Friday, August 7, 2009

The Favorite Pet Of The Gentry, The Bull Terrier

By Troy Richardson

The Bull Terrier or also known as the English Terrier is a breed of dog that originated from England. In Africa, people call this breed the Varkhond meaning pig dog and this is due to the fact that the Bull Terrier's head and eyes resemble that of a pig. Another theory is that during the time of bush-pig and warthog hunting in South Africa, Bull Terriers were mostly used as companions.

This breed is a descendant of Bull and Terrier breeds of the 18th century. These Bull and Terrier breeds were created to become combatant, courageous and agile in bull and bear baiting. The bear and bull baiting were considered sports in the middle of 18th century; in fact, even royals are big fans of this event.

By 1830, breeders created a new breed that is more agile and brave in fighting with the bulls and bears. With the breeding of Bulldog, Old English Terrier and Spanish Pointer, the Bull Terrier came to be. But to the dismay of the breeders, the Bull Terrier turned to be not so excellent in fights.

The white coated variety of the Bull Terrier, the White Cavalier, was not successful in fights but became popular as a fashionable pet. This variety was considered as pet of the gentry and was often seen as a guard dog, watchdog, herder and ratter. Today, the Bull Terrier has a miniature size that is its replica in temperament.

This breed is a compact and well-proportioned dog. It is easily recognizable for its uniquely egg-shaped head. This means that this dog has a head that is flat and wider on top and narrows down towards the nose.

The eyes are small, almond-shaped and placed close together. Its coat is short and dense. The common coat colors are black, brindle, pure white, red, fawn and tri-color.

The Bull Terrier is a very powerful dog and often difficult to train; new dog owners are not advised to have this dog. However, it is highly intelligent, reliable and playful. It is affectionate with the family, loves human companionship, and is good with children.

The female Bull Terriers are especially protective of younger children. This dog is active and a bit rough but gets along well with other animals. To keep the Bull Terrier healthy, exercise everyday is necessary.

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