Terrier group · England
Bull Terrier
Also called English Bull Terrier, Bully, Gladiator.
What makes them remarkable
That unmistakable egg-shaped head distinguishes a breed developed in 19th-century Birmingham.
- Playful
- Charming
- Mischievous
- Courageous
- Devoted
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 23 to 32 kg50 to 70 lb
- Lives
- 12 to 13 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Bull Terrier
Terrier breeds. Impulse control and a rock-solid leave it. Short, high-value sessions; they bore fast.
Make It Fun
Start here
Bull Terriers are clownish and respond to playful, upbeat training. Boring repetition will be ignored.
Early Socialisation
Can be aggressive with other dogs if not properly socialised. Start early and be consistent.
Redirect Mouthing
They love to chew and mouth. Provide plenty of appropriate chew toys and redirect unwanted chewing.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Bull Terrier and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to go to ground after vermin. Fearless, quick, and not built to back down.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsLow
- StrangersHigh
- CatsLow
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1-2 hours daily. Vigorous exercise with plenty of play. Prone to obsessive behaviours if under-exercised.
- Grooming
- Low maintenance. Weekly brushing to remove loose hair.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Short, Flat, HarshWhite, Black Brindle, Red, Fawn, Tricolour, Brindle and White
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Deafness
Moderate
Congenital deafness common especially in white Bull Terriers
Heart Disease
Moderate
Mitral valve disease and other cardiac conditions
Kidney Disease
Severe
Hereditary nephritis can cause kidney failure
Where they come from
History
Created in the 1830s by James Hinks in Birmingham, England by crossing Bulldogs with the now-extinct English White Terrier and Dalmatians. Originally bred for dog fighting but refined to be a gentleman's companion with the distinctive "egg-shaped" head.
- Spuds MacKenzie · Bud Light's iconic mascot from the 1980s advertising campaigns
- Bullseye · The Target store mascot featuring the distinctive eye ring
Similar breeds
All breeds
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During the First World War, Airedales worked as messengers, sentries and Red Cross dogs.
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Bedlington Terrier
The lamb-like appearance hides the history of a working terrier from a Northumberland mining town.
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Miniature Bull Terrier
The Miniature keeps the Bull Terrier’s distinctive head, but developed into a separately recognised breed.
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Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
This Irish farm dog did several jobs: herding livestock, guarding the farm and hunting vermin.
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