Bull Terriers

Bull Terriers take their mischief making seriously, elevating it to an artform, and they’re always proud to show off their latest creation with a Bull Terrier smile. It’s hard not to laugh, even when your home is in shambles, with a Bull Terrier bursting with pride at the chaos they’ve created. Bull Terriers thrive on fun and action. But they also enjoy being snuggly companions. They make playful friends for people of all ages, and are as loving as they are lively.

The breed has no weight or height specification. Note that a separate breed, the Miniature Bull Terrier, stands about 10 to 14 inches tall, and weighs about 25 to 33 pounds, so obviously the Bull Terrier will be taller and heavier. They are slightly longer than tall, and fairly wide, with a low center of gravity that aided it when fighting. It is big-boned but not coarse. The tail is undocked, and carried horizontally. The head is the breed’s most distinctive feature. It’s often described as egg-shaped; viewed from the side, it forms a convex curve from nose to skull. It is long, deep and strong. It forms an oval outline when viewed face on. The eyes are small, triangular, deep-set and placed close together. The ears are small and erect, and also placed close together. They are not cropped. The coat is short, close-lying, and harsh. There are two varieties. The White variety is all-white or white with markings only on the head. The Colored variety can be any color with or without white markings, with brindle preferred.

Bull Terriers are fun dogs that seem to have a sense of humor from birth. Their fearless quest for adventure and their curious minds land them in hot water but their cute looks get them out of trouble—usually. Despite their background, Bull Terriers are generally very good natured and trustworthy around people of all ages. They are less so around dogs; they do have their limits. But most coexist peacefully with canine housemates, and even get along with strange dogs, although it varies between individuals. They are active without being hyperactive, and are calm indoors. The breed is for some reason prone to obsessive compulsive behaviors such as chasing their tail. They should never be encouraged to do these behaviors, as the compulsion can be severe. Many also exhibit a harmless but odd behavior called trancing, in which they seem to occasionally enter a trancelike state and walk slowly with a far away expression. Many people actually find this endearing.

Bull Terriers, like other bully breeds, were selected to continue in the face of adversity, a trait that helped in the fighting, but translates to stubbornness in the modern world. If you try to use force to coerce them into minding, they will dig in their heels and resist. The trick is to use rewards in the form of treats or tug games, as well as praise. Bull Terriers are clever and are fast learners. Bull Terrier puppies should be socialized extensively so they accept strange people and dogs readily. A puppy socialization class is a very good idea for any youngster.

Like other bully breeds, the Bull Terrier’s roots lie in the gladiator dogs of ancient Rome, which then became butcher’s helpers and bull-baiting dogs, then dog fighters called Bull & Terriers. When dog fighting was outlawed in England in 1835, some Bull & Terrier breeders decided to repurpose their dogs as stylish companions. They emphasized personality and appearance, and added Dalmatians and White English Terriers to create an all-white strain, the Bull Terrier. Nicknamed the “White Cavalier” they became the favored companion of upper class gentlemen. Color was reintroduced in the breed around 1900 by crossing to Staffordshire Bull Terriers. In 1936, the breed was split into two varieties, the White and the Colored Bull Terrier. The varieties can be crossed when bred, and both varieties can be present in the same litter, but they are shown in separate classes. Bull Terriers have appeared in several films, including the original version of “The Incredible Journey,” “Babe: Pig in the City,” and “Baxter.” Bull Terriers have been official mascots for Budweiser (Spuds MacKenzie) and the Target dog (Bullseye). Celebrity owners include General Patton, Princess Anne, Fred Astaire, Taylor Swift, Michael J. Fox, Don Cherry, Marc Jacobs, Eric Clapton, and Rick Springfield.