The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family.
Appearance
Bull Terriers are thick-set and muscular with a short, dense coat. Acceptable colours are white, (skin pigmentation and markings on the head are not to be penalised in the show ring in the UK), any colour other than white, or any colour with white markings (although Blue and liver highly undesirable).
The bull terrier's most distinctive feature is its head, described as 'egg shaped' when viewed from the front, almost flat at the top, with a Roman muzzle sloping evenly down to the end of the nose with no stop. The unique triangular eyes are small, dark, and closely set. The body is full and round, while the shoulders are robust and muscular and the tail is carried horizontally. It walks with a jaunty gait, and is popularly known as the 'gladiator of the canine race'.
There is no set height or weight of the breed but the average is, Height: 16-22 inches (40-56 cm.), Weight: 35-80 pounds (15-36 kg.).
Temperament
Bull Terriers are generally friendly dogs. Their physical strength is matched by their intelligence, and both body and mind need to be kept active. They can be obstinate and are not ideal dogs for the first-time owner. As a breed they are generally placid and will not normally make the first move. They are very affectionate dogs that love human company, so it is not a good idea to leave them alone for long periods of time as with their strong jaws they can cause severe damage if bored. Bull Terriers are particularly good with children and can stand a great deal of abuse due to their high pain threshold. They are protective of children in their charge. Younger dogs may regard children as playmates and because of their strength may cause inadvertant injury.
The American Temperament Test Society, Inc.(ATTS), a not-for-profit organisation that promotes uniform temperament testing for dog breeds, gives the Bull Terrier a pass rate of 91.5%. The average for all breeds is 81.5%. While not definitive, this does suggest that the Bull Terrier has a more than usually even temperament.