In this article I don't
want to speak about the history, or the standard of
the Bull Terrier.
I'd like to give some advice to anyone who wishes to live
with a real gentleman.
If you would like to become a bull terrier's friend,
whether you are going
to buy or rescue him, remember: you must be much more
than an "owner" for
him. The Bull Terrier is very sociable, and needs a
lot of attention.
Definitely, the Bull Terrier is not a dog for everyone.
You will not forget
a moment spent with him. This is not fanatism -- this
is the plain truth!
Many people decide
to get a bull 'cause they think he is a tough dog for
tough guys: this is
a big mistake!!! These people use the dog as a
strenghtening of their
weak personalities. Although this behavior could
result in serious
damage for any breed of dog, it is absolutely to be
avoided in the case
of Bull Terriers.
The main advice I can
give to a prospective owner is to gather a lot of
information about
this wonderful breed. You can't decide to get involved
with a bull without
considering all the possible drawbacks, along with the
positive aspects.
In this regard you have to choose a good breeder that is
willing to advise
you about all the drawbacks of owning a bull terrier. A
good breeder will
speak frankly to you.
The bull needs love
and steadiness at the same time. In return, he will
always give you love:
trying to stay close to you every moment, standing at
your feet or over
your lap. The way of putting his head in your arms is
unique, his stubbornness
is proverbial. Sometimes he will run all along the
house bumping his
head against the walls and furniture, as he wishes to say
you "Let's play together"
and even if it is the wrong moment for doing
that, it's really
difficult to remain indifferent to his invitation.
Sometimes you will
lose your patience with him, but he knows how to obtain
your forgiveness.
He has many aces up his sleeve: one is that way of
staring you with the
head lowered, and then he kisses you.
The bull is a dog with
a strong sense of humour, but sometimes you could
feel inclined to undramatize
a situation that on the contrary is calling
for your firmness.
As he perfectly knows when he has done something wrong,
you don't need to
be too hard on him. Sometimes a glance could be enough...
ok, until his next
trick! This explains my previous sentence: "You will not
forget a moment spent
with him." The bull wants to share his entire life
with you. So whether
you get a puppy or a rescued bull, you can be sure
that it will be an
unforgettable experience.
By Domenico Liguori[email protected]