Getting to know the Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier has become a popular breed worldwide. This also makes the Bull Terrier a popular search on Google and YouTube. Articles and videos about the breed are everywhere in an attempt to attract readers and viewers.

The problem is, most of the time information aired about the Bull Terrier has nothing to do with reality. Information is mostly presented by people who do not even own a Bull Terrier. People who's “knowledge” derives from circulating on-line articles and videos.

There are also those who see the raising popularity of the Bull Terrier as an opportunity to augment their income by reproducing Bull Terriers and selling the puppies. Those people with profit in mind alone, either have no idea about the breed or intentionally try to make them appear appealing to buyers to sell more puppies and make more money.

So when a potential Bull terrier owner, someone who wants to get a Bull Terrier, looks for information about the breed , they come across contradictory information and have no idea what to believe, what the truth about the Bull Terrier is.

There are for example some online pages that present the Bull Terrier as being very aggressive towards other animals and other pages that present the Bull Terrier as very friendly with other animals. On some pages the Bull Terrier is presented as the ideal guard dog that will offer protection even without training ,while on other pages they are presented as overly friendly with people and inappropriate for guard dogs.

We are very often asked questions about the breed. Whether they are aggressive towards other animals, suited for family dogs, whether white Bull Terriers are more prone to deafness , whether “trancing” is something to worry about and more.

We have decided to write some of the breed's specifics, to answer all the questions ; for potential Bull Terrier owners to get the answers they are looking for and for Bull Terrier owners to get to better know the breed.

A few words about us for those who visit our blog for the first time.

We have dedicated the last 15 years to the breed. Living right now with eleven Bull Terriers and having lived with at least as many in the past. Some of our dogs left of old age and some we re-homed to new families when they were young. These dogs, were not suitable for our breeding program so we considered it best for them to live a more relaxed life as family dogs.

We have trained innumerable Bull Terriers in person and through our on-line training courses. We are in contact with breeders worldwide and monitor the progress of the breed. Dogs from our breeding program have been exported to Europe, Canada and the USA. This and the fact that our social media followers come from every corner of the planet, gives us a clear image on how the breed is regarded in different places of the world.

Bull Terriers are comedians

Bull Terriers rightfully hold the title of dog clowns. They have an advanced sense of humour and will do things to make you laugh on a daily basis.

Humour is a sign of intelligence, meaning that if the dog does something funny and you find it enjoyable and laugh, it will most certainly be repeated. So, try not to laugh if the dog does something they shouldn't do no matter how funny it is.

Bull Terriers are stubborn

Bull Terriers are famous for their stubbornness. This however does not mean they are difficult to live with or impossible to train. It means that they need training and rules in order to have an easy going living-together. By training, we mean training with the correct method for the breed , with patience and persistence. Most Bull Terriers described as stubborn and difficult to train, are in fact dogs that their owners tried to train using the wrong training method so they never got trained.

Bull Terriers are highly energetic

Bull Terriers are highly energetic which means they need to exercise enough. A ten minute walk is not enough for a Bull Terrier to expend their energy. Bull Terriers are clever dogs full of energy thus needing both mental and physical energy expenditure. The lack of mental and physical stimulation makes them easily bored . Boredom brings undesirable behaviour about, like excessive barking for no reason, chewing on shoes and furniture and more.

Bull Terriers are good Guard dogs

Imposing physical appearance and loud barking are enough to deter intruders. The Bull Terrier will certainly warn their owner something is wrong and will bark threateningly to guard his space. However, to cope with somebody who will enter the property regardless of a dog's presence or to protect his owner if need be, the Bull Terrier will require specific training , Protection training - as is the case with dogs of all breeds. “The dog will protect his owner regardless of training” is a myth. Even for the few dogs that might attempt to do so without training, their effort will be inefficient. Because without training, the dog lacks the required technical skills.

If you want a Bull Terrier suitable for Protection Training, the right choice is a dog from a breeder that has maintained the temperament of the breed and has trained the progenitors for protection.

The Bull Terrier may display aggression towards other animals

If not properly socialized from an early age, the Bull Terrier may display aggression towards other animals. If we take into consideration the history of the breed and the relatively recent creation of the breed, this is not strange. Of course, this can happen with dogs of all dog breeds. What is important, is that the dog develops a good , respectful relationship with his owner so as to not display this behaviour. To achieve that, the dog must be properly trained.

Is it true that white Bull Terriers are more likely to be deaf?

NO this is not true. The chances a Bull Terrier is born deaf are as many as for any dog of any other breed.

What is BULLY RUN or ZOOMIES ?

Frenetic Random Activity Periods a.k.a Zoomies or Bully Run Zoomies are indisputably one of the funniest moments in a dog owner's life. The technical term for “zoomies” is Frenetic Random Activity Periods ‘FRAPS.’

It is normal dog behaviour. A behavior that occurs spontaneously, is short in duration and depending on the dog may include spinning (dog spinning around himself), running fast in circles, jumping on and off the couch etc.

It is a way for dogs to expend excessive energy, handle stress and express their enthusiasm. The zoomies is normal dog behaviour, nothing to worry about. The only thing we need to worry about is the dog's safety while it happens. It is best that the dog be in a safe space where there is no furniture or road or anything harmful near by.

If an adult dog has the zoomies very often, like every morning or every afternoon and the behaviour does not seem to stem from excitement but rather be the dog's routine, then one should look into what is causing the behaviour.

One possible reason for this , could be the dog is not having enough daily exercise. The dog is therefore looking for a way to expend built up energy.

There is also the possibility that something in the dog's everyday life, makes him stressed. The behavior may be the dog's way to process that stress. Spending too many hours inside the crate, being alone for long periods of time , lacking mental stimulation are examples of things in a dog's everyday life that could cause stress.

It is understandable that any one with a heavy schedule may not have the luxury of time to spend on exercising their dog as much as needed. And since the dog has got a way to handle stress or built up energy, it is easy to falsely consider daily zoomies as nothing much.

BUT when it comes to Bull Terriers, it is not that simple. This behaviour on a daily or regular basis can lead to CCD ( Canine Compulsive Disorder). According to the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION, INC the Bull Terrier is among the breeds with a predisposition to CCD (canine compulsive disorder).

" A compulsive disorder is a part of a dog's genetic make-up. The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, in conjunction with other medical universities, recently identified a gene on canine chromosome 7 that confers a high risk of compulsive disorder susceptibility in breeds bearing that gene. Certain breeds are more susceptible to compulsive behaviour that seems to run in those particular breed lines. At-risk breeds include German Shepherds, Dobermans, Border collies, Jack Russell terriers, Great Danes, Retrievers and English Bull-Terriers. "

What is TRANCING ? Is it as alarming as it sounds?

TRANCE-like syndrome (TLS) is nothing to worry about. It happens with other dog breeds too.

Sometimes, a Bull Terrier will find a piece of hanging cloth, a curtain or a low branch and slowly move under it so that it slightly “caresses” his head and back. The dog will move astonishingly slowly underneath the hanging cloth or branch , so much so that it looks like a robot running out of battery.

This happens because there are many nerve endings right under the skin. The slight touch of the object on the skin is very relaxing for the dog. Just chilling, nothing to worry about.

Common health issues of the Bull Terrier

Generally the Bull Terrier does not have serious health issues.

Skin problems are relatively common but they can be easily avoided with the correct diet ( grain and gluten free). The use of spot-on for fleas during the Summer is very helpful with preventing allergic dermatitis.

Two more serious diseases that can also be prevented are cardiac and kidney disease.

It is important that the parents of a puppy are free of both these ailments. Proper diet, exercise and body weight contribute to healthy heart function. The use of herbs and supplements can also contribute to a healthy heart.

As for the kidneys, quality nutrition is very important. Very high protein food should be avoided because high protein intake stresses the kidneys. Fresh water should always be available to the dog and the use of herbs can help with kidney function.

Of course, all the above mentioned apply to all dog breeds.

Not all dog toys are appropriate for the Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier massive and strong jaws will destroy most dog toys in no time. This is highly unsafe as it becomes very easy for a part of the toy to be swallowed . In the best case scenario, the foreign object will naturally be disposed. In the worst case scenario, the foreign object will require surgery to be removed.

Choose KONG type toys and rubber balls of the appropriate size for your dog's age.

Bull Terriers can play with other Bull Terriers , Pit Bulls and relevant breeds

Bull Terriers play in their own rough and intense way. This often makes other dogs uncomfortable either unwilling to play with them or aggressive towards them. The best dog-company for a Bull Terrier is usually a Bull Terrier, a Pit Bull or some other strong dog breed that will not feel uncomfortable with the way the Bull Terrier plays.

Is a Bull Terrier a good family dog?

Yes, Bull Terriers are good family dogs even for families with young children. Certain rules apply for dogs over 10kg , including the Bull Terrier, for families with children. The dog must be taught early that he is not allowed to jump on children and that he should always approach children politely. The child should never be left unattended with the dog. Children should also be taught how to treat the dog. They should be taught to not pull the dog's ears, not squeeze the dog's nose, not step on the dog, not disturb the dog when he is asleep or eating etc. Basic – but very important- things parents should not forget to teach their children.

Bull Terriers are human-oriented dogs

Bull Terriers seek and enjoy the company of their human family. Therefore they should live inside the house with their family as family members. The Bull Terrier should not live in the yard as a guard dog.

Feel free to comment with things you have heard about the Bull Terrier that you would like to know whether they are true or not. We will be more than happy to address your questions in “Getting to know the Bull Terrier” – part II.