Bull Terrier: character, description, care and training methods

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Bull Terrier is a breed that can be said to have suffered from black PR. Stupidity, viciousness and aggressiveness are the features that, according to the inhabitants, are inherent in these dogs. People forget that even a lap dog can be dangerous if it was not brought up or deliberately spoiled the psyche. What can we say about such a strong and courageous creature as a bull terrier! The character, reviews of which in most cases are extremely negative, in dogs of this breed is not at all bad. The sad stories that the press was once full of only testify to the fact that bull terriers fell into the wrong hands, that the owners were not ready for the company of such a strong-willed dog, and that they had no idea how to raise such a pet (or simply did not want to practice).

History of the breed

It was she who determined both the appearance and the psychological characteristics that the Bull Terrier acquired as a result: its character is fully consistent with the tasks that these dogs were supposed to perform. The impetus for selection was the 1835 ban on dog fights with bulls. Gambling British began to look for a replacement for the spectacle and breed individuals for purely dog fights, since bulldogs with blunt muzzles, used to bait bulls, turned out to be not very convincing in a fight with their own kind. Therefore, they began to cross with representatives of other breeds. The main contribution to the breeding of the Bull Terrier was made by various terriers, including Foxes. But the Pointer, the Dalmatian, the Foxhound, and even, presumably, the Rough Collie, whose profile was useful for obtaining a smooth transition from the skull to the muzzle, were "noted" in the breed. The result of this selection was the modern bull terrier. However, he mostly inherited his character from bulldogs, who are distinguished by fearlessness and perseverance.

Bull Terrier: breed description, character

He belongs to medium-sized dogs: the average weight reaches 25 kilograms, height - from 40 centimeters (in females) to 55 (maximum in males). The physique is powerful, the muscles are very well expressed. For all its external massiveness, the Bull Terrier is agile, agile and nimble. Differs in good jumping ability. Coat color can be pure white or colored. The first is considered more preferable, while spots are allowed only on the head. In second place is brindle, but other colors are not considered a defect or marriage.

Psychologically, the dog must be restrained, active, but not vicious. The Bull Terrier, whose character is characterized by imbalance or nervousness, is not even allowed to show: it is believed that these are either the owner’s mistakes in education, orbreed culling.

Strong personality

Those who liked the appearance of the Bull Terrier, the nature of the breed must be taken into account. Do not forget that this is a gladiator dog. The main thing is that the Bull Terrier is by nature a dominant personality, and if you do not put him in his place from the very beginning, he will not respect and obey you. Moreover, representatives of this breed require a kind of socialization. Since they were bred for dog fights, bull terriers are always ready to fight with other dogs. And if you do not want regular problems with other "dog lovers", your pet should be taught from puppyhood to be tolerant and polite towards fellow tribesmen.

But at the same time, the dog we are considering is itself affectionate and affectionate; if you have managed to achieve recognition of your supremacy, she will treat all family members with respect and patiently endure children's pranks, even very unpleasant ones. The bull terrier is quite indifferent to strangers. Unless the stupid owner deliberately pitted him against other people, the dog will simply ignore them as long as the stranger does not show aggression towards the owners.

Breed temperament

When a bull terrier appears in the house, character is not the only thing to consider. This dog is also very active and energetic. A lazy and unsportsmanlike person should not start it: the lack of movement awakens the worst character traits in the animal, up to aggressiveness. Minimuman hour and a half a day a bull terrier should spend on the street, and in running, jumping and other active movements. The owner will have to contribute to this, because the dog is not interested in “fun” alone. Experienced dog owners buy tennis balls and play with their pet so as not to look for a stick every time.

Raising a dog

Does not mean teaching the dog commands or preparing it for the show. This is education, just like how children are raised. And it should start from the first minute the puppy appears in your apartment. Bull Terriers are smart and trainable, but stubborn. It takes persistence and patience to teach your dog the rules of behavior. And calm! From the point of view of a representative of this breed, screaming and nervousness is a sign of weakness, that is, something that neither the English nor the Staffordshire Bull Terrier will accept. The character you show in the first months of your new family member's life will earn you respect from him for life.

At puppyhood, the socialization of a dog begins. At first, you will have to walk more to teach your pet to be patient with other dogs and behave properly on the street.

Bull Terrier Training

It starts a little later than education, but you shouldn't put off the first lessons for a long time. When the puppy is six to eight months old, you can proceed. If you are not going to train the dog for security, it is enough to teach it only the most necessary commands: “near”, “not” (or “fu”), “come to me”, “fetch” and “give” - theseall signals will greatly facilitate walking the animal. "Place", "lie", "sit" are very useful to rein in the animal at home or away. Additionally, under the guidance of an instructor, you need to teach the dog not to take food from strangers, not to pick up leftovers on the street and to carefully respond to sudden movements of passers-by.

If you need a guard bull terrier, the instructor will outline the nature of additional training, taking into account your wishes and the personal characteristics of the dog.

Where and how to keep a bull terrier

When taking this dog into the house, one must take into account that her coat is short. Year-round maintenance in the yard does not suit her. In addition to the winter cold, the dog does not tolerate too bright sun. It can be said that this is a domestic breed. In an apartment, a bull terrier, like any other dog, is allocated a place that is selected taking into account the characteristics of the breed - away not only from drafts, but also from radiators, since it can catch a cold from overheating without even going outside. He needs a soft bed to sleep. But you can not take into account the size of your living space: with regular long walks, the dog will feel comfortable even in a small-sized "Khrushchev".

Pet care rules

The short coat of the Bull Terrier has both pros and cons. On the one hand, for walks in the cold you will have to buy dog overalls. On the other hand, it is not necessary to take care of the coat: it is enough to comb it out once a week with a soft brush (like clothes) so that the dog sheds less inapartment. In dirty weather, it is not necessary to wash the dog after the street - it is better to wipe it with a soft, damp cloth.

As for nutrition, the dog of this breed does not have problems with digestion and can eat any kind of food (dry and wet), as well as self-prepared food for it. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the correspondence of the volume of portions to the needs of the bull terrier. These dogs often become obese when overfed.

What is sick bull terrier

The breed is distinguished by good he alth and good immunity. Relatively common diseases are mainly hereditary or congenital. These include:

• deafness;
• jades;
• displacement or deformation of the lens.

However, it is quite simple to exclude these diseases in your pet: when buying a puppy, you should ask about the presence of such problems in his ancestors. Good breeders cull dogs with such defects, so when you contact the kennel, you are guaranteed to protect yourself from buying an animal with congenital diseases.

Of the acquired, in addition to the mentioned obesity, there are problems with the heart and skin. However, subject to the basic rules of keeping bull terriers (quality walks, thoughtful nutrition and care), the risk of encountering them drops to zero.

Miniature Bull Terrier

I would like to dwell on this branch of the breed separately. Despite its small size, the Mini Bull Terrier has the same character.serious, like his large relatives. Therefore, you should not count on an easy "victory" over the stubbornness of the animal. In addition, the mini-boule is much more difficult to train than representatives of the breed of traditional sizes. So, when buying such a puppy, do not treat him like buying a plush toy - this dog is not for the faint of heart.

Let dog lovers judge for themselves how cute a bull terrier can be (photo). His character - strong-willed and stubborn - does not prevent the dog from being a good friend and a cheerful companion.