A special breed,for special people.

The Club

The Bull Terrier Club has been standing up for the breed and its owners since it was established in 1887. It aims to bring together enthusiasts of this very special breed, not only in its country of origin but from all over the world.

We hope that this site will help anyone who owns, or is thinking of obtaining, a Bull Terrier with all the information you will need, not only about The Club itself but about the all-important issues of management, training and health. With the breed’s great strength and extrovert nature, it’s essential that anyone hoping to own one is fully informed about what’s involved.

The Club caters for all owners of the breed, whether your dog is primarily a companion or if you wish to become involved in the worlds of showing and/or responsible breeding. 

Full details can be found on this site of the events that The Club runs, including its famous ‘Trophy weekend’; a long-standing tradition unique in the world of Bull Terriers in the UK.  

We also produce a yearly Bulletin for our members, which is full of wonderful information about the ‘show world’, the health of your Bull Terrier, along with lots of interesting articles relating to the breed too.  

You can find details of how to become a member of the club and receive our yearly bulletin here. 

We really do hope that you enjoy the site and find it useful for answering any questions you may have about Bull Terriers, The Club, and any of the activities we support. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact The Club secretary or members of the committee.

​Written by Simon Parsons on behalf of The Bull Terrier Club

The ‘New Bull Terrier’ with a resemblance to today’s breed first appeared at a dog show in Birmingham in May 1862. It was shown by James Hinks, a dog dealer who is generally accepted as the founder of the modern Bull Terrier. Hinks would no doubt have used many breeds and types of dogs in his quest to breed his ‘Gentleman’s Companion’, but it seems likely that the Bulldog, the (now extinct) English White Terrier and the Dalmatian were the main contributors. His preference was for a white animal and his ‘White Cavalier’ quickly gained popularity, catching on at many of the early dog shows which were rapidly becoming popular in the late Victorian era. The popularity of the ‘New Bull Terrier’ quickly spread beyond the West Midlands and in 1887, after several attempts, the Bull Terrier Club was formed. Over succeeding decades, careful breeding has developed the Bull Terrier into a much-loved family pet. The breed is extremely affectionate with people, and is particularly noted for a fondness towards young children.

Nevertheless, the Bull Terrier remains a strong and powerful animal, and it should always be remembered that he is a first and foremost a Terrier with a competitive spirit and may not always be tolerant of other animals, though many live together in a household quite happily with other pets. As with any breed, it is vitally important that prospective owners make contact with breeders who make sound temperament and good health their priorities. There are nowadays a number of health tests which all serious breeders will use.

In its early years, the breed consisted mainly of white specimens, the coloureds generally being of a different type more closely resembling today’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Shortly after the 20th century began, determined efforts were made to breed coloured Bull Terriers. These were successful and since the middle of that century the coloureds and whites have made an equal contribution to the progress of the breed – as an example Ch Abraxas Audacity, the white Bull Terrier who made history by achieving Best in Show at Crufts in 1972, was the son of a coloured male.

Whites very often carry coloured head markings, and the other colours in the breed Standard are: brindle; red or fawn; black and brindle; or black and tan – all usually with white markings of varying degrees.

A number of excellent books on the history and development of the breed have been written over the years and these are well worth researching.

Rule 1:   TITLE
The Club shall be called ‘THE BULL TERRIER CLUB’.  Every member shall upon payment of the Entrance Fee and Subscription become entitled to the benefits of the Club as provided in the Rules and such payment shall be deemed a declaration of his/her acquiescence in and acceptance of the following rules and amendments thereto.

Rule 2:   OBJECT
The object of the Club shall be: –

  • To promote and encourage the welfare, breeding, exhibition and betterment of pure bred Bull Terriers.
  • To urge owners, breeders and judges to adhere to the standard of the Breed, approved by the Kennel Club.
  • To be ready to propose and to support alterations in the Standard of the Breed as approved by the Kennel Club.
  • To promote shows for the benefit of the Breed.
  • To foster friendly relationships with and between other Bull Terrier Clubs at home and abroad and to encourage competitive events between Clubs.
  • To provide training and instruction for breeders and judges.
  • That the Club will not be classed as a trading business and all profits from whatever source, function or activity of the Club should be retained for the benefit of the Club and its Members.

RULE 3:   COMPOSITIONS

The Club shall consist of the following who shall be elected according to the Rules here in after provided:-

  • The President.
  • An unlimited number of life Members, Honorary Members and Ordinary Members.
  • The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee who shall be elected from the members of the Committee.
  • The Honorary Officers namely the Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Show Manager and the Honorary Editor.
  • A Committee comprising not more than 8 General Members and not more than 4 Regional Members and other such Members as may be co-opted.

RULE 4:   MANAGEMENT AND COMMITTEE

The affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Committee all of whom shall be resident in the United Kingdom and shall include the President for the time being, the Chairman and Vice Chairman The Honorary Officers and not more than eight elected General Committee Members and four Regional Members elected from Members residing in each one of the following regions and such Members are co-opted Members.

REGION 1

The principality of Wales, Avon, Berkshire, Cornwall, Devon Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Isle of Wight, Kent, Somerset, Surrey, West & East Sussex and Wiltshire.

REGION 2

Cleveland, Durham, Humberside, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, North, West & South Yorkshire.

REGION 3

The whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands and Isle of Man.

REGION 4

Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk, Northants, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Warwickshire.

A quorum of the Committee shall be six and must include two of the following: Hon. Secretary, Hon, Treasurer, Chairman, Vice Chairman or President.

Any Member of the Committee absent from three consecutive meeting except for reasons of health or other reasons considered adequate by the Committee shall be deemed to have resigned and the vacancy may be filled by co-option.

The Committee shall have the right to fill any vacancy by co-option and such Member so co-opted shall retire immediately before the Annual General Meeting following their co-option, with AGM paperwork declaring a vacant position.

The Committee shall have power to appoint Sub-Committee from their own body and the Members of the Club generally and others for such purposes as they may deem expedient.

Voting on the Committee shall be by a majority.  The Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote, in addition to his/her vote

RULE 5:   MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Membership shall be open to the World.

There shall be an Entrance Fee and an Annual and Joint Annual Subscription, payable on the 1st January each year to the Hon. Treasurer of such sums as the Committee shall decide from time to time and confirmed by resolution at an Annual General meeting.  Where two Members are husband and wife and/or partners a joint subscription may be applied for.

Applicants for membership shall complete the application form in writing, be proposed by a Member and be elected by vote of the Committee.

A Member elected after the 1st day of October of any year shall not be liable for any further subscription until the end of the next financial year.

Any Member who is financially indebted to the Club shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting or to have any of the benefits or privileges of the Club.

RULE 6:   DEFAULTING MEMBERS

Any Member failing to pay his annual subscription by the first day of March shall cease to be a Club Member and will have his/her name removed from the List of Members,  though remaining liable for the subscription due.

RULE 7:   ELECTION TO OFFICE

  1. A) THE PRESIDENT

The Office of the President of the Club shall be held for a period of not more than three years.

At the last Committee meeting prior to the issue of the Notice of Annual General Meeting the Committee shall nominate to the Office of President Elect, a member of the Club on the principle that election to such office is the Prime Honour the Club may confer in recognition of long and distinguished service to the Club by such Member.  The Committee nomination for President shall be put to and confirmed by the Membership at the Annual General Meeting.

During the currency of his/her term of office The President shall be entitled to attend all Committee Meetings of the Club and to Vote at such meetings.

  1. B) LIFE MEMBERS AND HONORARY MEMBERS

Life Members and Honorary Members of the Club may only be elected by the Committee but such election shall require confirmation by a majority of those present at the Annual General Meeting following the election.

Life and Honorary Members shall cease to be liable for payment of the annual subscription.

  1. C) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN

At the first meeting of the Committee after the Annual General Meeting the Committee shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman from amongst its General and Regional Members for the ensuing year. In the absence of the Chairman at any Committee Meeting the Vice Chairman will take the Chair.  In the absence of both, a Chairman shall be elected for that meeting only.

  1. D) HONORARY OFFICERS

The Officers of Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Show Manager and Honorary Editor.   Any member who resides in the United Kingdom is eligible to be nominated.  Such positions are two year terms.  Retiring Officers may offer themselves for re-election.

  1. E) GENERAL & REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ELECTION & RETIREMENT
  • Any Member of the Club who resides in the United Kingdom is eligible to a general vacancy on the Committee
  • The Procedure for the election of Committee including Regional Members shall be that an invitation for nomination shall be sent out with the Notice convening the Annual General Meeting. Nominations must be proposed and seconded by paid up members of the Club.
  • The Committee shall make nominations to fill vacancies where an insufficient number of nominations have been received. When the number of valid nominations for vacancies on the Committee exceeds the number of vacancies a postal ballot shall be held.
  • When a Ballot is necessary Ballot Papers showing the candidates and indicating the number of votes members may use shall be issued to all fully paid up members residing in the United Kingdom by the Honorary Secretary not later than 14 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting together with an envelope marked Ballot Paper and addressed to the Magistrate to whom the envelope must be returned not later than three days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
  • The Magistrate shall forward in a sealed envelope to the Honorary Secretary a certificate of the results of the ballot count, which will be declared at the Annual General Meeting. In the case of a tie for one or more vacancies the decision as to which member will fill the vacancy will be by vote of the Committee.
  • Two General Committee members and one Regional Committee member shall retire annually provided in each case such member has completed a period of three years’ service. Retiring Committee members may offer themselves for re-election.

RULE 8:   ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

An Annual General Meeting shall be held on a convenient day after the 1st March but not later than the 30th April each year, at a time and place to be decided by the Committee. The business to be transacted at the Annual General Meeting shall be as follows: –

  1. Apologies
  2. To approve the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
  3. To confirm when appropriate the Committee nomination to the office of President of the Club.
  4. To present by the Hon. Secretary the Hon. Secretary’s report.
  5. To receive and if approved, adopt the statement, of accounts and balance sheets.
  6. To hear the Chairman’s observation.
  7. To receive the declaration of the result of the election of Committee Members and Honorary Officers subject to the provisions of Rule 7  (C), (D) and (E).
  8. To appoint the Auditors for the ensuing year.
  9. To transact any other ordinary business on the Agenda.

A notice convening the Annual General Meeting and stating when and where such meeting will take place shall be sent to the Club Members resident in the United Kingdom not less than eight weeks before the Meeting date.

The notice shall also contain the following: –

  • The names of the Members of the Committee.
  • The names of retiring Committee Members and whether or not seeking re-election.
  • The number of vacancies to include those seeking re-election arising with a request for nominations.
  • An Invitation to submit in writing, by post or electronic mail (email) nominations for Committee or Honorary Officers in accordance with the Rule 7.
  • An Invitation to submit in writing, by post or electronic mail (email) any motions they desire to be discussed at the meeting.
  • Any nominations or motions shall have a proposer and a seconder and to be valid must be received by the Hon, Secretary within fourteen days of the date of the Annual General Meeting Notice.

The Annual General Meeting Agenda together with the statement of accounts shall be sent to Members residing in the United Kingdom not later than fourteen days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

The Chairman of the Committee shall preside at the Annual General Meeting.

Voting at the Annual General Meeting shall be by a majority of those paid up members present at the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman of the Meeting shall have a casting vote, in addition to his/her own vote.

A quorum at the Annual General Meeting shall be ten person including at least four members of the Committee present throughout the meeting. A register of attendance shall be kept.

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to all Members of the Club as soon as possible.

RULE 9:   SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

Special General Meeting of the Club may be called following a vote by the Committee, or by a request in writing to the Hon. Secretary signed by at least thirty members, stating the nature of the business to be transacted.

The Honorary Secretary shall, within six weeks of the receipt of a request for a Special General Meeting, call such a meeting and shall issue a notice of the meeting and an agenda which shall be sent to all paid up members resident in the United Kingdom at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting.

Thirty, at least two of whom must be Officers of the Club, and four members of the Committee, shall constitute a quorum at a Special General Meeting.

The Chairman of the Committee shall preside at the S.G.M. Voting at the S.G.M. shall be by a majority of those paid up members present at the S.G.M. The Chairman shall have a casting vote.

A report of every Special General Meeting shall be sent to members resident in the United Kingdom within one month of the meeting.

RULE 10:   ALTERATIONS TO RULES

Alterations or additions to the rules shall only be passed at an Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting.

Such alterations or additions shall not come into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given its approval thereto.

RULE 11:   FINANCE

Bank Accounts to include The Bull Terrier Welfare Scheme shall be maintained in the name of the Club, to be operated by the Honorary Treasurer along with one of the following officers: –

The Chairman, The Honorary Secretary or The Honorary Show Manager.

The Clubs financial year shall end on 31st December.

An Accountant shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting to audit the Accounts of the Club and sign the Balance Sheet as correct before it is published, or at once report to the Committee if unable to do so.

RULE 12:   DISCIPLINARY POWERS, ETC.

Any member who shall be suspended by the Kennel Club under rule A42/j (4) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j (80) shall, ipso facto cease to be a member of The Club

For the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification and if the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of The Club be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of The Club, the Committee of The Club may at a meeting, the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the Member determine that a Special General Meeting of The Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him.

Notices of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused member giving particulars of the complaint and advising him of the place, date and hour that he may attend and offer an explanation.

If, at the Special General Meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present voting, his name shall be forthwith erased from the list of Members and he shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a Member of The Club, except that he may within two calendar months appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club impose.

Any Member having been expelled from The Club shall not be entitled to recover any portion of his or her subscription or have any claim against The Club.

The Club shall not join any federation of Societies or Clubs.

RULE 13:   CLUB PROPERTY, TROPHIES, ETC.

The property of the Club including all the Clubs Cups and Trophies shall be vested in the Committee as trustees for the Members of the Club who, in the event of The Club ceasing to exist, shall decide on the disposal of the assets in consultation with the Kennel Club.

The competition for Club Cups and Trophies shall be governed by the special rules appertaining to each. The Committee shall decide which Club Cups; Trophies shall be put up for competition at any particular show.

The Committee shall have power to vary the terms of any of the special rules appertaining to each of The Club Cups and Trophies but any such variation shall have reasonable regard to the term of the special rules and to the wishes of the donor.

The Ormandy Jugs and the Raymond Oppenheimer Trophy for Breeder of the year shall be held by The Club in perpetual trust for the Breed.

RULE 14:   MAINTENANCE OF TITLE

The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year other returns, as stipulated in the Kennel Club regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club.

The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of the month in which the Society’s Annual General Meeting is held and to notify the Kennel Club of any subsequent amendments to that date. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Hon. Secretary of The Club which may occur during the course of the year.

RULE 15:   BANKRUPTS

No person whilst an un-discharged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a kennel club registered society.

RULE 16:   MEMBERSHIP LIST

The Bull Terrier Club will make a list of Members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by the members of The Club or by the Kennel Club.

APPROVED  —  13/04/89
AMENDED   —  01/04/90
AMENDED   —  10/04/94
AMENDED   —  23/04/95
AMENDED   —  27/04/97
AMENDED   —  30/03/98
AMENDED   —  22/04/00
AMENDED   —  11/04/23

The welfare of Bull Terriers must be the first concern of all its members, but the breeder and the first owner of a dog should accept a particular responsibility for that dog throughout its life. To this end the Breeder should endeavour to maintain contact with the owners of all the dogs they have bred.

The greatest care must be taken in placing or re-homing Bull Terriers. Advice from The Club Committee or Welfare Officer should be sought in cases of any but absolute certainty, of the suitability of prospective owners.

All Members of The Bull Terrier Club undertake to report to the appropriate authorities any information they may acquire on dog fighting; No member of The Club will be involved in any way in dog fighting.

All Members accept the objects of The Club as defined in The Rules of The Bull Terrier Club as a condition of membership.

Behaviour
A proper standard of behaviour is expected of Members at all times and in particularly at dog shows. The very essence of judging dogs is that different Judges have different opinions. Exhibitors should remember they have the option of not showing under a particular judge, and therefore have the duty to accept the Judge’s opinion with good grace.

Dog showing is competitive; disagreements are bound to occasionally arise. The proper channels for complaints are to be made directly to The Show Manager, or for matters outside the show ring, in writing to the Clubs Hon. Secretary. Vocal disagreements at shows are not acceptable to The Committee and action may be taken against offenders.

Rumours and un-substantive claims concerning the failing of dog or owner are one of the evils of the dog world. Members should avoid being party to either. However, the best defense against such evil is for greater frankness, regarding inherited or acquired problems in our dogs, than in common in many other breeds. Members should do all they can, including complete disclosure of their own problems, to encourage open study of any such conditions.

A zero tolerance approach
No-one should be subject to intimidation or made to feel alarmed or distressed or put in fear of reprisal. Harassment is a criminal offence. To that end, The Kennel Club adopts a zero tolerance approach towards all type of harassment activity. Harassment may be defined as causing alarm, distress and anxiety and fear of physical violence or other threat, offensive statements, verbal abuse and threats.

Buying and Selling

Buying and selling dogs is a matter of mutual trust and confidence. Buyers must expect to pay a fair price having regard to the expenses of owning, showing and breeding a bitch; they are entitled to expect a healthy, well-reared puppy in return for that price. Notwithstanding the element of mutual trust, it is in the interest of both parties to obtain written agreement for any special conditions of the sale. In particular, any puppy sold on breeding terms should be the subject of, preferably, a robust contract of agreement between both parties.

The seller should make his or her conditions for the return of the puppy, and possible refund of the purchase price, quite clear to the buyer. The buyer should understand that the value of the puppy is likely to fall rather than rise as its age increases. Puppies should not be sold before they are a minimum of 8 weeks old. Prospective buyers should expect to be screened for suitability having regard to the very dominant nature of Bull Terriers. They are likely to be required to demonstrate their familiarity with adult specimens of the breed in a home environment. Sellers should not offer a puppy to anyone in whom they do not have complete confidence. Bull Terrier puppies should not be sold to homes where they will be left alone for longer than short periods during the day, or to homes which are not securely fenced.

No puppy which has any physical defect or abnormality, even though such abnormality may be regarded as temporary, should not be sold, without the buyer being made aware of the abnormality. Deaf puppies should not be sold. Only puppies which, to the best of the owner’s knowledge, are in good health should be sold. All puppies should have been treated for internal parasites according to a suitable routine and should receive inoculations appropriate to its age, before sale, for which veterinary certificate should be provided. It is appropriate here to draw the attention of breeders to the availability of low-cost short-term health insurance to cover the ‘settling in’ period of a puppy in a new home.

Each purchaser of a puppy should be provided at the time of sale with a pedigree of at least three generations, diet sheet, and information about training, worming and inoculations. Provisions of the documentation for registration must be considered a priority after sale; any proposed conditions of registration should be notified in writing to the purchaser at the time of sale. 

Breeding
No bitch should be bred from until she is mature, and in no case should a bitch be under the age of one year. Frequency of breeding should have regard to the health and well-being of the bitch and would usually be no more than one litter in a year.

We recommend that breeders contact their Local Authority to check if they require a breeder’s license, as this is a legal requirement in some cases.

Health testing should be paramount to all breeders and The Club advises that the following tests should be carried on breeding bitches and stud dogs prior to mating;

• Doppler ultrasound is a specialized form of cardiac ultrasound. Cardiac auscultation tests allow for the detection of murmurs. (Both of which are to be carried out by a cardiologist.)
• UPCR for Kidney function
• DNA test for LAD
• BAER test for deafness

Breeding should be aimed primarily at the improvement of the breed. The use of inferior dogs or bitches should be discouraged and advice to newcomers should be frank in this, as in other respects. Particular regard should be paid to the importance of sound, equable temperament in Bull Terriers.

No dog or bitch suffering from an inherited abnormality should be used for breeding, and Members are reminded of their declaration regarding deafness in Bull Terriers. Breeders must recognise their liability at law in respect of the sale of puppies, which may be found to be suffering inherited abnormalities.

The stud dog owner should satisfy him or herself as to the suitability of the bitch’s temperament before committing the dog to service. It is conventional and desirable, that a second service should be offered two days after the first successful mating. In the event of failure by the bitch to conceive, one or more free returns service may be offered, but should not be considered obligatory. Accurate records of breeding should be kept by the owners of both breeding bitches and stud dogs. Members will, when breeding dogs, adopt as a minimum standard the principles, requirements and recommendations as embodied in the Kennel Club’s new Health Initiative.

Conduct
All breeders who register their puppies and new owners, who register ownership of their dogs with the Kennel Club, accept the jurisdiction of the Kennel Club and undertake to abide by its General Code of Ethics.

Breeders/Owners:
Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.

Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon, who performs an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operations to the Kennel Club.

Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.

Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.

Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.

Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.

Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.

Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.

Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.

Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.

Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.

Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.

Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or to countries where there are no animal welfare laws comparable to those in the UK, directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand-alone items (not accompanying a dog).

Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.

Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.