The FCI standard expressly sets no weight limit, only a height ceiling: 35,5 cm. Otherwise its standard matches the larger Bull Terrier’s, including the egg-shaped head with its gently downward-curving profile.
| FCI | Group 3 (Terriers), Section 3 Bull type Terriers, Standard No. 359, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Height at the withers | No more than 35,5 cm |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard, expressly without a weight limit |
| Life expectancy | Median 12,2 years among 268 dogs in a British analysis (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | Short, flat, even and hard to the touch, with a fine gloss |
| Colours according to the standard | White: pure white, skin pigmentation and head markings are not faults; coloured: colour predominates, brindle preferred, also black brindle, red, fawn and tricolour; blue and liver highly undesirable |
Small, but no new idea
The standard says smaller Bull Terriers have been known since the early 19th century, but they fell out of fashion before the First World War, and the Kennel Club removed them from its studbook in 1918. Only in 1938 did Colonel Richard Glyn and fellow enthusiasts begin their revival and found the Miniature Bull Terrier Club. Read about the larger relative in the entry on the Bull Terrier.
A joker with a stubborn streak
Courageous, spirited and playful, balanced and trainable: this is how the standard sums up its temperament. It may be stubborn, but is particularly good with people. In everyday life, that means it loves closeness, play and physical contact, while still enjoying a debate about the rules.
Plenty of muscle in a small package
The standard requires an impression of maximum substance for the dog’s size. It can pull correspondingly hard if never taught otherwise: practise lead manners early, alongside tug games with clear rules and calm encounters with dogs. The short, hard coat is easily maintained with a rubber grooming mitt.
What the genes bring
Among 268 Miniature Bull Terriers, median lifespan was 12,2 years, compared with 12,0 for crossbreeds (McMillan et al. 2024), although with so few dogs the interval of 11,0 to 13,8 years is wide. Primary lens luxation is well documented: the lens becomes displaced, causing pain and risking blindness. Gould and colleagues (2011) estimated that 7,3 to 15,2 per cent of the breed was affected. After a genetic test became available, British studbook data recorded no affected puppies born for years (Lewis and Mellersh 2019). Dogs with two copies of a RAPGEF6 variant had a 10- to 17-fold increased risk of early-onset laryngeal paralysis (Hadji Rasouliha et al. 2019). A genetic test is also available for lethal acrodermatitis, which causes failure to thrive, immune weakness and skin damage (Bauer et al. 2018).
A restricted breed or not?
Because it is so closely related to the Bull Terrier, clarify the legal position before buying. Some German federal states impose conditions on Bull Terriers; your state or municipality can give a binding answer on whether the Miniature is classified in the same way.
Who it is right for
People with humour, patience and an appetite for training, who want a compact, affectionate dog with a mind of its own.
Who should consider another breed
Anyone expecting quiet and unquestioning obedience, or whose children cannot yet hold a powerful dog on a lead, is unlikely to be happy with this little powerhouse.
The breed quiz can answer whether such a stubborn charmer fits your everyday life; our book offers greater depth: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). If you are getting a puppy, get support from the free Puppy Starter Pack. Its egg-shaped head makes a striking digital artwork to download or a picture from our dog portraits from your own photo.
Further reading
- Rottweiler: a restricted breed, a huge heart and 45 kilos of responsibility
- Puppy training: the 5 rules that really work
- Is my dog overweight? How to assess body condition and ideal weight
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 359 Miniature Bull Terrier (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026, valid standard published 08.09.2026; no German version has been published); FCI breed page No. 359; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Gould D et al., ADAMTS17 mutation associated with primary lens luxation is widespread among breeds, Veterinary Ophthalmology 2011; Lewis TW, Mellersh CS, Changes in mutation frequency of eight Mendelian inherited disorders in eight pedigree dog populations following introduction of a commercial DNA test, PLoS One 2019; Hadji Rasouliha S et al., A RAPGEF6 variant constitutes a major risk factor for laryngeal paralysis in dogs, PLoS Genetics 2019; Bauer A et al., MKLN1 splicing defect in dogs with lethal acrodermatitis, PLoS Genetics 2018.
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