When training Bull Terrier owners, they often ask about books and films featuring the Bull Terrier. As those of you who are familiar with the Bull Terrier, know only too well how hard they are to train, hence they do not figure much in films and often a Bull Terrier has its part taken by other breeds impersonating the Bull Terrier. Look around and you will be surprised, some real gems out there. Avoiding the usual fare found out there. So here just for you are a few nuggets and links to them.
So what is laid out below are seperate sections covering various different types of media featuring the Bull Terrier and links taking you to them if available, some have videos for you to watch and get a taster for the world of the Bull Terrier in popular media.
So the first section we can do is cartoons. Then films and onto books some are true stories some are not. Then we look at the drier material that is often considered collectable and of great interest to the true Bull Terrier fanciers out there.
From the 80's try Rude Dog. Unfortunately was dropped by TV but it's great. Really has Bull Terrier character down to a t. Always makes me laugh so try this episode, outstanding. Not to mention a good lesson where dogs come from even dweebs!! Roaring with laughter now.
A little later in the early 90's a newspaper cartoon was animated and called Mother Goose and Grim. The main character is Grimmy a Bull Terrier.
A favoured director of mine, has recently done Alice in Wonderland, Yes, you have him Tim Burton. The opening is a Bull Terrier wearing a dinosaur suit. Called Sparky. Okay a parody of Mary Shelly with the main character a Bull Terrier, weird but very Burton.
A dogs life. Old 1955 film with the main player being, a Bull Terrier. Note the difference in the Bull Terrier of today compared to the Bull Terrier of the fifties. Also the changes in other breeds. Lots of dogs to be seen on parade towards the end. Also not exactly P.C. You are warned. You can watch the film below. The Bull Terrier, well one used in the film, three were used, won the equivalent of an Oscar for the role Wildfire played. Where else can you see a Bull Terrier interact with a monkey!! Kid you not. Based on the book Bar Sinister. It is in numerous parts.
Here come and see dear old Bodger and his friends, Tao the Siamese and Luath the young Labrador. I dare a true Bull Terrier man or lady to watch it and not get to the end with a tear in the eye. Fav film still till this day. Made in 1963. Based on Sheila Burnford's book.
Okay there is always a curve ball and this is it. Its French for a start and yes its weird and not exactly a family film but it says a lot, its deep as french films are. Not a family film. Has a tag of "Beware of the dog that thinks".
A movie for the kids released straight to DVD and blue ray with Sputnik the Bull Terrier. Ever seen a Bull Terrier in space, well now you can, love his space suit. Costume department did well with this one. Check out the trailers in link below. A disney film.
Interesting story of a Bull Terrier travelling Southern Africa in the late 1800's by Percy Fitzpatrick. There is a monument to Jock in Kruger National Park.
The incredible journey. Also a wonderful film but beware, a modern version uses another breed in place of the Bull Terrier so you must watch the original.
A very interesting author and conservationist from Canada, Ernest-Thompson-Seton. Very interesting man here is a website for him www.etsetoninstitute.org.
For the really little ones out there how about Lisa Kopper and her beloved Daisy. Here is a link to one of 4 or 5 books about Daisy. This one is called Daisy is a Mommy.
Pep the brave Bull Terrier is a wonderful story of a Bull Terrier in war time, written by Clarence Hawkes. Based during the Great War it is a a story of an American Bull Terrier who goes with his master from the USA to the front line in France. Fantastic story. The first link takes you to a Kindle download. For those not using digital books a further link takes you to the printed version.
I have already brought to you The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford but here is a cd and book pack for level 3 Active Reading. Fantastic way for young ones to learn to love our breed and advancing their language skills.
How about a true story. A soldier in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment. Name was Sallie, a brindle English Bull Terrier, who joined up in May 1861 and fought on the front lines during the American Civil War. You may have heard of the battle of Gettysburg. She was there on the front line and stayed on Oak Ridge looking after the wounded and dead. There is a monument to her at Gettysburg.Yet again another true story showing the bravery of our beloved breed.
I came across this book but as yet have not seen a copy of it. I bring it to your attention as it focuses on a rather famous owner and one Bull Terrier. Yes true Royalty, the British Royal family and the now infamous incident of the Corgi and Dotty the Bull Terrier.
Marsha Boulton, author, gets herself a puppy Bull Terrier called Wally. She writes the story and shows just how life with a Bull Terrier is great especially as the world crumbles around you. A must read for anyone feeling down on their luck. A cracking good read. A MUST
This is considered a collectors item if a 1st edition. The Bull Terrier and all about it. Written in the 1930's by Major V.C Hollander. A new reprint is available but obviously not worth the price of a 1st edition. Both links here for you one to the original and one of the new reprint.
For many hardcore fanciers hearing the name Margret O Sweeten can often raise the spirits. SO here is a collection of several of her books that can be whole heartedly recommended to the hardcore collector. First editions command a good price and grace the privileged spots on the book shelf.
So firstly how about The Jackadandy Heritage in hardcover form 1985.
A book written by a man I have much admiration for. He was a kennel man at the Ormandy, Souperlative Kennels in its hay day and wrote this in the 1970's. All about the Bull Terrier by Tom Horner. He went on to become a much respected Judge on the Show Circuit. A signed first edition is worth collecting.
Training English Bull Terriers UK 
