Bull Terrier

Bull Terrier

The "tyke" owned by Dickens' evil character Bill Sykes was a Bull Terrier, and was a coarser-looking dog than the modern one. The Bull Terrier was known as the "Gladiator of the canine race" due to his ferocity and toughness. He lived up to his title well.

History:

The Bull Terrier was bred from a crossing of the British Bulldog with other Terrier breeds, including the Old English Terrier and the English Toy Terrier. It was bred to fight and was first used for bull-baiting. When this sport died out the Bull Terrier was used to fight his own breed. Dog fighting was also banned and the breed was then used for ratting. Its ferociousness has now been bred out and the Bull Terrier is usually a pleasant-natured and even-tempered companion dog.

Physical characteristics:

A small, strongly built and muscular dog. Height: Under FCI standards, 12 - 18 in (30 - 45 cm). Weight: not specified. The head is oval, long, and deep to the end of the muzzle, with a flat forehead. The skull is flat on top and the profile slopes from the top of the skull to the tip of the black nose. The jaws are strong and deep, with the upper incisor teeth fitting exactly in front of the lower and having a scissor bite. The ears are set high and are small, thin, and set close together. The eyes are black and set deep with a piercing glint. They are wide-set and almond-shaped and slant back towards the ears. The neck is very strong and muscular, arching from the head and tapering out to the shoulders.

The body is short in the back, well-muscled, and with a slight arching at the loin. The shoulders are flat and muscular and the ribs are well-sprung, round and deep. The chest is broad. The tail is short, set low, and carried horizontally with a taper to the point. The forequarters are average-length, straight, and parallel. The hindquarters are straight and parallel with well-muscled thighs

The coat of the Bull Terrier is shiny, harsh to the touch and short. The skin is taut. The color is white, with a colored marking over the eye or ears of blue or liver. There can be pigmentation on the head.

Behavior:

The Bull Terrier is a truly remarkable dog. It was bred specifically to be a dog fighter and it carries out its purpose very well indeed. If the Bull Terrier is properly socialized as a puppy it can get along well with other dogs. The females can be very sociable with males and can be readily controlled by assertive people. However, it is not advisable to keep two females together. All other dogs should be protected from the chance of an aggressive encounter with your Bull Terrier. It is possible to train the Bull Terrier to be a watch-dog but it makes a poor guard dog, as it generally gets along too well with people.

The Bull Terrier can make an excellent family dog and many fit this role perfectly, yet most people would not be prepared to leave their child alone with a Bull Terrier because of their fearsome reputation. Care should be taken that the dog does not get eye infections, and sunblock should be used to protect the nose during the summer. This is an intelligent dog that requires a very assertive owner.