Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

mariette asselbergs — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:30:37 GMT

Thanks Steve, I always just called them "Bull Terrier" and was then told that here in UK they are called "English".

The tests seem to make sense, but our choice is a red one,so hopefully not physically deaf, although they are often just not in a listening mood, I know! Had one as a student, and two rescue ones the last 6 years, both of them real softies but no Einsteins. But I have just been reading Jane Killion's book When Pigs Fly, Training Success With Impossible Dogs (meaning Bull terriers) and feel challenged to try again.....

Mariette

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

Steve Dean — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:49:30 GMT

[quote user="mariette asselbergs"]

We are getting a new English Bull Terrier puppy! I was very impressed with the breeder who posts on their website photographs and development updates on scores of puppies offspring of their breeding stock and places lots of emphasis on temperament and socialization/upbringing.

Now our female puppy comes with a breeding right restriction (Also very good IMO), related to minimum age at first breeding and three "health tests". When I asked which health checks are meant here the answer was

"The 3 test bull terriers should have done is Bear ( hearing), Heart and upc".

I feel a bit embarrassed to ask what exactly is meant by this. Anybody out there familiar with these tests as pre-condition to breed an English Bull Terrier? What is a "Bear test,what kind of heart test should be done and what is "upc"?

(We are not immediately into breeding, I would first need to see how she develops temperament and skin wise......., but if she turns out the perfect pet then at some point maybe...... )

[/quote]

I know I am being picky but it is just a Bull Terrier no English in the title. It is a BAER test which is a hearing test. Many Bull Terriers are white whcih is linked to a hearing defect. The heart testing is basic grading of murmurs the breed being concerned about valvular defects and stenosis. UPC is urine protein/ creatinine ratio test and is an indicator of kidney disease. Check out the Bull Terrier Club website for further advice.

Good luck with your new dog - you will need quite a bit of patience they are quite single minded dogs.

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

sarah mason — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:28:01 GMT

they get mitral valve dysplasia

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:44:20 GMT

Thanks Francis for the info,saved me some embarrassment. I think heart-wise they want to check for displaced mitral valve which English Bull Terriers sometimes have.

Thanks for the link!

Mariete

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:40:45 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]Don't they all come with pink saliva-stained feet and red skin ?![/quote]

Our Nicky did, drove her owner to despair so we took her over, suffered three more years with malaseb baths and endless antibiotics until she herself got into our veggie box and ate all the beetroots and other veggies, and was clear three days later. The last three years of her 15 year life we fed her beetroots once a week and she never needed malaseb or antibiotics again. I have no explanation for this at all, but have put it on this forum in various places in case somebody wants to try it on their heart sink patients. Maybe fleas or dust mites hate beetroot saturated blood or smell.......??

Mariette

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:33:25 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="mariette asselbergs"]We are getting a new English Bull Terrier puppy![/quote]

Hurrah! What colour?

[/quote]

Red.

Another question is that the breeder thought that red bull terriers are more temperamental than the other colours. Its parents are brindle/white and tri coloured and of very nice temperament, so we take the gamble....!

Mariette

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

Rob Loxley — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:27:14 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Hurrah! What colour?

[/quote]

Don't they all come with pink saliva-stained feet and red skin ?!

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:10:34 GMT

[quote user="mariette asselbergs"]We are getting a new English Bull Terrier puppy![/quote]

Hurrah! What colour?

Re: Tests before breeding with an English Bull Terrier

Frances Barr — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:40:38 GMT

BAER stands for brainstem auditory evoked response, and I think there are a number of centres which offer this.

UPC is, I imagine, urine protein :creatinine ratio to look at renal function.

I'm not sure what the breed society recommends for heart screening I'm afraid.

The Kennel Club has quite a useful list of breeds and what tests are recommended.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1100/abshealthreqs.pdf

Hope that helps.