Miniature Bull Terrier : Dog Breed Selector : Animal Planet

Terrier Dog Breeds

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This is a strongly built, square-proportioned dog, big-boned but not coarse. It should reflect those attributes that made the standard-sized bull terrier a formidable foe in the fighting ring with its sturdy bone and muscle and strong jaws. Its gait is free and easy. Its skin is tight and its coat is short, flat and harsh. It wears a keen and determined expression on its characteristic clown face.

Very much like the larger bull terrier, the mini is comical, lively, playful and mischievous. Despite its smaller size, it is not a lap dog. It is every bit as tough as the larger version and apt to want to prove itself even more. It is a sweet clown, devoted but not fawning. It is stubborn and independent and needs to be trained with a firm yet gentle hand — and a good sense of humor. It likes to play and investigate. It likes to dig, and it needs ample exercise.

AKC RANKING 132

FAMILY terrier, mastiff (bull)

AREA OF ORIGIN England

DATE OF ORIGIN 1800s

ORIGINAL FUNCTION ratting, dog fighting

TODAY'S FUNCTION earthdog trials

AVERAGE SIZE OF MALE Height: 10-14 Weight: 25-33

AVERAGE SIZE OF FEMALE Height: 10-14 Weight: 25-33

OTHER NAME none

Energy level High energy

Exercise needs Medium

Playfullness Very playful

Affection level Somewhat affectionate

Friendliness toward other dogs Shy

Friendliness toward other pets Friendly

Friendliness toward strangers Friendly

Ease of training Easy to train

Watchdog ability High

Protection ability Moderately protective

Grooming needs Low maintenance

Cold tolerance Medium tolerance

Heat tolerance Medium tolerance

The mini's exercise needs are daily, but not excessive. It needs either a moderate walk or a romp in a safe area. It is not a breed that should live outdoors, but it does do well with access to a yard. It can, however, do well as an apartment or city dog. Coat care is minimal.

• Major concerns: deafness (whites)
• Minor concerns: none
• Occasionally seen: patellar luxation, lens luxation
• Suggested tests: hearing (whites), (eye), (knee)
• Life span: 11 – 14 years

The miniature bull terrier comes directly from the bull terrier and so shares the breed's early history. In the early days of the bull terrier, the standards allowed for a great range of weights, reflecting the great range in size of the bull terrier's ancestors: the bulldog, white English terrier, and black and tan terrier. Smaller bull terriers have long been a part of the breed, with specimens weighing as little as 4 pounds being recorded early on. These smallest white bull terriers were at one time called Coverwood terriers, after the kennel that produced them. These tiny toys tended to have poor type and interest waned in them. Better type was found in slightly larger specimens, the miniatures rather than toys. By 1939, the miniature bull terrier was recognized by the English Kennel Club, yet this recognition as a separate breed proved to be a problem. As a separate breed, the miniature could no longer be interbred with standard-sized bull terriers, and there were so few miniatures that considerable inbreeding resulted. The breed never gained popular attention and grew only slowly. In 1991 it was recognized by the AKC. Still an uncommon breed, it is bound to increase in popularity as a true miniature version of the popular bull terrier.