Gull Terr

The Gull Terr, or Gull Terrier, is a rare breed from the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. It descends directly from the Bull Terriers brought out from Great Britain, crossed with dogs native to the Indian subcontinent, and it is used for guarding and hunting and often for dog fighting. It is sometimes called the Indian or Pakistani Bull Terrier.

History

Bull Terriers arrived in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent during the British Raj. The breed became very popular in colonial India, where a Bull Terrier Club of India was set up in Calcutta. Crossing these dogs with local breeds, among them the Bully Kutta, produced the Gull Terr. Old photographs of English Bull Terriers show many of the same features, such as the height, the pointed ears and the long muzzle.

The dogs were first used in blood sports such as bull baiting and dog fighting, which the British had introduced to the region. When those sports were outlawed across the Empire, Gull Terrs were kept as guard dogs. Some breeders in colonial India crossed the Gull Terr back to the Bully Kutta; the result, the Gull Dong, is known in India and Pakistan for speed and tenacity.

The breed is banned from New York City Housing Authority homes and in the Cayman Islands.

Appearance

The Gull Terr is a tall, broad-chested, muscular dog of medium size, standing 46 to 56 cm (18 to 22 in). Males weigh 25 to 29 kg (55 to 65 lb) and females 20 to 25 kg (45 to 55 lb). The ears are large and stand erect. The coat is short, smooth and dense, much like that of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and is normally white, sometimes with dark markings on the face and body.

Temperament

Gull Terrs are wary of strangers and protective of their owners and their territory. They are highly trainable.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.