Introduction to the Bull Terrier

Character

The character of the bull terrier is, probably, the outstanding feature which draws prospective owners to the breed. A typical bully is active, interested, playful, and clownish. It is also extremely attached to it's owners or family.

These all sound like attributes of the perfect dog. However, there are drawbacks to these characteristics which do not suit every prospective owner or every situation.

Activity is a trait which is present in every young bull terrier. The young bully is almost undistinguishable from a 3 year old child in a dog suit. All puppies are extremely busy and many bullies continue to be active into middle age (5-7 years). Bull terriers like to be doing something!

For this reason they fit very well into active families, where they receive a great deal of companionship & supervision. They also adapt well to quieter situations such as homes of the active, retired person who have a great deal of time to spend with the dog.

Bull terriers do not do well in situations where they are alone in the house or the yard for long periods of time or where their physical activity is restricted. In these situations, the bull terrier bcomes bored and destructive. They will often chew and destroy, are difficult or impossible to housebreak and develop unpleasant habit such as incessant barking, tail chasing or peculiar personality quirks.

Bull terriers become very attached to their owners/families. This usually make them natural guard dogs. Care must be taken that they are not encouraged to become possessive or jealous. While this would seem desirable attribute for someone who wants a dog to protect the family, it can be a nuisance if the dog cannot distinguish between acceptable strangers or malevolent ones.

Bull terriers can also become involved in the presence of violent physical activity, such as children's first-fights or rough play where the dog sees no reason not to join in, either to play roughly (with bullies, this includes nipping & knocking you over) or guard the family against physical assaults from outsiders.

Bull Terriers like to join family activity and for this reason require constant & firm discipline. They can be wonderful with children if handled with common sense, both by adults and children. Bullies will tolerate a large range of children's behavior, but they do not like being teased and can be rough if constantly provoked. In their formative years, bullies require large amounts of supervision. They are tireless playmates who will chase balls, follow the children and watch their games for hours on end.

Temperament

Males and females vary only slightly in temperament. The unaltered males tend not to tolerate prolonged association with other unaltered males. Undesirable tendencies based on the sex drive can be remarkably reduced by spaying or neutering. There can be more difference in temperament in families of bull terriers than in general between the sexes. Some families tend to be more possesive and less tolerant of other dogs and other families have shyness or apprehension of strangers or strange places/situations.

Bull Terrier Health

A puppy should be checked for deafness, as this does occur and can be detected by a BAER (brain auditory evoked response) test in a vet's office.

Skin allegeries are common in bull terriers. Certain insect bites, fleas, mosquitoes or mites produce generalized allergic response of hives, rash or itching. Sometimes skin problems are the result of thyroid disease and only a blood test by a veterinarian will determine the presence fo this disease.

Puppies up to one year of age are susceptible to sudden and severe lameness. This is due to the combination of weight & density of the muscle, rapid growth rate, & the active character of the breed. Great leaps, sudden changes of directions or sudden stops at high speeds produce a great deal of strain on the immature joints & ligaments of this very muscular breed. The joints are simply not "set" enough to resist the torque applied by the weight and musculature of the young dog. For this reason, young dogs should not be encouraged in this type of activity until they are fully mature.

Bull terriers normally shed their coats twice a year. The loose hair can be removed by a daily rubdown with a brush or special rubber glove. Most bullies enjoy being groomed.

Old age brings on the usual battery of infimities, to which bull terriers are not immune. A bull terrier may well live an active & healthy life until 11 or 12, which is about the normal time span for the breed.

For more detailed bull terrier health information click on this link to the Bull Terrier Club of America's website.

BTCA

Working With A Reputable Breeder

There is nothing cuter than a Bull Terrier puppy. Yes, all puppies are cute, however, there is something special about those little chubby babies with little triangle ears! However, not all BT puppies are the same, or rather, not all the breeders who breed them are the same. Our club and its members spend considerable time educating newcomers to our breed-on the plusses and minuses (and there are both) and the fact that they are NOT a breed for everyone. If you are convinced that this is the breed for you, we advise a considerable dose of patience...this is a rare breed and the wait for a puppy from a reputable breeder can be long, but worth every penny you spend and every future moment you have with your new family member. We first recommend our rescue program as a great way to get a Bully into your home. Even in rescue, the wait can be long as dogs are not always available and the dog's needs must match the home and family.

But, if your heart is set on a puppy, after a considerable dose of patience, we advise only one course of action-

Work With A Reputable Breeder!

Who are these 'reputable breeders' and how can you find them and differentiate them from the "not so reputable" folks? The first step is to educate yourself and network! Just like in a job search, networking with BT people is the best way to find a puppy. Our club offers information to members and others all the time. While we only have a handful of actual breeders in our club, we are all networked with all other regional clubs and our national parent club. Good breeders are not hard to find. Here is the advice that we provide on what to look for in a reputable breeder....

What do you get when you work with a reputable breeder? You get health testing, quality temperament, health and temperament guarantees, and breeder guidance and support on training and other needs. You get a carefully planned pedigree whose objective is to improve the breed. You get a well-socialized puppy that is provided the best prenatal and natal care available. You can pay more and get less, much less in your future family member. Here are some good questions to ask your prospective breeder:

• Do they show their BTs? Most reputable folks do-the objective of a breeding program is to improve the breed (not $$) and in order to determine success in this area, you must have the opinions of judges.
• Do they test their dogs for genetic/health problems before breeding? This should include auscultation/echocardiogram by a cardiologist, urine protein/creatinine ratio test for kidney disease, BAER hearing test for deafness and exam for patella luxation by a general practioner. I would be wary if the answer is "no" to ANY of these and it could be an indication of their true motivation. These tests cost money and most are done by specialists, not your general veterinarian practitioner. These are the tests that will screen out a number of health issues so that you have a healthy, long-living member of the family.
• How old are the bitches when they breed them? Typically a female should not be bred before her 3rd or 4th heat or generally not before 2 years of age. For one, health tests must be done and two, reputable breeders want to make sure their bitches are of the quality level needed for a breeding program-and that takes time and maturity.
• Are the BTs champions that are used in their breeding program? Again, like the show question, only the best stock should be used in a breeding program, and the way to determine that is to show and exhibit-gain the valued acknowledgement of the judging community and achieve AKC titles-ie Champion.
• Can you visit their kennel and meet the sire or dam? If the answer is "no"-watch out. If a breeder is not willing to open their home or kennel, they may be hiding something.
• What kind of puppy/health guarantee do they have? Many reputable breedersoffer health guarantees from screened diseases, and many also offer a general guarantee for a period of time (ie. one year). If the answer is "no", here again, beware! Their interest may not be in ensuring you get a healthy, happy dog or they are trying to hide something.
• Do they belong to a regional or national Bull Terrier Club (ie. Buckeye Bull Terrier Club or Bull Terrier Club of America)? All reputable breeders do. They network and stay current on emerging breed issues and concerns through these organizations. In addition, most clubs have a code of ethics or similar policy to protect the breed-the "not so reputable" group would probably not comply.
• How old are the puppies when they leave the home? Good breeders will not release puppies beforre 7 weeks, and many not before 8-10 weeks. If someone is ready to send a 5 or 6 week old puppy home, this is a problem!
• How many champions have they bred/raised? This is important. If the answer is "none" or "I don't need to show to know my dogs are good", watch out! Reputable breeders are in the breed for the long haul and are dedicated to improving the breed, not for short term financial gain.
• Is the breeder interested in your home and family and asks a lot of questions? If not, beware! Finding a home for a puppy is similar to placing a child-the good breeders ask many questions of their potential homes-age of children, lifestyle, home environment, and schedules. If they are only interested in your checkbook, I'd move on quickly!

There is no money in breeding dogs if it is being done the right way. If they advertise in the newspaper-watch out. Just because they have a website doesn't mean they are reputable. Beware of any willing to ship a dog anywhere or who take Pay-Pal or VISA sight unseen. So the message is still 'be patient'. This is a rare breed and the wait for a puppy can be long-but worth it! Don't short-change yourself or your future potential canine companion and short-cut this area. Show quality puppies can range in price from $800-$2000, while pet quality (not intended for show or breeding) can be slightly less. You can pay the same (or more) and get much, much less! A healthy Bully will be a part of your household and life for 10-12 years or more-so make the right decisions early on to ensure you get this time to enjoy!