The Bull Terrier, also known as the English Bull Terrier, dates back to the early 1800s and originated in Great Britain. These are powerful yet exceedingly friendly dogs that thrive on affection yet are always game to frolic. As with most terriers, they are tenacious and independent free-thinkers, who love to play and be active with their owners. They can be strong-willed, stubborn, alert, agile and energetic. They are not bothered by rough play and are good with children and families. They were accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1897 and are members of the Terrier Group. One of the most well-known Bull Terriers in this country is Spuds MacKenzie, the former mascot for Budweiser Beer. Unlike many terriers, the Bull Terrier will not bark unless it truly feels like there is a need to vocalize an alert. Due to their strength and strong will, the Bull Terrier requires consistent training and early socialization. The owner of the Bull Terrier must be the alpha dog, or the Bull Terrier will quickly take over the household. This breed also requires a good amount of exercise and mental stimulation or they can become aggressive and destructive.
The average Bull Terrier stands 20 to 24 inches at the withers and weighs an average of 50 to 80 pounds. These dogs have an extremely muscular build and are very strong. The Bull Terrier has a short but dense coat that is easy to care for, and regular brushing will help to reduce excess shedding.
Bull Terriers are almost universally believed to be the result of crossing a Bulldog to the now-extinct White English Terrier, which produced a type of dog known as the Bull-and-Terrier. Some authors suggest that the cross may have been between a Bulldog and a large, smooth Black-and-Tan Terrier. Either way, the resulting Bull-and-Terrier was later mated with the Spanish Pointer to add size to the breed, which is evident in today’s Bull Terriers. The Bull
Once upon a time Bull Terriers were bred to fight. Crossing a terrier and a bulldog produced a breed with fearlessness, tenacity and strength that made them natural gladiators. The fighting branches of the Bull Terrier's family tree have since withered away, and the modern breed is a loving, loyal, clown of a dog who makes an excellent family companion for those with active lifestyles. They love being with people and want to be included
The AKC standard for this breed states, “Given his muscular build, the Bull Terrier can appear unapproachable, but he is an exceedingly friendly dog, with a sweet and fun-loving disposition and popular in the obedience, agility and show rings.” Bull Terriers are strong, medium-sized sized dogs with very large oval shaped heads. They have unique triangular-shaped eyes that are small but almost always described as piercing. There are two varieties of Bull Terrier: White and
The saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Check out the many different Bull Terrier Pictures and Bull Terrier images. Get an in depth look at the Bull Terrier and see the many things that this breed has to offer.