History of occurrence
The Bull and Terrier, a pit dog, was originally produced in the early 1800s by crossing the old English Terrier and the Bulldog. At the time, patrons of dog fighting and bull baiting -- two established forms of entertainment in Europe -- were always trying to perfect the fighting dog breeds. The early Bull Terriers ranged in size and color -- some featuring terrier-like features, while others exuded the Bulldog heritage.
Eventually, interbreeding other breeds such as the Spanish Pointer produced a strong, tenacious, and agile dog that ruled the pits. Even still, the vast majority of popularity was bestowed upon the English exhibition dogs. When dog fighting became illegal in Britain, many began producing strains of Bull Terriers that would win competitions more for their looks and less for their bite.
Over the years, it has been the white strain that has been the most famous Bull Terrier variety, both as a pet and show dog. So popular, in fact, that many Bull Terriers are featured in advertising campaigns and movies for their comical expression and nature.
General form
Strongly built, muscular, well balanced and active with a keen, determined and intelligent expression.
Отличительная особенность породы Bull Terrier
Head and skull: head long, strong and deep right to end of muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from front egg-shaped and completely filled, its surface free from hollows or indentations. Top of skull almost flat from ear to ear. Profile curves gently downwards from top of skull to tip of nose which should be black and bent downwards at tip. Nostrils well developed and under-jaw deep and strong.
Eyes: appearing narrow, obliquely placed and triangular, well sunken, black or as dark brown as possible so as to appear almost black, and with a piercing glint. Distance from tip of nose to eyes perceptibly greater than that from eyes to top of skull. Blue or partly blue undesirable.
Ears: small, thin and placed close together. Dog should be able to hold them stiffly erect, when they point straight upwards.
Mouth: teeth sound, clean, strong, of good size, regular with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips clean and tight.
Neck: very muscular, long, arched, tapering from shoulders to head and free from loose skin.
Body: body well rounded with marked spring of rib and great depth from withers to brisket, so that latter nearer ground than belly. Back short, strong with backline behind withers level, arching or roaching slightly over broad, well muscled loins. Underline from brisket to belly forms a graceful upward curve. Chest broad when viewed from front.
Forequarters: shoulders strong and muscular without loading. Shoulder blades wide, flat and held closely to chest wall and have a very pronounced backward slope of front edge from bottom to top, forming almost a right angle with upper arm. Elbows held straight and strong, pasterns upright. Forelegs have strongest type of round, quality bone, dog should stand solidly upon them and they should be perfectly parallel. In mature dogs length of foreleg should be approximately equal to depth of chest.
Hindquarters: hindlegs in parallel when viewed from behind. Thighs muscular and second thighs well developed. Stifle joint well bent and hock well angulated with bone to foot short and strong.
Feet: round and compact with well arched toes.
Short, set on low and carried horizontally. Thick at the root, it tapers to a fine point.
Coat: short, flat, even and harsh to touch with a fine gloss. Skin fitting dog tightly. A soft textured undercoat may be present in winter.
Colour: for White, pure white coat. Skin pigmentation and markings on head not to be penalised. For Coloured, colour predominates; all other things being equal, brindle preferred. Black, brindle, red, fawn and tri-colour acceptable. Tick markings in white coat undesirable. Blue and liver highly undesirable.
When moving appears well knit, smoothly covering ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. When trotting, movement parallel, front and back, only converging towards centre line at faster speeds, forelegs reaching out well and hindlegs moving smoothly at hip, flexing well at stifle and hock, with great thrust.
Height — 40-55 cm.
Weight — 25 kg.
Character
Exuberant, comical, playful, assertive and very mischievous describes the Bull Terrier. It is an imaginative breed that often sees things its own way and is stubborn to the end. It needs daily physical and mental exercise lest it exercise its powerful jaws on your home. For all its tough bravado, this is an extremely sweet-natured, affectionate and devoted breed. It can be aggressive with other dogs and small animals. The Bull Terrier is happiest when they are with the people they love. They are miserable if shut away in a kennel or kept outside away from human companionship.
Maintenance care
The Bull Terrier needs to be entertained, either with a good exercise session or mental stimulation every day - preferably both. This is an active breed that enjoys a good run, but it is best to run it only in a safe area. It should not stay outdoors except in temperate weather, but it should live primarily as a house dog with access to a yard. Coat care is minimal.
Lifespan — 11-14 years.
Dignity
Looks very unusual, with an egg-shaped head, large prick ears, and tiny triangular eyes sunk deeply in his head.
Has a short easy-care coat.
Is rowdy and clownish, full of energy and fire.
Thrives on lots of exercise and vigorous athletic games.
Looks imposing, so makes an effective deterrent, but is usually non-aggressive with strangers.
Difficulty keeping
Looks very unusual, with an egg-shaped head, large prick ears, and tiny triangular eyes sunk deeply in his head.
Has a short easy-care coat.
Is rowdy and clownish, full of energy and fire.
Thrives on lots of exercise and vigorous athletic games.
Looks imposing, so makes an effective deterrent, but is usually non-aggressive with strangers.
Diseases
The Bull Terrier may suffer from patellar luxation. It is also prone to minor health problems like heart complication, allergies and compulsive behavior, and more serious conditions such as kidney failure and deafness. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run cardiac, thyroid, hearing and urine protein:urine creatinine ratio (which quantifies the urine's protein loss) tests on the dog.
