will do.

Training

The Bull Terrier is a very powerful dog hence it is imperative that the dog is adequately trained before he gets too big for the owner to control easily. Enrolling the Bull Terrier in a puppy obedience class is recommended to ensure the dog gets correct training at a young age. Moreover, these classes play an important role in socializing the puppy.