| Care and Upkeep The Bull Terrier�s high energy level is expressed by a natural exuberance and impulsiveness as well. �Because these dogs are off and running after anything they see that interests them, a fenced yard is a must [or they may be injured or killed if hit by a car],� Bartell emphasizes. �If they see something across the street that interests them, like a squirrel, they don�t stop to think, �Is that big garbage truck headed my way?� They go for the squirrel. You�re standing there calling, �Rover, come back. I have this hot dog.� But the dog is thinking, �No, I have to go after that squirrel.� The next thing you know, the dog is out of sight and you�re driving around the neighborhood in your car looking for [it],� Bartell adds. Being injured or killed when struck by traffic is not the breed�s only potential health concern. According to a health survey conducted by the BTCA in 1996, five groups of genetically based diseases are present in the breed to at least some degree. These are deafness (unilateral and bilateral), kidney problems (hereditary nephritis, renal dysplasia and polycystic kidney disease), heart disease (aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, ventricular septal defects, dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), thyroid disorders (autoimmune thyroiditis) and orthopedic problems (patellar luxation). Testing for the presence of these conditions should occur as follows for breeding stock and offspring. Hearing. As early as 5 weeks of age, puppies should be checked for deafness using the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) Hearing Test. Protein Levels. The protein level in the urine of breeding stock should be screened every six months with a Urine Protein: Urine Creatinine (UP:UC) Ratio. Heart Screenings. Using echocardiography and auscultation, breeding stock should be screened for heart abnormalities at 1 year of age and then annually. Thyroid. Breeding stock should have blood tested at 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 years of age for thyroid disorders. Bones and Joints. In addition to veterinary palpation, breeding stock should be screened for patellar luxation by radiograph at 12 months and annually thereafter. Because an increased incidence of hereditary health and temperament problems go hand-in-hand with increased breed popularity, most Bull Terrier devotees are grateful for the breed�s below-average ranking. With 1,004 dogs registered in 1999, it was 80th in registrations among the 148 breeds the AKC lists. |
| Coat Health screening may seem standard, but the Bull Terrier requires some extra care in one area that might surprise you. Those wanting a pet that doesn�t require a lot of grooming often look to short-coated breeds like Bull Terriers. �They think because they�re short-coated, they won�t shed,� Bartell explains. �That�s the world�s biggest myth. While some Bull Terriers shed seasonally, in my experience, many of them shed all of the time.� To remove loose hair, she preferably recommends a good once-over with a shedding blade daily, but at the very least once a week. According to her, brushing with a hairbrush does not solve the problem because it only skims the surface of the coat. Although owners must keep after their dog�s coat to prevent shedding, those seeking a low-maintenance pet in terms of other grooming will be happy to know minimal additional effort is required. For example, bathing on an as-needed basis is all that�s necessary (e.g., if dogs roll in mud, etc.). Of course, grooming a show dog for the ring requires more time and effort. According to Myall, �Some exhibitors remove the hair from the muzzle to create a cleaner line. They also trim the hair at the internal base of the ear, on the underline of the belly, and on the back of the pasterns and the back of the hocks. They may strip away dead coat as well.� Show dogs should be bathed before each competition, also. Needless to say, whether it is a conformation star or just a buddy around the house, all Bull Terriers should have their toenails trimmed back regularly and their teeth cleaned by a veterinarian periodically. |
| Breed Steward Ship Given their comments thus far, Bartell and Myall clearly believe it is important for anyone interested in acquiring a Bull Terrier to know what the breed is really like. Because there is so much to admire about these dogs�their adaptability, affectionate nature, ebullient sense of humor and ability to excel at performance events, not to mention their striking appearance�some fanciers may feel Bartell�s and Myall�s comments are unduly negative. However, both are quick to point out the many positive aspects of breed ownership, such as the pleasure and enjoyment derived from living with a cheerful, outgoing, resilient dog and the unique experience of being associated with a perpetually humorous, optimistic canine personality on a day-to-day basis. The emphasis placed on the more challenging aspects of breed stewardship stems from the fact that we live in increasingly anti-dog times, in which restrictive, breed-specific legislation�legislation that has targeted the Bull Terrier�is becoming more and more commonplace. Both Bartell and Myall believe that dangerous dogs are the result of incompetent and/or irresponsible handling and breeding. It is their hope that, by enumerating the requirements of Bull Terrier ownership, these dogs will be kept from the hands of owners and breeders who either lack sufficient knowledge to breed them or are too ill-equipped to cope with them. Thus, they list these additional guidelines for care. The breed is not emotionally dependent on its owner, so it seldom suffers from separation anxiety. However, an adult dog rather than a puppy would be a better choice for owners who must be away from home while working. �Many people who want a puppy are gone from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., five days a week,� Bartell explains. �What is an 8-week-old puppy going to do for that long? �A puppy cannot be acclimated to 10 hours of solitude. Very young dogs, like human babies, need frequent attention, feedings and socialization in the form of personal interaction. Owners also will have trouble housetraining a puppy [in this situation]. Even if you crate an 8-week-old puppy, it can�t hold it for that long. An older dog that already has bowel and bladder control and that has already been socialized and trained would work out better. But even then, when owners return home, their dogs need to be walked and played with. Owners can�t come home after eight hours of the rat race and flop in a chair and have a glass of wine. If that�s what they want to do fine, but they shouldn�t get a Bull Terrier.� Because very young Bull Terriers are especially energetic and often underfoot, they may inadvertently knock down very young children or senior citizens. Here, the purchase or adoption of an older, trained dog also is recommended. Given their instinct to dispatch vermin and a tendency to be �off and running,� Bull Terriers don�t belong on a farm running loose. However, they can thrive in a house or even an apartment. When exercised, they do well in a limited space situation. |