BULL TERRIER

Bull terrier. breed of dog developed in 19th-century England from the bulldog and the white English terrier, a breed now extinct; the Spanish pointer was later bred into the line to increase its size. The bull terrier was developed as a courageous fighting dog but not an aggressive fight provoker. A muscular dog, it has a short coat, tapering tail, erect ears, and small, triangular, deep-set eyes. It stands 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 inches) and weighs, ideally, about 23 to 27 kg (50 to 60 pounds). It is generally friendly and is considered, for its weight, the strongest of all dogs. There are two varieties of bull terrier: coloured, which is any colour but white, and white, which is white or white with darker head markings. See the Table of Selected Breeds of Terriers for further information. (For the breed formerly known as the pit bull terrier, see Staffordshire terrier.)