The basis of Bull Terrier breeding began
to emerge from the turn of the nineteenth century. At that time
the focus was based on further development and improvement of
Bull Terriers and breeding of new types of this breed. As it
turned out, and confirmed in practice, the best fighting dogs
originated from the cross breeding of Bulldogs with different
Terriers. As a result, their offspring retained the courage,
grit and stoutness of a Bulldog,
gaining agility, dexterity and subtle mind of a Terrier. In general, dogs of
those years were distinguished with a massive, brick-shape head,
evil, unfriendly look and a wide variety of colors including
white, famous as "Bull and
Terrier".
Over time they had gained more and more clear features of
Terriers: snout sharpness, and long legs. A growing preference
is given to dogs of white color, as the most pure-bred. White
dogs bred by an Englishman, James
Hinks, has eclipsed all dog of other colors
demonstrated at the exhibition in 1862.
Dog breeders owed James Hinks for breeding of more elegant
dogs, that were quite unusual in the end of the century.
According to historical records, these dogs distinguished with
elegance and grace, without any signs of limbs distortion or
presence of colored spots. That means that Hinks practiced
outcross breeding with white English
Terrier. Most people blamed him for the blood flowing
of other breeds that allegedly led to a decrease of fighting
spirit, that was considered as the most valuable feature of this
breed. However, Hink's dogs have not lost a single drop of this
precious quality, and it was confirmed in a very stunning way.
Hinks bet five pounds and a box of champagne on his bitch Puss,
weighing about 18 kg, against a female old-type Bulldog weighing
about 27 kg. The fight took place in Long Acre Hotel. Half an
hour later Puss killed her rival, having received insignificant
damage that the next morning she was shown at a dog show,
earning the prize for the exterior and standard.
Several comments from this exhibition were published in the
American magazine "Doghouse". They belong to Hink's son, James
Jr. He wrote: "The ancestors of my father's dogs, had short,
massive heads, blunt, like a Bulldog muzzles, barrel-shaped
limbs, compact body and flabby lips, they looked ridiculous in
contrast with other dogs of different colors. They were called "Bull and Terrier" because
they were bred from the cross of Bulldogs with Terriers. In
appearance they looked like a defective version of a Bulldog and
a Terrier, but they coped well with their duties, which they
were bred for, like fighting, baiting of rats, hamsters and
bulls. This offspring was perfect, combining the power and
strength of the Bulldog with Terrier intelligence.
By the end of the 1950s there was a great event. My father,
who reserved the best dogs from each litter, had carried out the
experimental crosses with white English Terrier and Dalmatian, and finally brought the family of
pure-white dogs, calling them "Bull
Terrier". These dogs weighed less than a Bulldog,
almost lost its features: their head became longer and smoother
(no damp skin, bumps and depressions), snout was stronger and
more powerful, with no protruding lips and dewlap, neck became
longer, and temperament - more energetic. In short, there
appeared a more civilized and sophisticated fighting dog that
kept all its best qualities: vigilance, energy and courage."
In the pedigrees of those years there is complete chaos. To
say exactly what combination of breeds Bull Terrier originated
from, is impossible. However, it is well established and
confirmed by James Hinks Jr. that his father mainly used for
crossbreeding old-type Bulldogs,
white English Terriers
and Dalmatians. Perhaps
he also crossed Greyhound,
Spanish Pointer and Foxhound, as it is known
that back in the 1930s, Bull Terriers occasionally born with
ears like a hound.
