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Bull Terrier
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The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the
terrier family.
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Description
Appearance
The Bull Terrier's most recognizable feature is its head, described
as 'egg shaped' when viewed from the front, almost flat at the top,
with a Roman muzzle sloping evenly down to the end of the nose
with no stop. The unique triangle-shaped eyes are small, dark, and
deep-set. The body is full and round, while the shoulders are
robust and muscular and the tail is carried horizontally. It walks with
a jaunty gait, and is popularly known as the 'gladiator of the canine
race.'
There is no designated height or weight for the breed but the
average is, Height: 51-61 cm (20-24 inches), Weight: 20-38 kg
(44-85 pounds) The Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier are
the only recognized breeds that have triangle-shaped eyes.
Temperament
Because of their power and difficulty to train ,"bullies" are not ideal
for a first-time dog owner. However, their physical strength is
matched by their intelligence, which makes them a thoroughly
reliable pet. Both body and mind need to be kept active and they
can be fun and playful. Bull Terriers can be extremely strong willed
and dominant, especially males. A Bull Terrier is not your average
dog, this is a mentally and physically strong breed. Strict
leadership and discipline regiment should be engaged from day
one of ownership. Your Bull Terrier may seem like playful and
mischievous puppy at first, but owners should be very aware to
look and recognize aggressive and dominant behavior even in the
first 6 months. The responsibility to bestow discipline in, and
engage in proper training of these animals lies wholly with the
owners and/or breeders. Genuinely 'bad' bull terrier dogs are few
and far between.
They are typically very affectionate dogs that love human
company. Older (mature) Bull Terriers are particularly good with
children, and usually have a high pain threshold, which reduces
the risk of injury to children from a defensive bite. Younger dogs,
however, may regard children as playmates and because of their
strength could cause inadvertent injury. They are protective of
children in their charge, and the females are especially noted for
this. Bull Terriers can make formidable guard dogs while their
owners are away.
The American Temperament Test Society, Inc. (ATTS), a
not-for-profit organization that promotes uniform temperament
testing for dog breeds, gives the Bull Terrier a pass rate of 92.1%.
The average for all breeds is 81.5%. However,
a) the pass rate is a percentage of the "pass" and "total" numbers;
b) a fail in any of the ten subtests fails the entire test; and
c) the tests results do not include any performed after 31
December 2007.
ATTS, as at December 2007, has tested only 63 "Bull Terriers"
(they don't list as "English Bull Terrier").
"Bullies" will usually live and play very amicably with other dogs,
choosing to discourage with a firm put-down rather than biting any
smaller or less capable animals wishing to rough-house outside
their class.
The English bull terrier is a great family dog as they are calm and
relaxed but will become very active when played with. After about a
year or two they should be out of their puppy stage but they should
then play with you when you want them to play.
Health
All puppies should be checked for deafness, as this sometimes
occurs (most commonly in pure white dogs) and is difficult to
notice, especially in a relatively young puppy. Many Bull Terriers
have a tendency to develop skin allergies. Insect bites, such as
those from fleas, and sometimes mosquitoes and mites, can
produce a generalized allergic response of hives, rash, and
itching. This condition can be stopped by keeping the dog free of
contact from these insects, but this is definitely a consideration in
climates or circumstances where exposure to these insects is
inevitable. Their lifespan is somewhere between 10 and 14 years,
although they can live longer - a male bull terrier house pet in
South Wales, UK by the name of "Buller" lived to the age of 18
years. The oldest female Bull Terrier on record is an Australian
house pet dubbed "Puppa Trout" who remained sprightly into her
17th year. The second oldest female Bull Terrier on record is
"Boots Moon Stomp Stout (Crain)" of Denver, Colorado USA.
Boots lived to be 16 years of age.
The Bull Terrier's coat is easy to maintain, but grooming can keep
it in near-perfect condition. Adding oils to their meals can also
vastly improve the quality of their coat. Another important issue is
that any whiteness around the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, stomach
or hindquarters with a short and sparse haired breed such as this
must be protected against the sun with a gentle but high SPF
factored sunscreen to prevent sunburn and subsequent cancer.
The Bull Terrier requires a fair amount of exercise, but overworking
the dog at a young age will cause strained muscles. Older dogs do
require exercise, but in small doses, whereas younger ones will be
happy to play for hours on end. The breed is renowned for being
extremely greedy; be sure to maintain a good balance of exercise
and food, or the dog can become overweight. Also, be sure to
check ears, eyes, nose and mouth every day for signs of infection,
they can also suffer from a bad heart.
Common Ailments: Deafness, Umbilical Hernia and Acne. Bull
Terriers can also suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, such
as tail chasing, self mutilation, and obsessive licking.
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Bull Terrier
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Country of origin
United Kindgom
Weight
44-85 lb
Height
20-24 in
Coat
Short, dense
Color
Mostly white, but other
varieties
Life span
12-14 years
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White Bull Terrier
showing triangular eyes
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