Post by charmingnancy on Apr 3, 2009 15:10:55 GMT -5
Bull Terrier
Group: 4- Terriers
Origin: England
Purpose: Vermin control, animal-based blood sport fighter, and companion
Description:
The Bull Terrier originated in England and is the Gladiator of the canine race. Must be strongly built, muscular, symmetrical and active, with a keen, determined, and intelligent expression, full of fire and courage but of even temperament and amendable to discipline. Irrespective of size, dogs should look masculine and bitches feminine.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: The coat should be short, flat, even and harsh to the touch, with a fine gloss. The skin should fit the dog tightly. For white, pure white coat. Skin pigmentation and markings on the head should not be penalized. For coloured, the colour should predominate, all other things being equal, brindle to be preferred.
Head: The head should be long, strong and deep, right to the end of the muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from the front it should be egg shaped and completely filled, its surface being free from hollows or indentations. The top of the skull should be almost flat from ear to ear. The profile should curve gently downwards from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose, which should be black and bent downwards at the top. The nostrils should be well developed. The distance from the tip of the nose to the eyes should be perceptibly greater than that from the eyes to the top of the skull. The underjaw should be strong. Teeth should be sound, clean, strong, of good size, and perfectly regular with full dentition. Either a level bite or scissors bite is acceptable. If a scissors bite, the upper front teeth should fit in front of and closely against the lower front teeth. The lips should be clean and tight. Eyes should appear narrow, obliquely placed and triangular, well sunken, as dark as possible and with a piercing glint. Ears should be small, thin, and placed closely together. The dog should be able to hold them stiffly erect, when they should point straight upwards.
Neck: The neck should be very muscular, long, arched, tapering from the shoulders to the head, and free from loose skin.
Forequarters: The shoulders should be strong and muscular but without loading. The shoulder blades should be wide, flat, and attached closely to the chest wall, and should have a very pronounced backward slope of the front edge from bottom to top. The forelegs should have the strongest type of round quality bone and the dog should stand solidly upon them; they should be moderately long and perfectly parallel. The elbows should be held straight and the strong pasterns upright. The feet should be round and compact with well-arched toes.
Body: The body should be well rounded with marked spring of rib, and a great depth from withers to brisket, so that the latter is nearer the ground than the belly. The back should be short and strong with the topline level behind the withers and arching or reaching slightly over the loin. The underline from the brisket to belly should form a graceful upward curve. The chest should be broad, viewed from the front.
Hindquarters: The hind legs should be parallel viewed from behind. The thighs must be muscular and the second thigh well developed. The stifle joint should be well bent and the hock well angulated, with the bone to the foot short and strong.
Tail: The tail should be short, set on low. It should be carried horizontally. Thick at the root, it should taper to a fine point.
Gait: The moving dog shall appear well knit, smoothly covering the ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. Fore and hind legs, moving smoothly at the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock with great thrust.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Disqualifications: Deafness, blue eyes.
Size:
There are neither weight nor height limits but there should be impression of maximum substance to the size of the dog.
Temperament:
Bull terriers have a unique personality. They are friendly and pleasant dogs with a wonderful sense of humor. The breed is outgoing but can be dominant. As a strong and sometimes independent dog, he is not the best choice for the first time dog owner.
The bull terrier is a courageous dog with the heart of a lion. This breed is a loving and wonderful companion that adapts well to almost any environment. The bull terrier can be somewhat distrustful of other dogs and strangers. For this reason, bull terrier owners should use caution when introducing their dog to a new animal or person. This breed adores older children but may not be as patient with the antics of very young children.
Health:
In general, the bull terrier is a healthy dog with few medical concerns. However, the following diseases or disorders have been reported: Entropion, Ectropion, Mast cell tumors, Tail spinning, Sunburns, Deafness present at birth, Interdigital Dermatitis, Demodectic mange, Congenital Elbow Luxation, Polycystic kidney disease, and Aortic stenosis.
Average Lifespan:
The life span of the bull terrier is approximately 14 to 15 years.
History:
Early in the mid-1800's the "Bull and Terrier" breeds were developed to satisfy the needs for vermin control and animal-based blood sports. The "Bull and Terriers" were based on the Old English Bulldog (now extinct) and one or more of Old English Terrier and "Black and tan terrier", now known as Manchester Terrier. This new breed combined the speed and dexterity of lightly built terriers with the dour tenacity of the Bulldog, which was a poor performer in most combat situations, having been bred almost exclusively for killing bulls and bears tied to a post. Due to the lack of breed standards -- breeding was for performance, not appearance -- the "Bull and Terrier" eventually divided into the ancestors of "Bull Terriers" and "Staffordshire (Bull) Terriers", both smaller and easier to handle than the progenitor.
About 1850, James Hinks started breeding "Bull and Terriers" with "English White Terriers" (now extinct), looking for a cleaner appearance with better legs and nicer head. In 1862, Hinks entered a bitch called "Puss" sired by his white Bulldog called "Madman" into the Bull Terrier Class at the dog show held at the Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea. Originally known as the "Hinks Breed" and "The White Cavalier", these dogs did not yet have the now-familiar "egg face", but kept the stop in the skull profile.
The dog was immediately popular and breeding continued, using Dalmatian, Greyhound, Spanish Pointer, Fox Hound and Whippet to increase elegance and agility; and Borzoi and Collie to reduce the stop. Hinks wanted his dogs white, and bred specifically for this. Generally, however, breeding was aimed at increasing sturdiness: three "subtypes" were recognised by judges, Bulldog, Terrier and Dalmatian, each with its specific conformation, and a balance is now sought between the three. The first modern Bull Terrier is now recognized as "Lord Gladiator", from 1917, being the first dog with no stop at all.
Due to medical problems associated with all-white breeding, Ted Lyon among others began introducing colour, using Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the early 20th century. Coloured Bull Terriers were recognized as a separate variety (at least by the AKC) in 1936. Brindle is the preferred colour, but other colours are welcome.
Along with conformation, specific behaviour traits were sought. The epithet "White Cavalier", harking back to an age of chivalry, was bestowed on a breed which while never seeking to start a fight was well able to finish one, while socializing well with its "pack", including children and pups. Hinks himself had always aimed at a "gentleman's companion" dog rather than a pit-fighter -- though Bullies were often entered in the pits, with some success. Today the Bullie is valued as a comical, mischievous, imaginative and intelligent (problem-solving) but stubborn house pet suitable for experienced owners.
Sources:
CKC (Breed Standard)
Pet Place
Pet Place (Health)
Wikipedia
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 4- Terriers
Origin: England
Purpose: Vermin control, animal-based blood sport fighter, and companion
Description:
The Bull Terrier originated in England and is the Gladiator of the canine race. Must be strongly built, muscular, symmetrical and active, with a keen, determined, and intelligent expression, full of fire and courage but of even temperament and amendable to discipline. Irrespective of size, dogs should look masculine and bitches feminine.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat and Colour: The coat should be short, flat, even and harsh to the touch, with a fine gloss. The skin should fit the dog tightly. For white, pure white coat. Skin pigmentation and markings on the head should not be penalized. For coloured, the colour should predominate, all other things being equal, brindle to be preferred.
Head: The head should be long, strong and deep, right to the end of the muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from the front it should be egg shaped and completely filled, its surface being free from hollows or indentations. The top of the skull should be almost flat from ear to ear. The profile should curve gently downwards from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose, which should be black and bent downwards at the top. The nostrils should be well developed. The distance from the tip of the nose to the eyes should be perceptibly greater than that from the eyes to the top of the skull. The underjaw should be strong. Teeth should be sound, clean, strong, of good size, and perfectly regular with full dentition. Either a level bite or scissors bite is acceptable. If a scissors bite, the upper front teeth should fit in front of and closely against the lower front teeth. The lips should be clean and tight. Eyes should appear narrow, obliquely placed and triangular, well sunken, as dark as possible and with a piercing glint. Ears should be small, thin, and placed closely together. The dog should be able to hold them stiffly erect, when they should point straight upwards.
Neck: The neck should be very muscular, long, arched, tapering from the shoulders to the head, and free from loose skin.
Forequarters: The shoulders should be strong and muscular but without loading. The shoulder blades should be wide, flat, and attached closely to the chest wall, and should have a very pronounced backward slope of the front edge from bottom to top. The forelegs should have the strongest type of round quality bone and the dog should stand solidly upon them; they should be moderately long and perfectly parallel. The elbows should be held straight and the strong pasterns upright. The feet should be round and compact with well-arched toes.
Body: The body should be well rounded with marked spring of rib, and a great depth from withers to brisket, so that the latter is nearer the ground than the belly. The back should be short and strong with the topline level behind the withers and arching or reaching slightly over the loin. The underline from the brisket to belly should form a graceful upward curve. The chest should be broad, viewed from the front.
Hindquarters: The hind legs should be parallel viewed from behind. The thighs must be muscular and the second thigh well developed. The stifle joint should be well bent and the hock well angulated, with the bone to the foot short and strong.
Tail: The tail should be short, set on low. It should be carried horizontally. Thick at the root, it should taper to a fine point.
Gait: The moving dog shall appear well knit, smoothly covering the ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. Fore and hind legs, moving smoothly at the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock with great thrust.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Disqualifications: Deafness, blue eyes.
Size:
There are neither weight nor height limits but there should be impression of maximum substance to the size of the dog.
Temperament:
Bull terriers have a unique personality. They are friendly and pleasant dogs with a wonderful sense of humor. The breed is outgoing but can be dominant. As a strong and sometimes independent dog, he is not the best choice for the first time dog owner.
The bull terrier is a courageous dog with the heart of a lion. This breed is a loving and wonderful companion that adapts well to almost any environment. The bull terrier can be somewhat distrustful of other dogs and strangers. For this reason, bull terrier owners should use caution when introducing their dog to a new animal or person. This breed adores older children but may not be as patient with the antics of very young children.
Health:
In general, the bull terrier is a healthy dog with few medical concerns. However, the following diseases or disorders have been reported: Entropion, Ectropion, Mast cell tumors, Tail spinning, Sunburns, Deafness present at birth, Interdigital Dermatitis, Demodectic mange, Congenital Elbow Luxation, Polycystic kidney disease, and Aortic stenosis.
Average Lifespan:
The life span of the bull terrier is approximately 14 to 15 years.
History:
Early in the mid-1800's the "Bull and Terrier" breeds were developed to satisfy the needs for vermin control and animal-based blood sports. The "Bull and Terriers" were based on the Old English Bulldog (now extinct) and one or more of Old English Terrier and "Black and tan terrier", now known as Manchester Terrier. This new breed combined the speed and dexterity of lightly built terriers with the dour tenacity of the Bulldog, which was a poor performer in most combat situations, having been bred almost exclusively for killing bulls and bears tied to a post. Due to the lack of breed standards -- breeding was for performance, not appearance -- the "Bull and Terrier" eventually divided into the ancestors of "Bull Terriers" and "Staffordshire (Bull) Terriers", both smaller and easier to handle than the progenitor.
About 1850, James Hinks started breeding "Bull and Terriers" with "English White Terriers" (now extinct), looking for a cleaner appearance with better legs and nicer head. In 1862, Hinks entered a bitch called "Puss" sired by his white Bulldog called "Madman" into the Bull Terrier Class at the dog show held at the Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea. Originally known as the "Hinks Breed" and "The White Cavalier", these dogs did not yet have the now-familiar "egg face", but kept the stop in the skull profile.
The dog was immediately popular and breeding continued, using Dalmatian, Greyhound, Spanish Pointer, Fox Hound and Whippet to increase elegance and agility; and Borzoi and Collie to reduce the stop. Hinks wanted his dogs white, and bred specifically for this. Generally, however, breeding was aimed at increasing sturdiness: three "subtypes" were recognised by judges, Bulldog, Terrier and Dalmatian, each with its specific conformation, and a balance is now sought between the three. The first modern Bull Terrier is now recognized as "Lord Gladiator", from 1917, being the first dog with no stop at all.
Due to medical problems associated with all-white breeding, Ted Lyon among others began introducing colour, using Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the early 20th century. Coloured Bull Terriers were recognized as a separate variety (at least by the AKC) in 1936. Brindle is the preferred colour, but other colours are welcome.
Along with conformation, specific behaviour traits were sought. The epithet "White Cavalier", harking back to an age of chivalry, was bestowed on a breed which while never seeking to start a fight was well able to finish one, while socializing well with its "pack", including children and pups. Hinks himself had always aimed at a "gentleman's companion" dog rather than a pit-fighter -- though Bullies were often entered in the pits, with some success. Today the Bullie is valued as a comical, mischievous, imaginative and intelligent (problem-solving) but stubborn house pet suitable for experienced owners.
Sources:
CKC (Breed Standard)
Pet Place
Pet Place (Health)
Wikipedia
Pictures:
Photobucket