Bull Terrier

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

It was a certain James Hinks who first standardized the breed type back in the 1850's, selecting the egg-shaped head. The breed was first shown, in its present form, in Birmingham in 1862. The Bull Terrier Club was formed in 1887. A truly interesting thing about the breed is that the standard deliberately says, “There are no limits on weight or height. , but the dog must give the impression of maximum substance for its size, consistent with its qualities and sex. The dog must be, at all times, balanced”.

Smaller examples of the Bull Terrier had been known since the early 19th century, but fell out of favor before the First World War and were removed from the breed's Kennel Club registers in 1918. In 1938, a recovery of the breed was spearheaded by Colonel Richard Glyn and a group of enthusiastic friends who founded the “Miniature Bull Terrier Club”. The standard is the same as the Bull Terrier, with the exception of the height limit.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Strongly built, muscular, well balanced and active with a lively, determined and intelligent expression. A unique feature is its descending nasal bridge and egg-shaped head. Regardless of size, males should appear masculine and females feminine.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT

Brave, full of energy and with a kind and fun attitude. Even-tempered and easy to be disciplined.

Though strong-willed, it is particularly friendly with people.

HEAD

Long, strong and deep to end of muzzle, never coarse. Seen from the front, it is egg-shaped and completely filled; its surface is free of cavities

or clippings. The profile curves gently downwards from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose.

CRANIAL REGION

Skull: The top of the skull is nearly flat from ear to ear.

FACIAL REGION

Nose: Must be black. Sloping down sharply at the tip. Well-developed nostrils.

Lips: Close fitting and clean.

Jaws/Teeth: Jaws deep and strong. Teeth well-fitting, healthy, strong, of good size, regular (intervals between each other) and with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper incisors cover the lower incisors and are set square to the jaws.

Eyes: Narrow and triangular in appearance, set obliquely; blacks or browns in the darkest shades possible, so as to appear almost black and with a

piercing expression. The distance from the eyes to the tip of the nose should be noticeably greater than the distance from the eyes to the top of the skull. Blue or partially blue eyes are undesirable.

Ears: Small, thin and placed close together. The dog must be able to hold them rigidly erect when directed upwards.

NECK

Very muscular, long, arched, tapering from shoulders to head and free of loose skin.

TRUNK

Well rounded, with a distinct arching of the ribs and great depth from the withers to the sternum, so that the sternum is closer to the ground.

Back: Short, strong, with the topline behind the withers, arching slightly over the loin.

Loin: Broad and well muscled.

Chest: Broad when viewed from the front.

Underline and belly: From the tip of the sternum to the belly, it forms a graceful upward curve.

TAIL

Short, set on low and carried horizontally. Thick at the root, tapering to the tip.

PREVIOUS MEMBERS

General appearance: The dog should stand solidly on the legs, which should be perfectly parallel. In adult dogs, the length of the forelegs should be approximately equal to the depth of the chest.

Shoulders: Strong and muscular, without being loaded. Shoulder blades broad, flat and placed close to the ribcage. They must present, from bottom to top, a clear inclination on their anterior edges, forming an almost right angle with the arm.

Elbows: Kept straight and strong.

Forearms: Should have a strong round bone structure, with good bones.

Pasterns: Straight.

Feet: Round and compact, with well arched toes.

HINDQUARTERS

General appearance: Parallel limbs when viewed from behind.

Thighs: Muscular.

Knees: Joint well angulated.

Legs: Well developed.

Hocks: Well angulated.

Metatarsals: Short, strong bones.

Feet: Round and compact, with well arched toes.

MOVEMENT

When on the move, it shows well consolidated, covering the ground smoothly with free, flowing steps and with a typical graceful air. At the trot, parallel movement, front and back, only converging to the center line when the

speed increases. The forelegs have a good reach and the hindquarters move smoothly on the hips, achieving great momentum by flexing the knees and hocks.

SKIN

Well adherent.

COAT

Hair: Short, flat, dense, rough to the touch and shiny. Soft undercoat may be present in winter.

COLOR

In whites, pure white coat. Skin pigmentation or markings on the head should not be penalized. In colored ones, color predominates over white.

If there is equality in all other characteristics, the brindle is preferred. Black brindle, red, fawn and tricolor are acceptable. Small marks on the white coat are undesirable. Blue and liver are highly undesirable.

SIZE / WEIGHT

There are no weight or height limits, but the dog must give

impression of maximum substance for its size, befitting its qualities and sex.

ABSENCES

Any deviation from the terms of this standard must be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well-being of the dog.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

Excessive aggressiveness or shyness.

Any dog ​​that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly

must be disqualified.

GRADES
 

Males must have both testicles, of normal appearance, well descended and accommodated in the scrotum.

Only clinically and functionally healthy dogs of typical breed conformation should be used for breeding. The last modifications are in bold.