I find this a very difficult and complex subject to write about, and I feel ‘what is one man’s meat is another man’s poison’. I would like to stress that I am trying to portray my own conception of the perfect Bull Terrier. First, this is how I interpret the standard.

Full of Fire. Ready to defend himself and family against any kind of danger, and always ready for some sport or game. But he must not be aggressive or excitable.
Of Sweet Disposition. Tremendously affectionate to his family, and wonderfully gentle and patient with old people, children and small animals, sentimental but not soft or sheeplike.

Amenable to Discipline. Must not resent correction, and have the intelligence to learn to be a perfect companion, in the home, in the country or town. Also, must behave if left alone in the car, house or kennel.

When one remembers, Bull Terriers were originally bred to fight, bait and kill it seems a tall order to expect them to be ‘of sweet disposition and amenable to discipline’ and still remain ‘full of fire’. To be successful the perfect balance must be reached, but as many owners have neither the inclination nor knowledge to discipline their dogs properly, breeders should concentrate more on using animals of very sweet disposition.

To develop and appreciate the Bull Terrier’s stirring qualities to the full, they should live in the house as a member of the family. I won’t list the obvious faults of temperament but here are the qualities I think true Bull Terriers should possess:

• Absolute reliability with his friends, human and animal.
• Complete loyalty and devotion to his own people.
• Absolute fearlessness.
• Unsurpassed courage and tenacity of purpose.
• Intelligence, a sense of humor and a very definite personality.