Miniature Bull Terrier
The Miniature Bull Terrier is a smaller replica of the standard Bull Terrier. The height of this variety is 10-14 inches (25-33 cm) at the withers; the weight is 24-33 pounds (11-15 kg.) The standard variety of the breed is almost twice as large as the Miniature Bull Terrier. Like their full-sized relatives, these dogs are muscular, robust, powerful, and agile. The hallmark of the breed is a long head with no stop. The eyes are rather small, almond-shaped, closely set, and dark in color. The body of the Miniature Bull Terrier should be rounded and compact, with marked ribs. The shoulders are muscular and broad, with wide shoulder blades. The legs of this breed are heavily boned and straight. The tail is short and set on low.
Bull Terriers appeared in the middle of the 19th century, when fanciers of bull baiting decided to create a very agile and fierce fighting breed. They crossbred the English Bulldog with the Old English Terrier and the Spanish Pointer. The new breed was not the best fighter, but it soon became popular as a family companion, guard, ratter, herder, and a watchdog. The Miniature Bull Terrier appeared in an attempt to create an intelligent small-sized dog with the best characteristics of the standard Bull Terrier.
Nowadays, both the standard and miniature varieties of the Bull Terrier are recognized by most canine registries: AKC, CKC, FCI, UKC, KCGB, CKC, NKC, ANKC, ACR, NZKC, and APRI. The breed belongs to the Mastiff or the AKC Terrier group. The AKC breed standard doesn’t regulate the size of the Miniature Bull Terrier. Overall proportions and personality are more important in this breed than any separate measurement.
The coat of the Bull Terrier is very short, lying closely to the body, and harsh to the touch. The skin should fit tightly, with no wrinkles. The preferred coat color in AKC Bull Terriers is solid white with markings on the head permissible. Other colors are registered as a Colored Variety. Any coat color is accepted in the Color Variety Bull Terriers, with brindle preferred. A predominantly white Miniature Bull Terrier with blue eyes is disqualified from the show.
