|
INTRODUCTION TO THE MINIATURE BULL TERRIER |
| The
character of the Miniature Bull Terrier is probably the outstanding
feature which draws prospective owners to the breed. A typical Miniature
Bull Terrier is active, interested, playful and clownish. It is also
extremely attached to its owners or family. These all sound like
attributes of the perfect dog, however there are drawbacks to these
characteristics which do not suit every prospective owner or every
situation. |
|
Activity is a characteristic which is present in
nearly every young Miniature Bull Terrier. The young Miniature Bull
Terrier is in fact almost indistinguishable from a three-year-old child
in a dog suit. All puppies are extremely "busy" and many Miniature Bull
Terriers continue to be active and playful until well into middle age
(5-6 years). Miniature Bull Terriers like to be "doing something." For
this reason they fit very well into active families where they receive a
great deal of companionship and supervision. They also adapt well to
quieter situations such as homes of elderly (but active) retired persons
who have a great deal of time to spend with their dog. Miniature Bull
Terriers do not do well in situations where they are expected to remain
alone in the home or yard for long periods of time or where their
physical activity is very restricted. In these situations, very much
like a three-year-old child, Miniature Bull Terriers become bored and
destructive. They will often chew end destroy, are difficult or
impossible to housebreak, and develop unpleasant habits such as
incessant barking, tail chasing and peculiar personality quirks. It
would make just as much sense to leave a little boy alone in an
apartment for eight or nine hours as to do this with a Miniature Bull
Terrier. |
| Miniature
Bull Terriers become very attached to their owners and their families.
This usually makes them very good natural guard dogs, but care must be
taken that they are not encouraged to become possessive and jealous.
While this would seem a desirable attribute for someone who wants a dog
to protect his wife and family, it can be a nuisance if the dog does not
distinguish between acceptable strangers and malevolent ones. Miniature
Bull Terriers can also become involved in the presence of violent
physical activity such as children's fist fights or exceptionally rough
play activity where they see no reason not to join in, either to play
roughly (which, with Miniature Bull Terriers, often includes nipping and
knocking) or to guard the family against the physical assaults of
outsiders. |
| Miniature
Bull Terriers like to join family activity and for this reason require
constant and firm discipline. They can be wonderful with children if
handled with common sense, both by the adults and the children.
Miniature Bull Terriers will tolerate a large range of children's
behavior but they will not tolerate being teased and can be rough if
constantly provoked. In their formative years, as do children, Miniature
Bull Terriers require large amounts of supervision. They are tireless
playmates and will chase balls, follow the children and watch their
games for hours. |
| Many
Miniature Bull Terriers can and do enjoy the company other dogs with
certain exceptions. Male Miniature Bull Terriers who have not been
altered do not, as a rule, get along indefinitely with other male dogs.
There comes a time when one of the males must dominate, and there is
inevitable an unpleasant fight after which the two must live entirely
separately for life. A male and female Miniature Bull Terrier can live
together quite happily and two females often share the same home. Again,
care must be taken to jealousies do not arise. It is not fair to expect
an old Miniature Bull Terrier who has enjoyed the full attention of the
family to want to share with another dog. This again is very similar to
a young child who suddenly finds himself confronted with a baby
sibling-some care must be taken to assure the older one that the
youngster belongs to the whole family. |
| Miniature
Bull Terriers as with all breeds have breed specific health problems.
Lens Luxation is a problem that usually does not occur until three years
of age or older. Lens Luxation is where the lens separates from the
eyeball if not detected and treated early, will cause total blindness.
The treatment is usually the removal of the affected lens. A dog can see
without their lenses, though their eyesight will be impaired. Heart
defects as with many breeds, occasionally affects the Mini. It is always
a good idea to ask a breeder for test results from a cardiologist of the
sire and dam to be sure that neither are affected with heart disease,
and also ask for current eye exam results. |
| Ask the
breeder if they will guarantee the puppy to be free of genetic health
defects....if the breeder will not, contact another that will. |
| The MBTCA
is working hard to promote the health of the breed and ethical breeding
practices. A puppy should also be checked for deafness as this does
occasionally occur and is difficult for the breeder to notice especially
in a relatively young puppy. Another occasional problem is some
allergies. Certain insect bites, such as fleas, ticks and sometimes
mosquitoes and mites produce a generally allergic response of hives,
rash and Itching. This can be controlled by keeping the dog free of
contact with these insects, but this is definitely a consideration in
climate or circumstances where exposure to these insects is inevitable. |
| Puppies up
to a year of age are also susceptible to sudden lameness. This is due to
a combination of weight and density of the muscle, rapid growth rate and
the actual character of the breed. Great leaps, sudden changes of
direction or sudden stops at high speeds produce a great deal of strain
on the immature joints and ligaments of this very muscular breed. The
joints are simply not "set' enough to resist the torque applied by the
weight and musculature of the young dog. For this reason young dogs
should not be encouraged in this type of activity until they are fully
mature. Miniature Bull Terriers shed their coats twice a year. The loose
hair can be removed by a daily rubdown with a special rubber glove. |
| Old age
brings on the usual battery of infirmities to which Miniature Bull
Terriers are not immune. A Miniature Bull Terrier may well live an
active and healthy life until he is eleven or twelve which is about the
normal span of this breed. |
| Males and
females vary only slightly in temperament. The unaltered males tend not
to tolerate prolonged association with other unaltered males as
previously noted. Undesirable tendencies based on the sex drive can be
remarkably reduced by spaying and neutering females as well as males.
There can be more difference in the temperament of families of Miniature
Bull Terriers than in general between the sexes. Some families tend to
be more possessive and less tolerant of other dogs than others, and some
families have a tendency to some shyness and apprehension with strangers
and in strange places. Some families are very bright and innovative
(which can be a mixed blessing) and some are less intellectual and more
placid. |
| A
Miniature Bull Terrier which is acquired with future breeding in mind
should be selected for qualities of health, conformation and temperament
which will produce top quality puppies. The responsibilities of breeding
a litter of Miniature Bull Terriers must be assumed by the owner of the
Mother and it is very important that they be adhered to faithfully if
the breed is to be temperamentally and physically sound. |
| The
breeder of the litter should select a male for their bitch which has
excellent physical properties as well as a good temperament. Both the
bitch and sire should be up to date with tests for heart, eyes, hearing
and kidneys. A bitch or stud dog should not be bred if any of the tests
do not show normal results. The puppies must be placed in homes suitable
to the special needs and requirements of this breed. This often means
keeping puppies for months until suitable homes are found. Puppy buyers
should be encouraged to have their Minis assessed by an authority before
they breed them, and all females which are not up to breeding quality
should be kept as pets and not bred from. Breeders should also be
prepared to either take back dogs which they have sold to homes which
don't work out, or help owners of their Miniature Bull Terriers place
them in another suitable home. |
| Miniature
Bull Terriers are unique in the spectrum of dogs. They have been
carefully selected and bred largely by responsible and caring people who
understand the legacy of their chosen breed. They can give tremendous
joy or wreck havoc depending on the time and effort spent by their
owners to control and develop their special character. |
|
Kathy Schoeler
MBTCA Corresponding Secretary
1998 |
