It is widely thought that English Bull Terriers were bred to fight to the death in the bloody sport of bull baiting. As the name suggests the breed was created by crossing two now extinct breeds, the Old English Bulldog with the Old English Terrier. In around 1860 the Bull Terrier breed split into two branches, the white terrier and the coloured forms. In 1939 the miniature variant of the breed was registered as a separate breed by the British kennel club. Today they are one of the most popular dogs in Britain and are proven excellent guard dogs. Although the names are similar they are not directly related to American Pit Bull Terriers but they are descended from the same ancestors.

English Bull Terriers are friendly and have a sense of humour, but they can be stubborn and are not ideal for the first time owner. They are very intelligent and learn quickly and their mind as well as their body needs to be kept active. A firm hand is required when training as they are generally placid but were originally bred as fighting dogs and will react if challenged. They love company and affection and do not react well to be left alone for long periods and can cause damage if they get bored.

Over exercising young ones is to be avoided as it can strain muscles but as they grow they will play for hours on end. The breed is known for being particularly greedy so this exercise is necessary along with a balanced diet to avoid allowing the dog to become overweight. The English Bull Terriers coat is short and easy to maintain, grooming and adding oils to their food will keep it in near perfect condition. The most usual colour is white with a coloured marking on the head or back, but they can also be black, red, brindle, fawn or tricolour.

As with most predominantly white dogs deafness sometime occurs and puppies should be checked carefully as it can be difficult to notice in the young. They can also suffer from skin allergies and have reactions to bites from fleas, mites and mosquitoes. Bull Terriers should be kept clear of these insects as much as possible and special care should be taken in climates where the insects are common. Other ailments can include umbilical hernia, acne and obsessive compulsive behavior such as tail chasing and self-mutilation. The average lifespan of a bull terrier is around 10 to 14 years although they can live longer.

The Afrikaans name for the Bull Terrier is 'Varkhond' which means Pig-dog, many think this is because of the pig like appearance of the head and eyes but is actually they were used during bush-pig and warthog hunting in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

English Bull Terriers have appeared in several movies including: Oliver! Babe: pig in the city, The Last Boy Scout, Derailed and The Incredible Journey. Their characters have also appeared in: Rude Dog, Angry Kid, Toy Story and Patsy Anne among several others.