Bull Terrier: There is no designated height or weight for the breed but the average is, Height: 51-61 cm (20-24 inches), Weight: 20-38 kg (44-85 pounds) The Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier are the only recognized breeds that have triangle-shaped eyes.
Temperament:
Because of their power and difficulty to train ,"bullies" are not ideal for a first-time dog owner. However, their physical strength is matched by their intelligence, which makes them thoroughly reliable pets. Both body and mind need to be kept active and they can be fun and playful. The Bull Terrier is known to show aggressiveness towards other dogs, usually that of the same sex.
Bull Terriers can be extremely strong willed and dominant, especially males. In some cases training is a necessity on a daily basis to prevent your dog from attempting to become top-dog amongst its human family and other dogs. The Bull Terrier is no more aggressive than any other terrier breed. However, it's very size and power makes any aggressive behaviour all the more noticeable, and potentially serious. A Bull Terrier is not your average dog, this is a mentally and physically strong breed. Strict leadership and discipline regiment should be engaged from day one of ownership. Your Bull Terrier may seem like playful and mischievous puppy at first, but owners should be very aware to look and recognize aggressive and dominant behavior even in the first 6 months. The responsibility to bestow discipline in, and engage in proper training of these beautiful animals lies wholly with the owners and/or breeders. Genuinely 'bad' bull terrier dogs are few and far between.
They are typically very affectionate dogs that love human company. Older (mature) Bull Terriers are particularly good with children, and usually have a high pain threshold, which reduces the risk of injury to children from a defensive bite. Younger dogs, however, may regard children as playmates and because of their strength could cause inadvertent injury. They are protective of children in their charge, and the females are especially noted for this. Bull Terriers can make formidable guard dogs while their owners are away.
The American Temperament Test Society, Inc. (ATTS), a not-for-profit organization that promotes uniform temperament testing for dog breeds, gives the Bull Terrier a pass rate of 92.1%. The average for all breeds is 81.5%. However,
a) the pass rate is a percentage of the "pass" and "total" numbers;
b) a fail in any of the ten subtests fails the entire test; and
c) the tests results do not include any performed after 31 December 2007.
ATTS, as at December 2007, has tested only 63 "Bull Terriers" (they don't list as "English Bull Terrier").
"Bullies" will usually live and play very amicably with other dogs, choosing to discourage with a firm put-down rather than biting any smaller or less capable animals wishing to rough-house outside their class.
The English bull terrier is a great family dog as they are calm and relaxed but will become very active when played with. After about a year or two they should be out of their puppy stage but they should then play with you when you want them to play.
All puppies should be checked for deafness, as this sometimes occurs (most commonly in pure white dogs) and is difficult to notice, especially in a relatively young puppy. Many Bull Terriers have a tendency to develop skin allergies. Insect bites, such as those from fleas, and sometimes mosquitoes and mites, can produce a generalized allergic response of hives, rash, and itching. This condition can be stopped by keeping the dog free of contact from these insects, but this is definitely a consideration in climates or circumstances where exposure to these insects is inevitable. Their lifespan is somewhere between 10 and 14 years, although they can live longer - a male bull terrier house pet in South Wales, UK by the name of "Buller" lived to the age of 18 years. The oldest female Bull Terrier on record is an Australian house pet dubbed "Puppa Trout" who remained sprightly into her 17th year. The second oldest female Bull Terrier on record is "Boots Moon Stomp Stout (Crain)" of Denver, Colorado USA. Boots lived to be 16 years of age.
The Bull Terrier's coat is easy to maintain, but grooming can keep it in near-perfect condition. Adding oils to their meals can also vastly improve the quality of their coat. The Bull Terrier requires a fair amount of exercise, but overworking the dog at a young age will cause strained muscles. Older dogs do require exercise, but in small doses, whereas younger ones will be happy to play for hours on end. The breed is renowned for being extremely greedy; be sure to maintain a good balance of exercise and food, or the dog can become overweight. Also, be sure to check ears, eyes, nose and mouth every day for signs of infection, they can also suffer from a bad heart.
Common Ailments: Deafness, Umbilical Hernia and Acne. Bull Terriers can also suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, such as tail chasing, self mutilation, and obsessive licking.
