Kennel.com – Complete Guide to Dogs The Dog Lovers Guide
Miniature Bull Terriers are muscular, well proportioned and like the Standard Bull Terrier, have a distinctive ‘egg shaped’ head. This is a playful, lovable and extremely courageous breed. The ancestry of the Miniature Bull Terrier can be traced to back to the 19th century in England when the English Bulldog was crossed with the White English Terrier (now extinct) which produced the Bull and Terrier – now known as the Bull Terrier.
The Bull Terriers at this time were meant to be tough and fierce dog fighters and actually, many many were quite small – about the size of the Miniature Bull Terriers today. To increase the size, that breed was then crossed with Spanish Pointers. Miniature Bull Terriers are exact replicas of the Bull Terrier – except for size. In the early days, Miniature Bull Terriers ranged in size from as little as four pounds to as much as sixteen pounds.
The Miniature Bull Terrier was accepted in the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class in 1963, however, was not recognized as a breed until 1991.
Height: The height of a Miniature Bull Terrier is 10-14 inches (25-33 cm).
Weight: Miniature Bull Terriers weigh up to 24-33 pounds (11-15 kg). The weight should be in proportion to height.
Coat Type: The Miniature Bull Terrier’s coat is short, dense, flat and rough. Minimal grooming – just a brushing a few times a week is all that’s necessary to keep it in good condition. The Miniature Bull Terrier sheds twice a year.
Color: If the Miniature Bull Terrier’s coat is white, then should be pure white. Colors: white, black & tan, black brindle, black & tan, brindle, fawn, red, with or without markings.
Temperament: Miniature Bull Terriers are courageous, high-energy and loving. They are obedient, playful, clownish and thrive on attention. This dog makes a great family pet and becomes very attached. Miniature Bull Terriers do well with children (and adults) who do not tease, provoke or engage in extremely rough play. The owner as well as the family children must always show leadership. Proper training and socialization are both necessary. Training should be firm and consistent. Miniature Bull Terriers should not be left alone for long periods otherwise, they may start to display disruptive behaviors such as barking or chewing. Males and females as well as two females do well within the same household – of course with supervision. Two males living together is not recommended – eventually one will need to dominate. The Miniature Bull Terrier needs plenty of exercise and play – which makes this breed great for an active family.
Health Problems: Overall, Miniature Bull Terriers are generally healthy. Some health issues include: lens luxation (which can cause blindness if not detected early), luxating patellas, obsessive compulsive behaviors (i.e. tail chasing), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), skin problems and heart diseases. Additionally, some puppies are born deaf in either one or both ears. Life expectancy of a Miniature Bull Terrier is between 11 – 14 years.
Special Interests:
• The Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America was founded in 1966.
• Although the Miniature Bull Terrier was eligible in the AKC to be shown in the Miscellaneous Class in 1963, it was not recognized as a breed until 1991.
• Bull Terriers are also known as “Mini Bulls”.
• The Miniature Bull Terrier is an exact replica of the Bull Terrier – except for size.
Classifications:
AKC: Terrier Group
ANKC: Group 2 – Terriers
CKC: Group 4 – Terrier
FCI: Group 3 – Terriers Section 3
KC: Terrier
NZKC: Terrier
UKC: Terriers
Miniature Bull Terrier