These dogs, part Bulldog and part Terrier, was referred to as "Bull and Terriers", and even Bull Terriers
(not to be confused with the modern Bull Terrier), before they were refined and seperatet as different breeds.
The Terrier is not a Molosser, that is correct, but the Terrier breeds
are known to be untirable workers, very fast and quick and in possession of a temperament which made them the ideal
cross to the Bulldog of old times, to produce an excellent fighting dog.
Through the Bulldog these "Bull and Terrier" breeds belongs to the Molosser family, and some of these breeds are very
close to the Bulldog of old and have few recemblences with the Terriers. I would go so far that I
would say that some Bull and Terriers even have more traits common with the bulldog of old, than the modern English Bulldog
has.
These "Bull and Terrier" breeds were created to fight, like it or not, that is their history. When bullbaiting was
outlawed in England in 1835, the erea of dog-fighting began, and with it, the "Bull and Terriers" evolved.
These newly created breeds would fight anything that man put in the pit with them. The Bull and Terriers were designed
to this kind of work but there is so much more to these breeds than fighting, and they have often got a undeserved bad
reputation.
An old painting by H. Alken.
As a pit-dog only the Bulldogs possessed the requisite courage but
they lacked the necessary agility. Various Bulldog crosses were tried, mainly with terriers, until eventually a specific
breed of bull terriers was produced which was fast, strong and utterly game.
The breed most often referred to as the Terrier part of the "Bull and Terrier" breeds is the now extinct White English
Terrier, a breed close related to the "Black and tan terrier", now known as Manchester Terrier. The
White English Terrier is described as almost identical to the "Black and tan Terrier" exept for the colour, which at the
White English Terrier should be shiny white. Red or brown spots did however occur, especially behind
the ears and on the neck and throat. These spots were not desired and breeders often cut the spots off while the dogs
still was young. The scars were usally hidden behing a white collar around the dogs neck.
Deafness was not
unknown in speciments of the White English Terrier.
The extinct White English Terrier.
In the picture at right together with its closest relative, the Black and tan Terrier.
The White English Terrier did certainly play a important role in th
creation and development of the "Bull and Terriers", but other Terriers, and especially the Fox Terrier, may also have
contributed to the development of these breeds. What seems to be forgotten by time is that the Bulldogs also were crossed
with the Greyhound and the Whippet, and although not as important role as the Terriers in the development of the "Bull
and Terriers", some blood from these Greyhounds and Whippets float in todays "Bull and Terrier" breeds.
I know that many dog-men consider their breed as the true and survived old english bulldog.
They claim that confusion with the "Bull Terrier" had led to the misunderstanding that the other "Bull and Terrier" breeds
also have the Terrier as one of the ancestors. They further claim that their breeds does not contain any Terrier blood at
all, but is true Bulldog all the way. I agree on the Bulldog part, but a Bulldog with a shot of Terrier blood in their
veins. We can do a lot to improve our breeds,
but one thing is sure, we can not change the history, either we like the history of our chosen breed or not, and honestly,
when looking at the drawing under, can you not see any recemblance at all to your own breed?
An old drawing of a Bulldog/Greyhound cross.
These early fighting dogs were of all sorts and shapes, size and
colours since their breeding was very promiscuous. By 1860 they more or less fell
into one of two groups, from one of which the English Bull Terrier was developed and from the other the
Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Both breeds were initially game, since nobody would keep a bull terrier which was not,
but it did not take a long time before the English Bull Terrier was bred for show, and looks were improved at
the expence of courage. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier continued to be bred for the pit.
Much can be said and written about the old pit-fights of these "Bull and Terrier" dogs and the surviving stories
could fill a thick book. I will not write any more about the dog-fighting at this page but if you are interested
in reading about these stories I would like to recommend to you the excellent book "History of Fighting Dogs" by
Dr. Dieter Fleig.
This old painting by G. Stubbs is titled Bull Terrier,
one of the old names used on the "Bull and Terrier" breeds.
Note the recemblance to the modern American Staffordshire Terrier.
As mentioned earlier at this page these breeds often got an
undeserved bad reputation. Often the breed's history as a fighting dog is used against them and some of these breeds
are banned and outlawed in several
countries, not so much because incidents and accidences, but more because the breed's history. The "Bull and Terrier"
breeds got a history full of fighting scars, that is correct, but it is not the only dogs with sceletons in their closet.
Who would ever suggest to
ban the English Bulldog because of their bloody fighting past, or the hounds used to hunt and attack slaves.
Who would ever ban the German breeds, the German Shepherd Dog, the Doberman and the Rottweiler, which the nazists did
use in the consentration camps, and often
the dogs were let loose on the prisoners. Many prisoners of war was killed this way, but we would never ban the German Shepherd
Dog because it was an act designed by humans, and so was the pit-fights of old times. The most cruel and blodthirsty
animal of all is ourselves,
the humans, who designs and sets up these fights.
Properly raised these breeds are not more dangerous than any other breed. They are athletic and powerful and incredible
strong, but if human aggressive, it is always the owner to blame. These breeds are in fact very human friendly
and seek contact with all people, and it can be the best friend to your children. Remember that these dogs would not be
allowed to be human aggressive. The dogs had to be handled in the pit and any dog that did show agressiveness against
man were useless in the fighting pit.
Sir Walter Scott (Scottish novelist, poet & historian, 1771-1832) once wrote ; "The cleverest dog I ever had, was
what is called a bulldog terrier". Owners of the
Bull n'Terrier breeds of today will easily confirm that this is the case.
