20/08/2026
Great post and I will repost it too as it’s near word for word the rant I go on when asked about Bull Terriers by first timers.
I love them so much and see all their traits clearly, that I want to tell everyone the “full” truth and if it prevents a single Bullie not ending up in rescue abandoned, then so be it.
Let’s face it, majority of bull terriers in rescues are results of lack of training, lack of socialisation and lack of breed knowledge with bad breeding done by money greedy first timers who are moving on from XL bullies and fluffy Frenchies.
I was going to write something quite different tonight, but since I am bit shaken up and wobbly after the two young dogs had their worst ever fight this afternoon, where my leg and my hand got in the way of their iron jaws (I’m fine, just bruised, it appears I am the resource they were fighting over, so we have some work to do- they are both very young, we will get there), instead I thought perhaps it is time to have a chat about the terriers.
After ten years of this page, the message I still get most frequently is ‘OMG, your dogs are so cute, I really want one too, should I get one?’. I’ve also seen quite a few videos recently from vets and dog trainers recommending Border terriers specifically as perfect for a first-time family dog, which I find quite mind boggling in the irresponsibility.
Firstly, although I do appreciate the messages about the dogs, I would hope anyone seriously thinking of getting one would do a lot more research than just message someone on Facebook who has cute dogs, and again, would be a lot more thorough than just taking the word of someone claiming to be a vet or dog trainer on Instagram who says these are ideal little first time dogs.
Terriers of any variety are not for the faint hearted. ANY dog is hard work. They need company, exercise, stimulation, love. You are limited in how long you can leave them, where you can go with them, what you can do with them. The puppy stage in particular is a nightmare, almost up there with a toddler. A lot of people see the adorable little puppers on social media and think ‘that looks fun’ and they don’t fully appreciate the commitment, the effort, the expense that having a dog entails, which sadly is why so many dogs end up being rehomed through no fault of their own (though I do appreciate that sometimes people have to rehome their dogs due to circumstances entirely beyond their control).
With terriers, take all that and multiple it by ten. Being small and fluffy and yes, incredibly cute, people forget what terriers were bred for, which was to be killing machines. Rats, foxes, mice, and anything else that was considered a pest, there was a terrier bred to kill it. The Borders were originally mainly used as fox terriers- bred to run after the hunt and still have enough energy to go down a hole and kill a fox in an enclosed space (no, I don’t agree with hunting, I’m just saying that was the original purpose of the Borders). Cairns, Jack Russells, Westies, Norfolks- the list of terriers is endless, but they were all bred to work independently, to think for themselves and to kill things. And unlike some dogs, where their breeding has taken them so far from their original purpose that it’s almost impossible to guess what they were once intended for, terriers remain very much terriers, with strong prey drives and too damn clever for their own good.
That is not to say that they are not AMAZING dogs. Everyone who gets a terrier is so smitten they insist they could never go back to any other sort of dog- the things that make them so difficult, like their independence and intelligence, are also what makes them so special. I love all three of my little monsters with all my heart, and would never have anything but a terrier, given the option. But they are not easy. They are stubborn, strong willed and fearless. Eddy, the youngest dog, currently wishes nothing more than to have a square go at the entire herd of young cattle in the field behind our house. Cassie, my beloved and long departed Cairn terrier, once started a fight with four Great Danes. Even Judgy, who is placid by terrier standards, in his day would chase deer for miles, given the chance, never giving up until he was finally caught. And he was very fond of giving a sharp nip or two when you tried to comb him- he still is, but he hasn’t got many teeth left. Billy, who died in 2024, was a psychopath who carried on blood feuds with half the local dogs. And even Bob, who is about as chilled as a Border terrier gets, is inclined to try and savage passing cyclists.
If you have the time and the energy to give a terrier everything they need, which mainly is plenty of exercise, both physical and mental, and a lot of attention and companionship, you will have no better dog in the world. But they are not for the family looking for an easy first-time pet, nor for someone wanting a fluffball to walk sedately round the park and sit under the table in cafes, nor for anyone who will have to leave them all day. There are dogs out there for almost every lifestyle though, and everyone thinking of getting a dog, regardless of their experience, should do plenty of their own research into what they are getting into, and if this dog is going to suit their life, and also what changes are they prepared to make to accommodate the dog if it doesn’t suit their current living arrangements?
Dogs are such a positive thing to have in our lives, but PLEASE make sure you get a dog that is right for you, whether you rescue or go to a breeder- and please make sure a breeder is reputable and never buy from a puppy farm.
**Edited to add- loving all the tales of woe from fellow terrier servants, thank you! And a couple of people have pointed out that greyhounds (especially rescues) often make excellent first dogs- very chill, calm and gentle, but obviously, again do your own due diligence to make sure they would be compatible with your life, and that you can provide everything they need to be happy and content**
