Fun Bull Terrier Facts For Kids

The bull terrier dog (also called the English bull terrier or bully)is one of the dog breeds that was developed in England. The bull terrier dog breed has a fascinating and unpleasant history.

The bull terrier comes from the line of the now extinct, bull and terrier.

This breed was based on the Old English Bulldog and the Old English terriers, with the likely inclusion of other terriers. This breed had the best of the two breeds and thus had the speed of the terrier and the built of the bulldog.

The unfortunate shadow over this history is that they were bred to fight in dog rings.

Breeders were picking those traits that made them better fighters and not for appearance or calm demeanor. It was in the middle of the 19th century that James Hinks, in the hopes to create an all-white dog, bred the bull and terriers with the English white terriers.

He hoped to get a dog with a more cleaned-up look and better legs. After gaining notoriety in dog shows, after 1862 this breed became popular and so did its breeding.

It was in fact nicknamed the 'White Cavalier'.

These dogs continued to be bred with breeds like the Spanish pointe, Whippet, Borzoi, Dalmatian. The first bull terrier (named Nellie II) was registered in 1885 by the American Kennel Club (AKC), while the miniature bull terrier became a separate breed in 1992.

Due to problems that arose from the intent to keep white bull terrier white, Ted Lyon was one of the first to introduce color using the Staffordshire bull terrier.

It was in 1917 that the first modern bull terrier, called Lord Gladiator, was born. Apart from the miniature bull terrier There are many close relatives to the bull terrier; such as the Boston bull terrier, French bull terrier, and Staffordshire bull terrier.

Read on to learn  interesting Bull terrier facts and information

If you want to learn more about dogs, then make sure to check out the articles on the pitsky and the king shepherd.

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Bull Terrier Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Bull Terrier?

The bull terrier is a dog that belongs to the terrier family. There exists even a miniature form of this breed called the miniature bull terrier.

What class of animal does a Bull Terrier belong to?

The bull terrier belongs to the class Mammalia.

How many Bull Terriers are there in the world?

It is hard to establish the exact population of the bull terrier dog breed because of how global they have become.

Where does a Bull Terrier live?

The bull terrier is a domesticated animal and does not have a significant population in the wild. They are residential dogs and loves staying with members of the family.

What is a Bull Terrier's habitat?

The bull terrier is a domesticated species of dogs that are kept as pets. But they are generally found in homes with families that give them constant company.

They don't do well with smaller animals or other male dogs (this can be solved by early socialization) especially when unneutered thus it is unlikely you'd see a male bull terrier with other animals.

Who do Bull Terriers live with?

The ancestors of this breed lived in packs way before it was bred into existence. Now that they are domesticated, as all dogs are, humans are its most common living companions.

How long does a Bull Terrier live?

The bull terrier has a life span of  10-14 years. While they are healthy dogs in general, they have certain problems that they are genetically disposed to have.

The following are the health issues that you must be aware of and perhaps prepare for if you own a bull Terrier: hereditary nephritis, deafness, heart disease, skin problem, spinning, lens luxation, and kidney disease. These health issues can be largely avoided by getting your dog from a good breeder.

How do they reproduce?

These dogs were created by breading together the White English terrier with the bulldog. Their reproduction entails about a nine weeks gestation period that can result in about five puppies. The mini bull terrier can have up to nine puppies in a litter, although it is commonly around four.

What is their conservation status?

The bull terrier is a domesticated species. And hence they are spread all across the globe. With the passage of time, they are being bred, and thus their conservation status is Not Listed.

Bull Terrier Fun facts

What do Bull Terriers look like?

The bull terrier mix is from the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier. Thus, These dogs inherit their appearance from both.

The bull terrier skull is perhaps its most recognizable feature. It has a head that is in the shape of an egg.

The nose of the bull terrier is black in color and faces downwards. Their lower jaw is really strongly built and are the only dogs that eyes that are triangular. Belonging to the heritage of fighting dogs, this breed is built with strong muscles.

Their fur coat is short and bull terrier colors can be one or a combination of white, black, brindle,  red, and fawn. The white bull terrier is almost entirely white except for some patches of color on their heads.

How cute are they?

Bull terriers are very cute. They are active dogs that love to play and go on hikes. Their long snout, egg-shaped flatter face along with coats of color like white,  brindle, black, and fawn make them adorable. How could one deny the cuteness of the miniature bull terriers or bull terrier puppies?

How do they communicate?

As is the case for any other breed of dog, this breed can communicate through sound and scent. They may bark, growl, scream, pant as a form of auditory communication and also through the use of scents and pheromones.

With humans, their communication is well understood as well, as any dog owner would tell you. Their body language, which includes their posture and tail, can give reliable insight into the dog's emotions.

How big is a Bull Terrier?

The Bull terrier is a medium-sized dog. The male can grow up to 22 inches tall and the female about 21 inches tall.

Their weight differs between the two sexes. The male can weigh about 65 lb (29 kg) while the female can weigh up to 55 lb ( 25 kg).

The biggest bull terrier breaks the scale at a record weight of 110 lb (50 kg) but that is truly an outlier example. Miniature bull terriers are appropriately smaller at 14 inches in height and have a weight of only about 33 lb (15 kg).

How fast can a Bull Terrier run?

The bull terrier is built athletic and powerful. It can run very fast in several short bursts.

How much does a Bull Terrier weigh?

Their weight differs between the two sexes. The male bull terrier may weigh between 55 - 65 lb (25 - 29 kg) while the female can weigh between 45 - 55 lb (20 - 25 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male bull terrier is simply called a dog while the female bull terrier is known as a bitch.

What would you call a baby Bull Terrier?

A baby bull terrier is called a pup or a bull terrier puppy.

What do they eat?

A bull terrier's diet has to be carefully planned. These dogs rely on primarily high-quality sources of protein such as fresh meat and fish. Since dogs are primarily carnivorous animals they should be fed with different kinds of meat. However high-quality dog food is also another choice of food for these d0gs.

Are they dangerous?

Bull terriers temperament has a negative reputation that it is generally aggressive and very strong-willed. This usually is caused by neglect on behalf of the owner.

The bull terrier if left alone for long periods develops anxiety and lashes out. As with any other dog be cautious when they play with children and teach your kids how to approach these animals.

Would they make a good pet?

Bull terriers are good as pets but not universally. With a little bit of a hothead, the bull terrier can't be trusted around small furry animals, cats, or even young children who may not know when they cross the dog's boundaries.

Unneutered males are hostile towards other dogs of the same sex, so that is another factor to consider if you are considering owning one. If their health is taken care of by providing a good diet and exercise, their high energy and enthusiasm will make your experience with this dog a lot of fun.

These dogs should be trained with patience and should be given rewards for good behavior.

Since this dog is difficult to train it should be the first choice for first-time dog owners. However, they are very good family dogs.

Did you know...

The bull terrier has over time become a relatively popular breed in fact it ranks 61st in popularity out of the breeds registered by the American Kennel Club. There have been thus many famous Bull terriers over the years.

In the '80s a Budweiser commercial featured a bull terrier by the name Spud Mackenzie. It was this dog's antics, high energy levels, and mischievous grin that popularized the bull terrier in the TV era.

Theodore Roosevelt owned a bull terrier too called Pete that bit a naval clerk and a French ambassador. Such is the charm of this high energy level canine that even in the digital age, the bull terrier has made into meme culture as Walter.

Bull Terrier VS Pitbull

Pitbulls and bull terriers are often thought of together, and there is a good reason for that because both belong to the terrier family. While that is true, there are some notable differences.

The pitbull terrier (also known as the American bull terrier) looks different from a bull terrier because the pitbull was bred for the purpose of being a fighting dog.

This gave it the adaptations that would help in a fight such as power, endurance, intelligence, persistence, and strong jaws.

The reputation of aggression with Pitbull's is thus, overblown at times and their ownership is highly regulated in most countries. In contrast, the ownership of a bull terrier does not come with any such regulation.

The unfortunate history these both dogs share is that at some point they were bred for dogfighting. It is because of such selective breeding that both these dogs share a similar temperament.

Another difference is that generally the bull terrier is built a bit smaller than the pitbull.

In terms of training, it is more important to get enough physical activity for a pitbull than for a bull terrier.

In summary, these two breeds have more in common than not and the decision of which one to adopt can come down to mere preference and perhaps size.

In a fight between a bull terrier vs pitbull, it is difficult to assume the winner as the winner would surely be decided by the conditions, build and breed of the dog.

Getting Your Own Bull Terrier

Owning a bull terrier as your dog can be a very fulfilling experience but like any other pet, you have to be prepared for the responsibility.

This article has discussed the lineage of the bull terrier as a fighting dog which gives them traits that one has to be cautious and prepared for. But it's not always a bad thing, the bull terrier is an excellent guard dog and requires minimal grooming.

They have a tendency to develop skin allergies and other health problems.

They also require at least 30 mins of exercise a day to keep them healthy and need constant company without being left alone for too long. They are a great fun-loving family dog and if you are looking for a dog that can be loyal and guard your home as well.

But if your family has other pets and small children that don't understand how to behave around a dog then the Bull terrier is not ideal for you.

Be aware that pure white bull terriers have a 20% chance of deafness which is just 1% for the colored bull terrier. A bull terrier can be an expensive breed with puppies from reputable breeders fetching a price between $1000 and $2000.

The bull terrier price can be justified by the assurance of the breeder that your dog will likely be free of genetic health issues.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the pitbull chihuahua mix and the jack chi mix.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our funny bull terrier coloring pages.