The Bull Terrier

Appearance

Strongly built,muscular,well balanced and active with a keen, determined and intelligent expression. The head should be long strong deep right to the end of the muzzle, when viewed from the front it should appear egg shaped and completely filled with no indentations or hollow, the skull almost flat from ear to ear.

When viewed from the side the profile curves gently downwards from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose with the nose bent downwards to the tip.The ears should be small,thin,place close together held erect and point straight upwards. The eyes should be narrow, opliquely place and triangular well sunken, as dark brown as possible asto appear almost black with a piercing glint. The distance from the nose to the eye perceptibly greater than from the eye to to the top of the skull.

The neck very muscular,long,arched, tapering from the shoulder to head with no loose skin. Body should be well rounded with spring of rib with greater depth from withers to brisked so it is closer to the ground than the belly. The back, short, strong with back line behind withers level arching slightly over a broad well muscled loins. Chest, broad when viewed from the front. Feet round and compact with well arched toes. Tail, short set on low and carried horisontally, thick at the root it tapers to a fine point. Coat, shor flat harsh to touch skin fitting to dog tightly soft undercoat present in winter.

History

Like most breeds, the Bull Terrier has a sporting past which was developed from the need and fashions of the days gone by. Badger and bull fighting were common amusements in the days when humans made a holiday of executions, when cruelty, not only to animals but also to other beings was a natural thing.

The Bull Terrier was developed from a variety of breeds, the White English Terrier,Bull Dog and Dalmatian, into a dog with great virtues. His courage was proverbial, his endurance and resistance to pain unbelievable, and his intelligence was almost uncanny. These virtues, which we admire in both humans and animals made him a great fighter, so much so that he is remembered as a fighter rather than for other sterling qualities.

There were two other attributes which the Bull Terrier possessed above all rivals and remain today to make him an ideal family pet. One wes the ability to solve new problems and to think for himself in case of emergency, the other quality was a craving for human companionship, a friendly love of people and especially for his own particular family. These qualities made him not only unusually reliable with children, but also a companion and protector who can be depended upon in an emergency.

The Bull Terrier of today has retained the great physical qualities of his redoubtable ancestors, but he has largely lost the instincts of early days.

Temperament

The Bull Terrier does not fit into every home and whilst no longer the fighter of his predecessors he still retains some of fighting instincts passed down from them. These instincts vary from dog to dog and in most cases they appear to be dormant, however, while male Bull Terriers usually get along with any female, he will not tolerate another male.

The Bull Terrier needs to be carefully disciplined and most of all loved, in fact treat him as you would your children, punish him when he is naughty and reward him when he is good.

Care / Grooming

The Bull Terrier is a wash amd wear dog who requires a bath when he gets dirty. No grooming is required unless you are going to show him, then he will require a bath the day before the show and to have his whiskers removed and all white areas chalked.

Health

Hereditary diseases found in Bull Terriers include, deafness, polycystic kidneys,nephritis,patella luxation,mitril dysplasia and aortic stenosis.

Breeders today are working to screen out these diseases so it is important that when buying a Bull Terrier you ensure that the parents have been tested for these diseases.

Bull Terrier are also prone to skin cancer and should be protected while in the sun with sun screen.

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