Bull Terrier

If you want a dog to stand out in the crowd, both in appearance and humor, Bull Terrier is what you need. Bull Terrier Dog that was originally bred as a fighting dog is now known as the clown of the canine kingdom.

Energetic and social, Bull Terrier is a perfect party animal. If “extroverted” had a soul-animal, this would be the one. They not only love making new friends but also enjoy chilling out with them. These dogs shower affection on all the members of the family especially children. So, if you want a company for your child, there can be none better than a Bull Terrier puppy.

Bull Terrier breed may look threatening due to their sturdy and muscular built, but they are the most sensitive and generous dog breeds.

Just like a boiled egg, hard on the outside, soft on the inside.

Interestingly, their head also resembles an egg. Another unique facial feature is their triangle-shaped eyes on a Roman nose. This dog with its distinguished features and an egg-shaped head is going to fill your life with affection and laughter.

Did you know ?
that Bull Terrier was bred to fight? They were known as ‘canine gladiators.’ Their terrier-like spirit and barbaric qualities of a Bull Dog would make them a perfect fighting pit dog. Thanks to the Humane Act of 1835 fighting and other blood sports were outlawed in England.
Charismatic much?
Introducing the Chandler Bing of the dog world!

Bull Terrier Pictures

Quick Facts

Average Height: 21 to 22 inches tall at the shoulders.

Average Weight: 35 to 75 Pounds.

Dog Group: Terrier

AKC Rank: 62

At a Glance

About Bull Terriers

“The kid in a dog suit”, Bull Terriers are very friendly and active dogs who love to get into trouble. They are known for their distinct facial features. The Bull Terrier skull resembles an egg with a cute little Roman nose. The White Bull Terrier is most famous for a sparkling white coat with just a little black patch on the nose. Additionally, this is a breed with the most unique eye in the canine world. They are the only dog breeds to have triangle eyes that look intimidating along with pricked ears.

They are like a very nasty kid who is always up to some goof. They have a big-dog attitude and can be really innovative at times. Medium-sized dog breed, Bull Terrier weight fluctuates between 55lbs to 65lbs for male dogs and between 45lbs to 55lbs for Bull Terrier female.  Bull Terrier height is between 20 inches to 22 inches for male dogs and between 18 inches to 20 inches for Bull Terrier female at the shoulder. Interestingly, there is a Bull Terrier Miniature of this breed too, just in case you want the same Bull Terrier characteristics in a more compact doggo.

Bull Terrier is a busy dog and he will not enjoy being left alone for long a stretch of days. They are used to having active people around them who will not only encourage their energy but also be a part of their regular games. You have to keep enforcing house rules kindly but uniformly or they might just start making their own rules. If you are not confident about being a strict but kind dog-parent, you can think about adopting dog breeds fit for first-time owners.

Extremely zestful, you will need to streamline his energy into productive activity. Your pooch may resort to destructive means and develop “bad boy” habits if you don’t give a proper job to do. Do not let him get bored.
Bull Terriers are masters of their deeds, so it may get difficult to train them sometimes. However, they do well in the company of their favorite person and will obey every command that comes from them.

Bull Terrier is a terrier dog and like most of them, this breed also tends to get aggressive towards other dogs and animals. They are very protective of what they call their territory and may try to chase any unusual trespasser, strangers, and cats alike. This can also be one of the major reasons why they should not be left alone with a toddler. Early socialization and successful positive training from puppyhood can make them better-behaved.

Sadly, some states/cities have restrictions on the ownership of Bull Terrier. Cross-check your local laws before you adopt a Bull Terrier dog.

Apart from that be ready to enjoy a jovial and adventurous lifespan of Bull Terrier for 10 to 15 human years!

History

At the beginning of the 19^th century, there was a dire need for vermin control and an animal-based blood sport (mankind doesn’t deserve to top the Animal Kingdom hierarchy), when James Hinks came up with the idea of cross-breeding Bull Dog and English White Terriers(now-extinct). He was looking for a cleaner appearance with better head and legs.

However, the result of Hinks breeding was not we now know as “egg-shaped” Bull Terriers skull still had a stop. The build of a terrier and the perseverance of a Bull Dog made these dogs an absolute favorite among the crowd.

Breeding continued, thereafter, using Dalmatian, Spanish Pointer, and Whippet to make them more ferocious and agile, and bred a little here and there with Borzoi and Border Collie. Guess what, then? Bull Terrier dog breed happened. ‘Lord Gladiator’, the Adam of Bull Terrier, became the first of his kind in 1917 with no skull stop at all.  

Soon, this breed with its distinct features became a style-statement every gentleman’s wingman. They came to be known as “White Cavalier” because of their heroism in the fighting ring and their polished behavior with others. With the growing of era, and abolishing of animal blood-sport, they became what we have today, a domesticated handsome fellow.

The first Bull Terrier was registered by American Club Kennel in 1885, a Bull Terrier named Nellie II. Miniature Bull Terrier was recognized as a separate breed in 1992.

A cavalier in heart and a jester in deeds.

the average lifespan of a Bull Terrier is 10 – 14 YEARS. The longest a Bull Terrier Dog ever lived was from Australia called “Pappa Trout”, who lasted up to 17 years.

Dogisworld Facts!

As time passed, not only appearance-related changes took place in the breed, but behavior also started changing in the breed. These dogs were not fighters anymore.
They became more social, towards family as well as other home dogs. In the present times, good temperament has been built into the dog, and it has also become courageous and fun-loving.

Bull Terrier Facts – Just a little diversion for fun’s sake!

Nelson, The Bull Terrier – You call yourself a meme lord and you haven’t heard of Nelson, the Bull Terrier? Also known as Bull Terrier Walter, he was the face of a meme captioned “when you open the front camera on accident” and was posted on twitter from a dog account @PupperNelson. It was a photo of a Bull Terrier without ears and gained over 2,500 retweets and 9,300 likes. His meme game is still on point after 2 years.

Spuds MacKenzie, The Budweiser Terrier – Rewind to the late 1980s commercials. Do you remember a dog sitting on a backpack chair in a beach shirt and black wayfarer shades with women swarming around him like honey-bees? That’s our hunk! Spuds MacKenzie, a Bull Terrier, responsible for increasing the sale of Budweiser with 20% between 1987-1988. This terrier was the thunder of the commercial. Interesting, this macho Bud Light-hound was actually a female Bull Terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye or “Evie”. She was given a role in three commercials of Budweiser and became people’s favorite. In fact, there is a song tribute to this fictional dog character called “What has happened to Spuds MacKenzie”?

The Official Greeter of Juneau – Patsy Ann, a Bull Terrier puppy, came to Juneau as a kid. She was deaf but has this super-dog quality of signaling when ships arrived at the dog. She would come to the quay with a wagging tail and stay there throughout the unloading of boats. There are rumors that she was photographed more than Rin Tin Tin. She served as the official greeter of Juneau for 13 years and then immortalized and honored in the form of a statue. Juneau is known to sell merchandise with a likeness of Patsy Ann even today.

The Incredible Journey – A Bull Terrier feature in Sheila Burnford’s children’s book “The Incredible Journey” which tells the story of three pets as they traveled 300 miles. It was also adapted into a screenplay by Walt Disney that also featured Bodger, the Bull Terrier alongside Luath, the Labrador Retriever, and Tao, the Siamese Cat.

William, The Conqueror – Gen. George S. Patton adopted Willie (originally named Punch) when his master, an RAF pilot, did not return from his mission. Willie Patton then became General’s best friend and accompanied him everywhere. General loved Willie so much that he wrote a diary exclusively on him. After Willie’s death, he was buried in an unmarked grave on a property owned by Patton’s.  Patton’s staff officer, Richard Stillman wrote a book as a tribute to Willie, named “General Patton’s Best Friend.”

Paw-parazzi Moment – Bull Terriers have had their share of media attention since the time the famous Hollywood star Dolores del Rio was seen taking time off daily to bond with her little Bull Terrier. In fact, Eric Clapton, Tom Hardy, American-singer Taylor Swift, and Princess Anne (the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II) are also Bull Terrier parents.

Facts Theatre

Puppyhood training is a must. Even though Bull Terrier is known to be courageous, bold, and fun-loving, this quality can sometimes make it difficult to live with them (cover your dog’s eye). Terriers were bred to work independently without any human interference. If you do not train him in obedience and command, he might just not even consider you as his master.

For best results, Bull Terrier should be well-socialized from an early age. They are big-time extroverts. Your pooch can be one of the friendliest dogs you can pet and will befriend anybody around him. But, because they have a blood of a Bull Dog, it might become aggressive. To tame his aggression you need to start socializing him from an early age. If you want your Bull Terrier to be friendly with the dog next door you need to expose him to people and other animals from a very young age. This will not just make him used to new faces every day but also make him less aggressive.

Bull Terrier needs a little out-of-the-box training. They would enjoy only if their training has a perfect blend of play-time and dog sport. Their training should be face-paced, fun, and curetted especially for their mental stimulation. They love to goof up and they tend to get bored easily. Repeated the same activity more than once can get them bored and they might resort to destructive habits.

Bull Terrier is an ideal family guy. The very affectionate and go to any extent to protect their family. If you have a young adult in your family, Bull Terrier will make a perfect best friend for him. They need a lot of attention and you need to be an active part of their play-time regime. They enjoy the company of their favorite person even while they are up to something nasty.

Bull Terriers can be aggressive, especially if unneutered. It is advised that you do not bring home this breed if you have small children. Your Bull Terrier puppy may just go around chasing your little one injuring both. They do much better with grown-up kids who know how to treat this breed responsibly. Professional training and early socialization can control their aggression.  Additionally, if you bring your puppy up along with other pets, you will see an everlasting friendship between the two.

Bull Terrier is an apartment-friendly breed. All your pooch requires is a proper mental and physical stimulation, and lots of playtime with his favorite person. However, if you are still skeptical about adopting it, you can go for Bull Terrier Miniature – the same Bull Terrier characteristic in a smaller and cuter packing.

Bull Terriers are not accustomed to cold weather. They thrive very well in warm weather. You will require a closet full of warm clothes and sweaters for your pooch during winters.

Bull Terrier is not hypoallergenic. Though they shed very little, this breed may do well with a person who is allergic to dog fur. However, you can adopt them if you promise to follow the routine grooming of your pooch.

Personality & Temperament

Affable and extremely social, Bull Terrier’s sole life purpose is to have fun – line for line. Anybody that stops them from having fun will become their biggest enemy, even if it is their master. Curious and extremely smart, Bull Terriers ca figure out a solution to any obstacle within seconds and standard obedience class can get boring for them.
Highly inquisitive, they were bred for exceptional courage and persistence. They will never back off when it comes to arguing, even if it’s with you for that matter (fighting pit dog blood, after all).

History says that their job was to hunt vermin and rats, which makes them terrier-fic hunters. Their hunting drives can make them zone out to a level that won’t pay heed to their owner’s commands. You can subdue their hunting instincts by giving them a job to do.

It is not easy to train a Bull Terrier. They are very sharp and pick up on things pretty fast. Their training needs to be full of excitement as well as challenging for them. If it is not challenging, they might start looking for something more interesting to do, like killing rats.  They can be very stubborn and yelling at them can backfire. This breed is food-motivated, so you can take the help of positive motivation and treat them every time they listen to you.

With regular exercise, they need a good dose of socialization. Take him outside your property, and expose him to different sounds and sights. It will not only make him socially confident but also a well-mannered dog.

They are heavy attention-seekers and will demand constant care from their parents.  Naturally dominating, they may go ahead and challenge any dog who tries to steal their due attention. In fact, your Bull Terrier dog would want you to be around him even when he is doing something nasty.

Obsessive Personality Disorder is common in this breed. Studies have shown that Bull Terrier and German Shepherd have an overpowering drive of chasing their own tail (and not in a cute manner). Other signs can include compulsively chasing shadow and pacing. Providing your Bull Terrier dog with ample chewy toys will keep him busy and can help reduce his OCD.

BTs have often appeared in a lot of famous movies such as A Dog’s Life, Babe: Pig in the City, Next Friday, The Incredible Journey, and Oliver!.

Dogisworld Facts!

Colors & Grooming

Bull Terrier grooming requirements are not a lot. They are very easy to maintain both financially and physically. They have a flat and short coat which requires weekly brushing. However, they shed twice a year and during this period they may require regular brushing especially if you are allergic to dog dander and fur.

You can skip his bathing routine until he starts smelling or has exposed himself to dust. They don’t require frequent bathing but if you are planning to shower your pooch, you have to do it two times. The first bath should be a general bath.         If you are sensitive to dog fur, you can use a hypoallergenic shampoo for him. The second bath is generally for the fragrance and final polishing. What’s better than a good smelling dog?

Monthly ear cleaning is a must to make sure his ears are wax-free. You can clean his ears at home with some baby oil and cotton swab (clean only as far as you can see) or take him to his vet.

Their paws are prone to cracks. Use paw balm weekly to keep their paws soft and supple.

Bull Terrier Grooming is suggested for 4-8 weeks of an interval to clean ears, trim nails, and get his anal glands unsoiled.

Suggested: Red Nose Pitbull Terrier

Feeding

Puppy (8 weeks to 14 months)

You must feed at least 2-3 of a cup of dry food three to four times a day

A Bull Terrier puppy needs around 990 calories every day. You can also feed the BARF approved food. It has proteins in raw form and can work wonders for a terrier dog-like Bully.
This is their growing and developing period so they may eat more than an adult dog. They may eat a lot because they are an active breed. Don’t be surprised to see your pooch asking for more food. Just make sure not to over-feed him.

Adult (14 months to 5 years)

You must feed him at least 2-4 cups (according to his weight) of high-quality dry food divided into two meals.

Because they tend to put on weight very quickly, you would want to first check his weight, size, and metabolism before starting his diet. The quality of your food also has an important role to play. The better the quality, the better the nutrition. A lot of vets recommend homemade dog food or BARF approved food for a Bull Terrier. You can consult your vet to help you with a proper diet according to your dog’s growth.

Senior (11 years to 15 years)

You can continue feeding him 2-4 cups of high-quality dry food twice a day depending on their weight.

Senior dogs have a slower metabolism and tend to become less active. If you see signs of obesity in your dog you may want to shift to a senior dog diet routine.

Bull Terrier loves to eat and may over-eat if you don’t restrict his diet. Consult a dog dietitian to provide him a wholesome meal without making him obese.

Health and Vaccination

Active dogs that have spent a good amount of time exercising are generally healthy and live a long life. However, there are chances that they may suffer through certain medical conditions.

Deafness – Bull Terrier is prone to deafness more than any other breed especially White Bull Terriers. It is mostly genetic and occurs because of irresponsible breeders that do not understand that babies of one ear deaf dog can be completely deaf.
Symptoms may include not coming when called, sudden disobedience, excessive barking and not obeying commands.
It is a vet’s responsibility to get all Bull Terrier puppies BAER (Brain Auditory Evoked Response) tested to ensure that the dog is not deaf.

Note: If you adopt a deaf dog, do not breed him further.

Skin Problems

White Bull Terriers are also prone to skin diseases especially rashes, sores, and irritation. It can be a reaction caused due to physical elements like dust, pollen, or mildew.
Symptoms may include irritation, redness of the skin, swelling on the face, in eyes or ear flaps, vomiting, and sneezing.
Skin problems can get serious and further cause diarrhea. To avoid skin problems give our Bull Terrier dog two baths. The first time with a herbal/hypoallergenic shampoo and the second time with a fragrance shampoo. This will keep him neat and protect his coat from infections.

Hereditary Nephritis

This is an X-linked disease that attacks male Bull Terrier dog more severely than Bull Terrier female dogs. Often found at an early age, it is a renal disease caused due to malfunction of kidney filters. It leads to the discharging of a high level of protein in the urine.
Symptoms can be anorexia, vomiting, weight loss, or polyuria.
A UP: UC test is recommended annually as soon as your dog turns 18 months old. Though Bull Terriers die by the age of three if they are born with this condition some tend to live 6 to 8 years due to kidney failure.

Heart Disease

Bull Terriers can suffer through heart problems due to defects in the heart structure or malfunctioning of the heart. Some may also suffer from heart murmurs.
Generally, it can be detected with the help of a stethoscope as Grade V and VI are comparative loud. Serious cases may require cardiac ultrasound.
Heart murmurs are common in Bull Terrier; some may outgrow this condition with no symptoms and discomfort and others might suffer from a cardiac arrest. If your dog develops heart murmurs the treatment may range from medication to surgery depending on the seriousness of the condition.
Take your dog for regular check-ups to the vet to avoid any kind of health issue.

Lens Luxation

This condition usually affects middle-aged Terriers or Shar-Peis. It is caused due to the weakening of the thread that holds the lens at a place.
Symptoms may include eye irritation, redness in the eye, cloudy cornea, or green mucus-like eye discharge.
Mild cases can be cured by medication. However, if it gets serious your dog might need surgery or complete eye removal in some cases.

It is very important to adopt a dog from a responsible breeders. The next time you get a Bull Terrier home, make sure the breeder provides your puppy’s parent’s health certificate. Most of the health problems do not appear before adulthood, so it is necessary to have his health papers up-to-date. Dog’s less than two years of age generally do not get health clearances. Adopt from a breeder who does not breed dogs until the age of three to be on the safer side.

Note:  Never buy a Bull Terrier from a puppy mill, pet stores, or from a breeder that denies you health clearance. Save yourself from fraudulent.

Your Bull Terrier puppy must be vaccinated with canine parvovirus and for canine distemper at 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 weeks of age and then a booster every three years.
Make sure to also get a deworming vaccination plan for your pooch from your vet.
Vaccination is a different ball game altogether. You can read our Guide To Dog Vaccination for further information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Breeds

• Boston Terrier
• English White Terrier
• Jack Russel Terrier
• Old English Terrier
• American Pit Bull Terrier

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