The English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog known for its unique head shape and small triangular ears. There are two variants of the breed: the bull terrier and the miniature bull terrier. It was developed in Great Britain as a show and fighting dog by James Hinks He is recognized as the White Knight.
If you are thinking of adopting a puppy or an adult, it is important that you find out about its character, its physical characteristics or the education it needs for proper training. The English Bull Terrier is a fantastic dog in many ways, find out all about it in this breed file on our site.
Origin of the English bull terrier
Like the history of the other bull-type terriers, the origin of bull terriers is related to fights between dogs and bulls, and to dog fights. When bull fighting was prohibited by law in Great Britain, back in 1835, crosses between bulldogs and terriers were developed to obtain lighter but equally tenacious animals, capable of resisting and fighting in the new and cruel "sport". of dog fighting. Thus came the ancestors of today's bull terrier, which were known as the bull and terrier, due to the crossbreeding involved. Those dogs had the combativeness and resistance to pain of the bulldog of that time and the agility and sagacity of the terrier. Although lighter than the bulldogs of the time, these bull and terriers were more similar to the bulldog of those times than the bull terrier of today. In fact, the head had a marked stop and the general appearance was similar to today's Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Starting in 1850, James Hinks standardized the breed for the first time, by carrying out selected crosses between white bull and terriers with other breeds, including the now extinct white English terrier. The dogs bred by Hinks were the mainstay of the current breed, and in his time they were already known as bull terriers or "the white gentlemen". The breed of that time still had a marked stopand the head was not the egg-shaped head typical of today's bull terrier. It is not known with certainty what breeds were used to achieve this characteristic head and greater elegance of the body, but it is thought that breeds of dogs such as the Burgos retriever, the collie, the greyhound and even the Dalmatian were used.
The first bull terrier club was created in England in 1887. In 1888 the first official breed standard was published. In 1917 the first modern bull terrier was born, with an egg head and no stop. His name was "Lord Gladiator" and represents the birth of the race as we know it today.
Miniature Bull Terriers were developed later, from selective crosses between standard Bull Terrier dogs. Its development had to do with the new functions that the breed fulfilled, as companion dogs.
Physical Characteristics of the English Bull Terrier
The English Bull Terrier is a strong and muscular dog, usually white but can also be black, red or brindle. The hair is short and smooth so it will not need excessive brushing. The oval shape of its head without stop (naso-frontal depression), the ears and the triangular-shaped eyes offer it a totally unique and different appearance from the others races. We will not find many physical differences between the different sexes, except that the males are somewhat more robust compared to a slight fineness of the females.
The nose, black with well-developed nostrils, curves down at the tip. The jaws are very powerful, a fact that we notice in the cheeks, well formed but not exaggerated. When English bull terriers close their mouths, the inside of the upper incisors come into contact with the outside of the lower incisors. In this way, the bite closes in scissors. For its part, the bull terrier's eyes are black or very dark brown, narrow and triangular. They are arranged obliquely on the skull and have a bright look that expresses decision and intelligence.
The neck is muscular, long and arched. He does not have a double chin. The short and strong back continues with a wide and muscular loin. The chest is deep and broad. The bottom line forms an elegant upward curve from the chest to the abdomen. As with other bull-type terriers, the bull terrier's tail is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. It is short and set low.
The bull terrier's coat is short, coarse, tightly knit and has a fine sheen. In winter, a soft-textured undercoat may appear. As for color, although white is usually the most common, it is not the only one. White specimens must have a completely white body, but may have colored spots on the head. In bull terriers that are not white, the color of the body should predominate. Color dogs accepted black, brindle, red, fawn and tricolor
English Bull Terrier Character
The English Bull Terrier if it is well educated has a balanced and affectionate character with people, they are faithful dogs by nature and really affectionate. They are extremely brave, since they have a strong sense of protection, although this does not mean that they are aggressive dogs. On the other hand, it is important to ask the town council of the place of residence if this breed is considered potentially dangerous, since in some areas it is and in others it is not. In case of being considered a potentially dangerous dog, the use of the muzzle and leash in public spaces will be essential. In this sense, it is important to get the dog used to the muzzle step by step so that he feels comfortable using it and does not see it as a punishment.
Although nothing should happen, especially if the dog has been properly socialized, it is advisable to always supervise his play with children who don't know how to relate to a dog. An ear pull can lead to a growl, so educate your children on how to interact with the English Bull Terrier.
Sometimes they tend to be a bit stubborn when they get something into their heads and therefore we will work very actively on their educationCastration is highly recommended to achieve a stable adult dog. This breed, strongly attached to its owners, suffers a lot from loneliness, so we will avoid adopting a dog with these characteristics at all costs if we do not have time to dedicate to it and all its needs. It is an excellent guard dog that will always notify you when someone arrives at your house.
The bull terrier is an affectionate dog that will socialize without any problem with the little ones in the house. He is a playful and patient dog, although he is very physically bulky and has a large jaw. For this reason, we will prevent them from playing with children who are too young or treating them inappropriately. It is not an aggressive dog if it is educated correctly, but at certain times it can inadvertently cause harm, playing too excitedly.
Regarding contact with other dogs, we must know that they can become reactive if they are not educated correctly or if they are instigated to be aggressive. It is very important to understand that education is essential for a dog with voluptuous physical characteristics such as the bull terrier. The great bond they assume within the family tends to be overprotectiveIf we train our dog in the correct way, we will not have problems relating to other dogs, pets, children and adults.
English bull terrier care
He has a coat that is easy to care for and maintain, so brushing it from time to time will make it look perfect. In winter it is advisable to put some kind of coat on him, since his short hair will make him prone to tremors and, therefore, physical discomfort. Being a very active dog, we must make sure to offer him long and complete walks, including physical exercise if the dog needs it and games. Of course, intense exercise must be controlled in its stages of youth and old age to avoid the aforementioned, muscular or growth problems.
Bull terriers tend to overeat if given the chance, so we need to educate ourselves on the correct dosage of food that we are going to give you, always of high quality. Remember that a good feed is not only reflected in the happiness of the dog but also in its he alth, fur and well-being, preventing it from suffering from obesity.
English bull terrier education
It is common for bull terriers to bite everything they meet, be it our hands, furniture or household objects. So from puppies we will teach him how to bite using biters and various toys until we find the perfect one for him. The black kong, being very resistant, is perfect for his powerful jaw.
The next step in the education of the bull terrier will be to start with the socialization of the puppy, a process in which we must teach him to relate to other dogs, people and objectsThis step is fundamental so that in the future we can enjoy being an adult who is sociable with all kinds of living beings and also without fear, for example, of cars or bicycles. Anything we can teach him at this stage will be beneficial for the future. Obviously we must ensure that they are always positive social relationships so as not to generate fear.
Once all of the above has been achieved, we will begin with the training. To do this, we'll spend about 10 or 15 minutes a day practicing basic commands. It is not about teaching you fun tricks, but rather instructions that help us for your safety. Sitting down, staying still or coming will prevent us from being run over, for example. Many people do not know the importance of training and, for this reason, we focus so much on it to avoid having fearful dogs, that do not know how to act or interact in the future.
Beyond his safety, practicing commands using positive reinforcement will be a perfect way to strengthen our relationship with the dog and learn to communicate with him. Finally, we will add that it is not recommended in any case to punish or use aggressiveness with the animal, regardless of its breed. Although we are not aware of it, the stress and anxiety produced by punishment are very counterproductive for the well-being of the dog, in addition to stimulating the dog's aggressiveness instead of eliminating it.
English Bull Terrier He alth
The most common diseases of the bull terrier are the following:
- Deafness
- Patella dislocation
- Renal problems
- Heart problems
- Skin problems
In addition to the above, they are sensitive to insect bites and, therefore, must be adequately protected. It is advisable to check our bull terrier regularly and make sure that it does not suffer from any skin problem, as well as carefully stretching its joints to check that they move well. Through active walks we will exercise your muscles, but that does not mean that we should force you. Excessive exercise can lead to joint-related problems. It is recommended to go regularly to the vet, for example, every six months and go immediately in the event of an anomaly. Likewise, we will keep your vaccinations and deworming schedule up to date.
