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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What
were these dogs bred for?
Miniature Bull Terriers were bred down from smaller standard
Bull Terriers, who were originally used for dog fighting. Most likely
some fox terrier or Jack Russell terrier (both small-game hunters) was
mixed in to reduce size.
2. What are
their personalities like?
MBT's are typically intense, smart, loyal, persistent, clownish,
pushy and comfort-loving. Some are good watch dogs; others are
everyone's best friend. Most are very busy, especially as young active
dogs, while others are more relaxed.
3. Are they
easy to train?
In a word, no. To successfully train a MBT, one must be more
persistent, bright and creative than the dog, which is not always easy.
Mini's are smart and learn quickly with positive training methods that
use toys, food and play as rewards. They need a great deal of patient
reinforcement to perform well, and yet do not accept drilling for long
periods and shut down altogether in the face of heavy-handed methods.
While they can be a
challenge to train, their unpredictable goofiness can be incredibly
entertaining, and their eventual cooperation especially heartwarming.
MBT's do best with owners who are not push-overs, who have a good sense
of humor and can accept slightly less than perfect obedience. MBT's are
not Shelties or Golden Retrievers, but will try hard if you do, too.
4. Are they
good with kids?
Mini-bulls at play can be quite rowdy. If your children are very
young or quite sensitive, the breed might not be the best for you at
this time. However, there are individual differences of temperament
often in the same litter and some dogs may be softer or less boisterous
than others. It goes without saying children should be well-trained to
never abuse or tease any dogs. For older, hardier children, MBT's can be
great companions who will play ball, chase sticks or play hide-and-seek
games endlessly, and also don't seem to mind being dressed-up. It is
best to have the breeder meet your children, if possible, and select the
appropriate puppy for you.
5. Are they a
healthy breed?
MBTs, like all purebreds, have some genetic problems to be
guarded against, the most serious being hearing defects, juvenile kidney
problems and lens luxation of the eyes, which can result in blindness.
Of a less serious nature, but still a vexation, are allergy-related skin
problems.
Of course, the majority
of MBT's live 10-12 years of healthy lives. Bonsai puppies have come
from parents who have been tested and cleared for heart and kidney
health, eye health and bilateral hearing, and for normal patellas and
thyroid function. The gene pool of the breed is small and it is not
possible to guarantee that no problems will occur, but all that is
possible to be done through research and testing has been done to
produce healthy Bonsai MBT pups.
6. How much do
they cost? Yikes! Why so much?
Prices for Bonsai MBTs range from $1,800 for pets to $2,500 for
show prospects. All come with the same health and temperament
assurances.
There are very few MBTs
in the country and they are difficult dogs to breed. Because there are
so few dogs, a bitch may need to cross the continent to meet her best
possible mate. Small litters of 2-4 are the norm and unfortunately many
bitches require caesareans to deliver their puppies. Some are not good
mothers and need time-consuming intervention to properly rear the
litter. The health testing which responsible breeders require is quite
expensive, as is competing with dogs that may have to travel long
distances to find majors to complete their championships. (Completing a
championship, thus establishing a dog's comparative good breed type and
trainability in competition before breeding, is important).
7. At least
grooming looks easy, right?
It is, with the exception of nail trimming which should be done
with a special canine pedicure-grinder every 2 weeks (or weekly for show
dogs). Their nails are very heavy for their size and tend to curl around
the pads making regular attention from puppyhood onwards mandatory.
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