Bull Terrier

No one could mistake a Bull Terrier for anything else. He stands on firm, and powerful legs, staring straight at you, built on lines reminiscent of the bull from which his name is partly derived. But for all his somewhat forbidding presence, he is in fact a kindly chap, loving the human race, even if he is none too sure about his attitude to the dog next door. Handled properly he will live in peace with his neighbour but he does need a firm handif he is to fit effectively into the modern civilisation. Most people would regard him as being basically white all over, with an occasional piratical patch over one eye, but he does come in other hues, including brindle, red, fawn and tricolour.The truly interesting  thing about him is that his Standard says quite deliberately, There are neither weight nor height limits, but there should be the impression of maximum substance for size of dog consistent with quality and sex. He also comes in a Miniature Bull Terrier size, and here he may not exceed 35.5 cms ( 14 ins ) at the withers; otherwise he is simply required to be a very solid citizen as long as he remains balanced.

General Appearance 

Strongly built, musclar, well balanced and active with a keen, determined and intelligent expression.

Head and Skull  

Head long, strong and deep right to end of muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from front egg - shaped and completely filled, its surface free from hollows or indentations. Top of skull almost flat from ear to ear. Profole curves gently downwards from top of skull to tip of nose which should be black and bent downwards at tip. Nostrils well developed and under - jaw deep and strong.

Mouth 

Teeth sound, clean, strong, of good size, regular with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips clean and tight.

EYES  

Appearing narrow, obliquely placed and triangular, well sunken, black or as dark brown as possible so as to appear almost black, and with a piercing glint. Distance from tip of nose to eyes prewcing glint. Distance from tip of nose to eyes perceptibly greater than that from eyes to kop of skull. Blue or partly blue undesirable.

 Ears 

Small, thin and placed close together. Dog should be able to hold them stiffy erect, when they point straight upwards.

Neck  

Very muscular, long arched, tapering from shoulders to head and free from loose skin.

ForeQuarters 

Shoulders strongand muscular without loading. Shoulder blades wide, flat and held closely to the chest wall and have a very pronounced backward slope of front edge from bottem to top, forming almost a right angle with upper arm. Elbows held straight and strong, pasterns upright. Forelegs have strongest type of round, quality bone, dog should stand solidly upon them and they should be perfectly parallel. In mature dogs length of chest.

Body 

 Body well rounded with marked spring of rib and great depth from withers to brisket, so that latter nearer ground than belly. Back short, strong with backline behind withers level, arching or roaching slightly over broad, well muscled loins. Underline from brisket to belly forms a graceful upward curve. Chest broed when viewed from front.

HindQuarters  

Hindlegs in parallel when viewed from behind. Thighs muscular and second thighs well developed. Stifle joint well bent and hock well angulated with bone to foot short and strong.

Feet 

Round and compact with well arched toe.

Tail  

Short, set on low and carried horizontally.  Thick at root, it tapers to a fine point.

Gait / Movement 

When Moving appears well knit, smoothly covering ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. When trotting, movement parallel front and back, only converging towards centre line at faster speeds, forelegs reaching out well and hindlegs moving smoothly at hip, flexing well at stifle and hock, with great thrust.

Coat 

Short, flat, even and harsh to touch with a fine gloss. Skin fitting dog tightly. A soft textured undercoat may be present in winter.

Colour  

For white, pure white coat.  Skin pigmentation and marking on head not to be penalised. For Coloured, colour predominates; Black, brindle, red, fawn and tricolour acceptable. Tick markings in white coat undesirable. Blue and liver highly undesirable.

Size 

There are neither weight nor height limits, but there should be the impression of maximum substance for size of dog, consistent with quality and sex.

Faults 

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note  

Male animals should have two apperently normal testicles fully into the scrotum.

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