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Bull Terrier

playful / charming / mischievous
Terrier Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

21-22 inches

Weight

50-70 pounds

Life Expectancy

12-13 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    20% 20%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    80% 80%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    20% 20%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    80% 80%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Bull Terrier is a playful and lovable dog that is occasionally headstrong but always loyal. It is one of the funniest and most mischievous members of the canine community. These distinctive ‘eggheads’ are vivacious, robust companions who thrive on affection and activity. Bull Terriers are large-boned, powerful terriers who walk with a springy gait that suggests quickness and strength. The tall, egg-shaped head, erect, pointed ears, and small, triangular eyes that twinkle with fun are characteristics of the breed. There are two varieties of coats: white and any other color, either solid or with white markings (including a lovely brindle striping). A well-built BT is the epitome of lean resolve and equilibrium.

Early socialization with other dogs and people, tough but loving training, plenty of exercise, and lots of one-on-one time with his beloved humans are the four cornerstones of BT’s happiness. There isn’t a more dependable, charming, and enjoyable friend if these conditions are satisfied. The pinnacle of “personality breeds” is this.

What To Expect When Caring For a Bull Terrier

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Prior to leaving the breeder, puppies should have their hearing tested, and owners of prospective sires and dams should be able to provide documentation of testing for kidney and heart conditions. Breed health and the preservation of the best traits of the breed are the goals of committed breeders that constantly connect with one another and collaborate. Bull Terriers from reputable breeders who undergo health testing typically end up as happy, healthy family members.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Patella Evaluation
  • BAER Testing
  • Kidney - Urine Protein:Creatinine Ratio
  • Cardiac Exam

Grooming

The short, flat, rough, and shiny coat of the Bull Terrier requires little upkeep. A weekly brushing with a soft-bristle brush or hound glove will assist maintain the dog looking his best by removing dirt and loose hair. Regular checks and cleanings of the ears are advised. Overly long nails can make the dog uncomfortable and make it difficult for them to run and move.

Exercise

Bull Terriers benefit from a regular, moderate activity that stimulates their bodies and minds, such as leisurely strolls with the family. The breed was created to be a gentleman's companion and for sport, and it is extremely strong and agile. A fun method to manage the BT's energy is to participate in canine sports including obedience, tracking, agility, and ability tests for coursing.  

Training

Owners must keep in mind that although the breed possesses the toughness and bravery of the Bulldog, it also belongs to the Terrier Group. This person is independent, free-spirited, and more dedicated to "fun and games" than to a strong work ethic. Bull Terriers operate under the tenet that they will do anything that is enjoyable. Why bother if not? Make training enjoyable, and they'll do well. A great place to start is with food or toys as positive reinforcement. Bull Terriers may do exceptionally well in a wide range of dog sports, such as agility, flyball, freestyle, weight pulling, and carting, as well as jobs like bomb detection, search-and-rescue, and service, assistance, health-alert, and therapy dogs. If trained in a positive way with persistence and humor, Bull Terriers are capable of anything.

Nutrition

The Bull Terrier should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is produced commercially or is made at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Bull Terriers, especially young ones, require a healthy diet that contains natural calcium. One knowledgeable breeder offers the dogs some whole milk or yogurt in the morning and before bed. Additionally, she advises supplementing their diets with naturally high-calcium foods like broccoli during times of rapid bone development. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a useful training aid, but feeding them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.  

History

Bull-baiting was a favorite pastime in Britain starting in the 13th century. Bulldogs were turned to lose on a staked bull while onlookers wagered on the result. Animals were not used in blood sports until the more progressive 1830s. Those who like watching such gory exhibitions were unaffected by this. To avoid the law, they just went underground. Bull-baiting was obviously too obvious a practice to continue in secret. Instead, dogfighting, which often takes place in the cellars of bars, involves dogs mauling other dogs in enclosed pits.

Bulldogs proved to be too sluggish and plodding in these gory affairs to offer much amusement. In order to create combatants with the strength of a Bulldog and the energy and fiery character of terriers, Bulldogs and terriers were crossed. The Bull Terrier was one of the breeds that was developed in this fashion.

Pit fighting was eventually outlawed in Britain as the law caught up with it. Happily, in the middle of the 1800s, young gentlemen began to favor the newly unemployed Bull Terrier. Breeders started focusing on improving the breed’s appearance and temperament so that it might serve as an affluent companion dog.