Dispelling the Media Myth (Bull Terriers)

Member Name: windwhisperer

Product:	Bull Terriers
Date:	17/12/08 (618 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loyal, biddable, loving,

Disadvantages: Powerful, sometimes a little bit stubborn!

A quick calculation on my fingers, unfortunately for me, states that I have either worked with or owned bull breeds for over thirty years - ouch! I figure that this does at least give me some experience on which to base my opinions, so here goes:
I've known lots of Bull Terriers and generally speaking the poor souls are judged by their cover rather than their content.
There is no doubt that they belong to a group of dogs that over a period of time were bred to fight - but lets clear an important thing up - this actually makes them more reliable with people, not less. These are not attack breeds, they are dogs bred to be reliable with people, but when necessary, to perform well in a fight. It certainly doesn't mean they go around attacking everything and everybody.

The media has done a pretty good job, yet again, of hyping up incidents, but this is not to say that similar things don't happen with other breeds, they just don't hit the press with the same headlines - and headlines sell papers.

What counts with bull terriers is what counts with all dogs, responsible ownership. The person who allows their dog off the lead in a public place and cannot recall it so stands yelling, 'It's okay, mine's a bitch!' is no less responsible if their dog runs up to another that is on a lead and a fight ensures or owners clothes get muddied up - no matter what the breeds are. A dog that cannot be recalled shouldn't really be off the lead at all.

If a fight does ensue, or if your dog is prone to provoking the odd scrap, I would like to suggest fitting him at all times, with a well made leather collar. No metal adornments are necessary, as a leather collar is your basic 'handle' in stopping a dog fight. It doesn't quite have the same effect if it is wearing a nylon collar or a metal choke/check chain, an owner putting their hand into one of those when a pair of frantic canines are spinning like tops, is very likely to get fingers burned or broken.

But please don't tar all bull breeds with the same brush. The Bull Terrier has a loyal, loving and responsive personality - he isn't a mad, marauding thug on the look out for trouble!

Summary: A great dog but generally disadvantaged by unfavourable public perception.