A Pet's View / January 2007
Bully for Them
Bull Terriers are social, entertaining animals that have been described as clowns in a dog suit. Though they were originally bred as gladiators back in 1830, and share the same ancestry as what are often called pit bulls, Bull Terriers were not successful fighters. By 1850, white Bull Terriers were bred as fashionable pets of the gentry, with minimal employment as ratters, herders and watchdogs. Sturdy and muscular, today’s Bull Terriers are family members with a jaunty gait, a mischievous glint in their eye and a reputation for amiability, action and intelligence. The Bull Terrier is the only recognized breed with triangular eyes.
Often clownish, always smart, Bull Terrier owners are always being amazed at the antics of their “bully”. One Bull Terrier website says simply, “If you don’t have a good sense of humor, don’t get a Bull Terrier”.
The dogs are friendly and affectionate, require a great deal of companionship and become extremely attached to their owners or families. They hate to be alone.
Their independent mind and high intelligence make them great entertainers, but difficult to train. Their fearless presence and daunting looks can have a preventive effect on ne’r do-wells, but most ‘bullies’ need extensive training to become reliable guard dogs. They are very good at “alerting the pack” when the door bell rings, but, once inside the house, visitors are most likely to be taken down by kisses. ‘Bullies’ love people.
Their reputation for activity is legendary. Breeders say a young Bull Terrier is, in fact, almost indistinguishable from a three-year-old child wearing a dog costume. They thrive on attention and love to join in family activities, fitting very well into active families where they receive plenty of companionship and supervision. They can be wonderful with children if handled with common sense, by adults and children. They are tireless playmates and will chase balls and watch games for hours on end. “Bullies” also adapt well to quieter situations with owners who have a great deal of time to spend with their dog. But, like an active three year old, Bull Terriers become bored and destructive when forced to remain alone at home or in the yard for long periods of time.
They can do well in an apartment if given plenty of attention and opportunity for exercise. They’re easy to groom and shed twice a year. They aren’t good ‘outside’ dogs since they lack the necessary coat for temperature extremes and they are, after all, terriers and likely to dig up the backyard. Plus, Bull Terriers are often stolen by low life individuals who think they have secured a pit bull. Such scoundrels deserve to be disappointed and denied the opportunity to ruin a good dog’s life.
Bull Terriers range significantly in size and weight. The average for a female Bull Terrier is from 18 to 22 inches tall and 45 to 60 lbs. The average for males is 20 to 24 inches tall and 50 to 80 lbs. Miniatures Bull Terriers have the same personality and characteristics, just in a smaller package, 10-14 inches and 24-33 pounds.
The breed is generally free of disabling genetic diseases, though they’re prone to skin allergies and bad knees, and white ones are prone to deafness.
They can be excellent family dogs, but they do not tolerate teasing and can get snippy if overly pestered. Puppy obedience class is recommended and children should be taught to respect the dog.
Not surprisingly with their reputation as comic entertainers, Bull Terriers appear often on film. They have appeared in “Oliver!”, “The Incredible Journey”, “Patton”, “Babe: Pig in the City”, “Next Friday”, “Frankenweenie”, “A Dog’s Life”, “The Last Boy Scout” and “Derailed”. They are hugely successful as product spokesmen. Bullseye, a Bull Terrier, is a trademark of Target Brands. Spuds MacKenzie was the marketing dog of the year in 1987 when he appeared in a Super Bowl beer commercial. By the end of the game, Spuds was a star, even though, like Lassie and Benji, Spuds was a “she”not a “he”.
Grimm, in the internationally syndicated cartoon, Mother Goose and Grimm, is a bull terrier.
Other famous Bull Terriers include General Patton’s dog, Willie, and the beloved historic greeter of ships in Juneau, Alaska, Patsy Ann.
Bull Terriers are known for a lot of things, the distinctive egg shaped head, the unique triangular eyes, the total destruction of ordinary dog toys and an intense teething period during puppyhood, but owners say what stands out most in this gladiator of the canine race is–their wonderful sense of humor. PL
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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