Once known as a gladiator in the bull baiting pit, the Standard Bull Terrier has come a long way and is now being enjoyed as a family pet. After the bull baiting was banned, breeders found a way to somehow lessen the aggressiveness of this breed and this quest was successful. Down the line, however, breeders came up with the idea of having the same Bull Terrier only smaller in size thus the Miniature Bull Terrier came to be.
Like the standard Bull Terrier, this miniature dog also possesses a head that everyone describes as the “egg shape”. Its eyes are triangular and closely set, and the tail is also carried horizontally. When it comes to the body, just like its bigger counterpart, this mini dog is also robust, lean and muscular.
Its body is wrapped with a skin-tight short, course and glossy coat. Usually, this breed comes out in colors of either full white, white with markings of other colors, or fully colored. The coat colors may include white, black, red, fawn, brindle and tri-color while any shade of blue or liver is considered a disqualification.
According to records, when the first Bull Terrier came out, it actually looked more of a miniature Bull Terrier. But because breeders will need it for bull baiting, they crossed the breed with the Spanish Pointer and the result was the Standard Bull Terrier. During the early 1900s, Bull Terriers were bred to be of different sizes that some came out looking like a Chihuahua.
It was in 1970s when a weight limit was set in order to group the Standard Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier. The miniatures was agreed to stand not more than 14 inches but not smaller than 10 inches. The weight is also agreed to scale 25 to 35 kilograms only.
The Miniature Bull Terrier, like its standard counterpart is also fearless and ferocious in defending the human masters. But like a natural terrier, this breed has the tendency to have bouts of stubbornness. This dog is too energetic to be handled by small children and so training for the dog and instruction for the kids are necessary to avoid knocking them over.
This breed seems to ignore or forget the fact that it is little because in encounters with other larger breeds, it is as courageous and vicious as a standard Bull Terrier. It doesn’t back down when it comes to fighting for or protecting the family and this is a manifestation that the breed is a loyal companion. On normal and peaceful days, however, the Mini Bull Terrier is bursting with energy, playful, and gets along with a lot of people.
This breed can survive well in a small apartment as long as it is given plenty of exercise everyday. It should be allowed to play outside in order to avoid behavioral problems from inflicting it. Once a week brushing or combing is all it needs in order to keep itself neat and clean.
