Muriel P. Lee - Miniature Bull Terrier

Physical Characteristics of the Miniature Bull Terrier

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Long, strong and deep, right to the end of the muzzle, but not coarse. The full face should be oval in outline and be filled completely upi.e., egg shaped.

Ears: Small, thin and placed close together, capable of being held stiffly erect.

Eyes: Small, triangular and obliquely placed, set near together and high up on the dogs head.

Neck: Very muscular, long, and arched; tapering from the shoulders to the head.

Nose: Should be black, with well developed nostrils bent downwards at the tip.

Lips: Clean and tight.

Teeth: Either a level or scissor bite. The teeth should be sound, strong and perfectly regular.

Chest: Broad when viewed from in front. There should be great depth from withers to brisket.

Forequafters: The shoulders should be strong and muscular, but without heaviness. The legs should be big boned but not to the point of coarseness. The forelegs should be of moderate length, perfectly straight, and the dog must stand firmly up on them. Pasterns should be strong and upright.

Body: Well rounded with marked spring of rib.

Back: Short and strong with a slight arch over the loin.

Tail: Short, set on low, fine, and should be carried horizontally.

Hindquarters: The hind legs should be parallel when viewed from behind. The thighs are very muscular with hocks well let down. The hind pasterns should be short and upright.

Color: For white, pure white coat. For colored, any color to predominate.

Coat: Short, flat and harsh to the touch with a fine gloss.

Feet: Round and compact with well arched toes like a cat.

Underline: From the brisket to the belly, should form a graceful upward curve.

Size: Height 10 inches to 14 inches. Weight in proportion to height.

Contents

Meet the little brother of Englands Bull Terrierthe Miniature Bull Terrier. Follow the evolution of the bull-and-terrier breeds, trace the establishment of the Bull Terrier and see how the small Bull Terriers gained recognition in their own right. Learn about the important breeders, kennels and dogs responsible for the foundation of the Mini Bull.

Courageous and intelligent, happy and friendly, theres nothing mini about the Mini Bull! With a personality like no other, the Miniature Bull Terrier makes a charming and affectionate companion. See if you have what it takes to add one of these enthusiastic terriers into your home and heart. Also explore breed-specific health concerns.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Miniature Bull Terrier by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Miniature Bull Terrier puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and acclimating pup to his new home.

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Minature Bull Terrier every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of housetraining the Miniature Bull Terrier, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Enter Puppy Kindergarten and introduce the pup to his collar and leash, and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dogs healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Know when to consider your Miniature Bull Terrier a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dogs golden years.

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here are the basics of conformation showing and how to get started in AKC shows. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility, earthdog events and tracking tests.

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your Miniature Bull Terrier tick. Among the potential problems discussed are aggression, separation anxiety, sex-related issues, chewing, digging and food-related problems.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS M INIATURE B ULL T ERRIER

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-328-0

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-025-8

Copyright 2005 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Michael Trafford

with additional photographs by

Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Alan and Sandy Carey, Wil de Veer, Isabelle Franais, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners whose dogs are illustrated in this book, including Valerie Allenden.

A special thank you to Valerie Allenden, Erenden Kennels, for her contributions to the sections on breed history, characteristics, health concerns and proper care.