Bull Terrier

Grooming the Bull Terrier is a cinch. Though the breed is naturally clean with little doggie odor, a bath every three months (or when he's dirty) in a mild shampoo is a good idea.

Brush his sleek coat with a natural bristle brush or rubber hound mitt once a week. Use coat conditioner/polish to brighten the sheen.

His ears need to be checked every week and cleaned if needed, and toenails trimmed once a month. Regular tooth brushing with a soft toothbrush and doggie toothpaste keep the teeth and gums healthy and the breath fresh.

Bull Terriers benefit from daily, moderateexercisethat provides good mental and physical stimulation, such as nice, long walks with the family.

The breed was developed for sport as well as to be a gentleman's companion and possesses great strength and agility. Participation in canine sports such asobedience,tracking,agility, andcoursing ability testsis an enjoyable way to channel BT's energy.

Bull Terrier is no different than any other dog- this breed requires a well-balanced, quality diet to thrive. The right ratio of meat-based protein, healthy fats, and carbs, as well as an array of vitamins and minerals, is the winning combination for canines.

As a result, these unique-looking dogs do well onpremium quality dry food. Kibble can meet all of their intricate dietary needs as long as the manufacturers use high grade, natural ingredients and not cheap fillers and tons of artificial substances to improve the flavor.

Bull Terriers have an average life expectancy between 10 and 12 years. Breed health concerns may includeallergies, congenital deafness, familial nephropathy, mitral dysplasia, patellar luxation,hip and elbow dysplasiaand zinc deficiency. They also are prone to eye problems such asentropionandectropion, as well as enlarged hearts and bonecancer.

Bull Terriers again goes against the grain of what their name suggests with their temperament - they're much more light-natured than the stubborn Bulldogs can be.

They're often described as fun and energetic and their behavior will probably bear a resemblance to a number of other terriers. If you've worked with terriers before, the behavior of the Bull Terrier won't be a major challenge for you.

The family tree of the Bulldog is massive with many branches. One of those branches holds the bull-and-terrier breeds, the various results of 18th-century crosses between bulldogs and terriers. Those crosses were made with the intent of producing a dog with the strength and tenacity of thebulldogand the intensity, alertness, agility and "game" nature of the terrier.

Nicknamed WhiteCavaliers, they became fashionable accessories for gentlemen about town and could be soon sitting alongside them as they drove their carriages through the park. A rhyme of the time tells the story of the breed succinctly, saying that Hinks "Found a Bull Terrier a tattered old bum; Made him a dog for a gentleman's chum."

The fad spread to the United States. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885, and the Bull Terrier Club of America was founded in 1897. A new variety of Bull Terrier was invented in the early 20th century when some breeders crossed them with Staffordshire Bull Terriers, adding color to the coat. The "Colored" variety of Bull Terrier was recognized in 1936. Today the Bull Terrier ranks 53rdamong the breeds registered by the AKC.