There’s no mistaking the bull terrier for any other breed with their football shaped head muscular body and unmasked swagger. These are the dogs that command a tension wherever they go they are icons seen at the sight of owners from general patton to princess anne and in advertising campaigns for the famous spuds mckinsey beer did you know that this fashionable gentleman was originally developed as a fighting dog that’s right. The bull terrier was the ultimate fighting pit dog in the 19th century they even had a cool nickname called canine gladiator but today while the breed is a family companion and show dog at its best .These guys are highly energetic with a soft heart and they get strongly attached to their family .
If you’re thinking of getting one of these terriers and want to know more about the breed this article is just gonna be the right one for you so without further ado let’s start our list of top 10 interesting facts about the bull terrier .
- Their origin and History
- Their physical Characteristics
- Their Personality and Temperament
- They’re active Dogs
- Early Training is a must
- The key to Training Them
- Their Exercise Needs
- Grooming Them is a Breeze
- Their Health
- They have a Miniature Version
Facts about the bull terrier
Their origin and History
Bull terriers were first bred in 19th century england an ancestor of this affable breed the bulldog was originally bred for the gruesome pastime of pool baiting. Which involved bulldogs attacking a staked bull as spectators bet on the outcome blood sports with animals were outlawed in the 1830s and so enthusiasts took their activities underground and dogfighting became the sport of choice.
However bulldogs proved too slow to compete effectively in the dogfighting pit this is when the process of crossing them with quick and spirited terriers began one of the breeds that resulted from this process was the bull terrier and as we said earlier these terriers became the ultimate fighting dog due to their tenacious spirit and agility mixed with the brute force. once dogfighting was banned in britain the bull terrier became a fashionable companion for young gentlemen of the mid-1800s. The breed became part of the american kennel club in 1885 and has been a much loved american pet ever since .
Their physical Characteristics
Bull terriers are robust big bone terriers who move with a jaunty stride suggesting agility and power. The breed’s hallmark is a long head described as x-shaped when viewed from the front and from the top the skull is almost flat. They have erected and pointed ears and small triangular eyes that glisten with good humor the back legs are straight and parallel with plenty of muscle and strong feet and the tail is slow set and carried horizontally. The coats come in two types white and any other color including an attractive brindle striping either solid or with white markings.
Their Personality and Temperament
Never the one to take a back seat to anyone or anything the bull terrier is a friendly and fast extrovert they’re affectionate playful and goofy and are always ready for adventures. These dogs are also courageous and full of fire these are good traits obviously but these terriers can easily veer into the disagreeable category if they are allowed to become possessive or jealous without early training and socialization .They can also be potentially aggressive toward other animals with people though these guys have a sweet disposition they become attached to all members of their family and are excellent dogs for households with children too. they’re also extremely loyal pets that will always be ready to guard their home .
They’re active Dogs
Bull terriers are pretty lively and spirited dogs right from their puppyhood to middle age these dogs are not content to spend long periods alone day after day. They want to be with you getting involved in whatever you’re doing this is why they do best with an active family who can provide them with plenty of energetic play you also need to be consistent and kind in enforcing the house rules .Otherwise your bull terrier is sure to make up their own rules for that reason these dogs are not best choice for a timid owner or someone who’s new to dogs .
Early Training is a must
Training is not optional with this breed we’re sure the idea of a dog weighing between 45 and 80 pounds dragging you all over the neighborhood and ignoring every word you say in your own house does not appeal to you right as such you gotta train your bull terrier from puppyhood so that you can have a well-behaved and socialized canine family member .Bull terriers having been bred to fight might have a stubborn and independent streak this is why these dogs need to be trained to listen to you .They can be aggressive with other animals including cats small pets and other dogs so you gotta provide them with early socialization classes to make them tolerant of other animals. These dogs also have a tendency to resource guard so early training is critical in order to make sure this does not become a problematic behavior and finally you must train them to be well mannered on a leash or they will drag you around for every walk .
The key to Training Them
Now that you know that training is a must for this breed you must also know that the right ways to do it effectively you gotta remember that the breed exhibits the tenacity and courage of a bulldog but is also a member of the terrier group .This breed is an independent free thinker with a high commitment to fun and games then to work ethic these dogs operate on the principle that if it’s fun they’ll do it .If not why bother this is part of the reason why you must make training fun where they will excel in no time positive reinforcement with food or toys is also an excellent place to start. Bull terriers can excel at a variety of dog sports as well as in roles such as bomb detection search and rescue and as service assistant health and alert and therapy dogs .There’s no limit to what bull terriers can do if trained positively with patience and humo.
Their Exercise Needs
A bull terrier needs half an hour to an hour of physical and mental exercise daily .They’ll enjoy going for walks chasing a ball or testing their wits against an interactive toy make sure you always walk them on a leash so they don’t run after other animals or go off exploring on their own . Also you got to know that bull terrier puppies are bouncy and into everything high impact exercises can easily damage growing bones so until your puppy is full grown at 12 to 18 months of age beware of bone jarring activities such as jumping on and off the furniture playing frisbee or running on slick wood or tile floors .These can all stress or endure their still developing joints and ligaments .
Grooming Them is a Breeze
The bull terrier has a short shiny dense coat that is flat and sits close to the body with a harsh feel when touched their coat is very easy to care for and does not require any special grooming minimal brushing mainly to prevent shedding around the house is more than enough to keep it in good condition .
The exception is during their twice yearly shedding season when daily brushing will be necessary to keep all their hair under control and unless they’ve rolled in something stinky these dogs don’t need frequent bathing. They can be washed with a dry shampoo or dust it off with a damp cloth the rest is just basic care make sure you brush their teeth daily with waterproof toothpaste and don’t forget to trim their nails whenever necessary.
Their Health
Bull terriers are generally healthy but like any other breed they can have certain health issues hereditary nephritis is a severe form of kidney disease found in bull terriers often at an early age .It’s caused by small and undeveloped kidneys or a malfunction of the kidneys filters resulting in high levels of protein in the urine .These dogs can also suffer from renal dysplasia a congenital disease in which the kidneys don’t mature properly hindering their ability to perform well in their daily activities deafness in one or both ears is also common in white dogs and some colored bull terriers .
This is why all puppies should undergo brain stem auditory evoked response testing to ensure that their hearing is normal the breed can also suffer from skin problems and can be prone to rashes sores and irritations .Just like german shepherds bull terriers too like chasing their own tail which is a symptom of an obsessive compulsive disorder studies have shown that bull terriers are much more likely to compulsively chase their tails than any other breed other signs of the disorder include frequent chasing of shadows and compulsive pacing.
They have a Miniature Version
If you love bull terriers and would love to have one in smaller size don’t worry this breed can also be found in a more compact and miniature version traditional bull terriers are about 18 and 22 inches tall and they weigh somewhere between 44 and 70 pounds but there is a separate breed out .There which going by the looks is basically a smaller version of the bull terrier known as the miniature bull terriers these butchers weigh about 24 and 30 pounds and are only 10 to 14 inches tall .Alright guys well that’s it from us on our list of top 10 interesting facts about the world terrier .
