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Bull Terrier
The "tyke" owned by Dickens'
evil character Bill Sykes was a Bull Terrier, and was a
coarser-looking dog than the modern one. The Bull Terrier was
known as the "Gladiator of the canine race" due to his
ferocity and toughness. He lived up to his title well.
History:
The Bull Terrier was bred from
a crossing of the British Bulldog with other Terrier breeds,
including the Old English Terrier and the English Toy Terrier.
It was bred to fight and was first used for bull-baiting. When
this sport died out the Bull Terrier was used to fight his own
breed. Dog fighting was also banned and the breed was then
used for ratting. Its ferociousness has now been bred out and
the Bull Terrier is usually a pleasant-natured and
even-tempered companion dog.
Physical
characteristics:
A small, strongly built and
muscular dog. Height: Under FCI standards, 12 - 18 in (30 - 45
cm). Weight: not specified. The head is oval, long, and deep
to the end of the muzzle, with a flat forehead. The skull is
flat on top and the profile slopes from the top of the skull
to the tip of the black nose. The jaws are strong and deep,
with the upper incisor teeth fitting exactly in front of the
lower and having a scissor bite. The ears are set high and are
small, thin, and set close together. The eyes are black and
set deep with a piercing glint. They are wide-set and
almond-shaped and slant back towards the ears. The neck is
very strong and muscular, arching from the head and tapering
out to the shoulders.
The body is short in the back,
well-muscled, and with a slight arching at the loin. The
shoulders are flat and muscular and the ribs are well-sprung,
round and deep. The chest is broad. The tail is short, set
low, and carried horizontally with a taper to the point. The
forequarters are average-length, straight, and parallel. The
hindquarters are straight and parallel with well-muscled
thighs
The coat of the Bull Terrier
is shiny, harsh to the touch and short. The skin is taut. The
color is white, with a colored marking over the eye or ears of
blue or liver. There can be pigmentation on the head.
Behavior:
The Bull Terrier is a truly
remarkable dog. It was bred specifically to be a dog fighter
and it carries out its purpose very well indeed. If the Bull
Terrier is properly socialized as a puppy it can get along
well with other dogs. The females can be very sociable with
males and can be readily controlled by assertive people.
However, it is not advisable to keep two females together. All
other dogs should be protected from the chance of an
aggressive encounter with your Bull Terrier. It is possible to
train the Bull Terrier to be a watch-dog but it makes a poor
guard dog, as it generally gets along too well with people.
The Bull Terrier can make an
excellent family dog and many fit this role perfectly, yet
most people would not be prepared to leave their child alone
with a Bull Terrier because of their fearsome reputation. Care
should be taken that the dog does not get eye infections, and
sunblock should be used to protect the nose during the summer.
This is an intelligent dog that requires a very assertive
owner.
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