If you plan to adopt a Bull terrier as a companion dog, you might want to know the size and weight to expect. Knowing how tall Bull terriers are can help you understand the milestones and whether your dog is purebred and the growth is healthy.
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How Tall Are Bull Terriers?
Bull terriers are medium-sized dogs, usually 18 to 22 inches tall and weighing 20 to 35 pounds. The miniature version of the Bull terrier is smaller, with a height of around 14 inches and a weight of about 25 pounds when fully grown.
Although Bull Terriers look relatively short, they look strong and muscled, with a well-organized bone structure that makes the breed appear healthy and energetic. However, factors such as Bull terrier breed differences, health conditions, and diet might affect the dog’s height as follows.
Diet
Bone generally affects the height and weight of the dog. Giving your Bull terrier proper food and diet with the required nutrients improves the growth and development of the skeletal system. Foods like meat are rich sources of protein essential in the build-up process of the bones.
Other than protein, meats such as beef, pork, crab meat, and anchovy contain high serum levels that boost bone development and make the dog attain the right height. This is a preferable diet, especially for puppies that undergo much faster body and bone development.
The dog’s skeletal system is made up of about 99% calcium. Usually, calcium helps maintain the strength and health of the bones. That means you should give your dog calcium-rich foods such as vegetables, salmon, and sardines.
Age
The bull terrier has a long bone development period that generally lasts between 8 to 12 months. However, if a puppy is born underweight, under 2.25 pounds, the musculoskeletal growth of the puppy may take up to 24 months for a complete ossification.
Usually, the dog’s height depends on its age, as it will continue to increase until it reaches maturity. Generally, a six-month-old Bull terrier puppy should be around 75% of its adult height. Once the puppy’s height is at its peak, it no longer increases.
However, the bones continue developing and gaining strength as the puppy ages. That means the dog might continue gaining weight and looking more muscular even if there is no height increase. Usually, this makes the dog appear as if it’s getting shorter.
Health
Like most dog breeds, as they get older, Bull terriers are prone to health issues, especially when puppies or aging. Intestinal infections such as roundworms or hookworms are common with Bull terrier puppies and can significantly affect the growth of their skeletal structure. Usually, this results in short dogs even when they become adults.
Most Bull terriers are obese due to unhealthy diets and lack of regular exercise. This condition increases the risks of arthritis, heart disease, and other forms of cancer that may affect the bone development of your dog. In turn, this affects the size and height of your terrier.
Intervertebral Disc Disease is another health condition that affects the terriers. The condition results from the cushioning disk between the spine and bones in the dog. The disease may cause stiffness and lameness to your terrier depending on the severity and significantly affect the dog’s height.
Home Environment
Hypothermia is a condition that affects a dog when the body temperature drops below the normal level. This happens when you expose your dog to extreme cold conditions. This condition hinders osteoblast differentiation and the formation of the bones, resulting in below-average heights.
A slippery home environment may risk Bull terriers, especially for puppies undergoing bone development. The bone tissues of the puppies are relatively fragile and can break in case of falls. Usually, these accidents hinder bone growth, resulting in below-average dog heights.
Puppies tend to be playful at the age of ossification. It’s therefore advisable to avoid getting them on steep stairs where there are higher risks of falls and bone breakages as they try to climb the slope.
Breed
Smaller dog breeds, such as Miniature Bull terriers, tend to achieve their normal height at around eight months. Larger breeds, such as the English Bull terrier, reach their standard height at 12 months, which is slightly longer than the miniature terrier.
Usually, this makes some breeds relatively shorter than others at a certain age. Additionally, there are purebred and mixed Bull terriers. The difference in genes makes them have different heights at maturity. Some of the common breeds that might have height differences include:
- Brindle and white
- Red and white
- White
- Miniature
- Modern-colored
Related Questions
How Do You Determine the Height of a Bull Terrier?
You can determine the height of a Bull terrier by measuring the height of your terrier from the ground to the peak of its withers, which is the standard measurement method for all dogs. Withers is an area that is above the dog’s shoulder. Make sure the dog stands still during this process to obtain accurate results.
Does Height Affect the Weight of a Bull Terrier?
Yes, if your pup’s feet look bigger and taller, expect an increase in your Bull Terrier’s weight, as this indicates that there is room for more muscle growth. However, this may vary depending on other factors, such as the nutrition and frequency of exercise of your Bull Terriers.
Final Thoughts
The breed variation of the Bull terrier and the dog’s health are the primary determinants of how tall Bull terriers are. Usually, the miniature variation of the Bull terriers is smaller than the standard one. The height might still vary depending on the environment and diet.
