Bull Terrier
| Bull Terrier | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Bull Terrier (left) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Bully, Gladiator | ||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | England | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||||
The Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They have large, egg-shaped heads, and small triangular eyes. There is also a miniature version of this breed which is officially known as the Miniature Bull Terrier.
Appearance
The Bull Terrier's most recognizable feature is its head[citation needed], described as 'egg shaped' when viewed from the front, the top of the skull is 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 are well developed and under-jaw deep and strong snout. The unique triangle-shaped eyes are small, dark, and deep-set. The body is full and round, while the shoulders are robust and very muscular and the tail is carried horizontally. They are generally white in colour, walk with a jaunty gait, and are popularly known as the 'Gladiator of the canine race'.[1]
Temperament
Bull Terriers are known to be courageous and active[citation needed]. They enjoy being around people[citation needed] but are strong willed and thus require an assertive owner; as such the Bull Terrier is not recommended for households with small children if the owner is a first time Bull Terrier owner. Bull Terriers need the companionship of their owners[citation needed] and should not be kept outside in a kennel[citation needed]. Bull Terriers can be both independent and stubborn[2] and for this reason are not considered suitable for an inexperienced dog owner. A firm hand[3] and an assertive demeanour[4] are essential if the Bull Terrier is not to run riot. They are protective of their family, although comprehensive socialization at an early age will prevent them from becoming over-protective and neurotic.
Bull Terriers have a strong prey instinct[5] and, like any strong dog breed, when unduly challenged may cause injury or death to people or other animals,[4][3] especially cats.[4] That said, puppies brought up with cats and other animals get on well with the animals they know;[4][4][3]Uncastrated Males and females however can live together happily[citation needed], and two females can also be a good combination with care and supervision.
Health
All puppies should be checked for deafness, which occurs in 20% of pure white dogs and 1.3% of dogs[6] and is difficult to notice, especially in a relatively young puppy. Many Bull Terriers have a tendency to develop skin allergies.[7] Insect bites, such as those from fleas, and sometimes mosquitoes and mites, can produce a generalized allergic response of hives, rash, and itching. This problem can be stopped by keeping the dog free of contact from these insects, but this is definitely a consideration in climates or circumstances where exposure to these insects is inevitable. A UK breed survey puts their median lifespan at 10 years and their mean at 9 years (1 s.f., RSE = 13.87% 2 d. p.), with a good number of dogs living to 10–15 years.[8]
History
Early in the mid-19th century the "Bull and Terrier" breeds were developed to satisfy the needs for vermin control and animal-based blood sports. The "Bull and Terriers" were based on the Old English Bulldog (now extinct) and one or more of Old English Terrier and "Black and tan terrier", now known as Manchester Terrier. This new breed combined the speed and dexterity of lightly built terriers with the dour tenacity of the Bulldog, which was a poor performer in most combat situations, having been bred almost exclusively for fighting bulls and bears tied to a post. Many breeders began to breed bulldogs with terriers, arguing that such a mixture enhances the quality of fighting. Despite the fact that a cross between a bulldog and a terrier was of high value, very little or nothing was done to preserve the breed in its original form. Due to the lack of breed standards—breeding was for performance, not appearance—the "Bull and Terrier" eventually divided into the ancestors of "Bull Terriers" and "Staffordshire Bull Terriers", both smaller and easier to handle than the progenitor.[9][10][11][12]
About 1850, James Hinks started breeding "Bull and Terriers" with "English White Terriers" (now extinct), looking for a cleaner appearance with better legs and nicer head. In 1862, Hinks entered a bitch called "Puss" sired by his white Bulldog called "Madman" into the Bull Terrier Class at the dog show held at the Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea. Originally known as the "Hinks Breed" and "The White Cavalier", these dogs did not yet have the now-familiar "egg face", but kept the stop in the skull profile.[13][14][15]
The dog was immediately popular and breeding continued, using Dalmatian, Greyhound, Spanish Pointer, Foxhound and Whippet to increase elegance and agility; and Borzoi and Collie to reduce the stop. Hinks wanted his dogs white, and bred specifically for this. Generally, however, breeding was aimed at increasing sturdiness: three "subtypes" were recognised by judges, Bulldog, Terrier and Dalmatian, each with its specific conformation, and a balance is now sought between the three. The first modern Bull Terrier is now recognised as "Lord Gladiator", from 1917, being the first dog with no stop at all.[9][13][14][16][17]
Due to medical problems associated with all-white breeding, Ted Lyon among others began introducing colour, using Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the early 20th century. Coloured Bull Terriers were recognized as a separate variety (at least by the AKC) in 1936. Brindle is the preferred colour, but other colours are welcome.[15][18]
Along with conformation, specific behaviour traits were sought. The epithet "White cavalier", harking back to an age of chivalry, was bestowed on a breed which while never seeking to start a fight was well able to finish one, while socializing well with its "pack", including children and pups. Hinks himself had always aimed at a "gentleman's companion" dog rather than a pit-fighter—though Bullies were often entered in the pits, with some success.
See also
References
- ^ CKC Breed Standards, ckc.ca
- ^ Breeder Retriever. "Bull Terrier Temperament". Retrieved 15:37 13/12/2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b c Welton, Michele. "English Bull Terrier Temperament What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em". Your Pure Bred Puppy. Retrieved 14:37 13/12/2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b c d e Bull Terrier Club. "Is a Bull Terrier for you". Retrieved 14:26 13/12/2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ TerrificPets.com. "Bull Terrier (English Bull Terrier, Standard Bull Terrier)". Retrieved 15:15 13/12/2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ LSU.edu
- ^ Skin Disorders and Problems of Dogs, vetinfo4dogs.com
- ^ "Individual Breed Results for Purebred Dog Health Survey".
- ^ a b Canterbury Bull Terrier Club (dead link as@01-09-13), bullterriersnz.com
- ^ The Bull Terrier Ring, ringsurf.com
- ^ The Bulldog & Terrier crosses, moloss.com
- ^ The Canine Information Library:Bull and Terrier Breeds, bulldoginformation.com
- ^ a b The Canine Information Library:Bull and Terrier Breeds:Bull Terrier, bulldoginformation.com
- ^ a b (Bull Terrier) The History of the breed, molossermania.com
- ^ a b American Kennel Club:Bull Terrier History, akc.org
- ^ ANKC: Extended Breed Standard of The Bull Terrier & Bull Terrier (Miniature), ankc.org.au
- ^ South African Bull Terrier Club: Are We Breeding Wimps Or Gladiators?, sabullterriers.com
- ^ T.W. Hogarth published The Coloured and Colour Breeding, Galashiels: A Walker & Son in 1932, which included chapters - 'Colour Breeding in Bull Terriers' by Major T Grahame and Captain J.N. Ritchie and 'Colour Inheritance in Bull-terriers' by Dr F Fraser Darling
External links
- http://www.absolutebullterriers.co.uk/ rescue & rehoming English Bull Terriers in the UK
- Template:AKC standard
- Bullterrierssa.co.za, A complete encyclopedia
- Colouredbullterrierclub.com, UK Coloured Bull Terrier Club
- [1] information on the dogs and their capabilities