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Dogs 101 - BULL TERRIER
Top Dog Facts About the BULL TERRIER
The Bull Terrier, known for its ‘egg-shaped’ head is a breed from the terrier family of dogs. Its history goes back to the European culture of developing new strains of dogs that could perform well in bull baiting and dog fighting matches. Its ancestor is the Bull and Terrier dog of early 19th century, which was a result of breeding English Bulldogs, for their tenacity, with the English Terriers, for their nimbleness. For several years, these Bull and Terrier dogs were bred only for their performance, with little care given to appearance. In the mid-19th century, an English breeder called James Hinks crossed Bull and Terrier dogs with the, now extinct, English White Terriers to produce a dog of cleaner look. This produced a variety that was close in appearance to the modern Bull Terrier. Further cross breeding with Dalmatians, Spanish Pointers, Whippets, Borzois and Rough Collies finally produced the distinctive looking Bull Terrier we know today.
Time for some Ruff Trivia:
- What unique feature of the Bull Terrier’s eyes is not seen generally in any other dog breed?
o A: Triangular Shape
o B: Oval Shape
o C: Blue Iris
What do you think, give it your best guess in the comments below before we get to the answer! Hang on tight and we’ll get back to this Ruff Trivia Question toward the end of the video.
The Bull Terrier is a strongly built, muscular dog. The average size of the adult dog is between 21 and 22 inches. The male’s weight is generally between 60 and 70 pounds, and that of the female between 50 and 60 pounds. The unique oval shaped head of the dog is almost flat at the top of the skull. In profile, the head curves gently from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose. The nose itself is black, and bent downwards. The lower jaw is deep, well defined and strong. The coat is short, has a fine gloss and is slightly rough to the touch. The color is white, black, tan, brindle, red, fawn, or a combination of these.
Grooming: A Bull Terrier’s coat is easy to care for, and a weekly brush using a hound glove or a soft bristle brush should keep it dirt free. A bath once in a while is also great. Its strong nails require regular trimming with a clipper or grinder to prevent overgrowth and splitting. Ears should be checked for wax deposit and teeth should be brushed regularly.
Environment: The Bull Terrier’s tough appearance belies its playful, caring and, sometimes, comical nature. It loves children and has strong protective instincts for them. It can be aggressive towards other dogs and pets, which is only its fighting instincts kicking in. But, early socialization can help control these tendencies.
Training: Bull Terriers are known to be stubborn, and younger dogs of the breed tend to be a little rowdy. But, a patient and experienced owner should be able to discipline them with some firmness. It is an active breed and requires more exercise than just a walk on leash.
Health: The Bull terrier is a generally healthy breed. The average lifespan of the dog is between 11 to 14 years. Almost 20% of all white Bull Terriers are born deaf. Kidney related problems are fairly common. Some other frequent health issues are skin allergies, heart problems and patellar luxation.
The Bull Terrier is a low-maintenance breed, well suited for being a home dog. The key to its happiness is a good amount of time and patience from its owner for socialization, training and bonding.
Find out if the Bull Terrier would be a good addition to your home. Now you can visit Brooklyn’s Corner.com to take our quiz and find out which dog would be the best match for you.
Let’s get back to the answer to our Ruff Trivia Question. The Bull Terrier is pretty much the only dog breed with triangular shaped eyes.
That does it for the Bull Terrier. If you enjoyed this Dog Facts 101 video be sure to subscribe and paw that Thumbs up button. Then go ahead and check out some of our other videos or fun activities on our website. Thanks for watching and we’ll see ya soon.
Facts:
• Bullseye, the Target Bull Terrier mascot, has a wax statue in its name at Madame Tussauds, New York.
• General Patton, the World War II hero, loved Bull Terriers. His favorite, whom he took to the front, was called William The Conqueror, or Willie.
• Popularity of the breed reached really high in the 1980s after a Bull Terrier called Spuds Mackenzie featured in a Budweiser commercial.
• There is a breed called Miniature Bull Terrier that looks exactly like the Bull Terrier, except for the size, of course.
• Bull Terriers were bred initially only to be white, but due to certain genetic medical problems seen in these all-white lines, color was introduced by crossing with Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the early 20th century.
Music by Kevin McLeod - Royalty Free
