Bull Terrier facts for kids
Bull Terrier
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| Origin | England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Bull Terrier is a special breed of dog that first came from England in the 1800s. It was created by mixing different dog breeds. These dogs were originally used for controlling pests and in certain dog sports.
Contents
Appearance
The Bull Terrier is easy to spot because of its unique head. People often say it looks like an 'egg' when you see it from the front. The top of its head is quite flat. From the top of its head, its profile gently curves down to its nose. Its nose is black and bends downwards a little, with good nostrils for sniffing. The lower jaw is strong and deep.
Its eyes are small, dark, and set deep in its head. They are also triangular, which is very unusual! Bull Terriers are the only dogs with triangular eyes. Their bodies are full and round, with strong, muscular shoulders. Their tail is usually held straight out. Bull Terriers can be white, red, fawn, black, brindle, or a mix of these colors.
Temperament
Bull Terriers can be quite independent and sometimes a bit stubborn. Because of this, they might not be the best choice for someone who has never owned a dog before. However, a Bull Terrier usually has a calm personality and can learn rules well.
Even though they can be stubborn, they are very good with people. It's important to help them meet other dogs and animals when they are young. This helps them get along with everyone. Their personality is often described as brave, full of energy, and fun-loving. They are known to love children and can be a wonderful part of a family. A study in Germany in 2008 even showed that Bull Terriers have a similar overall temperament to Golden Retrievers.
Health
It's important for all Bull Terrier puppies to be checked for deafness. About 20% of pure white Bull Terriers and 1.3% of colored Bull Terriers can be deaf. It can be hard to notice this, especially in young puppies.
Many Bull Terriers can also get skin allergies. Bites from insects like fleas, mosquitoes, and mites can cause a rash, itching, and bumps on their skin. You can help stop this problem by keeping your dog away from these insects. This is especially important in places where these insects are common. Bull Teriers usually live for about 10 years, but many can live to be 10 to 15 years old.
History
In the early 1800s, "Bull and Terrier" dog breeds were created. These dogs were developed to help with vermin control and for certain dog sports. The "Bull and Terriers" came from mixing the Old English Bulldog (which is now extinct) and Old English Terriers. Other terrier breeds might have been used too.
This new type of dog combined the quickness of light terriers with the strong grip of the Bulldog. Bulldogs were mostly bred for fighting bulls and bears tied to a post. Many breeders started mixing bulldogs with terriers, thinking it would make better dogs for these activities. Even though these mixed dogs were valuable, not much was done to keep the breed exactly the same. Because there were no clear rules for how the dogs should look (they were bred for what they could do, not their appearance), the "Bull and Terrier" eventually split into the ancestors of today's "Bull Terriers" and "Staffordshire Bull Terriers." These new breeds were smaller and easier to manage.
In the mid-1800s, a man named James Hinks started breeding "Bull and Terriers" with "English White Terriers" (which are also extinct now). He wanted a dog that looked cleaner, with better legs and a nicer head. In 1862, Hinks showed one of his dogs, named "Puss," at a dog show. She was the daughter of his white Bulldog, "Madman." These dogs were first called the "Hinks Breed" or "The White Cavalier." They didn't have the famous "egg face" yet, but their skull profile was already changing.
These dogs quickly became popular. Breeders continued to improve them by adding genes from other breeds. They used Dalmatians, Spanish Pointers, and Whippets to make the dogs more elegant and agile. They also used Borzoi and Rough Collie to change the shape of the head. Hinks especially wanted his dogs to be white. The first modern Bull Terrier, named "Lord Gladiator," was born in 1917. He was the first dog with the completely smooth, "egg-shaped" head we know today.
Because breeding only white dogs caused some health problems, people like Ted Lyon started adding color back into the breed in the early 1900s. They used Staffordshire Bull Terriers to do this. Colored Bull Terriers were recognized as a separate type in 1936. Brindle is a popular color, but other colors are also welcome.
Besides how they looked, breeders also wanted specific behaviors. The nickname "White Cavalier" was given to the breed. This name suggests a dog that, while it wouldn't start a fight, could certainly finish one. It also meant a dog that got along well with its "pack," including children and puppies. James Hinks always wanted his dogs to be a "gentleman's companion" rather than just a fighting dog.
In popular culture
Bull Terriers have appeared in many books, movies, and TV shows!
- General George S. Patton owned a Bull Terrier named Willie. You can see a portrayal of Willie in the 1970 movie Patton.
- In Charles Dickens' book Oliver Twist (1838), the character Bill Sikes has a dog named "Bullseye," which is a Bull Terrier.
- In the TV show Baa Baa Black Sheep, Major Gregory Boyington (played by Robert Conrad) owns a Bull Terrier named "Meatball." Meatball was also the mascot for the VMF-214 squadron.
- The famous The New Yorker cartoonist George Booth often drew a Bull Terrier in his cartoons.
- The short film Frankenweenie (1984) and its remake Frankenweenie (2012), both by Tim Burton, feature a Bull Terrier named "Sparky."
- From 1987 to 1989, Budweiser beer commercials featured a female Bull Terrier named "Spuds MacKenzie" who became very famous.
- The book The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford features a Bull Terrier named "Bodger." This dog also appears in the 1963 film.
- The 1993 Nickelodeon cartoon Rocko's Modern Life features a Bull Terrier named "Spunky," who is Rocko's pet dog.
- The 1995 film Toy Story features a Bull Terrier named "Scud."
- In Babe: Pig in the City, one of the two fierce dogs that chases Babe is a Bull Terrier. But later, he becomes friends with Babe after Babe saves him.
- Target's mascot, named "Bullseye," is a Bull Terrier.
- "Chico" was Joker's pet dog in the film Next Friday.
- A Bull Terrier named Rocky Top's Sundance Kid won "Best in Show" at the famous Westminster Dog Show in 2006. He was the first colored Bull Terrier to win this award.
- The album cover for Working Class Dog by singer Rick Springfield shows his own pet Bull Terrier named Ronnie.
- Famous hockey coach and commentator Don Cherry has owned several Bull Terriers, all named "Blue." These dogs have become very well-known and often appear on his merchandise and TV shows.
- Don Cherry once owned a hockey team called the Mississauga IceDogs. Their mascot, Bones, is a Bull Terrier inspired by his dog Blue.
- Chris Van Allsburg, who wrote books like Jumanji and The Polar Express, includes a Bull Terrier named "Fritz" in every book he writes.
- The mascot for Hiram College is a Bull Terrier.
- "Grimm" from the comic strip Mother Goose and Grimm is a yellow, cartoon Bull Terrier.
- A deaf Bull Terrier named "Patsy Ann" lived from 1929 to 1942 in Juneau, Alaska. She would greet new ships coming into the harbor. She was even named the "Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska" in 1934. A statue was built in her honor in Juneau in 1992.
- Nancy Drew has a pet Bull Terrier named Togo in the Nancy Drew mystery stories by Carolyn Keene.
Other pages
Images for kids
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With a miniature Bull Terrier
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Brindle and white Bull Terrier
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White Bull Terrier
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Red and white Bull Terrier
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Modern-colored Bull Terrier
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A brindle Bull Terrier showing head profile, triangular eyes, robust and very muscular body
See also
In Spanish: Bull terrier para niños
