Description

The English Bull terrier is a very well built dog with plenty of muscles. This breed has a very short, but incredibly strong back. The head is oval in shape with a top that looks very flat. The nose is always black no matter the colour of the English Bull Terrier itself. The eyes are always almond shaped and deep set. The ears are set close together and relatively small. The neck is a well known feature as it is very well build with strong shoulders. The horizontal tail is short and is located pretty low compared to other breeds. The coat of the dog feels like a cactus and is dense. The AKC distinguishes between two different colour variants. The White Bull Terrier and the Coloured Bull Terrier. The white Bull Terrier is known to have markings on the head, but nowhere else on its body.

Temperament

Once this breed was known as the "gladiator". Now this breed has become a much nicer dog and also more social. The English Bull puppies are now trained as pets instead of fighting machines.

The dog is, and probably never will be, a perfect guard dog. It will probably defend the owner in some situations, but it is not bread to do so. Because of the breed, Bull Terrier Dogs are great as a family pet in active families where a lot of movement as well as supervision will be had for the dog. It is a bad dog to have if left on its own for many hours a day.

Due to the active nature of the dog it needs to be part of an active household. Even with small children this does not need to be a problem, but if the Bull Terrier Dog is not exercised enough it might be the wrong dog to have around the smallest children as it might get hyper active. Training Bull Terrier dogs to fit in is not hard as all they require is an active life and strong leadership. They need to be very well taught on the workings of the family and need to be social with other dogs from an early age as otherwise they can become nasty towards other dogs.

The male English Bull Terrier does in general not go well with other male dogs and this breed should not be kept around other animals like rabbits or guinea pigs.

Height, Weight

Standard

Height: 20-24 inches (51-61 cm.) Weight: 45-80 pounds (20-36 kg.)

Miniature

Height: 10-14 inches (25-33 cm) Weight: up to 24-33 pounds (11-15 kg)

Health Problems

These dog breeds are prone to sickness. The main problem is with slipped kneecaps, heart problems, kidney failure and allergies. Genetically a problem with zinc deficiency can lead to lethal problems. The breed is known to gain weight very easily and should not be overfed. The White Bull Terrier has a tendency to get deaf later in life.

Living Conditions

English Bull Terriers can live in apartments, but they need to be well exercised. They are active indoors as well as outdoors and thrive on interaction. A small garden is perfect for these playful dogs. They enjoy warm climates.

Exercise

The dog needs plenty of exercise and must be taken for a long walk daily as well as other activities. The Bull Terrier gets lazy very easily and gains weight rapidly if not exercised properly.

Life Expectancy

About 10-12 years

Litter Size

There can be anything from 1-9 in a litter, but the normal is around 5 puppies per litter

Grooming

Because of the short hair the dog is easy to groom. The dog sheds twice per year and daily groom can be done by using a special rubber glove to take out any loose hairs.

Origin

In the 19th century Bulldogs where crossed with Terriers and this was a popular breed. In 1830 the breeding of Terriers and Bulldogs was at a peak and people tried to make the dog more aggressive and agile in attack. Added to the mix was the Spanish Pointer blood and out came the Bull Terrier that we know so well now. The dog became a usual dog for nobleman and royalty. The dog has had many uses in the last 2 centuries, from guard dog to herder and from ratter to fighting dog. There are two accepted variants in the Standard English and the Miniature Bull Terrier. the last one was accepted as late as 1991 by the AKC and the normal variant was accepted in 1885.

Both have the same standards except for the size.

The English Terriers were accepted by the English Kennel Club in 1948.