Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier originated in Birmingham, England, the creation of a dog breeding and showing enthusiast, James Hinks. He’d previously had success showing Olde White Bulldogs and Dalmatians, and in the 1860’s turned his attentions to the then rough and ready ‘Bull & Terrier’ crossbreed types. These were working dogs, used for the entertainment of the day -baiting, fighting, in fact pretty much anything that could be gambled on. 

Hinks wanted to refine these dogs and create a more refined companion canine for the respectable gentleman. He added several breeds to the mix to create the dog he had in his mind, and used the White English Terrier (now extinct), the Dalmatian, and later on Greyhound, Spanish Pointer and Foxhound amongst others. It is speculated that the egg-shaped head and roman nose was a result of introducing either Borzoi or Rough Collie.  
The first recognisable ‘Bull Terrier’ head, belonged to a dog called Lord Gladiator, born in 1918 - and from there the breed gained popularity and has went from strength to strength although over the years, the egg-shaped head has become more extreme. Unlike the scrappy fighting dogs that came before, Hink’s Bull Terriers earned the nickname the White Cavalier, as they were generally good natured and not always spoiling for a fight (although they could certainly finish one!).  

Bull Terrier owners require bucket loads of patience, a huge sense of humour and a great deal of composure. To say the Bull Terrier is enthusiastic is like saying a tornado is a bit of a breeze – but the ideal Bully owner will be the person unable to stop a smile forming as their dog barges straight through a closed door or eats an entire sofa to get at a crumb wedged down the side. You’ll also need to enjoy long walks, delight in an often overly affectionate dog, and be competent at positive reinforcement training, and possibly household DIY and repairs. 

Two hours of exercise per day, split into two walks, with plenty of opportunity for play, games and training in between and as-you-go-along. This is a breed that runs to fat rather easily, and they are heavy enough when lean and fit, so you’ll need to work hard to keep your Bully trim. Lots of varied exercise, including swimming (if they enjoy it) and running free in a secure area, hills and off-road as well as tarmac and pavement will keep  Bull Terrier lean and athletic. 

The Bull Terrier doesn’t need a huge amount of space, but it is fairly important that space is safe, and doesn’t contain fragile items, delicate heirlooms or valuable antiques. The saying ‘Bull in a china shop’ is missing a word.. what they meant was ‘Bull Terrier in a china shop’! 
 
A secure garden, bigger is always nicer but any secure outside space is better than none – ensure fencing is robust, whilst these dogs are unlikely to go over a fence, under it or indeed, straight through it are high on the list of probabilities! 

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food. 

The short coat is harsh-textured and glossy. A softer undercoat can be present in the winter months. Coat care is minimal – just a quick brush through once a week at most. When the coat sheds, however, you might want to increase this to two or three times a week, to remove the dead coat and prevent it going on your carpet, clothing and furnishings! 

You’ll need a degree of patience and a strong sense of humour to train a Bull Terrier. They are not quite as stupid as they will try and convince you they are, but they do require motivating, they will not work for anyone who bullies them or tries to manhandle them! Clever application of positive reinforcement, to encourage your Bullie to believe that they wanted to do, whatever it is you wanted them to do. A good dollop of reverse psychology and plenty of thinking outside the box – and once again… a sense of humour! 
Work on teaching a strong recall, a strong ‘drop’ and manners on a lead and harness – this is a breed that hasn’t had the best PR over the years, and nothing looks more like trouble than an owner being dragged along by a panting, eye-bulging Bull Terrier! 
 

A well socialised, well trained and polite Bull Terrier is a joy to behold and a fun family companion – however with small children they are a little too big, boisterous, solid and silly to be safe! They love their families but this love can be a bit full-on! Better for ages 12 and up, and homes without lots of small visitors or frail older people.  

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.