The Bull Terrier has an unwavering devotion to its family and is very charming, friendly and extremely playful. The Bull Terrier is a very needy dog who always wants companionship and needs a good deal of supervision to make a good pet. The Bull Terrier can have a very destructive personality and should not be left unattended for long periods of time. They do best with active families who will give them loads of attention and stimulation. They also need someone to constantly enforce the house rules, but in a kind manner. If not, they will just make their own rules. For this reason, they are not ideal for first-time pet owners.
The Bull Terrier has been described as a three-year-old child in a dog suit: extremely busy, doesn’t know what to do next and needs its parents to keep him entertained. The dog’s clownish acts have drawn fans like president Theodore Roosevelt and England’s Princess Anne, who has two.
As the name implies, the dog is a mixture of Bulldog and Terrier. They were bred in England in the 19th century for the then famous dog fighting sport and were called the ‘gladiator’, although they were rather disappointing in the fighting ring. However, the terrier aspect came out rather well in the rat-catching ring. In the 1850s an English dog breeder named James Hinks started to breed the white Bull Terrier, which became a fashionable pet to have. It’s not exactly known what other breed of dog was used to breed the smaller version of the Bull Terrier, but Dalmatian, Spanish Pointer and Greyhound are all possibilities.
Today this breed comes in a variety of coat colours, but is mostly identified by their egg-shaped head, triangular eyes and medium-sized muscular bodies. The Bull Terrier has more muscle than any other breed. They have a lot of charisma and are great companions. Their attention and stimulation needs also make them very loyal dogs that do well with an active family with older kids.
Bull Terriers are prone to quite a lot of health issues, including heart and kidney problems, slipped kneecaps, skin allergies, epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Research the breed adequately and speak to your vet about common Bull Terrier problems before you decide to adopt one.
On the plus side, grooming is very easy with their short coat that only requires occasional brushing and bathing.
| Breed | Bull Terrier |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Average Adult Height | 51 – 61 cm |
| Average Adult Weight | 20 – 36 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 11 – 14 Years |
| Exercise Requirements | Excessive exercise daily |
| Similar Breeds | One of a kind |
| Rescues in South Africa | http://bullterrier.rescueme.org/za |
