Bull Terrier (Miniature)
Bull Terrier (Miniature) Appearance
Miniature Bull Terriers have short, fine, and glossy coats that are very close to the skin, like the Standards. They are accepted in the ring to be white, white with another color, or fully colored. However, like the Standards, any blue or liver colored coats are undesirable. These dogs require very minimal grooming.
In the early 1900s, the difference between the breeds was determined by the dog's weight. However, this led to Miniature Bull Terriers becoming so small and fine that they looked more like a Chihuahua than a Bull Terrier. So, in the 1970s, the weight limit was replaced with a height limit of under fourteen inches. They are usually no smaller than ten inches. According to the AKC, miniature bull terriers weight must be proportionate to its height. However, they tend to range anywhere from 20–35 lbs.
The Miniature Bull Terriers have a very strong build. They have very muscular shoulders and a full body. Miniature Bull Terriers, like the Standards, have a head described as "egg-shaped." It is flat on top with a Roman muzzle. The eyes are triangular and closely set. The ears are carried erect and are not cropped or otherwise altered. The tail is carried horizontally rather than vertically.
Bull Terrier (Miniature) Temperament
Like the Standard Bull Terriers, Minis are loving and, like many terrier breeds, can be stubborn at times; but despite this they make great dogs for people with limited space.
Bull Terriers are known to be stubborn and courageous. They don't seem to realize their size, however, because even if confronting an enormous dog they will not back down. However, with the right training, confrontations can be avoided. This characteristic does not change in the Miniatures. Some people think that Miniature Bull Terriers are practically a different dog, but one must realize that they are the same dogs, just smaller. The dog breeds are very energetic and playful. They love people, but often don't get along with other pets. They are variable around other dogs, and young children must be warned to treat them carefully.
Bull Terrier (Miniature) Care
As mentioned before, Miniature Bull Terriers require little grooming. A quick brushing once a day or a few times a week is sufficient to keep the fur in order, as it cannot become tangled due to its length. Sunscreen must be used on any sparse white sections of fur around the face, ears, hindquarters or stomach when outdoors (especially in the summer between the hours of 10am and 2pm) to avoid sunburn and cancer.
Bull Terrier (Miniature) Training
Miniatures do require a lot of training, particularly early on. They must be heavily socialized and trained to obey early in their lives.
Miniature Bull Terriers also are very energetic and seem to be able to play endlessly as puppies. However, as they grow older they become less energetic. They must be carefully exercised and dieted to avoid obesity.
Bull Terrier (Miniature) Health
Miniature Bull Terriers are generally quite healthy, but there are hearing, eye, skin, kidney, heart and knee problems in some dogs:
Deafness occurs in both coloured and white Bull Terrier (Miniature). Puppies can be born unilaterally deaf (deaf in one ear) or bilaterally (deaf in both ears.) Deaf dogs should not be bred due to deafness being hereditary. BEAP (or BAER) testing is done on puppies prior to sale to discover which puppies have hearing problems.
Bull Terrier (Miniature) are also susceptible to having luxating patellas. This is a knee problem common in small dogs. It can be treated by surgery.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and Bull Terrier Hereditary Nephritis (BTHN) are autosomal dominant diseases. PKD is diagnosed by Ultrasonic scan by a specialist veterinarian. BTHN is diagnosed by a UPC test. Dogs with a score of .3 or below are considered clear of the disease. Clearing breeding stock prior to use ensures that progeny are not affected with the disease.
Miniatures are also susceptible to eye problems such as Primary Lens Luxation. PLL is a late onset disease which typically affects dogs between the ages of 3 and 7. Younger and older cases are known. There is no genetic test to determine which dogs will be affected so regular eye testing by a veterinary specialist is required.
Aortic Valve Stenosis and Mitral Valve Dysplasia are heart diseases. Diagnosis is made by colour Doppler Echocardiography scanning by a specialist veterinarian.
The skin of a Miniature can be a problem. Pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spots), allergic reactions, and hives can be problematic. This is typically due to feeding a processed diet high in grains. Breeders with experience find that changing the dogs diet to unprocessed raw foods (BARF) eliminates skin problems in the breed.
