bull terrier

 

breed of large, muscular terrier originating in England around 1835. It stands from 19 to 22 in. (48.3–55.9 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 30 to 36 lb (13.6–16.3 kg). Its short, flat-lying, harsh coat is glossy white or, in the colored variety, most popularly brindle with white markings. Developed for dogfighting from a cross of bulldog and a now extinct English terrier, the bull terrier was renowned for its courage, strength, and intelligence. However, down through the years English breeders placed increasing emphasis on the breed's overall disposition and less on its aggressiveness. As a result, the bull terrier of today is a friendly, gentle dog that makes a responsible and devoted companion. See dog.

Bull Terrier
A coloured Bull Terrier
Country of origin
England
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 3 Section 3 #11	Stds
AKC:	Terrier	Stds
ANKC:	Group 2 (Terriers)	Stds
CKC:	Group 4 - Terriers	Stds
KC (UK):	Terrier	Stds
NZKC:	Terrier	Stds
UKC:	Terriers	Stds

The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family.

Appearance

Bull Terriers are thick-set and muscular with a short, dense coat. Acceptable colours are white, (skin pigmentation and markings on the head are not penalised in the UK show ring), any colour other than white, or any colour with white markings (although Blue and liver are highly undesirable).

The Bull Terrier's most distinctive 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 triangular eyes are small, dark, and closely 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'.^{[citation needed]} There is no set height or weight of the breed but the average is, Height: 16-22 inches (40-56 cm.), Weight: 35-60 pounds (15-36 kg.) The Bull Terrier is the only recognized breed with triangular eyes.

Temperament

Bull Terriers are known as friendly and outgoing dogs, even having a "clownish" attitude about them, though they are not generally ideal for a first-time dog owner. Their physical strength is matched by their intelligence, and both body and mind need to be kept active. They can be fun and playful. As a breed they are generally placid and will not normally make the first move. They are very affectionate dogs that love human company. Bull Terriers are particularly good with children, and usually have a high pain threshold, which reduces the risk of injury 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. Bull Terriers 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 91.5%. The average for all breeds is 81.5%.

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.^{[citation needed]} Insect bites, such as 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 - the oldest female Bull Terrier on record being an Australian housepet dubbed "Puppa Trout" who remained sprightly into her 17th year.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Common Ailments: Deafness, Umbilical Hernia and Acne.^{[citation needed]} Bull Terriers can also suffer from Obsessive complusive behavior, such as tail chasing, self mutilation, and obsessive licking.^{[citation needed]}

History

The now extinct breeds Old English Bulldog and Old English Terrier were crossed to form a new breed of dog called the Bull and Terrier. In around 1860, the Bull and Terrier breed split into two branches, the pure white Bull Terrier and the coloured forms.

Pedigrees of Bull Terriers date from the period during which the English Stud books were first written (circa 1874-6). Although the breed was developed from fighting dogs, the Bull Terrier was intended to be a showdog and companion.

Although the name causes confusion, Bull Terriers are not directly related to American Pit Bull Terriers. Both breeds are, however, descended from the same ancestors.

The Bull Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1948.

Bull Terrier facts

• The Afrikaans name for the Bull Terrier is Varkhond (Pig-dog). Many people think it is because of the pig-like appearance of the head and eyes. However, this name is more likely to have arisen as a result of the use in the past of cross-bred bull terriers during bush-pig and warthog hunting in South Africa, particularly in the Eastern Cape.

• There is also a miniature version of this breed; this distinct breed is officially known as the Bull Terrier (Miniature).

• Bull Terriers are prominently featured in Jonathan Carroll's 1980 novel The Land of Laughs.

• Bull Terriers appear in several movies, including: A Dog's Life (1918), It's a Dog's Life (1955), Oliver!, The Incredible Journey, Patton, Babe: Pig in the City, Next Friday, Frankenweenie, The Last Boy Scout and Derailed, "Scotland, PA"

• Bull Terriers have also featured in television shows such as the 1970s television show Baa Baa Black Sheep, in the opening credits of the British television show Barking Mad, and in the short lived Fox series Keen Eddie.

Famous Bull Terriers

• Bullseye mascot of the Target Corporation
• Patsy Ann
• Rude Dog
• Whiskey, from the Eidos Commandos series
• Spuds MacKenzie
• Fauntleroy, a dog Peter Fox looked after a few times from FoxTrot^{[citation needed]}
• Best in Show Champion Rocky Top's Sundance Kid - aka "Rufus" - Bull Terrier (Colored) - 2006 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show [1] [2]
• Grimm, from the cartoon Mother Goose and Grimm by Mike Peters.
• Scud from the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story.
• Chico, a dog in Next Friday and Friday After Next
• Brut, in the novel, Answers to Brut, by Gillian Rubinstein
• Odd's dog, Kiwi, is rumored to be a bull terrier but he looks more like a Whippet.
• In the film Oliver!, Bill Sykes owns an English Bull Terrier named Bullseye
• The dog from Angry Kid
• Baxter, from the film Baxter - with the tagline, "Méfiez-vous du chien qui pense." ("Beware the dog that thinks.")
• Pete, from the Fox-television series "Keen Eddie", 13 episodes, 2003
• Chester, Chad's (Preppy) dog in Rockstar's video game Bully.
• The original Bullseye in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
• Bodger, an old white bull terrier, is a major character in the book The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
• Fritz, the black-and-white bull terrier who appears in every Chris Van Allsburg book.
• Rick Springfield's bull terrier Ronnie appears on the cover of his album Working Class Dog.
• Sparky, the dog who appears in "Frankenweenie"

See also

• Rat baiting
• Bull Terrier (Miniature)
• Gull Terr

External links

• Mikes Dog House Bull Breed Rescue
• Bull Terrier Club of America
• Bull Terrier Rescue, Inc.
• The Bull Terrier Club Breed club in the UK
• South African Bull Terrier Club
• North Island Bull Terrier Club Breed club on the North Island of New Zealand
• Dogs In Depth Page
• Bull Terrier Info Page
• Blue Ridge Bull Terrier Club, Inc. Breed club area of MD, VA, WV & PA
• The West of England Bull Terrier Club Breed club in the UK

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