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ORIGIN:
England circa 1850. MBTC
England formed in 1938. First
Miniature Bull Terrier Champion made up in 1948.
From
Toys to Miniatures to Standards. Credited
originator James Hinks experimented with bulldog and terrier crosses,
including the now-extinct English White Terrier. Prior to the type created by Hinks, even the fighting type bull
and terrier was small. Sporting
Dog Magazine wrote in1804 of a top ranked fighting dog called
Trusty who weighed in at 42 pounds.
Size.
Quoting
from a History by Charles Allenden, published by the Miniature Bull
Terrier Club Of England “Most
of the old ratting prints of this time feature a small dog of the bull
terrier type, which are reported to have weighed between 9 and 12 lbs.
Some breeders tried to miniaturise the breed further to produce a Toy
Bull Terrier. Pony Queen, owned by Sir Raymond Tyriott Wilson, has
been recorded as under 3 1bs in weight when fully grown. However,
these Toy types were generally not typical of the breed, having apple
heads and pop-eyes, characteristics typically associated with the
dwarfing of a breed.”
In
The Miniature Bull Terrier (TFH Publications) Mrs. Andrews
wrote “The night of Neat’s benefit” in November 1821
advertised a famous eighteen pound fighting bitch and there are many
other references to fighting dogs of six to twenty pounds about during
1820 and 1850. Records from the Kennel Club (England) Stud Book,
First Volume indicates that small Bull Terriers were quite numerous
and in fact, the first recorded Bull Terrier Champion weighed less
than sixteen pounds! He was whelped in 1866, recorded in
the stud book as #2758 Nelson.”
 This
is “Tiny Mite” a Miniature Bull Terrier owned by Lady Evelyn Ewart
about 1907. Toy Bull Terriers were first listed at the Great
International Dog Show on May 25, 1863, which specified "under 10
pounds in weight". A Toy Variety had brief favor in the USA until
the AKC ruled in 1916 that Winner's Classes would no longer be
provided until numbers increased. Interestingly, other breeds affected
by this ruling were the Bedlington and Boxer. Toy Bull Terriers
were last exhibited at Westminster in 1922.
Mr.
Shirley, the first chairman of The Kennel Club (of England) himself
had a large kennel of small Bull Terriers weighing less than 16
pounds. The Miniature
Bull Terrier Club Of England was founded in 1938. The Chairman was Richard H. Glyn who registered his small dogs
as Miniatures in 1939.
The
Gladiator. The
Bull Terrier does not deny his heritage nor his success as the White
Gladiator any more than he gets squeamish about quickly dispatching a
hundred rats tossed into the same pit and make no mistake, the Mini is
all terrier. So as the pure white Bull Terrier became the
stylish pet of prominent English gentlemen, there became a popular
saying “a
handsome gladiator who can not hold his sword and shield ably is soon
a dead gladiator.”
Quoting
from The Miniature Bull Terrier
“So
it was that when Hinks was rudely braced by some chaps who chided him
about the lack of fighting spirit in his “pretty” dogs, he matched
his forty pound female “Puss” against the sixty pound dog of one
Mr. Tupper.Mr.
Tupper’s dog was soundly trounced and as though to rub salt in the
wounds (of the owner), Mr.
Hinks then trotted Puss off to win a red ribbon that same day at the
Holborn dog show.”
 The
MBT is a fun loving, kindly gentleman that will not back down from a
serious challenge. While he doesn’t spark easily, he is a
terrier and as such, must be forgiven if he acts a bit rowdy on
occasion. He
is extremely focused, brave as a bull, and for his size, exceedingly
powerful, therefore he must never be sparred. The Mini-Bull has
great speed, determination, and a singleness of purpose that could be
difficult to handle if he is encouraged to spar with another dog.
Will
The Real Mini-Bull Please Stand Up?By 1914 the Miniature Variety was defined as twelve pounds.
The weight limit was again the undoing of good Bullies and by
1918 the Miniatures were in decline and Toys were practically extinct.
The weight limit was then raised to eighteen pounds, which
allowed fanciers of the smaller sizes to refresh the gene pool.
At the beginning of this century, weights of between 15 and 50
pounds were allowed but judging was divided by size limits.We
must conclude that the Mini-Bull size of today was the average size
of the early Bull Terrier and that efforts to miniaturize down to toy
size resulted in a loss of a breed type that was beginning to be
appreciated and sought after. Dogs
much over the 50 pound range lacked agility and speed in the pit and
were not considered typical. Such
is the case today and the goal is to hold fast to a well mannered,
typey, hard, muscular terrier of moderate size, great strength, and
determi nation.
No
look at history would be complete without sharing with you the most
famous of all Bull Terrier photos. He wasn't a Mini although he
was quite small. He was gun shy and yet he loved our nation's
war commander General George Patton so much that he rode at his side
through the worst battles. The Feb. 1946 issue of Life Magazine
caption reads "Snuggled up against the belongings of his late
master, General Patton's dog Willie waits to be shipped home."
No dog ever looked sadder and all who love the Bull Terrier recognize
the significance of Willie laying quietly, eyes open, but paying
attention to nothing - except his own unbearable sadness.
THE
BREED IN AMERICA: Admitted to Miscellaneous in 1963.
Club re-organized in 1984, first National Specialty in 1985.
Officially recognized October 1991, as a separate breed with no
interbreeding allowed. The Breed Standard went into effect in
January 1992
 Although
the Mini-Bull of today has a much more definitive head, the solid,
well balanced, bull and terrier type is perfectly exemplified by the
famous Ch. Heir Apparent Of Monty-Ayr, owned by Dr. and Mrs. E.S.
Montgomery. (Oil painting by Edwin Megargee) It would do
well for today's breeders and judges to study this dog as to many of
the old school, he is portrayed as extreme only in muscular
development. 
The
last exhibit of Minis at Westminster was in 1928 but the breed was
popular and developing type in Great Britain as demonstrated in these
old photos of Eng. Ch. Navigation Red Ace, born 2/3/47 (right)
and on the left, Eng. Ch. Solway Navigation Surprise, born 9/29/50,
both of solid Navigation pedigree and both expressing advancement in
breed type.
 In
the States, the Variety did not come back to favor until May 1961 when
Mrs. Ralph Gordon imported Ch. Navigation Pinto and Freesail Simone.
Unfortunately, those photos and records were lost in a hurricane that
swept the Gulf states.
The
California based Miniature Bull Terrier Club was formed in 1966. Larry McArthur served as President of the small club for many
years but the low numbers in the U.S. prevented the breed from moving
into regular competition and a gradual deterioration of quality due to
the limited gene pool further decreased interest - and numbers.
 By
the early eighties, the Miniature version of the Bull Terrier had
become little more than a memory in the U.S. There was very little interest in a breed that had degenerated
into a weedy, shallow, common-headed, unsound dog as compared to the
fabulous Standard Bullies of the day. Mention the “miniature” and Bull Terrier breeders raised
eyebrows. But then few had ever seen a Miniature “bull terrier” such as Eng.
Ch. Kirbeon Bandmaster, shown here in a well known photo. Notice his perfect head proportion, set back ears, and the
smooth downwards curve of his strong but elegant head.
Whelped February 1970, he reigned supreme in England for three
years, siring 117 pups from 40 litters. Many of today’s imports trace directly to Bandmaster.
The
Import Revival.
When the Andrews learned of the Mini while on a judging trip to
England, they decided to take on the challenge. Drawing on a long friendship with Mrs. Meg Purnell-Carpenter, a
highly respected Championship show judge and popular columnist,
the Andrews were able to acquire several good dogs from England.
After nearly a year of negotiation, in 1983 Bill & "BJ"
purchased four foundation dogs from the Erenden Kennels of Mrs.
Valerie Allenden. These
first dogs included two Crufts qualified dogs, one a Junior Warrant
winner, all personally flown to the U.S. by Meg Purnell-Carpenter.
Having
bred three litters of Standards that included Group, Specialty, and
Westminster winners, some of which were shared with Pam and John Glave,
it followed that two of those first four imports went to live with the
Glaves. John did a
splendid job as publisher of the official newsletter “A Little
Bull…” As a bank
officer, Pam was a most capable Treasurer. The four friends began the difficult task of putting the MBTCA
back together because the original club had died out and the majority
of the records were lost in a hurricane in Mississippi. BJ created Board positions, brought others into the club, and
following the advice of then AKC Executive Secretary Mark Mooty, began
the process of applying for breed status.
The
Andrews continued to import top specimens, placing them with serious
fanciers in the U.S. and Canada. In all, they imported thirteen
dogs including English Champion Erenden Eleanor. Elley was
co-owned with Smooth Fox Terrier breeder (Foxridge) Tam Cordingley.
Tam also became active in the new MBTCA serving as
Vice President.
 The
support of many prominent people in the sport was easily enlisted. Popular all-breed Judge Tip Tipton once pulled a rather
reluctant Max Riddle over to see “his” dog.
Within five minutes, Erenden Ephrain had added Mr. Riddle to
his list of admirers.
Rapidly
growing interest encouraged others to import outstanding dogs and the
gene pool widened rapidly. Richard Beauchamp, who had so ably
guided the Bichon to recognition, served on the Board of Directors and
by 1985 the Stud Book, and the Constitution and Bylaws were under
revision. Winkie McKay-Smith and Mary Remer were among those who
welcomed the Mini and were instrumental in gaining acceptance of the
breed by other Standard Bull Terrier breeders.
 AKC
Reps kindly looked the other way when the Andrews brought little
Surelock to ringside although at one point, a certain Rep asked BJ to
“take the pup and the crowd away from ringside.” Richard Beauchamp, who had so ably guided the Bichon to
recognition, served on the Board of Directors and by 1985 the Stud
Book, and the Constitution and Bylaws were under revision. Winkie
McKay-Smith and Mary Remer welcomed the Mini and were instrumental in
gaining acceptance of the breed by Standard Bull Terrier
breeders. Surelock Holmes
O'BJ is pictured here at about 3 months, already showing perfect
balance and proportion in a very small package. He has a
long, clean head reminiscent of Bandmaster. The downward curve in the tail is perfectly okay and is a
puppy's way of not being too gay....
The
first MBT National Specialty show was held in conjunction with the
Bull Terrier Club Of America October 19, 1985.
The event was in a swank hotel in Atlanta GA, and exhibitors
came in from distant points such as California, Michigan, and New York
to exhibit under AKC judge Mrs. Winkie Mackay-Smith. Of that historic occasion, Mrs. Mackay-Smith wrote
“I feel very honored to have been asked to judge the first
Miniature Bull Terrier Match Show and enjoyed myself immensely.
It is very exciting to participate in the inception of the
organization of Miniatures in this country and the entry bodes well
for the success of the Miniatures both in numbers and quality.”
The
Mini-Bull was Rare Breed Finalist at the 1986 Tournament Of Champions
held in conjunction with the Detroit Kennel Club all breed show.
Later to become one of the first Group Winners, future AKC Ch.
Surelock Holmes O’BJ captured many fans for the breed during that
prestigious two-day event.
Breed
or Variety? The
breed quickly progressed with more good specimens around the country, and
the recognition debate grew serious. Fanciers split into
two camps - those who wanted the option of interbreeding with the
Standard as was at that time done in England, and those who were
stubbornly opposed on the grounds that it would be of no advantage.  In
actuality, part of the resistance to accepting the Mini as a Variety
was a reluctance to compete against what was seen as stiff
competition as evidenced by the Andrews’ white dog.
Effy's head
was perfectly egg shaped but not extreme. The
bite was level as was his topline and tail. Formerly skeptical Standard BT fanciers realized that this was
a little dog to be reckoned with. Indeed,
he was viewed as a threat by nervous exhibitors who reluctantly
admitted that their Standards would find hard competition against the
30 pound import. Note that his ears were a bit large and
although he is standing on a soft surface, his front could have been
tighter.
Insecurities
on both sides were appeased when the MBT was recognized as a Breed
rather than as a Variety. Even so, the interbreeding that has
occurred in England keeps the size ever “inching” upward whilst
maintaining the egg-head, bone, and substance of the Standard.
Former
MBTCA President Paul Combs provides this historical synopsis. “The Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America, like the
breed, has gradually evolved. In
the 1980’s the Miniature Bull Terriers were shown in the
Miscellaneous Class with ILP numbers. On October 1st 1991 Miniature Bull Terriers were officially
recognized and admitted to the AKC. Miniature Bull Terriers were able receive championship points
at AKC show beginning January 1st, 1992. On October 12, 1992 the Van Hildrikhusen Trophy Competition
began. The Van
Hildrikhuesen show is a competition for the Best American Bred Miniature Bull Terrier.
....held in conjunction with the MBTCA whose breeders are
making a concerted effort to improve the quality, health, and well
being of Miniature Bull Terriers."
The club continues to struggle with small numbers of dogs and an
even smaller number of people to share the work. Health problems
have increased even as the breed improves in overall appearance.
Many of the breed's top Fanciers are no longer breeding, preferring to
just keep a Mini-Bull for companionship or to avoid the high risk of
failure by purchasing a young adult.
The
breed standards may be identical but there
are differences. In the small dog, It is much more difficult to
produce the extreme head demanded by breeder judges while achieving
the scissor mouth one must present in order to compete successfully at
"regular" shows. In fact, it is probably more
difficult to do so in Minis than in any other AKC breed. If one
gets the mouth and head right all in the same sound dog, there is
always the risk that heart or eyes will go.
We
are at a crossroad in the breed. It may be that Judges can do
what breeders have been incapable of doing. We must all take a
long look backwards in order to plan the way forward. We hope this
brief History may point the way back to a sound, stylish, healthy,
free whelping, Miniature Bull and Terrier.
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