- Related Topics:
- pit bull
- terrier
- dogfighting
- On the Web:
- World Animal Rescue Network - Bull Terrier (Oct. 17, 2026)
Bull Terrier
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What is a Bull Terrier?
The Bull Terrier originated in 19th-century England from the Bulldog, the White English Terrier, and the Dalmatian. Other breeds, such as the Spanish pointer, foxhound, and Greyhound, may also have been incorporated.
Bull Terriers are muscular dogs with short coats, tapering tails, erect ears, small triangular deep-set eyes, and a distinctive egg-shaped head. The coat may be colored or white. They stand 21–22 inches (53–56 cm) tall, weigh 50–70 pounds (23–32 kg), and have a life span of 12-13 years. Miniature Bull Terriers stand 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) and weigh 24 to 33 pounds (11 to 15 kg).
Originally bred for pit fighting, breeders in the late 1800s began to focus on traits that transformed the dog into a gentleman’s fashionable companion. Today, the breed is generally sweet and good-natured, though it still may be aggressive around other dogs. Bull Terriers are energetic, huggable, exuberant, comical, mischievous, and stubborn. They require a great deal of interaction and a secure fenced yard for exercise.
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What does a Bull Terrier look like?
The Bull Terrier is a muscular dog with a short coat, a tapering tail, erect ears, and small, triangular, deep-set eyes. Its most distinctive feature is its egg-shaped, or convex, head. The coat may be colored or white. They stand 21 to 22 inches (53 to 56 cm) and weigh 50 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg). The Miniature Bull Terrier is smaller, standing only 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) and weighing 24 to 33 pounds (11 to 15 kg).
Originally bred for dogfighting, the Bull Terrier is active, loyal, and playful. The breed was developed in 19th-century England from the Bulldog, the White English Terrier, and the Dalmatian. Other breeds, including the Spanish pointer, foxhound, and Greyhound, may also have been incorporated.
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What is the Bull Terrier’s personality like?
The Bull Terrier is generally sweet and good-natured, but can still be aggressive around other dogs. They are energetic, huggable, and exuberant, but also comical, mischievous, and stubborn, making them well-suited for active people.
A Bull Terrier needs a secure, fenced yard for exercise and a great deal of human interaction through games, training, and leashed walks. Dog parks are not recommended because they can be aggressive with unfamiliar animals. Coat care is minimal, needing only occasional bathing and brushing. Keep in mind that individual dogs may differ in behavior and temperament.
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How much exercise does a Bull Terrier need?
A Bull Terrier needs a secure, fenced yard for exercise and thrives on human interaction through games, training, and leashed walks. They are not suited for dog parks due to potential aggression towards unfamiliar animals.
Bull Terriers benefit from dog sports like agility, obedience, scent work, coursing, flyball, and weight pulling. They need a lot of exercise and do best with an active owner. Regular walks and playtime will help keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Coat care is minimal, needing only occasional bathing and brushing.
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What common health problems affect Bull Terriers?
Bull Terriers are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they are prone to certain health issues. Common ailments include patellar luxation (dislocated kneecap) and mild heart issues. Kidney failure is also a concern for this breed. Bull Terriers are susceptible to hearing problems, and white-coated Bull Terriers are especially prone to deafness. In colored Bull Terriers, deafness is typically limited to one ear. It is recommended to determine if a puppy has hearing issues before labeling it as disobedient.
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How should Bull Terriers be trained and cared for?
Bull Terriers need secure, fenced yards for exercise and benefit from human interaction through games, training, and leashed walks. They can be aggressive with unfamiliar animals, so dog parks may not be suitable.
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These dogs are energetic and stubborn but can be trained through dog sports such as agility, obedience, scent work, coursing, flyball, and weight pulling.\
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Coat care is minimal, needing only occasional bathing and brushing. Most terriers need daily brushing, and some need stripping, though clipping is an alternative. Bull Terriers do not like extreme cold or heat. It is important to check puppies for hearing issues.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Bull Terrier, breed of dog developed in 19th-century England from the Bulldog, the White English Terrier (a breed now extinct), and the Dalmatian; other breeds including the Spanish pointer, foxhound, and Greyhound may also have been incorporated.
- Also called: Egghead, Wedgehead, Bully
- Area of origin: England
- Breed group: Terrier
- Height at withers:21–22 inches (53–56 cm)
- Weight: 50–70 pounds (23–32 kg)
- Life span: 12-13 years
- Did you know?: Bull Terriers have frequently served as corporate mascots. In the late 1980s “Spuds MacKenzie,” portrayed by a female Bull Terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye, began starring in TV commercials and advertisements for Bud Light beer. According to The New York Times, Spuds helped increase sales by 20 percent between 1987 and 1988; the dog-based campaign ended in 1989. Ten years later “Bullseye,” a white Bull Terrier, became the popular mascot for Target. The company emblazoned its logo, a red circle around a dot, surrounding the dog’s left eye, but it did so with a nontoxic vegetable-based paint that was easily removable.
The Bull Terrier was developed for dogfighting pits as a courageous fighter but not as an aggressive fight provoker. It is a muscular dog and has a short coat; a tapering tail; erect ears; small triangular deep-set eyes; and a distinctive egg-shaped, or convex, head. The miniature Bull Terrier, recognized as a separate breed, stands only 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) and weighs 24 to 33 pounds (11 to 15 kg). In both sizes the coat may be colored (i.e., any color but white, including brindle) or white (i.e., all white or white with darker head markings). The Bull Terrier is active, loyal, and playful—even clownish—and is considered for its weight as one of the strongest of all dogs.
Care and upkeep
The Bull Terrier needs a secure fenced yard in which to exercise. The breed requires a great deal of human interaction in the form of games, training, and leashed walks. It is generally not a good candidate for dog parks, because it can be aggressive with unfamiliar animals. Bull Terriers enjoy many dog sports, including agility, obedience, and scent work as well as coursing, flyball, and weight pulling. They do not like extreme cold nor heat. Coat care is minimal, consisting of occasional bathing and brushing.
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The breed is generally healthy, though common ailments include patellar luxation (dislocated kneecap) and mild heart issues. Kidney failure is also a concern. In addition, Bull Terriers are susceptible to hearing problems, and the white-coated variety is especially prone to deafness. In colored Bull Terriers, deafness is typically limited to one ear. It should be determined if a puppy has hearing issues before labeling it as disobedient.
Temperament
Although the Bull Terrier was originally bred for pit fighting, in the late 1800s breeders began to focus on traits that transformed the dog into a gentleman’s fashionable companion. Thus, the breed today is generally sweet and good-natured, though it still may be aggressive around other dogs. Generally described as energetic, huggable, and exuberant, Bull Terriers can also be comical, mischievous, and stubborn. The breed is especially well suited for active people. The Bull Terrier can be a good watchdog but is only fair at protection.
These are well established and widely accepted generalizations about the breed. Individual dogs may differ in behavior and temperament.