Bull Terrier | Description, Temperament, Lifespan, & Facts (2024)

Bull Terrier

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Should bull terriers be included in breed-specific legislation ("pit bull bans")?

Whether cities should enact breed-specific legislation (BSL, or "pit bill bans") for dogs such as bull berriers is widely debated. Some see BSL as a humane way of making communities safer by discouraging dog fighting and the breeding of dangerous dogs. Others argue there is no evidence that BSL makes communities safer and that other legislation would be more effective than expensive and controversial BSL laws. For more on the debate on pit bull bans, visit ProCon.org.

Bull Terrier, breed of dog developed in 19th-century England from the Bulldog, the White English Terrier (a breed now extinct), and the Dalmatian; other breeds including the Spanish pointer, foxhound, and Greyhound may also have been incorporated.

The Bull Terrier was developed for the dogfighting pits as a courageous fighter but not as an aggressive fight provoker. It is a muscular dog and has a short coat; a tapering tail; erect ears; small triangular deep-set eyes; and a distinctive egg-shaped, or convex, head. It stands 21 to 22 inches (53 to 56 cm) tall at the withers and weighs about 50 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg). The miniature Bull Terrier, recognized as a separate breed, stands 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) and weighs 24 to 33 pounds (11 to 15 kg). In both sizes the coat may be coloured (i.e., any colour but white, including brindle) or white (i.e., all white or white with darker head markings). The Bull Terrier is active, loyal, and playful—even clownish—and is considered for its weight as one of the strongest of all dogs.

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	Bull Terrier breed facts
other names	Egghead, Wedgehead, Bully
area of origin	England
breed group	terrier
height at withers	21–22 inches (53–56 cm)
weight	50–70 pounds (23–32 kg)
life span	12–13 years
Did you know?	Perhaps the two best-known Bull Terriers were featured in ad campaigns for Anheuser-Busch’s Bud Light beer and Target. In the late 1980s “Spuds MacKenzie,” portrayed by a female Bull Terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye, began starring in TV commercials for Bud Light. According to The New York Times, Spuds helped increase sales by 20 percent between 1987 and 1988; the dog was pictured on everything from T-shirts to billboards and even appeared in movies. However, it was also the subject of controversy when some accused the company of glamorizing alcohol consumption and encouraging underage drinking. The dog-based campaign was retired in 1989. Ten years later “Bullseye,” a white Bull Terrier, became the popular mascot for Target. The company emblazoned its logo, a red circle around a dot, surrounding the dog’s left eye, but it did so with a nontoxic vegetable-based paint that was easily removable.

Care and upkeep

The Bull Terrier needs a secure fenced yard in which to exercise. The breed requires a great deal of human interaction in the form of games, training, and leashed walks. It is generally not a good candidate for dog parks, because it can be aggressive with unfamiliar animals. Bull Terriers enjoy many competitive activities, including agility, obedience, and scent work as well as coursing, flyball, and weight pulling. They do not like extreme cold nor heat. Coat care is minimal, consisting of occasional bathing and brushing.

The breed is generally healthy, though common ailments include patellar luxation (dislocated kneecap) and mild heart issues. Kidney failure is also a concern. In addition, Bull Terriers are susceptible to hearing problems, and the white-coated variety is especially prone to deafness. In coloured Bull Terriers, deafness is typically limited to one ear. It should be determined if a puppy has hearing issues before labeling it as disobedient.

Temperament

Although the Bull Terrier was originally bred for pit fighting, in the late 1800s breeders began to focus on traits that transformed the dog into a gentleman’s fashionable companion. Thus, the breed today is generally sweet and good-natured, though it still may be aggressive around other dogs. Generally described as energetic, huggable, and exuberant, Bull Terriers can also be comical, mischievous, and stubborn. The breed is especially well suited for active people. The Bull Terrier can be a good watchdog but is only fair at protection. It should be noted that these claims are a traditional and widely accepted generalization about the breed, and the behaviour of individual Bull Terriers may differ.

Caroline Coile The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica