Kathy Schoeler
“Graystone” Miniature Bull Terriers
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Barbara Andrews
“O’BJ” Miniature Bull Terriers
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Kathy and Al Schoeler started out 10 years ago to find the best in Mini-Bulls and after a lot of research, they purchased, as a puppy, Ch. Grayoak Harvetta
Wallbanger. “Harvi” was a breeder’s dream for through that foundation bitch, the
Schoelers produced five MBT from two litters, from which came two
MBTCA National Specialty winners, Ch. Graystone Stormin Norman and double National Winner, Ch. Graystone White On White, known to all as “Biff.” “Harvi” earned an Award Of Merit from the Veteran’s class in both 1996 and 1997. Biff set a new standard for the breed racking up an incredible, breeder-owner-handled record of only one defeat under a breeder judge! He was undefeated in Specialty, Supported, and Trophy shows, winning the Van Hildrikhusan Trophy and retiring the Regency Works trophy.
After retiring the unbeatable dog,
they are breeder-owner-handlers of Ch. Graystone Little Bit Country, the multi-Best In Show bitch and the first to make the Terrier Top Ten list.
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Best known as an Akita breeder, “BJ” has bred over 230 AKC champions in five breeds, including Standard and Miniature Bull Terriers. Importing from England in 1983, she and Bill established the
MBTCA and began the job of moving the breed out of Miscellaneous Class.
Their second litter contained a single puppy, Ch. Shurlock Holmes O’BJ, destined to become the first AKC Group winner. BJ dropped out of Mini-Bulls to breeder-owner handle the Top Winning Akita All Time. When she lost The Widow-Maker, they also lost interest in shows until Dan Greenwald and Bill became co-owners on
the #2 All Time BIS Chihuahua.
When she was asked to write the Miniature Bull Terrier book, BJ realized an old love can be as exciting as a new one. Another trip to England resulted in four new imports, making them a three-breed family, and she says they are enjoying the shows “three times as much.”
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1. WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT YOUR BREED? |
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That people
don’t understand the temperament. I’ve even had judges
hesitate when looking in the mouth. They are supposed to
be sweet, outgoing – and that’s what they really are.
They are tough little dogs as far as other dogs are
concerned, especially males with males, but they are
wonderful with people. ~ Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers |
That they
can’t live with other dogs. Our foundation Akita bitch
had this funny white “growth” attached to her neck,
which after about four months, turned into our first
Miniature Bull Terrier! The Mini-Bull girls are very gentle with our
two Chihuahuas. Oh, and smart enough that Bill Koehler has a BT drill
team! ~ O'BJ Mini-Bulls |
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2. WHAT IS THE MOST DEFINING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC? |
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The head. It is a head breed. Type comes first and especially in the Miniature. I’d say up until the last couple of years, you just didn’t find the type that looked like a true Standard Bull Terrier. The head is so important although I like the ultra short back, and short little “carrot” tails. And of course, the short little ears, and varmity eyes, well placed and correct size and shape.
~ Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers |
For the Miniature it is size but of course the breed is defined
by the head.
That vise-grip foreface is so unusual and
then when you add the piercing expression, it’s about as
distinctive as it gets.
BJ Andrews ~ O'BJ
Mini-Bulls
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3. WHICH BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTIC MOST TYPIFIES THE BREED? |
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That they are such outgoing, happy dogs.
Kathy Schoeler, ~ Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers |
That jaunty, devil-may-care, “corky” attitude that can be instantly
switched into “off mode” just by taking one into the lap. ~ O'BJ
Mini-Bulls |
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4. WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON JUDGING MISTAKE IN YOUR BREED? |
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I think that judges need to look at the overall dog but they still need to keep an account of the head. The head is the easiest lost in breeding – it can vanish like a dream. There are many many Bull Terriers that have perfect bites but I could count on the fingers of one hand, the Mini-Bull Terriers that have the head I think could actually define the standard.
~ Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers |
Forgetting this is a BULL-terrier. A bullie breed cannot move like
a Welsh. It should not appear racy. And unlike most
other terrier breeds, a scissors bite is not preferred
over a level bite. The standard is clear - an undershot
bite is faulted only to the degree it departs from
level.
BJ Andrews
~ O'BJ Mini-Bulls |
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5. WOULD YOU PREFER THE BREED BE JUDGED STANDING OR MOVING? |
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I’d prefer moving, because you can tell how they are really made.
~ Kathy Schoeler, Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers |
Movement displays that characteristic jaunty, “gladiator” attitude. A good Mini-Bull is like a little Quarter Horse, appearing almost muscle-bound, so if it moves like a dancer instead of a weight lifter, it can’t be a good Bull Terrier.
~ O'BJ Mini-Bulls |
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6. WHAT COSMETIC ALTERATIONS SHOULD JUDGES KNOW ABOUT? |
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Not any that I can think of. You could say fixing the mouth but I don’t think that’s even done because the really good ones, nobody cares. I mean, if the head is beautiful, who would care about fixing the mouth? I mean Biff’s mouth isn’t perfect and I’ve had breeder judges insist that I show him to all rounders but some of them would look at his mouth and that was the end of the story even though under breeder judges, he was undefeated! I guess it’s hard for judges to try to get past something with one breed that is so terribly terribly important in another breed.
~ Kathy Schoeler
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Not many in this breed. I suppose chalk is a cosmetic but a white Bullie with no chalk is like a movie star with no makeup…
BJ Andrews
~ O'BJ Mini-Bulls |
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7. WHAT IS OF GREATEST CONCERN TO BREEDERS TODAY? |
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Trying to breed a perfect dog, keeping a great head and trying to get a good bite which is very hard with this very arched head. Also of concern is lack of bone and substance, whether it’s Mini or Standard.
~ Kathy Schoeler Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers |
Other than
health problems, I’d say mouths because dogs with no
type or spooky temperament can defeat excellent dogs
that have faulty bites. The concern is that the breed
will diverge even more into a “breed” dog and a “group”
dog because judges don’t understand the priorities even
though they are clearly explained in both AKC breed
videos. If breeders can keep their balance, can deal
with the difficulty of staying mid-course, striking a
balance between bull and terrier, then judges can do no
less.
~ O'BJ Mini-Bulls |
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8. WHAT IS THE MOST ENDEARING QUALITY OF YOUR BREED? |
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How they love
their families! They are not pack-oriented. You can have
the dogs outside but if you’re out, they want to be
right with you. They will break away from each other to
go to their people. ~ Kathy Schoeler Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers
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Their uncanny
self-awareness and appreciation for what we call
creature-comforts. You expect a Toy to want satin
pillows but it’s surprising in a tough little muscle
man! That, combined with an uncanny ability to get into
your head, to communicate in a way that borders on
“weird.” Bill and I call them “eggheads” because of
what’s in there, not just for the way it looks. ~ O'BJ Mini-Bulls |
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9. WHAT ARE THE THREE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE YOUR BREED? |
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Short strong backs.
Short level tail.
Short fox ears.
~ Kathy Schoeler,
Graystone Miniature Bull Terriers
98S151163
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Miniature. Bull. Terrier.
.... oh, and did I mention "Bodacious?"
BJ Andrews ~ O'BJ
Mini-Bulls
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