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Miniature Bull Terrier
The Miniature Bull Terrier has a very fiery personality and can be very feisty at times. This breed can be protective of his owner and territory giving off a fearless and brave presence. The Miniature Bull Terrier's aggressiveness is unsurprising when you consider its origins. The breed arose during the early 1800s in professional dog fighting circles, when unscrupulous breeders decided to attempt the creation of a breed that would fight with all the aggressiveness of the Bulldog, but with the additional speed, reflexes, and intelligence of terrier breeds. The resulting cross of Bulldogs, English Terriers and other miscellaneous breeds resulted in the Standard Bull Terrier. The Standard Bull Terrier often proved too much for owners who didn't reckon on the breed's capacity for violence, and the Miniature Bull Terrier was created to retain all of the excellent watchdog capacities of the breed while at the same time reducing its size to make it more manageable for handlers and trainers.
General Appearance
A thick-set muscular, well-proportioned animal, the Bull Terrier has a short, dense coat that comes in pure white, black, brindle, red, fawn and tri-color. Its most distinctive feature is its head, which is almost flat at the top, sloping evenly down to the end of the nose with no stop. The eyes are small, dark, almond-shaped and closely set. The body is full and round, while the shoulders are robust and muscular and the tail is carried horizontally.
Temperament
Determined, bold, and spirited, the Miniature Bull Terrier is an active and energetic dog with a stable temperament. These dogs can be amusing and entertaining, and they thrive on the attention and affection of their loved ones - a neglected Miniature Bull Terrier can become very destructive, so this is not a breed that is suited to those with little time to dedicate to a pet. The Miniature Bull Terrier is a good family pet, but does have certain traits that make him better suited to those with some experience of dog ownership and training. You need to be confident, assertive, yet positive in order to enjoy success with this breed, as training can be difficult. Some Miniature Bull Terriers may be overly aggressive or timid; some can be dominant, bossy, and possessive; and some can be very challenging. Early socialization is essential in order to promote a stable and even temperament in this breed. These dogs need plenty of attention and exercise too, and will enjoy getting involved in family activities as well as enjoying daily walks. The Miniature Bull Terrier gets along well with most pets, but may be dangerous around cats, which means that you should socialize this breed very early to cats. These dogs will get along fine with considerate and gentle children, and many will welcome strangers. The protection level of the Miniature Bull Terrier is fairly low, although some may bark to raise an alarm if something is amiss.
Grooming
Regular grooming is not necessary for this shorthaired breed. Occasionally brushing and combing should be sufficient to remove any loose hair from the Miniature Bull Terrier. A wipe down with a damp washcloth should also keep this breed fairly clean. The ears should be cleaned on a regular basis, and the nails should be clipped at least once every two weeks to keep them at a manageable length. A rub down with a specially made rubber glove should suffice and take care of many, if not all grooming aspects.
Health Problems and Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of the Miniature Bull Terrier is around 11-14 years. There are a number of health problems associated with the breed, and this includes heart problems, kidney problems, paralysis of the larynx, luxating patella, eye problems, seizures, thyroid disorders, skin problems, and allergies.
Activity Level
The Miniature Bull Terrier is a fairly active breed and does best with at least a small yard. This breed enjoys long daily walks, however they do love a regular romp free, but should always be in a fenced area. This dog loves long walks and jogs with his owner. This breed should always have at least one hour of exercise per day to stay healthy and active and to prevent destruction.
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