Plate 018 · British Isles
Bull Terrier
牛头㹴
“The 'White Cavalier': bred white in Victorian England, it gained its egg-shaped head only later.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Birmingham, England
- Town or city of origin
- The point marks the town the breed is linked to.
- Era
- 1860s
- Today
- Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Historical context · Today
Context · 1870Dogs printed as 'Bull-Terriers' in 1870, when the name covered several bull-and-terrier crosses — before the egg-shaped head of today's breed was developed.
This image depicts a related historical dog type, not necessarily the modern breed.
Albin Mesnel · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowHistory
01 · Origin
Birmingham, England
Developed in 19th-century England from bulldog-and-terrier crosses.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Its bull-and-terrier ancestors were bred for dog fighting, which continued underground after Britain outlawed blood sports in the 1830s.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
In the 1860s James Hinks bred an elegant all-white type that became fashionable as a gentleman's companion. Later breeders developed the distinctive egg-shaped head and introduced coloured varieties.
04 · Today
Companion
A playful, comical and strong-willed companion.
Personality
- Playful
- Clownish
- Stubborn
- Affectionate
- Energetic
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 12–13 years
- Coat
- Short, flat, harsh coat; white or coloured
Field note
The breed's egg-shaped head — with no stop between skull and muzzle — is its most recognisable feature.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI, The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- United States
The AKC lists Bullseye, the Target mascot, among famous Bull Terriers, though Wikipedia describes him as a Miniature Bull Terrier. AKC registrations: ranked 86 among breeds in 2025.
Its Chinese name is 牛头㹴.
Sources2 references
- Bull Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bull-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-07 · Registry status and AKC group; AKC recognition 1885 per AKC "Breeds by Year Recognized". Used as a registry reference only.
- Bull Terrier (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-07 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
