Miniature Bull Terriers

These little dogs have short, fine, and glossy coats that are very close to the skin. They are known to be white, white with some other color or fully colored. The Miniature Bull is so small that they resemble a Chihuahua rather than a Bull Terrier. These dogs are usually ten inches and tend to weigh between 20 to 35 lbs. They have a strong build consisting of a muscular and full body. Their head is described as egg shaped with a roman muzzle. They have small eyes which are closely set and are triangular in shape. The tail stands horizontally and they have erect ears.

Though the miniatures can be very stubborn at time they are loving animals with a lot of courage. They don’t back down in a fight against a bigger dog. Many people are under the assumption that they are a different breed of dogs but they are bull terriers only smaller. They often don’t get along with other pets though they love people. These dogs are very lively and energetic and tend to play around a lot when they are puppies. Children should be warned to be careful around these dogs. They become less energetic as they grow older. A careful diet should be followed to avoid obesity. They require a lot of training when they are young. They must be trained to socialize with people early in their life.

Miniature Bull Terriers hardly require any grooming because of their short and fine coat. Since it doesn’t get tangled, a quick brushing once a day is enough to keep the dog tidy. Sunscreen should be used in summers on the white section of the coat to avoid heat burns and exposure to cancer. Its usually applied around the face, ears and stomach when the dog is outside.

They are generally healthy but like all dogs they are faced with a few problems and conditions. Some puppies are born with one deaf ear. Deafness is a common problem among this breed and thus testing is done to check whether it is heredity or not. The miniatures are also susceptible to having knee problems. It is a common problem among small dogs and can be rectified by surgery.

Other dominant diseases are polycystic kidney disease and bull terrier hereditary nephritis. These can be diagnosed and tested. The Miniature can face skin problems also. They tend to have allergies, hives and hot spots which are usually caused due to a diet which is high in grains. Owners might find that changing the diet to an unprocessed one can help avoid these skin problems.

These dogs are usually developed by inter breeding processes. In some places like Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom interbreeding is usually done to reduce the chances of diseases. Each country has their own protocols of interbreeding these dogs. A strict test to check for diseases are undertaken by countries like United Kingdom and New Zealand where as Australia doesn’t have any such restrictions.