Meet the Miniature Bull Terrier: All You Need to Know

Last Updated on April 21, 2023

The Miniature Bull Terrier is comically known as the Clown Prince of Dogdom due to its mischievous and energetic nature. The Mini Bull Terrier is as it sounds, though: it’s a miniature pup of the Bull Terrier breed.

Smart but stubborn, the MBT is a fun dog breed to be around. Want to know more? Keep reading!

History: Where Did the Miniature Bull Terrier Originate?

During the 19th century, in English, the MBT was born. The Miniature Bull Terrier breed was created in the 1800s for a couple of different reasons: ratting and dog fighting.

Once blood sports were outlawed, the Mini Bull was bred to be a companion dog.

This breed got its name from their bigger cousin, the Bull Terrier. It’s believed to have been created by the Bulldog, a little bit of Dalmatian and Mastiff, and the White English Terrier, which is now extinct.

Even though this breed has been around for a long time, the American Kennel Club (AKC) didn’t officially recognize it with its own breed standard for dog shows until 1991.

What Do Miniature Bull Terriers Look Like?

The Mini looks like a standard Bull Terrier dog but smaller.

Just take a closer look at these Minis and watch them romp around!

Its head is long and deep to the end of the muzzle. Its full face is an oval shape with triangular eyes. Its forehead flat, stretching from ear to ear. The ears are upright.

This small dog has a long, muscular neck with a short back that arches a little over the loin. Its body is well-rounded with deep back ribs. The chest is broad when viewed from the front.

The shoulder blades are wide and flat, with their forelegs straight and firm. The elbows don’t turn in or out. This pup also has muscular thighs with its hind legs parallel when viewed from the back.

Both males and females of this breed are approximately the same in height and weight. The Mini Bull will grow to be about 10 to 14 inches (25 to 36 cm) tall and weigh to be about 18 to 33 pounds (8 to 15 kg).

This is also the only difference between a Miniature Bull Terrier and a standard Bull Terrier, who stands about 21 to 22 inches (53 to 56 cm) tall and can weigh up to 50 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg)

You’ll know when they’re fully grown when they’re about nine months to one year old.

Due to their size, the MBT can adapt to apartment living, though they would be better suited in a bigger house with a fenced-in yard.

What colors do Miniature Bull Terriers come in?

The Miniature Bull Terrier dog breed has a short, flat, and straight coat that can come in quite a few different colors and markings with pink skin around the muzzle and nose.

These colors are:

• Black and Brindle
• Black and Tan
• Black, Brindle, and White
• Black, Tan, and White
• Brindle
• Brindle and White
• Fawn
• Fawn and White
• Red
• Red and White
• White
• White and Brindle
• White and Fawn
• White and Red
• White, Black, and Brindle
• White, Black, and Tan

Temperament: Are Mini Bull Terriers Good Pets?

Considering their clownish nature, Mini Bulls will make a great pet. They’re good with kids, though they might do better with older kids.

They can do well with younger children, too, as long as both the dog and the kids are socialized well and supervised while playing together.

Are Miniature Bull Terriers dangerous?

They’re friendly dogs, but they will be aggressive if they see a reason to. Due to this, they’ll make a great watchdog for your home.

This breed won’t bark as much, but, again, if they see a reason to be vocal or feel threatened, they’ll bark.

When introduced to strangers, the MBT might be shy or wary at first. They’ll need good socialization when being introduced to new people and even to other animals.

If you have other pets in the house, whether it’s another dog, cat, or a smaller animal, the Mini Bull will do okay if they’re trained well and raised alongside the other pets.

However, they were initially bred for ratting, so they might tend to chase smaller animals.

The affection level is high with this pup. They won’t do well being home alone for very long and may get separation anxiety. They’ll get attached to their humans and will be lonely without them for long periods.

The MBT can be independent, though. They’re stubborn but smart. Trainability for this pup can be easy if you have a sense of humor about it and turn it into a game.

With plenty of positive reinforcement, treats, and making training out to be a game, your Miniature Bull Terrier can easily be trained, and potty trained.

This breed is a natural swimmer, so allowing your pup to participate in such activity will help with the training process and help care for their energy levels.

How to Take Care of Your Miniature Bull Terrier Dog?

While this breed is suited for being outdoors, they’ll love to be outside in the warm weather. They have a high tolerance to the heat, but they don’t tolerate the cold very well due to their short coat.

The Mini Bullpup is moderate in terms of maintenance to care for. It has high energy; therefore, its exercise needs are high.

Keeping your Miniature Bull Terrier fit

Your furry friend will need at least 40 minutes of exercise and playtime per day, though a little more than that wouldn’t hurt.

Some activities will include long walks, running around off-leash (in a fenced-in yard or dog park, of course), swimming, and other games that make playtime fun for them.

Grooming: do Miniature Bull Terriers shed?

The Mini Bull is a low shedder, and because of that, they are hypoallergenic dogs. They’re also easy to groom, which is always a plus.

When it comes to keeping your dog clean, you’ll only need to brush your Mini once or twice a week.

They will shed more often once or twice throughout the year, in which you’ll need to brush them a little more often during that time.

You should check and clean their ears at least once a week as well. Check for any redness or wax buildup. If all looks good, you can give it a thorough clean.

Bathing should be kept at a minimum to avoid any skin infections and get rid of the natural oils.

The Miniature Bull Terrier doesn’t smell, though they do enjoy digging now and then. So, they might get visibly dirty, and you’ll have to bathe them once in a while.

How much food should a Miniature Bull Terrier eat in a day?

What your Mini’s diet is should be decided upon by you and your pup’s vet. Every dog’s weight, size, and metabolism is different. As with all pups, you don’t want obesity to be an issue.

Your Miniature Bull Terrier puppy should eat at least three small meals a day. An adult should typically have about one and a half to two cups of food per day, split into two meals.

What Health Problems Do Miniature Bull Terriers Have?

There are a few health conditions that a Mini Bull can have, and listed below are a few to keep in mind.

• Heart Problems
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Deafness (often occurs in the White Bull Terriers)
• Luxating Patellas
• Lethal Acrodermatitis (found in the Bull Terrier)
• Eye Problems
  • Glaucoma
  • Primary Lens Luxation

The good news is, there is a range of health screenings you to can do for your pup. Bring them to the vet for a regular check-up and for some occasional tests to make sure they’re as healthy as can be.

These tests might be:

• BAER Testing and hearing (for whites)
• Kidney-Urine Analysis
• Ophthalmologist Exam
• Cardiac Exam
• PLL DNA Test

The lifespan of a Miniature Bull Terrier is about 11 to 13 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your pup will live a long, happy, and healthy life.

How Much Do Miniature Bull Terrier Puppies Cost?

If you’re looking to bring home a Miniature Bull Terrier puppy, then you’re looking to spend an average of $1,300 for the dog alone.

Breeders for Miniature Bull Terriers

When looking for a reputable breeder, be sure they know the breed well and the puppies and their parents.

A good breeder will let you know the parents’ background and health history and allow you to meet the puppies beforehand, but they won’t sell the puppy to you until after they’re eight weeks of age.

The Mini Bull has a breed club called the Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America, a great place to start looking for reputable breeders. The AKC Marketplace is another good place to look.

Shelters and rescues for Miniature Bull Terriers

There are still some dogs that are without homes. Ask your local shelter if they have any Mini Bulls.

Alternatively, you can check for shelters on Adopt a Pet or Pet Finder. You can also check out a rescue such as Save a Rescue or Rescue Me.

Who Should Get a Miniature Bull Terrier?

Most dog owners should get this breed. They love to play and will always keep you on your toes.

They may not be a great companion for a first-time dog owner, but if you’re active enough and have a good sense of humor, this may be the dog for you.

Are you thinking about getting a Miniature Bull Terrier? Let us know in the comments!

Further reading: Other Breeds to Explore

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• French Bulldog