A brief history of the Bull Terrier

The English Bull Terriers we know today were spawned from a mixture of the English Bulldog and large terriers, selected for their gameness and a nose for rats. This original mixture was known as the bull-and-terrier. It was bred specifically for fighting ability and was used in ratting, bull baiting and, of course, dog fights. The cross proved effective: it had the stamina and strength of the Bulldog along with the intelligence and speed of the terrier. It wasn't the nicest looking dog and looks varied greatly from one to the next. Common features were a short, thick head with a short muzzle and bowed legs, and the colour was a mixture of browns.

James Hinks and the white cavalier

In the 1850s James Hinks of Birmingham crossed the bull-and-terrier with the now extinct White English Terrier. From each litter Hinks kept the whitest pups, and after years of breeding this way produced an all-white dog: the English Bull Terrier. The selective breeding also removed the traits people disliked in the bull-and-terrier, such as the bowed legs and undershot jaw, and Hinks made sure only the most game pups were bred from. Dalmatian blood was used too. The result had a longer, stronger muzzle, a longer neck and far more agility.

Bull-and-terrier men of the time scoffed at Hinks' new breed and claimed the longer muzzle would never have the strength of a bull-and-terrier and would be useless in a pit. The story goes that Hinks proved them wrong by matching a 40 lb Bull Terrier bitch of his named Puss against a 60 lb bull-and-terrier belonging to a Mr Tupper; Puss won, and later took a red ribbon at the Holborn dog show.

What that history left behind

The fighting background made the Bull Terrier strong, fast and game, a dog able to think for itself. The breed became known for never turning on its handler, which is also why it tends to be so tolerant of children; but if another dog picks a fight, a bull terrier is not the type to back away.

The coloured varieties came later, from crosses back to Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the early twentieth century, and the Miniature was recognised as a separate breed in the 1930s. Both are covered on the breeds page.

In summary, the English Bull Terrier of today is a powerful, intelligent, strong-willed breed that craves love and attention from its owner and returns it through charm, a playful nature and excellent companionship.