Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier (or English Bull Terrier) is a dog of English origin, belonging to the 3rd group of dog breeds of the International Cynological Federation, the group of Terriers. There are two distinct breeds: the Standard Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier, the latter not to exceed 35.5 cm at the withers. Health Deafness, which can be bilateral or unilateral, is a hereditary defect. Joint problems with hip dysplasia and patella luxation (quite common but easily detectable by simple palpation). Skin problems are still quite common especially in white dogs. They can range from allergy (of various and varied causes) to pyoderma, demodicosis or even atopic dermatitis. Heart problems come to him from his ancestor the BullDog. The three most common pathologies are: heart murmur, mitral valve dysplasia and subaortic stenosis. These problems can be detected by Doppler ultrasound. Kidney problems, although still poorly understood, are often very serious, such as familial nephropathy. Often this dramatically shortens the dog's lifespan. A kidney ultrasound can detect these problems. Miniature Bull Terriers also suffer from an autosomal recessive disease: lens dislocation. It is a hereditary disease which affects the eyes: an affected dog will be blind before the age of 9 years. A DNA test has been available since September 2009 and the result is valid for life.

The Bull Terrier was created in England around 1830 by crossbreeding the old English Bulldog and a terrier. We find in particular the blood of Old English White Terrier. The first subjects were very similar to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Subsequently, to achieve its current appearance, the list of all its ancestors is long and uncertain. He began his career as a fighting dog. Indeed, he has long fought wild or domestic animals, bears, bulls or equines. In 1835, following the development of the number of these fights, the British Parliament banned fights between animals, which marked the decline of this breed. However, clandestine encounters still exist, pitting only dogs against each other. The Bull Terrier could even have disappeared after the First World War, following a whole series of events (animals suffering from deafness, ban on the cutting of the ears in 1895, depigmentation of certain subjects...). If the breed is known from the beginning of the 19th century, the standard will only authorize colored subjects in 1920 to bring new blood to white dogs, many of whom were born deaf. The Bull Terrier was not recognized until 1933 in England, and in 1943 in France. Today's Bull Terrier no longer has much to do with its ancestors, having notably lost the aggressiveness of its ancestors.

The current Bull Terrier, fortunately, no longer has the characteristics for which it was created. Decades of rigorous selection have made him more suitable for domestic life and have made him an admirable companion dog. From these terrier ancestors, he kept this stubborn character so representative of the breed. The Bull Terrier is a very sociable dog, he dedicates an unbounded admiration to his master, to the members of the family. This attachment applies to humans in general, making it a poor guardian. Dynamic and playful, he needs real walks and play sessions to blossom and exercise. Loneliness, boredom and inactivity are difficult for him to bear and make him destructive. It is strongly advised to bring him to an education club as soon as possible in order to socialize him and transform the work sessions into fun.