History

Pedigrees of Bull Terriers date from the period during which the English Stud books were first written (circa 1874-6). Although the breed was developed from fighting dogs, the Bull Terrier was intended to be a showdog and companion.

The now extinct breeds Old English Bulldog and Old English Terrier were crossed to form a new breed of dog called the Bull and Terrier.  Around 1860, the Bull and Terrier breed split into two branches, the pure white Bull Terrier and the coloured forms.

Although the name causes confusion, Bull Terriers are not directly related to American Pit Bull Terriers. Both breeds do, however, descend from the same ancestors.

***The Bull Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1948.

Bull Terrier Facts

• It is said that the Africans name for the Bull Terrier is Varkhond (Pig-dog), because of the pig-like appearance of the head and eyes. However, this name is more likely to have arisen as a result of the use in the past of cross-bred bull terriers during bush-pig and warthog hunting in South Africa, particularly in the Eastern Cape.
  
  
• There is also a miniature version of this breed; this distinct breed is officially known as the Bull Terrier (Miniature).
  
  
• Bull Terriers are prominently featured in Jonathan Carroll's 1980 novel The Land of Laughs.
  
  
• Bull Terriers appear in several movies, including: Oliver!, The Incredible Journey, Patton, Babe: Pig in the City, Next Friday, Frankenweenie, A Dog's Life, The Last Boy Scout and Derailed, "Next Friday", "Scotland, PA"
  
  
• Bull Terriers have also featured television shows such as the 1970s  television show Baa Baa Black Sheep, in the opening credits of the British television show Barking Mad, and in the short lived Fox series Keen Eddie.
  

Famous Bull Terriers

                                   Bullseye mascot of theTarget Corporation

                                                             
                                                    Patsy Ann 

                                           
                                                    Rude Dog 

                                                            
                                               Spuds MacKenzie 

• Whiskey, from the Eidos Commandos series
• Fauntleroy, a dog Peter Fox looked after a few times from FoxTrot
• Best in Show Champion Rocky Top's Sundance Kid - aka "Rufus" - Bull Terrier (Colored) - 2006 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show [1] [2] 
• Grimm, from the cartoon Mother Goose and Grimm by Mike Peters

• Brut, in the novel, Answers to Brut, by Gillian Rubinstein

• Odd's dog, Kiwi, is rumored to be a bull terrier. 
  
  ..................and many others!                                                      
  

                                                           
                                           Scud from the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story.

                                                            
                                    Chico a dog in Next Friday and Friday After Next

                  In the film Oliver!, Bill Sykes owns an English Bull Terrier named Bullseye