definitely the dog English bull terrier It is one of the favorite breeds for children and adults, they are versatile, noble, of peculiar beauty and great physical capacity, but be careful! Their powerful jaws are capable of doing a lot of damage if not trained properly.
History of the Bull Terrier
Although the descendants of the races of the bull terrier dogs, it is known that the person responsible for its creation was the Irishman James Hinks around the year 1850, motivated mainly to promote an agile, strong, fighting species and great beauty.
Among the latests Moravia's compositions Dog breeds supposedly used in the crossing have been mentioned: English White Terrier (extinct), Bull, Terrier, Dalmatian, Greyhpund, Collie, English Greyhound, and even Borzoi.
It is considered one of the purest terriers, and although initially (around the XNUMXth century) they were promoted to control cattle and hunt rats, thanks to their strength and dexterity they were used in confrontations with bulls.
Later, in the middle of the 1917th century, bull fighting was prohibited in Great Britain and from that moment the current breed began to be defined. And it was not until XNUMX that it was considered the specimen of the breed that we know today as the Bull Terrier and at that time it was called "Lord Gladiator".
Currently the English Bull Terrier is a perfect pet, recommended for children thanks to its docility and especially because they are affectionate, energetic, loyal and playful. They have great agility and strength, which is why they generate respect and consideration, becoming excellent companions for games and outdoor sports activities.
Bull Terrier Personality
This spectacular canine breed has an authentic personality, because unlike other dogs, Bull Terriers are stubborn but extremely docile when in contact with people, as long as they are well educated, raised with love and attention, they can become the best allies of their owners.
Their high hormone levels (testosterone) drive them to be extremely jealous of their space, which is why they tend to appropriate not only their territory but also the affection of their human family. That is why it is important to raise them in a balanced environment and without any kind of abuse or aggression.
Being dogs with such a sense of belonging and sentimental attachments to their own, when they spend a lot of time away and feel alone, they do not know how to control their anxiety and tend to cause damage to their homes. Especially when they are still puppies.
Given their origin as dogs created for fighting, they have a strong character and a fighting spirit. In this sense they are reckless to face any activity that implies risk. The Bull Terrier is excellent for guarding and protecting spaces, because in addition to its powerful appearance, it has quite acute hearing, making it a great guard dog.
It can be said that they are stubborn and difficult to train. However, their undeniable intelligence allows them to become perfectly friendly and sociable creatures with humans.
Appearance
They are remarkably powerful dogs, their strength and tenacity evident in their firm musculature, coupled with their broad chest. The size is variable, they have a height that ranges between 45 and 55 cm and a weight that goes from 25 to 45 kg or a little more, except for its parallel breed, the Miniature Bull Terrier, whose only difference is precisely the size.
Its fur is short, with a rough texture and tight skin to its body. They are mostly white, however because it is a breed that comes from the crossbreeding of other breeds, we can also find it in black, reddish or brindle colors, as well as with patches on one or both eyes or the rest of the body.
One of its most noticeable features is the oval shape of its head, with a pronounced straight line running from its skull to its nose, looking like a kind of cone.
They have small and erect ears, even from puppies their little ears can already be seen standing up, giving the impression of always being attentive to what is happening in their environment. In harmony with their head, they have small and perfectly aligned eyes, they are usually black or brown. The tail is relatively short, thick at the base, tapering to the tip.
Although their teeth are not very alarming, they have a powerful bite, similar to that of their relative Pitt Bull Terrier, with an approximate pressure of 106 kg. However, Bull Terriers are not usually aggressive dogs, as much depends on the way they are raised.
Training and physical conditioning of the Bull Terrier
Considering the characteristic stubborn and rustic behavior of the Bull Terrier, its training is extremely useful and important for the harmonious coexistence between the dog and the people with whom it lives.
The objective is to mold its temperament and adapt it to its habitat, managing to enjoy a docile, affectionate and playful companion, accessible to both children and adults, who respects spaces and follows simple instructions.
Basic education of a Bull Terrier
It essentially consists of teaching the dog in a simple way to respect the spaces designated for each need, establishing clear rules of coexistence, whether it is where to defecate, where to sleep, where to eat, how far to go, etc.
Training Guidelines
In just 4 steps, you can define the way in which a bond of love and respect should be established between the owner (head person of the pack) and the Bull Terrier.
Obedience and Socialization
It must occur in the first months of the puppy's life, since obedience is born from the respect that the owner instills over the dog through the affection that he transmits. In this phase of training they should not be yelled at as it can be counterproductive, it is strictly forbidden to implement any of the Types of Animal Abuse. On the contrary, the reward with treats and toys is recommended.
Delimit the territories
Based on positive reinforcement, the spaces established in the home should be firmly indicated, making it clear to the puppy where it should stay and what its limits are, permissiveness.
Draw their attention
Normally this breed does not like to listen and it is difficult to get their attention, however the owner must call them by name and wait for their reaction, rewarding them immediately with a caress or any other prize as an incentive and recognition of their achievement.
Discipline and perseverance are decisive in this step, as well as rest spaces so as not to overwhelm the dog and not get frustrated by unpromising results.
Check behavior and reinforce roles
Continuous stimulation to comply with what has been learned is a fundamental part of creating positive habits in Bull Terrier dogs, starting from socialization but making it clear who is in charge.
Prizes should not be exaggerated, but neither should they exceed disciplinary limits, nor should they ever reach physical abuse.
Food and Stages
The most important thing about a good diet in these wonderful specimens is the dosage of the food and a healthy diet. Considering that they have a voracious appetite, they can be overfed and as a consequence present obesity problems, which triggers serious damage to their health and therefore shortens their life expectancy.
It is recommended to adjust the diet to each stage of the dog's growth, since it depends on this that your pet leads a healthy life:
puppy stage
It covers the first 6 months of life and the ideal is breast milk. Solid foods can be incorporated after 2 months when the weaning process begins, always considering their good quality.
In the event that the puppy has insufficient calcium, there are veterinarians who recommend incorporating natural yogurt into their diet, as well as carrots, which are very healthy for strengthening their teeth and fur.
Adult stage
It is estimated that the adulthood of a Bull Terrier begins between 6 months and 1 year of life. At this stage, the maximum feeding frequency is twice a day and the diet should vary depending on the dog's lifestyle (sedentary or active).
Additionally, changes in diet should be gradual, attending to the particular requirements according to the lifestyle that develops. That is, a sedentary dog does not need the same type of food as an athletic dog.
Elder Stage
This stage is located in the last years of life and it is recommended to reduce calories to prevent them from being overweight, since their ability to burn fat decreases.
Supplement diet with exercise
Having a Bull Terrier implies having time and space to dedicate to it. The aptitude and attitude of the breed notably demands its need to exercise, it is not enough to just go for walks but its levels of anxiety and extreme energy require games and races for periods of up to an hour.
Being a breed with a tendency to be overweight, it is extremely important for their good health to accompany a balanced diet with a good dose of cardiovascular training, which, in addition to speeding up their metabolism, helps them to be calmer at home.
Importance of Hydration
To successfully accompany a good diet, without a doubt the Bull Terrier needs to hydrate very well, taking into account its energetic and quite active personality, it needs to consume plenty of water, which must be kept properly clean (free of bacteria) and fresh so that be pleasing to the dog's palate.
Bull Terrier care
As far as their appearance is concerned, Bull Terriers shed their coats twice a year, so frequent brushing is enough to keep their coat shiny.
It is also important to bathe him regularly, paying attention mainly to cleaning his ears and ears in order to avoid infections due to the accumulation of parasites. The nails must be cut regularly and with great care not to exceed and cause damage to the legs.
Being a breed with great physical capacity, they require a strong dose of daily exercise, which can be alternated between training and games with their family group, which will contribute to both their physical and emotional development. An adequate diet and hydration are the best allies for the optimal development of these activities.
On the other hand, early socialization will help the relationship with the environment to flow in a better way and the Bull Terrier's stay at home will be pleasant, with trust and mutual respect.
Due to their short fur, they are vulnerable to very low temperatures, so it is advisable to put a coat on them and otherwise, if the heat is oppressive, they should take care of keeping them well hydrated.
Like most living beings, they react negatively to abuse, so physical punishment, violence or verbal humiliation should never be resorted to, as this would stimulate their aggressiveness.
Puppies and Gestation of the Bull Terrier
Once the mating or insemination of the female is completed, an approximate period of 30 days must be expected to validate the pregnancy of the bitch. The gestation cycle takes between 60 and 64 days, which depends in part on the female's hormonal process and lunar changes.
In general, a litter of puppies varies from 2 to 8 copies, and up to a maximum of 15 puppies (specific cases where hardly all survive)
Health and Diseases
Bull Terriers that enjoy good care can have an average life of up to 12 years, however they are delicate and are more or less prone to various diseases, such as:
canine deafness
Typical of this breed, approximately 20% of white Bull Terriers suffer from it. Experts assure that when it is congenital it is related to the pigmentation of the skin, commonly observed in Dalmatians (genetic inheritance).
If you want to adopt a puppy, it is important that you carry out the BAER test during the first month of birth, which consists of carrying out tests with the emission of sounds that generate a brain response to these stimuli, generating a 100% reliable diagnosis of hearing capacity. the Bullterrier puppy.
Skin pathologies
They are vulnerable to skin conditions caused mainly by allergies to insect bites, which can cause partial or total loss of fur.
spinning
It consists of dramatic and constant tail chasing that usually occurs around 6 months of age and can become so intense that the dog causes tail mutilation. The veterinarian should review this attitude and define if some type of treatment with medications or stress and anxiety management therapies is warranted.
Renal insufficiency
Even when it can be avoided with careful feeding and medical monitoring, Bull Terriers are prone to kidney disease and in most cases the damage is irreversible.
Eventually they can present cysts that tragically lead to a collapse of their entire organism due to kidney failure. It is advisable to perform a urine test at least once a year in order to determine the flow of proteins in the kidneys and their ability to function.
Patella luxation
This disease appears when the kneecap comes out of its original position, due to a misalignment of its extremities. It can be caused by a contusion in the first months of life or it can also have a genetic origin.
It is evident when the dog's walk is interrupted, limping due to the pain that this generates. Usually this type of diagnosis requires corrective surgery, which is why the veterinarian should be contacted immediately for his care.
Heart problems
The inconveniences at the cardiac level for the Bull Terrier are mainly:
- Aortic stenosis: affects the coronary circulation itself, which can in turn generate ischemia and sudden death.
- Mitral valve dysplasia: generates an excessive increase in the workload that the heart must tolerate to maintain blood circulation, causing sudden heart attacks.
To guarantee good health in our pets, it is important to carry out regular veterinary check-ups, attending to their deworming needs and recommended vaccinations.
Bull Terrier, Children and Other Pets
Due to its robust build and indomitable strength, it is recommended that the English Bull Terrier be associated with older children, who understand the overflowing energy of the dog and have the ability to adapt to its rustic games, which can eventually cause fear.
However, this breed can be extremely delicate and patient with babies and young children, whom they assume as part of their family. Everything will depend on the depth of socialization and love with which the animal is being raised.
Being a territorial breed, they can get nervous around strangers, whether they are children or other pets, especially if they sit in a different environment than usual. His instinct to protect his own will be remarkable, he could get confused and attack others.
Curiosities
1. The Bull Terrier has a cousin called the Miniature Bull Terrier, with whom it shares all its characteristics except for its size, which is almost half the standard.
2. They are born with a pink nose (without pigmentation) and it is up to 3 months of age that it takes on its final color, which is usually black.
3. They adopt peculiar ways of sleeping, usually humorous and with humanized poses.
4. They usually have a little less than 5 minutes of madness, running at full speed from one side to the other, it is understood that it is to drain so much accumulated energy.
5. They love contact with humans, which perfectly allows them to take a nap on top of their owners.
6. If you are not attentive to regular trimming of his nails, you may notice that he bites them.
7. The personality of each dog is undoubtedly authentic, they are in the 66th position in the obedience ranking created by Stanley Coren. This shows that they are stubborn and poorly disciplined, so they require arduous training as they have also proven to be quite intelligent.
8. Bull Terriers are not considered PPP (Potentially Dangerous Dogs), they are often confused with a PPP due to their genetic relationship with the Pitt Bull breed, however their character is more similar to their cousin Boston Terrier.
9. The mothers of this breed can give birth to up to 15 puppies in a single litter.
10. The Bull Terrier, like many other dog breeds, has had an important role in the cinematographic world, both in real life and in animation. Among the main films of different genres where this specimen has been seen we have:
- It's a Dog's life (1955), tells the story of a street dog who rises to fame.
- The Incredible Journey (1963), a Disney classic that tells of the journey of two dogs and a cat through the Canadian mountains.
- Frankenweenie (1984), a Tim Burton story based on the Frankenstein story, whose protagonist and revived character is a Bull Terrier.
- Baxter (1989), a great film of French origin that recounts the transformative experience of a dog and his master (who was initially afraid of him)
- Bulletproof (1996), is a comedy and action film, starring Adam Sandler and his companion Bull Terrier in real life.
