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Purpose
Bull Terriers arose from a family called "bull and
terrier" dogs during the 19th century. Bull
terriers were bred for companionship and the sport
of conformation, not for fighting. It is true that
during the creation of this breed, the sport of dog
fighting was prevalent, but the creator of this
breed created bull terriers for the purpose of
selling a dog to the general public that was
beautiful to the eye. For the past 136 years, this
breed sole purpose is that of companionship.
Creation
The modern bull terrier is believed to be created
with the now extinct English White Terrier, the
Bulldog, the Dalmatian, several terrier crosses, and
some believe the Spanish Pointer, Greyhound, and
Foxhound. There is even some evidence to suggest
that the Borzoi and Collie were used to help
elongate the head.
Color
Another
interesting fact of Bull Terrier history is the
development of color in Bull Terriers. James Hinks,
the one of the founding fathers of Bull Terriers,
bred a strain of all white bull terrier dogs. With
popularity, only white bull terriers were shown.
This is where the term "White Cavalier" originated.
The all white dogs were seen with occasional patches
of color found mostly on the head. During the
redevelopment of the breed after the ear cropping
ban, and the movement to the downward head we now
see in today's Bull Terriers, the acceptance of
color on the head arrived in the show ring. And due
to a few determined breeders, the dogs were out
crossed to the older styled colored terriers. The
man who is known for the development and acceptance
of colored bull terriers in the ring is Ted Lyon,
whose preferred color was brindle. Today there is
no such dog of a pure white Bull Terrier. All Bull
terriers, including those who appear all white in
color are colored bull terriers. The white bull
terriers of today are a result of a white masking
factor that masks the color of the dog. Even today,
with all things being equal the preferred color for
colored Bull Terriers is brindle, due to the fact
that brindle can be easily lost.
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