In this article
View 3 More +While the Bull Terrier and Mini Bull Terrier might seem like identical breeds, the truth is that they differ in quite a few ways. Of course, there’s a notable difference in size, but did you know that they’re two completely different breeds and even have different personalities?
There’s a lot of information to sift through, which is why we came up with a comprehensive guide breaking down everything you need to know about both breeds for you here. Whether you’re still on the fence or know you want one of the two, you’re in the right place.
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Average height (adult): 21–22 inches
- Average weight (adult): 50–70 pounds
- Lifespan: 12–13 years
- Exercise: 1+ hours a day
- Grooming needs: Moderate
- Family-friendly: Often
- Other pet-friendly: Rarely
- Trainability: Intelligent but stubborn
- Average height (adult): 10–14 inches
- Average weight (adult): 18–28 pounds
- Lifespan: 11–13 years
- Exercise: 2+ hours a day
- Grooming needs: Low
- Family-friendly: Often
- Other pet-friendly: Often
- Trainability: Intelligent but stubborn, high energy and vocal
Bull Terrier Overview
The Bull Terrier is a great dog option for an experienced dog owner, and with a playful, energetic, and sometimes mischievous personality, there’s a ton to love about the Bull Terrier. We’ll break down the highlights for you here.
Personality / Character
While the Bull Terrier is an extremely loving family dog, they require adequate socialization to get along well with children, and even then, you’ll want to be careful with them. Not every Bull Terrier gets along great with kids, but the real issues come when you try to socialize them with other dogs.
While you can get them to get along great with other dogs, often, it requires a ton of socialization and a handler who knows what they’re doing. Even then, they might never get along well enough with other dogs to live with them.
Just keep in mind that every dog has their own personality, so while some Bull Terriers might not like hanging out with other dogs, others might enjoy having more than one pup around.
Training
While the Bull Terrier is a trainable dog with consistency, they do have a stubborn streak that you’ll need to manage. This makes consistency crucial when trying to train a Bull Terrier, but even then, they might not be the best choice for inexperienced handlers.
Aim for at least one training session each day, but keep the sessions short, ideally between 15 and 20 minutes. With a consistent training session, you should be able to train your Bull Terrier to complete a wide variety of tasks.
Suitable For:
The Bull Terrier is a fun-loving pup, but they’re best left to experienced dog handlers. They’re also best for single-dog homes, and ideally, they work best in homes without smaller children, although with proper socialization you can make it work with smaller kids.
Finally, because of their larger size, it’s best to get a Bull Terrier only if you have a fenced-in yard for them to roam.
Mini Bull Terrier Overview
The Mini Bull Terrier is similar to the full-sized Bull Terrier in quite a few ways, but it’s more than just their size on how they differ. They have different personalities, too, and their overall energy levels vary quite a bit as well.
Personality / Character
One of the most notable differences between a Bull Terrier and a Mini Bull Terrier (outside of their size) is their personalities. While both dog breeds tend to get along with children and families with proper socialization, the Mini Bull Terrier tends to get along better with other dogs. They still need proper socialization, but generally, they’ll get along great with other dogs. This is a big difference from the Bull Terrier, which rarely gets along great with other dogs, even with proper socialization.
Training
The Mini Bull Terrier certainly has a stubborn streak, but with consistency and a firm hand, it’s manageable. Aim for one training session daily, although each session should only last between 15 and 20 minutes.
But with their stubborn streak, it’s important to stay consistent, and it can be a bit more challenging for first-time dog owners.
Suitable For:
Just like a full-sized Bull Terrier, the Mini Bull Terrier is best left to experienced dog owners. However, with proper socialization, they can get along with other dogs and smaller kids. Another difference comes down to their size.
Since they’re smaller, it’s easier to meet their exercise needs even if you don’t have a fenced-in yard, but then you’ll need to dedicate more time to getting them outside to run around a bit.
Which Breed Is Right for You?
While the Bull Terrier and the Mini Bull Terrier are similar in quite a few ways, that doesn’t mean either one is equally suited for your home. That’s because the full-sized Bull Terrier is a bit more challenging to care for. They don’t do as well with other dogs, and they require more space than a Mini Bull Terrier.
However, if you’re looking for a larger dog, they’re the clear-cut winner, even if they are a bit harder to care for. But with this in mind, if you have a smaller home, don’t have a fenced-in yard, or have other dogs in your home, the Mini Bull Terrier is likely the way to go.
Related Reads:
- Bull Terrier vs Pitbull: Main Differences (With Pictures)
- Male vs. Female Bull Terrier: Key Differences (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: (T) dezy, Shutterstock | (B) Daria Shvetcova, Shutterstock
