All About Miniature Bull Terriers

Miniature Bull Terriers are decorative types of dogs and are often found in the United States, England and Russia. From their congeners - bull terriers, they differ in a more active and stubborn disposition, as well as in their small stature, which allows them to keep these dogs in city apartments. This material will talk about miniature bull terriers: about the features of their exterior, the intricacies of feeding and keeping.

This variety of bull terriers is relatively young - it appeared only in the second half of the 19th century. The originator of the breed itself was the English pedigree breeder James Hinks. He was fascinated by the power of the Bulldog and the grace of the White British Terrier and strove to create a dog breed with common qualities. Some sources also report that Dalmatians, hounds and greyhounds participated in the breeding experiments of these dogs.

The breeding research of the breeder lasted about 10 years, and their result was the presentation of the first representative of the breed at an exhibition in 1862. The presented individuals, which received the name of the White Bull Terrier, in contrast to their relative Bull and Terrier, had a more elongated graceful body, an elongated oval head, smooth lips and dense elastic skin. In addition, despite the gracefulness and elegance of the new breed, Hinks was able to retain in it the best features from fighting dog breeds - a remarkably developed muscular system, powerful jaws and canines.

In addition to their external qualities, white bull terriers had a cheerful and active character, a hardy and strong body, as well as cleanliness and a sharp mind. Representatives of this breed had such wild success that at the end of the 19th century, among the teaching and student staff of Oxford it was considered noble and elite to have a purebred white bull terrier at their disposal.

The history of miniature bull terriers begins during the period of active breeding experiments conducted by Hinks in the middle of the 19th century. In the course of his numerous experiments, dozens of different breeds of dogs were used, which once led to the birth of White Bull Terriers of exactly the same standard, but smaller in size and height. Initially, these individuals were culled or simply sold at reduced prices, but soon, even in the litter of purebred white bull terriers, miniature dogs began to be born. Very soon the breeder decided to divide this breed of dogs into two types: standard (large) and mini (miniature)... If bull terriers were designated by the American Kennel Club as a representative of a fighting breed, then the status of a purely decorative species was assigned to miniature individuals.

Do not think that the development of the dwarf type stopped at the division of this breed into large and small boules. Even the segmentation of the breed did not help to cope with the flow of miniature babies, which were significantly different in size even from each other. It became necessary to unify all miniature individuals, for which they soon began to use the genetic material of toy terriers. This helped, and the problem with growth gradually disappeared, but a completely new one was formed - in these individuals, the features of terriers began to prevail, and the backbone of the new breed was weaker every time, like the average weight. Individuals were born weak and hardly viable. It was only thanks to annual experiments that it was possible to create the ideal version of the mini-bull terrier, the representatives of which we meet today.

Both varieties of bull terriers have approximately the same and incredibly memorable conformation, thanks to which they can be easily distinguished from all other dogs. The key difference between the boules and other breeds is the egg-shaped head, lack of feet and small, wide-set eyes. Below will be presented the general standard of the Bull Terrier breed, adopted by the ICF and modernized for a dwarf variety of boules.

• Average weight. Adults should weigh no more than 15 kg (males). Females weigh slightly less than males - up to 12-13 kg.
• Average height at the withers. Both males and bitches of mini-bull terriers must be no more than 35 and no less than 25 centimeters. Inexperienced breeders believe that the lower the growth of these dogs, the better, however, in this case, the proportionality of the body is violated. The apparent disproportionate height and size of the dog leads to various diseases - the main load in this case goes to the skeleton and the cardiovascular system.
• Life expectancy. Bull terriers usually live no longer than 14 years (at best), and mini-bulls often live up to 15 or more.
• Frame. The body of the boules is incredibly compact and massive, muscular, distinguished by a flat back, a wide chest with well-developed relief muscles.The croup is smooth and rounded, poorly visible.
• Head. Large, ovoid, elongated skull, widened between the ears. The stop is completely absent due to the extremely wide bridge of the nose, which merges evenly into the muzzle.
• Nose. Large and wide, well developed. Usually black, however pigmentation in other shades is acceptable.
• Neck. Medium in length but large and strong. There are no folds on the sternum or neck.
• Extremities. Not particularly long, but massive and muscular. The front ones stand straight and parallel (the elbows are pressed to the body), the back ones are longer and have a slight slope.
• Ears. All Bull Terriers have large, erect ears with rounded tips. The auricles look forward.
• Jaws and teeth. From their ancestors, mini-bulls have very powerful and muscular jaws that are still able to bite through hard bones without any problems.
• Tail. Same medium length as Standard Bull Terriers, thinning from base to tip. Covered with a thick layer of not short, but coarse wool, the tip of colored individuals is usually dyed light.
• Color. White is considered the classic color of bull terriers, which allows partial pigmentation with spots of a different color on the chest and head. In addition to white, red, black, red and brown are also recognized. The requirement for the color of these dogs is the dominance of one particular color. There are also individuals of these dogs with the so-called "tricolor" - several colors in color (brindle, wild boar, marsh). In addition to the colors presented, there are individuals with a color of golden and blue, but such dogs are usually discarded.
• Movement. Despite their small stature and medium-sized limbs, these dogs are able to develop very high speed. In the movements of these dogs, there is both grace and slight clubfoot when moving over short distances.

This breed of dog is easy to confuse with the standard type of bull terrier, because "mini-buli" - just one of the varieties of this breed. To put it quite simply, the miniature bull terriers in almost everything are a miniature copy of the standard of this breed. Some dog handlers write that the main difference between miniature bull terriers and their "big" brethren is that they are much more mobile, more active and more cheerful. In breed club circles, these dogs have gained a reputation as an inexhaustible battery that has the energy for any adventure or adventure. In addition to being active, there is a version that this mini-breed is distinguished by great stubbornness, which often interferes with the training and education of these dogs. However, this is largely a delusion - due to the small size of the dog, its owners often disdain the upbringing of these pets, and therefore capricious and naughty animals grow out of them.

Miniature boules are believed to live slightly longer than the breed standard. The main reason is a more active lifestyle and a lighter skeleton. During the breeding of this breed, a genetic pathology characteristic only of these dogs was discovered - the so-called dislocation of the lens, which can lead to partial or complete loss of vision in dogs in old age. In the procedure for crossing miniature bull terriers with a standard type, puppies are recorded precisely as representatives of a miniature variety, since the presence of this pathology is considered unacceptable among ordinary bull terriers.

In simple words, all miniature bull terriers are choleric to the core. It is difficult to find more active and restless dogs, and therefore not every owner is suitable for them.The owner of mini-bulls must have an unyielding and strong character, able to keep the pet under control in any situation. But at the same time, it must be a cheerful person who is able to support the initiative of his pet, his fun, finds and adventures. This dog is not suitable for couch potatoes and melancholic - bull terriers need regular walks and physical activity, which are simply unrealistic to arrange at home. Every day for these pets is an opportunity for new discoveries, training and games, and if the owner cannot provide them, such dogs become aggressive, capricious and uncontrollable.

These dogs do not tolerate loneliness very well, this is not the kind of pet that will calmly wait for you from work every day. Alone, the mini-bull begins to destroy everything that catches his eye. And believe me, when you come home from work and condemn the dog for this offense, he will not understand what exactly you are unhappy with. These dogs should not be owned by people with a busy schedule and a bunch of daily worries. Let the mini-bully and rascals with a stubborn character, but no one has the right to doubt their loyalty to the owner and members of his family.

If the owner has managed to prove his authority and superiority in the relationship, you will not find anyone more devoted to these pets. Sometimes their affection reaches the point of absurdity - they want to be near you all the time (even if it's a bathroom, a balcony, or you just want to take out the trash). These pets will arrange greetings for you when you return, as if you have not seen each other for many, many years. Most breeders find affection in such affection, for others it causes considerable discomfort, especially if the dog's presence interferes with work, taking care of children or cleaning the house.

However, if the Bull Terrier senses danger from a stranger or notices the owner's tension, fighting qualities will instantly jump in him. And now in front of you is not a pet, but a grinning lump of muscles that will fight for you to the end. Buhl will not warn a stranger (grinning or growling), he will immediately rush into battle and it will be difficult to stop him. That is why many people prefer to walk these dogs only in muzzles. Like all intelligent dogs, mini-bulls feel great about the owner and their family members. By facial expression, intonation and movements, these dogs are able to determine both joy and sadness. Bull Terriers are prone to empathy, and therefore they will be happy if the owner is happy, and tense if the latter is bad.

In small members of the family, bull terriers see not only supporters for fun and games, but also serious competitors for the attention of the owner. The main part of the problems arises when a small child appears in a family with an adult bull and all the attention of the owners switches to the baby. For a very long time, these dogs cannot understand why the owner's attention is so attached to the baby, and therefore they are able to be capricious or completely withdrawn into themselves. To prevent such situations from happening, you should make friends with the child on the very first day of appearance in the house, and also try not to detract from your attention towards the dog. As soon as the child grows up a little, you should teach him to be respectful of the bull - these dogs do not understand and do not accept teasing and stubborn behavior.

Bull Terriers are not particularly rosy towards other domestic animals, and if we are talking about the attention of the owner, then they can go to the most vile dirty tricks in relation to another pet.Feeling their physical superiority over other pets, these dogs can resort to real tyranny: stealing food from someone else's bowl, intimidation and violation of personal space. To avoid this, you need to try to be equally friendly to pets, at the same time give them food and stop any attempts of terror on the part of any of them. The ideal option would be a house where animals grow together from childhood - in this case, they will surely become good friends and will always protect each other.

There are no unambiguously good or bad breeds of dogs. Experienced dog handlers are sure that much in the behavior of pets depends on the upbringing and attitude of the owner towards them. However, mini-bull terriers still have several common judgments and characteristics, which will be presented below as negative or positive features of this variety of dogs.

Pros.

• Small size. Due to their small size, these dogs can be successfully kept even in the smallest apartment and will not cause much inconvenience to the owner. Small size also means reduced feed portions.
• Intelligence. Nobody doubts the intellectual abilities of bull terriers. In the right hands, these dogs are able to memorize and reproduce even the most difficult tricks very quickly.
• Care. The procedures for caring for these dogs are not particularly complicated. The coat of these dogs does not have the characteristic smell of a dog, in addition, it is rather thin, due to which these dogs practically do not shed, they do not need to be cut and often combed. All care for these dogs ends with the most common hygiene and prevention: cleaning the ears, clipping the claws, rinsing the eyes, cleaning the teeth from plaque and tartar.
• Power. Despite their small size, dogs of this species are able to show each offender where the crayfish hibernate. It is advised to start them for those who are afraid to walk alone in the late evenings on the street - rest assured, no one will dare to attack you when you are with a miniature, but bull terrier.

Minuses.

• Reputation. The main disadvantage of this breed of dogs is the attitude of all passers-by and strangers towards it. Walking with these dogs without a muzzle and collar can end up in unpleasant conflicts for you - because of the widespread stereotype about the bloodthirstiness of these dogs, few people trust them. These dogs are unlikely to be seen near playgrounds or recreational areas.
• Wool. Short hair is not always a plus in keeping dogs. Because of this, mini-boules cannot be kept outside or left in drafts. The body of these dogs does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature and frost. In addition, for every walk on the street in autumn, winter or early spring, you need to put a blanket on your pet so that he does not catch a cold.
• Activity. Standard Bull Terriers are an incredibly active breed of dogs in themselves - they do not tolerate being in one place for a long time, they love playing with their owner in the fresh air and within the walls of an apartment. Some may think that since mini-boules are smaller than their relatives in size, then there is less agility in them, but with miniature bull terriers, everything is exactly the opposite. They are twice as fast, nimble, they are more fond of adventures and tomfoolery. Sometimes these dogs can play so much that they simply cannot be stopped - for families with small children this can be a lot of problems. Toddlers do not notice when playing with the dog goes beyond entertainment, and the pet, in turn, may forget who he is dealing with. To avoid these incidents within the walls of the apartment, you should constantly load the dog physically - go out with it for jogging, get out onto large fields and throw frisbees or balls so that the dog will bring them.The best option would be dedicated dog training grounds - they have all the necessary equipment for effective exercise.
• Allergy sufferers. Almost all bull terriers are allergic to certain foods / plants. It is especially dangerous to walk with such animals in spring, during the flowering period of many plants. It is the white individuals that are most susceptible to allergies.
• These dogs often have a distinct lack of attention., which is aggravated if a new member appears in the family, be it an animal or a person. At first, the dog will try with all its might to understand what is the reason for the weakening of interest in his person, and will attempt to regain attention. If this does not work out, these dogs can show aggression and isolation.

There are two options for feeding Miniature Bull Terriers: natural food and commercial prepared foods. It should be noted that most breeders choose exactly the second option - it is more balanced, has all the necessary vitamins, there is no need to waste time on its production. In addition, it is believed that boules grow and develop much better on ready-made food. However, there are some nuances here.

• Only premium food is suitable for feeding miniature bull terriers. Quality feed is more difficult to find and is much more expensive than conventional foods.
• Ready-made feeds are balanced, but it is extremely difficult to diversify such a diet. In addition, the transition from one food to another can be very difficult and time-consuming, especially for a young pet.
• Even when choosing quality feed, you cannot be 100% sure what it consists of.

When choosing a natural type of feeding, the main condition is to create a complete and balanced diet. You must constantly monitor the composition of such food and regulate the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in it. The basis of such food can be raw or boiled meat (most importantly, with a low proportion of fat), offal or some sausages. The rest of the diet consists of plant foods and supplements. It is recommended to use water-based cereals as plant foods (rice, millet, buckwheat, semolina). Fermented milk products, sea fish (as a substitute for meat), quail eggs, vegetables (celery, carrots, cabbage) are served as additives.

Regardless of what type of food you choose, you should adhere to the following recommendations when feeding mini-bulls.

• Perform feeding procedures regularly at about the same time. This will help your pet's body get used to your schedule and learn to support itself during breaks without food. If your dog will beg for food outside of the feeding periods, you can use special brain or vitamin bones to satisfy his hunger.
• Keep in mind that nutrition is just as dependent on the breed of dog as it is on the age of a particular pet. In youth, dogs require nutrition with a huge amount of vitamins. At a more mature age - hearty food that provides the pet's body with energy for the whole day. Often the regularity and portions of food for a certain age dog are indicated on the food packaging.
• Often, mini-boules cannot independently control the amount of food that their body is able to process. The peculiarity of the nutrition of these dogs is that their body needs rich feeding until almost one year of age. That is why feeding should be done in small portions at least 4 times a day.Over time, the number of feeds decreases to 2 times a day. Do not overfeed your pet, in the case of bulls, obesity can have an extremely negative effect on the functioning of their entire body.
• Exclude from the diet all elements of human food: salty, spicy, smoked, fried foods. In addition, the diet should not include sweets (in any form), fatty foods, milk.
• Constant access to clean water is a must for any type of feeding.
• Since dogs should be walked just before eating, the pet will be on the street in a state of seeking food. Often, what is found on the street turns out to be harmful and hazardous to health, and therefore, from a young age, disaccustom the dog to take any things from the street in his mouth.

Caring for these dogs is not particularly difficult, even an inexperienced owner can handle it. Due to the short coat, the main part of the care ends with the usual hygiene. These dogs have a short and coarse coat with little or no undercoat. There is no molting as such, however, to get rid of dead hairs, you need to regularly use combs or brushes with hard teeth. If the coat of these dogs repels moisture and dirt remarkably, then the dust lingers on it perfectly, but combing will help get rid of it. Combing should be done at least once a week.

These dogs love active pastime, and therefore their claws usually grind off on their own during walks and during training. However, during the winter seasons, dogs' claws can grow back and cause discomfort due to weak activity. In order to get rid of painful processes, it is advised, if necessary, to cut them off with a nail clipper. When cutting off colorless claws, you need to focus on the end point of the red strip inside the claw, in the case of dark claws - cut just below the point where the claw is rounded.

These dogs do not need frequent washing with shampoos and lotions; bathing 4 times a year will be enough for them. This is not the breed of dog that will throw itself into muddy puddles or into the water, mini-bulls are born clean. To help the dog dry out faster, it is advised to dry it thoroughly with a towel - this will reduce the chance of getting a cold. Tartar and plaque regularly accumulate on the strong and powerful teeth of Miniature Bull Terriers. To prevent its formation, you need to brush your dog's teeth with a special paste at least 1 time per week or give vegetables that cleanse them of plaque - tomatoes, for example.

Do not forget to treat your pet for skin parasites and helminths (worms). For this, special solutions and lotions for skin treatment are purchased. Anti-worm drugs are usually given to dogs before meals. Be sure to check with your veterinarian if you need any worm medication. Don't forget about regular vaccinations. The animal must be vaccinated before the first walk outside and before the first contact with other pets.

The main aspect of keeping mini-bulls is regular physical activity. Owners of these dogs should provide them with regular walks for energy release. If up to 8 months it should be ordinary walks with minimal stress (up to about a year the skeleton and muscular system of these dogs are actively formed), then after 10 months you must provide your pet with full hour training with different simulators and exercises.

In the autumn and winter seasons, you need to walk these dogs only in clothes or blankets - the chance of catching a cold or earning pneumonia is too great for them. You should provide at least 2 full walks per day before eating. If you have accustomed the body of an adult pet to intense training, it will no longer be easy to wean it, and a prolonged absence of stress will lead to obesity. Keep in mind that most hygiene procedures will give your dog little pleasure. That is why it is worth teaching a dog to them from childhood.

The owner of any bull terrier has only one main task in education - to form the correct authority of the leader. Education should be carried out from the very first day the puppy appears in the house. Remember, if one day you give your pet a favor or allow you to do something, it will be very difficult to wean him from this. To create the right authority in the eyes of the Miniature Bull Terrier, follow these guidelines.

• The dog's place (aviary, sunbed, house on the territory) is his constant sleeping place. You should not let your pet sleep wherever he pleases.
• You start the food first, and then you give it to the dog. As a rule, dogs eat faster than people, so if you finish eating later, the claims for food from the table will not be avoided.
• Try to give rewards and treats only for the execution of commands, otherwise the dog will lose motivation to carry out your instructions.
• Always keep your pet near you when walking. It is you who always enter the room first, and then the pet. This will show the difference between you and your priority.
• Avoid yelling and beating, express your attitude towards the dog using intonation and timbre. Pronounce the commands clearly and confidently.

For information on how to properly raise a miniature bull terrier, see the next video.