The Breed History
First records for the Bull Terrier date back to 1835 in Britain.
Crossing a Bulldog with a White English Terrier (now extinct) is
thought to have provided the foundation for the breed. Later, a
documented outcross to Spanish Pointer was done to increase size.
The white variety was first bred around 1860, and the breed was
formally split into the white and colored in 1936. The bull terrier
in AKC is registered as the standard size breed, (Bull Terrier) and a
miniature size, the Miniature Bull Terrier.
Breeding for Function
This breed was valued as a pit fighter. A very strong constitution,
agility and tenacity were bred into them. Over the years, the
breeders have worked to make the dog more companionable.
Physical Characteristics
Height at Withers: 21-22" (53-56 cm).
Weight: 52-62 lb (24-28 kg).
Coat: The breed is divided into white and colored types. Hairs are
short and hard, lie flat, and have good sheen. For white variety:
all white or white with limited markings on the head. For colored
variety: other base colors than white, may have white markings;
brindle is preferred. They are moderate shedders and have low
grooming needs.
Longevity: 11-13 years
Points of Conformation: The distinctive head is long, and the
face is full and a curve over the top of the skull to the tip of the
nose is present. Ears are close set and small, the leather is thin, and
they prick erect when dog is alert. Small dark eyes are deep-set,
close-set, and piercing in expression. Oblique in shape, blue eyes
disqualify. The nose is black, and the neck is very muscular, long,
and not throaty. The thorax is round and deep with very well sprung
ribs. The back is short and only slightly arched at the loins. Limbs
are straight boned, and moderately long. The feet are compact and
well-knuckled. The tapering tail is low set, short, and carried parallel
to the topline. The gait is smooth and ground covering.
Recognized Behavior Issues and Traits
Reported breed attributes include: Playful, friendly, active. If they
bite, they are reluctant to let go and so must never be teased.
Dominant personalities are common. Bull Terriers were bred for
fighting so will ably defend and may not get along with all dogs
(watch especially for inter-male aggression). They are generally
deeply attached to their human family. High activity and exercise
needs must be met. If left alone without companionship and mental
exercise, they may develop boredom vices. Need to be socialized
well to children, and also socialized so that they do not become
possessive. They are alarm barkers, not nuisance barkers generally.
If off leash, they must be in a fenced enclosure. They may consider
small pets as prey. Obedience training is important but keep
sessions short to prevent boredom.
Normal Physiologic Variations
May vocalize in grumbles and groans and this is distinct from
growling.
Echocardiography: In 14 normal bull terriers, the left ventricular
wall thickness was greater and the aortic root diameter smaller than
those reported as normal for other breeds of comparable body size.
Left atrial dimensions were also larger, however this may have been
due to the "maximizing" method of measurement. These dogs also
had higher aortic velocities than those reported for other breeds.
While these dogs were selected to be as close to normal as possible,
the breed may have a particular anatomy that produces abnormal
left ventricular echocardiographic parameters. Inaccurate diagnoses
of left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular outflow tract
obstruction may result if breed-specific values are not used.
Echocardiographic Normal Values:
Parameter Mean SD 95% CI
Ao l/a (cm) - 1.9 0.3 1.3-2.5
Ao s/a (cm) - 2 0.2 1.6-2.4
LVld (cm) - 3.8 0.3 3.2-4.4
IVSa (cm) - 1.3 0.2 0.9-1.7
IVSd (cm) - 1 0.2 0.6-1.4
LVFWa (cm) - 1.2 0.1 1.0-1.4
LFVWd (cm) - 1 0.1 0.8-1.2
FS% - 32.5 4.5 24-41
SV (mL) - 38.2 7.3 24-53
HR (beats/min) - 130.9 22.5 86-176
Weight (kg) - 22.9 3.7 *
AoV (m/s) - 1.9 0.2 1.5-2.3
SD standard deviation, CI confidence interval, Ao aortic annular
diameter, l/a long axis, s/a short axis, LVl left ventricular internal
dimension, d diastolic, IVS interventricular septum, s systolic, LVFW
left ventricular free wall thickness, FS% fractional shortening, SV
stroke volume, HR heart rate, AoV aortic velocity
Parameter Weight (kg)
20/25/30
LA l/a (cm) - 2.5-3.4/2.8-3.7/3.1-4.0
LA s/a (cm) - 2.2-3.5/2.5-3.8/2.8-4.1
LVls (cm) - 1.9-3.0/2.2-3.2/2.4-3.5
LA is left atrium diameter, l/a is long axis view, s/a is short axis view,
LVls is left ventricular internal dimension during systole
Drug Sensitivities
None reported
Inherited Diseases
Hip Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing degenerative
joint disease and hip arthritis. OFA reports 6.7% affected.
Patella Luxation: Polygenically inherited laxity of patellar ligaments,
causing luxation, lameness, and later degenerative joint disease.
Treat surgically if causing clinical signs. OFA reports 2.1% affected.
Reported at a frequency of 2.84% in the 1997 BTCA Health Survey.
Hereditary Nephritis: Autosomal dominant disorder causing renal
failure at variable ages in affected dogs due to abnormal kidney
basement membrane protein and structure. Dorn reports a 8.16x
odds ratio for kidney disease versus other breeds. No genetic test is
available.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): Autosomal dominant caused
by an undetermined mutation in the PKD 1 gene. Renal cysts are
diagnosed by ultrasound. They are usually bilateral, from less than 1
mm to over 2.5 cm in diameter, and occur in the cortex and medulla.
Causes chronic renal failure. Dorn reports a 8.16x odds ratio for
kidney disease versus other breeds. No genetic test is available.
Elbow Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing elbow
arthritis. Too few Bull Terriers have been screened by OFA to
determine an accurate frequency.
Lethal Acrodermatitis: An autosomal recessive disease. Affected
dogs present with stunting, splayed digits, eating difficulties,
skin disease of the face and feet, and increased susceptibility to
microbial infections. In older dogs, paronychia, nail disease and
hyperkeratosis of the footpads develops, becoming severe in dogs
over six months of age. Median survival time is 7 months. Although
many of the clinical signs and the pathology of this condition
suggest zinc deficiency, the measurement of blood zinc levels as a
diagnostic aid is of limited value, and the dogs do not respond to
zinc treatment. Reported at a frequency of 0.81% in the 1997 BTCA
Health Survey. No genetic test is available.
Disease Predispositions
Allergic Dermatitis: Inhalant or food allergy. Presents with pruritis
and pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spots). Bull Terriers are at an
increased risk versus other breeds, especially white Bull Terriers.
Reported at a frequency of 25.56% in the 1997 BTCA Health Survey.
Compulsive Tail Chasing and Spinning: Disorder of persistent
spinning observed in the breed. Possibly a behavioral compulsion,
as 75% of affected dogs respond to clomipramine administration.
However a neurological partial seizure disorder cannot be ruled out,
as some dogs have abnormal electroencephalograms and respond
to anticonvulsants. Compulsion was reported at a frequency of
18.05%, and spinning 17.65% in the 1997 BTCA Health Survey.
Unknown mode of inheritance.
Deafness: Congenital deafness can be unilateral or bilateral.
Diagnosed by BAER testing: Strain reports total (uni or bilateral)
deafness frequency of 19.9% in white Bull Terriers, and 1.3% in
colored Bull Terriers based on BAER testing. 9.9% of all Bull Terriers
test unilaterally deaf, and 1.1% test bilaterally deaf.
Persistent Pupillary Membranes: Strands of fetal remnant
connecting; iris to iris, cornea, lens, or involving sheets of tissue. The
later three forms can impair vision, and dogs affected with these
forms should not be bred. Identified in 7.84% of Bull Terriers CERF
examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.
Hypothyroidism: Inherited autoimmune thyroiditis. 7.0% positive
for thyroid autoantibodies based on testing at Michigan State
University. (Ave. for all breeds is 7.5%).
Primary Lens Luxation: Occurs in the breed due to abnormalities
of the suspensory apparatus of the lens (zonule). Often progresses
to secondary glaucoma. Relative risk of 65.88x versus other breeds.
Identified in 5.88% of Bull Terriers CERF examined by veterinary
ophthalmologists between 2000-2005. Unknown mode of
inheritance. CERF does not recommend breeding any Bull Terrier
with lens luxation.
Cataracts: Anterior, posterior, intermediate and punctate cataracts
occur in the breed. Identified in 3.92% of Bull Terriers CERF
examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005. CERF
does not recommend breeding any Bull Terrier with a cataract.
Mitral Valvular Stenosis/Left Ventricular Outflow Tract
Obstruction (LVOTO): Found at an increased frequency in Bull
Terriers. Echocardiography is a much more sensitive test than
auscultation for murmurs. Pathological findings can include
thickened, nodular, and stiff mitral valves with short, thickened, and
fused chordae tendineae. Myxomatous valvular degeneration, small
vessel arteriosclerosis in the myocardium and fibrosis of cardiac
conduction tissue were common histologic findings in Bull Terriers
with clinical cardiac disease. An increased incidence was found in
Bull Terriers affected with PKD, though it could not be identified if
there is a direct genetic correlation between the two disorders.20,21,22
Aortic Stenosis: Found at an increased frequency in Bull Terriers.
Clinical signs can include syncope, exercise intolerance/fatigue, or
heart murmur. Cardiac ultrasound shows thickened and/or poorly
opening aortic valve leaflets, and an elevated blood flow velocity
through the aortic valve annulus (mean v=5.2m/s; range=4.8-5.9).
Varying degrees of concentric LVH and mitral valve thickening can
be seen. Many affected bull terriers have concurrent severe mitral
valve stenosis.
Demodicosis: Demodectic mange dermatitis has an underlying
immunodeficiency in its pathogenesis. Dorn reports a 2.14x odds
ratio versus other breeds. Unknown mode of inheritance.
Actinic Keratosis: Affected dogs present with alopecia, erythema, comedones, scales, excoriation, pustules, epidermal collarettes,
crusts and scars, with pathologic development of epidermal
hyperplasia, parakeratosis, and orthokeratosis. Lesions occur
secondary to prolonged UV/sunlight exposure, and may be a
precursor to squamous cell carcinoma. Seen at an increased
frequency in the breed.
Retinal Dysplasia: Focal dysplasia and retinal folds are recognized
in the breed, which can lead to retinal detachment. Reported in
1.96% of Bull Terriers CERF-examined by veterinary ophthalmologists
between 2000-2005.
Vitreous Degeneration: Liquefaction of the vitreous gel which may
predispose to retinal detachment. Identified in 1.96% of Bull Terriers
CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.16
Inverted Canines: In affected Bull Terriers, the mandibular canine
teeth are tipped (curved) caudally and impact at the mesio-palatal
gingival margin of the maxillary canine teeth.
Cerebellar Abiotrophy, Cerebellar Vermian Hypoplasia, Cleft Lip/
Palate, Deep Pyoderma, Ectropion, Entropion, Inguinal Hernia,
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, Laryngeal Paralysis, Osteochondritis
Dessicans-Hock and Stifle, Progressive Retinal Atrophy,
Prognathism, Prolapsed Nictitans, Retained Primary Teeth, and
Wry Mouth are reported.
Isolated Case Studies
Sick Sinus Syndrome: A 6.5-year-old, spayed female bull terrier
was investigated for episodic weakness and a syncopal episode.
Resting ECG revealed bradycardia (40 to 60 bpm), sinus pauses of
typically 2-4s, atrial premature contractions (APCs), and junctional
escape beats. Vagal maneuvers did not result in significant
sinus pauses, and atropine response was normal in rate but not
rhythm, implying a conduction disturbance rather than excessive
parasympathetic tone.
Genetic Tests
Tests of Genotype: Direct test for color alleles is avaiable from
VetGen.
Tests of Phenotype: CHIC certification: Required testing
includes patella examination, cardiac evaluation (recommend
echocardiogram), BAER test for deafness, and kidney disease
screening with urine protein:creatinine ratio. (See CHIC website;
caninehealthinfo.org).
Recommended tests include CERF eye examination, hip and elbow
radiographs, and thyroid profile including autoantibodies.
Miscellaneous
- Breed name synonyms: English Bull Terrier, White Cavalier (for
white variety)
- Registries: AKC, UKC, CKC, KCGB (Kennel Club of Great Britain),
ANKC (Australian National Kennel Club), NKC (National Kennel Club)
- AKC rank (year 2008): 57 (1,900 dogs registered)
- Internet resources: Bull Terrier Club of America: btca.com
The Bull Terrier Club of Canada: thebullterrierclub.ca
The Bull Terrier Club (UK): thebullterrierclub.com
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