Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier despite its somewhat doleful appearance, is a gentle dog and utterly reliable with children. However, if provoked by another dog, this terrier will fight to the death. The Bull Terrier never lets go. It is also a fine guard. It may let an intruder into your house, but one thing is certain: it won't let him out again. No one could call this a beautiful breed, but it has an attraction all its own.

Origin and history

This terrier began life as a fighting dog and battled on, seemingly impervious to pain, until bull baiting was outlawed by the British parliament in 1835. Thereafter a dedicated band of fanciers determined to preserve the breed and refine it while preserving its strength and tenacity. They included James Hinks of Birmingham, England, who, by crossing the White English Terrier with the English Bulldog and Dalmatian, produced a new strain of white dogs he called English Bull Terriers. Following World War II, coloured Bull Terriers made their appearance. However, the breed as a whole has never regained the tremendous popularity it enjoyed in the 1940s as companion and friend. Perhaps this is all to the good, as there are today few individuals except first-class breeders producing sound, attractive stock, though a common criticism has been that some animals are much too whippety.

Bull Terrier Puppies

Health care

The Bull Terrier is a healthy, hardy dog. However, don't buy one without checking its hearing: Bull Terriers are often born deaf.

Good points

• Affectionate
• Can cope with most climates
• Excellent with children
• First-class guard
• Healthy
• Hardy

Take heed

• Best suited to country life
• Needs disciplining when young
• Needs plenty of exercise
• Powerful dog: you must be strong enough to hold on to the lead

Size

The standard has no height or weight limits: the Bull Terrier could be 70lb (31.75kg) in weight or half that. Maximum substance is required according to the size of the dog.

Exercise

The Bull Terrier is a powerful dog with boundless energy and should not be confined to apartment life. More suitable would be a happily controlled country life with plenty of opportunity to run free.

Bull Terrier Information

General appearance
The Bull Terrier is the gladiator of the canine race. It must be strongly built, muscular, symmetrical and active with a keen, determined and intelligent expression, full of fire and courageous but of even temperament and amenable to discipline. Irrespective of size, dogs should look masculine and bitches feminine.

Colour
For white, a pure white coat; skin pigmentation and markings on the head should not be penalized. For coloured, the colour should predominate. All other things being equal, brindle to be preferred.

Head
The head should be long, strong and deep, right to the end of the muzzle but not coarse. Viewed from the front it should be egg­shaped and compeltely filled. The nose should be black and bent downwards at the tip. The nostrils should be well developed. The under-jaw should be strong.

Tail
Should be short, set on low and carried horizontally. Thick at the root, it should taper to a fine point.

Feet
Round and compact with well-arched toes.

Health care

The Bull Terrier is a healthy, hardy dog. However, don't buy one without checking its hearing: Bull Terriers are often born deaf.

Bull Terrier Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Normal regular brushing.

Feeding

If the dog is 20-501b (9-22.7kg) give it 13-200z (369-587g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 13/4-3 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water. If it is 50-1001b (22.7-45.4kg) in weight give 20-260z (587-737g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 3-5 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.

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