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Breed Guide

The Bull Terrier: What They Were Bred to Do

The Bull Terrier was bred as a companion more than a worker, though the ancestors fought.

What drives your dog?

Breed is a starting guess. Take the free drive test to see which job your dog actually runs on, with three ways to give them that job this week. We email you the result.

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Where the Bull Terrier came from

The Bull Terrier was developed in England in the mid-1800s by a breeder named James Hinks. He crossed bull-and-terrier dogs with the English White Terrier to get a cleaner, more elegant dog with better legs and a nicer head.

Hinks showed his dogs in London in 1862, and they became popular as companions. The breed's egg-shaped face came later, as breeders worked toward a distinct look. Colored Bull Terriers came later still, and the AKC made them a separate variety in 1936.

The AKC recognized the Bull Terrier in 1885. Today they are known for being playful, independent and loyal.

  • 1862 James Hinks shows his white Bull Terrier type dogs at a London show
  • 1885 The AKC recognizes the Bull Terrier
  • Late 1980s A Bull Terrier plays Spuds MacKenzie in beer ads

The job a Bull Terrier was bred for

The Bull Terrier was bred as a companion more than a worker, though the ancestors fought. The dog was meant to be tough but good with its people. At home this means a fun-loving, sometimes silly dog who is independent, strong and needs a lot of attention.

Sports that fit a Bull Terrier

  • Scent work. A good way for a strong-willed dog to use their brain.
  • Rally. Builds teamwork.
  • Trick dog. They love to clown around.
  • Weight pull. Strong dogs who can enjoy the work.
  • Therapy work. Friendly and affectionate with the right training.

Training tips for a Bull Terrier

  • Keep sessions short and upbeat. They tune out if bored.
  • Use food and play, and avoid force.
  • Socialize them with other dogs from a young age and manage meetings.
  • Teach settle and leave it to deal with strong drives.

Body and health

White Bull Terriers can be prone to deafness and sunburn. They also overheat and need care with joints and skin.

Fun fact. Spuds MacKenzie, the party-animal character in late 1980s Bud Light ads, was played by a Bull Terrier.

Breed is where we start

A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Bull Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.

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Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.