Shorty Bull Dog Breed

The Shorty Bull is a member of the Working group of breeds; these dogs were developed to be both family pets and dog trial competitors. As such, Shorties are great as companions and as trial participants.

A few specifications: Shorty Bulls are small- to medium-sized, with short-haired, sleek coats that come in numerous colors; the coats are normally bi-colored, often with white as the secondary color.Here are some good (and not so good) qualities of this fairly new breed:

PROS:

• Affectionate and playful
• Normally strong work ethic
• Low grooming needs
• Great with children
• Excellent health
• Fairly easily trained
• Good watchdog skills
• Extremely well-balanced and even-tempered
• Socializes well with most other pets
• Well-suited for apartment life

CONS:

• High prey drive; may chase cats and other smaller pets
• Excellent jumping skills, so a high-fenced yard required
• Older dogs may develop dominance issues
• May turn destructive if left alone for extended periods
• Fairly rare, and thus expensive to purchase

A small- to medium-sized breed. Height for both sexes is 13-16 inches at the shoulders; weight is 20-45 pounds for males, and 15-40 pounds for females.

Shorty Bulls are typically good-natured, fun-loving, active dogs with a strong work ethic. These dogs are affectionate with kids and friendly toward other pets (though they may chase cats due to a high prey drive). Overall this breed makes a furry, lovable family companion.

These dogs are mostly low-maintenance, and won't need a lot of grooming and upkeep.

The Shorty Bull has its origin in the U.S. state of Kansas. In the late twentieth century, a Kansan breeder named Jamie Sweet, who at that time owned dogs that participated in weight-pulling competitions, noticed that bulldogs of smaller stature fared exceptionally well in the contests; Sweet decided to develop a new bulldog breed that was small, possessed an even temperament, and had fewer health issues than did most bulldog lines. Over the next several years, Sweet, along with fellow dog breeder Amy Krogman, used selective breeding techniques to create a compact, powerful breed of bulldog; this they did by crossing Staffordshire Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs, then choosing the smallest and healthiest of each litter to continue their crossbreeding. The pair arrived at what they considered a purebred Shorty Bull in the early 2000s.

Currently, this breed's popularity is growing; while still not common, Shorty Bull breeders exist across the U.S., and these dogs can be found in most major countries.

Shorties have short-haired, sleek coats. This breed's squat, powerful body is normally a bit greater in length than in height. The head is somewhat spherical, with a short muzzle and slight wrinkles on the jowls; the eyes are fairly small, almond-shaped, and exist in various shades of brown; the ears are usually cropped, and are wide-set and pointy (unless not cropped, in which case they are medium-sized, triangular, and floppy). A Shorty's chest is remarkably wide, and its shoulders and thighs are extremely muscular. The legs are somewhat short; the forelegs are straight, but the hind legs are angled backwards a good bit. The tail is normally docked to a nub, but if undocked is medium-length and either screwed or curved.

For people who wonder what breeds are included in a Shorty Bull's gene pool, the honest answer is that numerous breeds are in the makeup of many dogs sold as Shorty Bulls. The true Shorty Bull lines, which were originally developed by breed creators Jamie Sweet and Amy Krogman, are descended only from English Bulldogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and French Bulldogs.

Unfortunately, since the breed's initial creation around 2000, disreputable breeders have used small dogs of other breeds like Pit Bulls or American Bulldogs in their selective breeding, then sold the offspring as Shorty Bulls. While these "impostor" dogs might look exactly like true Shorty Bulls, they're often markedly different in temperament, and may have behavioral problems. Any Shorty Bull owner who is curious about their dog's genetic makeup can contact a canine DNA testing service for more information.

Otherwise, true Shorty Bulls are consistent in size (average height at the shoulders is 15 inches, and weight is in the neighborhood of 30 pounds) and coat length/texture (short and sleek).

Even-tempered, playful, loyal, and agile, the Shorty Bull is a breed known for its cuteness – in personality as well as appearance. This breed is normally good-natured and not aggressive, and makes an exceptional family pet; as is its breeding, a Shorty usually has a strong work ethic, and tends to be focused and alert. These dogs love to play, and often show their enthusiasm by bouncing or jumping around, and make good watchdogs because they tend to bark frequently (but not overly so). They're fairly easily trained, though some Shorties – usually older dogs – may have dominance issues; experts suggest firm, consistent guidance to teach this breed proper behavior.

Life expectancy is 10-12 years. Shorties were bred to be extremely healthy; because of the relative newness of the breed, no health issues are known.