Bull Terrier – Breed Profile

Once bred as a champion fighting dog, the Bull Terrier is now best suited to active owners who will give them firm leadership and keep them as their sole companion…

The Bull Terrier (also called the “English Bull Terrier” and nicknamed the “Bullie” or “Gladiator”) is a medium-sized dog that usually has a white coat (though many other colors are common) and features an imposing egg-shaped head and triangular eyes. The breed can be traced back to the early 1800s, and was initially bred for the main objective of bull baiting and dog fighting.

A small number of their more distinct traits often are their love for fun and high demand for attention and exercise – which all help in making the Bull Terrier a common breed for active and devoted owners or for those who take part in agility competitions. Here are a number of fast Bull Terrier facts:

Trainability & Intelligence:

Friendliness With People:

Compatible With Animals:

Daily Exercise Required:

Grooming Requirements:

Suitable For A Family Pet:

Suitability As A Guard Dog:

Origins Of The Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier is believed to have come from England during the early 1800s and was bred by bull baiting and dog fighting enthusiasts with the function of being a champion fighting dog – even now they are aggressive towards other dogs and do not do well living together. They are assumed to be the consequence of crossing the Bulldog with various terriers and the Dalmatian.

Average Size Of The Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers are classified as a medium-sized breed of dog. The recommended standard size for the Bull Terrier male and female is 21-22 inches high from paw to shoulder with a weight of 50-70 pounds. The breed also comes in a miniature size with a height of 10-14 inches tall and a weight of 24-33 pounds.

Temperament Of The Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier is legendary for their playful, mischievous and often aggressive nature when around other dogs. They are usually accommodating with strangers but can be protective of their family and territory, which often means they are fairly suitable as a guard dog.

The Bull Terrier is not known to be extremely intelligent – placing 66th in comparison with other dogs in terms of their capability to be trained obedience commands. They are additionally recognized to be too energetic for most small children and those who aren’t able to demonstrate some leadership – making them not the best choice as a family pet. The male Bull Terrier is not usually well-matched with other animals such as other dogs and smaller animals like cats, rabbits or guinea pigs and may become quite aggressive – though the female Bull Terrier can sometimes accept them if properly socialized.

Grooming Requirements Of The Bull Terrier

Grooming the Bull Terrier is a relatively simple activity. They only need occasional brushing whenever required and monthly trimming of their nails as well as complete grooming roughly every 6 weeks depending on their color. The procedure for properly grooming the Bull Terrier can be explained as:

1. Use a rubber brush to brush the entire coat and follow up with a bristle brush.
2. Moisten a cotton ball with ear cleaner and swab the ears with it to remove dirt, following up with a dry cotton ball and medicated ear powder.
3. Cut the nails with an extra-large nail clipper.
4. Use a cotton ball moistened with water to clean around the eyes.
5. Bathe them with a whitening shampoo to enhance the color of the coat (if white).
6. Dry them using a cage dryer and finish with a blow dryer while brushing them.
7. If desired, use scissors to remove the whiskers.
8. Finish by brushing them over with mink oil to enhance their coat’s shine.

The miniature Bull Terrier also requires weekly attention for their ears, and is fully groomed as follows:

1. Use a sisal brush to brush the entire coat.
2. Clean the ears with medicated ear powder on a cotton ball.
3. Use a cotton ball dipped in stain remover to clean around the eyes.
4. Remove the tips of their nails using a nail clipper.
5. If desired, trim the whiskers under the chin as well as the sides of the face and above the eyes using scissors.
6. Insert a cotton ball in each ear to prevent water going inside and bathe them then dry them off using a cage dryer.
7. Massage a few drops of lanolin coat conditioner into the coat by using your hands.
8. Finish by brushing with a sisal brush to spread the conditioner and rub them over with a cloth to enhance their coat’s shine.

Living Requirements For The Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier thrives with a small yard to provide them with enough space, but they can be suitable for life in an apartment so long as they are exercised on a regular basis. They prefer warmer climates, and they will be uncomfortable if it gets too cold due to the shortness of their coat – for the same reason they will often require sunscreen when venturing outdoors.

Health & Life Expectancy Of The Bull Terrier

Like the majority of medium-sized dogs, the Bull Terrier is commonly longer-lived with a life expectancy of 11-14 years. The largest health concern for Bull Terriers is traditionally known as deafness – which occurs in around 20% of white Bull Terriers. They can also be prone to conditions that include skin allergies caused by insect bites such as fleas or mosquitos and occasional heart defects, but all in all they are a fairly healthy breed.

Exercise Needs For The Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier gets pleasure from pursuits such as being given daily mental stimulation, going for a run or simply clowning around. They have a high amount of energy and this calls for exercise each day in the shape of long walks to stop destructive behavior or depression.

Who Should Own The Bull Terrier?

The Bull Terrier could be the right dog breed for an active owner who will be their firm pack leader 100% of the time. They are well-matched for anyone that is willing to commit to a small level of grooming and take time to give them early obedience training and ongoing leadership in addition to take them on long walks each day and give them a very high amount of love and devotion – they do not do well if left alone all day. Though they can be unsuitable for the majority of households, if you are able to meet their high demand for guidance and attention (and they are intended as your only pet) then the Bull Terrier can make the perfect dog for you.

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