Bull Terrier vs Miniature Bull Terrier

A Bull Terrier
Photo: Robert Tadlock from Westminster
A Miniature Bull Terrier
Photo: Darmaninjl

Side by side

Bull Terrier
Miniature Bull Terrier
Adult weight
Males 23–32 kg (51–71 lb); females 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) (breed club figure)1
8.2–13 kg (18–28 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 53.3–55.9 cm; females 53.3–55.9 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12 years3
Median 12.2 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers5
Terriers6
Coat
Short coat5
Short coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Dry eye (far more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Bull Terrier is much larger: about 26 kg (56 lb) as an adult, against 10 kg (23 lb) for the Miniature Bull Terrier.
Temperament
They differ most on handler demand (Bull Terrier: needs an experienced owner; Miniature Bull Terrier: needs steady training) and on voice (Bull Terrier: quiet; Miniature Bull Terrier: barks to alert, then settles).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Bull Terrier
Terriers · Medium

By temperament the Bull Terrier is lively, affectionate and clownish, with a stubborn streak and a strong attachment to its household, though it can be intolerant of other dogs.

Miniature Bull Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament it is lively and playful, given to clownish antics and closely attached to its people. It is also strong-willed and tenacious, and it can be stubborn in training.

The Bull Terrier page →The Miniature Bull Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Bull Terrier
Miniature Bull Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Needs steady training
With people
Bull Terrier
Miniature Bull Terrier
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Bull Terrier
Miniature Bull Terrier
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Bull Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 26 kg against the Miniature Bull Terrier's 10 kg.
Bull Terrier
Miniature Bull Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Bull Terrier with
American Pit Bull Terrier vs Bull TerrierBull Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·