Dog Breed Guide
Bull Terrier
Profile
- Size
- Medium
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- Origin
- 19th century
- Bred for
- Companion (formerly fighting, ratting)
- Height
- No standard, about 53 - 56cm (21 - 22in)
- Weight
- 23 - 32kg (51 - 71lb)
- Life span
- 12 - 13 years
The Bull Terrier's defining feature is its egg-shaped head, which curves smoothly from the tip of the nose to the top of the skull. It has an unforgettable face unlike that of any other breed. Its small, triangular eyes and body packed with muscle are striking as well. It comes in two varieties: all-white "White" and "Colored."
Cheerful and clownish, it loves to entertain its family. Spinning in circles chasing its tail or playing wildly with a toy, it is full of charm. It is also stubborn and strong, so training and socialization from puppyhood are important.
Some white dogs are known to be born deaf or hard of hearing. Tail chasing can become compulsive, so give it plenty of exercise and play to keep it from getting bored.
Good to know
In the 1860s, James Hinks, a dog dealer in Birmingham, England, created the breed by crossing the Bull and Terrier, then used for dog fighting, with the now-extinct English White Terrier and the Dalmatian. The sleek new all-white dog was nicknamed "the White Cavalier" and became the height of fashion among gentlemen. The egg-shaped head was exaggerated further by later breeding.
General George S. Patton, the famous American commander of World War II, doted on his Bull Terrier Willie and even took him to the front.
The breed has appeared in many films. Scud, the dog belonging to the toy-wrecking bully Sid in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, is a Bull Terrier. Bullseye, the mascot of the American retailer Target, is also a Bull Terrier, with a red target painted around one eye.