Breed Standards – The descriptions of the ideal dog of each recognized breed, to serve as an ideal against which dogs are judged at shows, originally laid down by a parent breed club and accepted officially by national or international bodies. It is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance including the correct color of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function.
“Since the days when James Hinks first fixed the type of the modern White Bullterrier…it progressed at an even pace toward a greater uniformity of type with a more tapered and arched neck, smaller and more slit-like eye, less stop, a cobbier body with a better backline, and a shorter and straighter tail. These changes were accomplished by selective breeding, and before the end of the century the Bullterrier had been considerably modified along the lines desired.” – Cabot Briggs (late 1800’s)
With the growth of formality of the sport of dog shows, organizations specifically dedicated to the Bull Terrier breed began to emerge. In 1887, supporters of the White Cavalier founded The Bull Terrier Club and adopted the first official description of the breed. The Club held its first Annual General meeting in Birmingham, England in 1888.
The Bull Terrier Club (Scotland), now the Scottish Bull Terrier Club, is also believed to have originated in the 1890’s. The Standard of Points of the Bull Terrier Club of Scotland’s description of the breed introduced several terms closer to those found in modern Standards than those of the Bull Terrier Club.
The Bull Terrier Club of America was formed some 10 years later than the English club. Two dates of origin exist – 1895 and 1897. Such was the belligerency of the Bull Terrier Club of America on the matter of ear cropping that it was expelled from the American Kennel Club for “conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the American Kennel Club”. But by the year end, members had reapplied for membership and the Bull Terrier Club of America was again an AKC member club.
The first record of an American standard appeared in the June 30, 1915 edition of the American Kennel Gazette, the official publication of the American Kennel Club.
Changes to these original Standards have been made throughout the years, the last to the American Standard in 1974.
The American and Canadian standards represent those countries.
The FCI - Federation Cynologique Internationale date of publication of the official valid Standard was July 5, 2011, and is recognized in Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
As these are the most widely recognized Standards the American, English, FCI and Canadian Standards are included herein for comparison.
WHITE: The Bull Terrier must be strongly built, muscular, symmetrical and active, with a keen determined and intelligent expression, full of fire but of sweet disposition and amenable to discipline.
Head: Should be long, strong and deep right to the end of the muzzle, but not coarse. Full face it should be oval in outline and be filled completely up giving the impression of fullness with a surface devoid of hollows or indentations, i.e., egg shaped. In profile it should curve gently downwards from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose. The forehead should be flat across from ear to ear. The distance from the tip of the nose to the eyes should be perceptibly greater than that from the eyes to the top of the skull. The underjaw should be deep and well defined.
Lips: Should be clean and tight.
Teeth: Should meet in either a level or in a scissors bite. In the scissors bite the upper teeth should fit in front of and closely against the lower teeth, and they should be sound, strong and perfectly regular.
Ears: Should be small, thin and placed close together. They should be capable of being held stiffly erect, when they should point upwards.
Eyes: Should be well sunken and as dark as possible, with a piercing glint and they should be small, triangular and obliquely placed; set near together and high up on the dog's head. Blue eyes are a disqualification.
Nose: Should be black, with well-developed nostrils bent downward at the tip.
Neck: Should be very muscular, long, arched and clean, tapering from the shoulders to the head and it should be free from loose skin.
Chest: Should be broad when viewed from in front, and there should be great depth from withers to brisket, so that the latter is nearer the ground than the belly.
Body: Should be well rounded with marked spring of rib, the back should be short and strong.The back ribs deep. Slightly arched over the loin. The shoulders should be strong and muscular but without heaviness. The shoulder blades should be wide and flat and there should be a very pronounced backward slope from the bottom edge of the blade to the top edge. Behind the shoulders there should be no slackness or dip at the withers. The underline from the brisket to the belly should form a graceful upward curve.
Legs: Should be big boned but not to the point of coarseness; the forelegs should be of moderate length, perfectly straight, and the dog must stand firmly upon them. The elbows must turn neither in nor out, and the pasterns should be strong and upright. The hind legs should be parallel viewed from behind. The thighs very muscular with hocks well let down. Hind pasterns short and upright. The stifle joint should be well bent with a well-developed second thigh.
Feet: Round and compact with well-arched toes like a cat.
Tail: Should be short, set on low, fine, and ideally should be carried horizontally. It should be thick where it joins the body, and should taper to a fine point.
Coat: Should be short, flat, harsh to the touch and with a fine gloss. The dog's skin should fit tightly.
Color: Is white though markings on the head are permissible. Any markings elsewhere on the coat are to be severely faulted. Skin pigmentation is not to be penalized.
Movement: The dog shall move smoothly, covering the ground with free, easy strides, fore and hind legs should move parallel each to each when viewed from in front or behind. The forelegs reaching out well and the hind legs moving smoothly at the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock. The dog should move compactly and in one piece but with a typical jaunty air that suggests agility and power.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points shall be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault shall be in exact proportion to its degree, i.e. a very crooked front is a very bad fault; a rather crooked front is a rather bad fault; and a slightly crooked front is a slight fault.
Disqualification: Blue eyes.
COLORED: The Standard for the Colored Variety is the same as for the White except for the sub head "Color" which reads: Color. Any color other than white, or any color with white markings. Other things being equal, the preferred color is brindle. A dog which is predominantly white shall be disqualified.
Disqualifications: Blue eyes. Any dog which is predominantly white.
AKC Bull Terrier Standard
Royal Kennel Club is the official kennel club of the United Kingdom.
Last updated October 2009
A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance including the correct colour of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.
From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Breed Watch information related to this breed for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure. However, if a dog possesses a feature, characteristic or colour described as highly undesirable, it must not be rewarded in the show ring.
General appearance: Strongly built, muscular, well balanced and active with a keen, determined and intelligent expression.
Characteristics: Courageous, full of spirit, with a fun loving attitude. A unique feature is a downfaced, egg-shaped head. Irrespective of size dogs should look masculine and bitches feminine.
Temperament: Of even temperament and amenable to discipline. Although obstinate is particularly good with people.
Head and skull: Head long, strong and deep right to end of muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from front egg shaped and completely filled, its surface free from hollows or indentations. Top of skull almost flat from ear to ear. Profile curves gently downwards from top of skull to tip of nose which should be black and bent downwards at tip. Nostrils well developed and underjaw deep and strong.
Eyes: Appearing narrow and triangular, obliquely placed, black or as dark brown as possible so as to appear almost black, and with a piercing glint. Distance from tip of nose to eyes perceptibly greater than that from eyes to top of skull. Blue or partly blue undesirable.
Ears: Small, thin and placed close together. Dog should be able to hold them stiffly erect, when they point straight upwards.
Mouth: Teeth sound, clean, strong, of good size, regular with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips clean and tight.
Neck: Very muscular, long, arched, tapering from shoulders to head and free from loose skin.
Forequarters: Shoulders strong and muscular without loading. Shoulder blades wide, flat and held closely to chest wall and have a very pronounced backward slope of front edge from bottom to top, forming almost a right angle with upper arm. Elbows held straight and strong, pasterns upright. Forelegs have strongest type of round, quality bone, dog should stand solidly upon them and they should be perfectly parallel. In mature dogs length of foreleg should be approximately equal to depth of chest.
Body: Body well rounded with marked spring of rib and great depth from withers to brisket, so that latter nearer ground than belly. Back short, strong with backline behind withers level, arching or roaching slightly over broad, well-muscled loins. Underline from brisket to belly forms a graceful upward curve. Chest broad when viewed from front.
Hindquarters: Hindlegs in parallel when viewed from behind. Thighs muscular and second thighs well developed. Stifle joint well bent and hock well angulated with bone to foot short and strong.
Feet: Round and compact with well-arched toes.
Tail: Short, set on low and carried horizontally. Thick at root, it tapers to a fine point.
Gait/movement: When moving appears well knit, smoothly covering ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. When trotting, movement parallel, front and back, only converging towards centre line at faster speeds, forelegs reaching out well and hindlegs moving smoothly at hip, flexing well at stifle and hock, with great thrust.
Coat: Short, flat, even and harsh to touch with a fine gloss. Skin fitting dog tightly. A soft textured undercoat may be present in winter.
Colour: For White, pure white coat. Skin pigmentation and markings on head not to be penalised. For Coloured, colour predominates; all other things being equal, brindle preferred. Black brindle, red, fawn and tricolour acceptable. Tick markings in white coat undesirable. Blue and liver highly undesirable.
Size: There are neither weight nor height limits, but there should be the impression of maximum substance for size of dog consistent with quality and sex.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Note for prospective puppy buyers: Size – The Kennel Club breed standard is a guide and description of the ideal for the breed; the size as described does not imply that a dog will match the measurements given (height or weight). A dog might be larger or smaller than the size measurements stated in the breed standard.
KC Bull Terrier Standard
ORIGIN: Great Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 05.07.2011.
UTILIZATION: Terrier
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 3 Terriers. Section 3 Bull type Terriers. Working trial optional.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: It was a certain James Hinks who first standardised the breed type in the 1850s, selecting the egg shaped head. The breed was first shown in its present form at Birmingham in 1862. The Bull Terrier Club was formed in 1887. The truly interesting thing about the breed is that the standard says quite deliberately, “There are neither weight nor height limits, but there should be the impression of maximum substance for size of dog consistent with quality and sex. Dog should at all times be balanced.” A smaller example of the Bull Terrier has been known since the early 19th century but fell out of favour prior to the First World War and was removed from the Kennel Club Breed Register in 1918. In 1938, a revival was spearheaded by Colonel Richard Glyn and a group of fellow enthusiasts who formed the Miniature Bull Terrier Club. The standard is the same as that of the Bull Terrier with the exception of a height limit.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Strongly built, muscular, well balanced and active with a keen, determined and intelligent expression. A unique feature is a downfaced, egg-shaped head. Irrespective of size dogs should look masculine and bitches feminine.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: Courageous, full of spirit, with a fun loving attitude. Of even temperament and amenable to discipline. Although obstinate is particularly good with people.
HEAD: Long, strong and deep right to end of muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from front egg-shaped and completely filled, its surface free from hollows or indentations. Profile curves gently downwards from top of skull to tip of nose.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Top of skull almost flat from ear to ear.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Should be black. Bent downwards at tip. Nostrils well developed.
Lips: Clean and tight.
Jaws/Teeth: Under-jaw deep and strong. Teeth sound, clean, strong, of good size, regular with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i. e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
EYES: Appearing narrow and triangular, obliquely placed, black or as dark brown as possible so as to appear almost black and with a piercing glint. Distance from tip of nose to eyes perceptibly greater than that from eyes to top of skull. Blue or partly blue undesirable.
EARS: Small, thin and placed close together. Dog should be able to hold them stiffly erect, when they point straight upwards.
NECK: Very muscular, long, arched, tapering from shoulders to head and free from loose skin.
BODY: Well rounded with marked spring of rib and great depth from withers to brisket, so that latter nearer ground than belly. Back: Short, strong, with backline behind withers level, arching or roaching slightly over loins. Loin: Broad, well muscled. Chest: Broad when viewed from front. Underline and belly: From brisket to belly forms a graceful upward curve.
TAIL: Short, set on low and carried horizontally. Thick at root, it tapers to a fine point.
LIMBS: FOREQUARTERS: General appearance: Dog should stand solidly upon legs and they should be perfectly parallel. In mature dogs length of forelegs should be approximately equal to depth of chest. Shoulder: Strong and muscular without loading. Shoulder blades wide, flat and held closely to chest wall and have a very pronounced backward slope of front edge from bottom to top, forming almost a right angle with upper arm. Elbow: Held straight and strong. Forearm: Forelegs have strongest type of round, quality bone. Metacarpus (Pastern): Upright. Forefeet: Round and compact with well arched toes. HINDQUARTERS: General appearance: Hind legs parallel when viewed from behind. Thigh: Muscular. Stifle (Knee): Joint well bent. Lower thigh: Well developed. Hock joint: Well angulated. Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Bone to foot short and strong. Hind feet: Round and compact with well arched toes.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: When moving appears well knit, smoothly covering ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. When trotting, movement parallel, front and back, only converging towards centre line at faster speeds, forelegs reaching out well and hind legs moving smoothly at hip, flexing well at stifle and hock, with great thrust.
SKIN: Fitting dog tightly.
COAT: Hair: Short, flat, even and harsh to touch with a fine gloss. A soft textured undercoat may be present in winter.
SIZE AND WEIGHT: There are neither weight nor height limits, but there should be the impression of maximum substance for size of dog consistent with quality and sex.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: Aggressive or overly shy dogs. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
N.B: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
FCI Bull Terrier Standard
Bull Terrier: The breed standard outlines the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed, and ensures that a dog can carry out its original purpose. Breeders and judges should be mindful to prioritize dogs that are healthy and sound in both mind and body.
Origin and Purpose: The Bull Terrier originated in England and is the Gladiator of the canine race.
General Appearance: Must be strongly built, muscular, symmetrical and active, with a keen, determined, and intelligent expression, full of fire and courage but of even temperament and amendable to discipline. Irrespective of size, dogs should look masculine and bitches feminine.
Size: There are neither weight nor height limits but there should be impression of maximum substance to the size of the dog.
Coat and Colour: The coat should be short, flat, even and harsh to the touch, with a fine gloss. The skin should fit the dog tightly. For white, pure white coat. Skin pigmentation and markings on the head should not be penalized. For coloured, the colour should predominate, all other things being equal, brindle to be preferred.
Head: The head should be long, strong and deep, right to the end of the muzzle, but not coarse. Viewed from the front it should be egg shaped and completely filled, its surface being free from hollows or indentations. The top of the skull should be almost flat from ear to ear. The profile should curve gently downwards from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose, which should be black and bent downwards at the top. The nostrils should be well developed. The distance from the tip of the nose to the eyes should be perceptibly greater than that from the eyes to the top of the skull. The underjaw should be strong. Teeth should be sound, clean, strong, of good size, and perfectly regular with full dentition. Either a level bite or scissors bite is acceptable. If a scissors bite, the upper front teeth should fit in front of and closely against the lower front teeth. The lips should be clean and tight. Eyes should appear narrow, obliquely placed and triangular, well sunken, as dark as possible and with a piercing glint. Ears should be small, thin, and placed closely together. The dog should be able to hold them stiffly erect, when they should point straight upwards.
Neck: The neck should be very muscular, long, arched, tapering from the shoulders to the head, and free from loose skin.
Forequarters: The shoulders should be strong and muscular but without loading. The shoulder blades should be wide, flat, and attached closely to the chest wall, and should have a very pronounced backward slope of the front edge from bottom to top. The forelegs should have the strongest type of round quality bone and the dog should stand solidly upon them; they should be moderately long and perfectly parallel. The elbows should be held straight and the strong pasterns upright. The feet should be round and compact with well-arched toes.
Body: The body should be well rounded with marked spring of rib, and a great depth from withers to brisket, so that the latter is nearer the ground than the belly. The back should be short and strong with the topline level behind the withers and arching or reaching slightly over the loin. The underline from the brisket to belly should form a graceful upward curve. The chest should be broad, viewed from the front.
Hindquarters: The hind legs should be parallel viewed from behind. The thighs must be muscular and the second thigh well developed. The stifle joint should be well bent and the hock well angulated, with the bone to the foot short and strong.
Tail: The tail should be short, set on low. It should be carried horizontally. Thick at the root, it should taper to a fine point.
Gait: The moving dog shall appear well knit, smoothly covering the ground with free, easy strides and with a typical jaunty air. Fore and hind legs, moving smoothly at the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock with great thrust.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree in which it interferes with the health and well-being of the dog and the breed’s purpose.
Disqualifications: Deafness, blue eyes.
Disqualifications: Breed Name: Bull Terrier Year of Recognition: 1889 Effective Date: January 2004
CKC Bull Terrier Standard
