Shorty Bull Breed Standard
The standard calls for a compact dog being of small stature and having a sturdy build. The Shorty Bulls weigh in at 40 pounds or less and measure 15” or less at the shoulder. The ideal Shorty Bull has defined muscle with thick bone, a wide frame and classic bulldog looks. The back should be short in comparison with the legs, so the dog resembles a box when viewed from the side. When you look at a Shorty Bull, you should get the impression of a little tank, wide for it’s height and very strong for it’s size. The Shorty Bull should always be stout and never appear fragile or fine boned.
Temperament is one of the breeds most
important characteristics. Most of all,
the Shorty Bull should be a naturally
happy, outgoing dog exuding
confidence. They should never show shyness or fearfulness and should
never show aggression toward
people. Shorty Bulls have a high
play drive which tends to make
life one big game for them.
Their prey drive is strong and they love to chase things that move. Shorty Bulls tend to be very curious about their surroundings. They investigate everything, sometimes to the point of putting their own safety at risk-- a sort of courageous curiosity. Because of their prey drive and curiosity, Shorty Bulls are active in many of the sports originally designed for their larger counterparts. We participate in some of the protection sports and it is strictly for “sport“…..
The Shorty Bulls are, in
reality, too small to do any
“real” protection work but
the desire is in them to play
the game. Shorty Bulls have what I like to call “ability with limits”… meaning they can
perform at high levels but given their phenotype, they can not sustain those levels of high performance for very long. In 2007, Isaac’s Moby Dick of Blue River received his IronDogIII title and completed the 12 mile run. Many of the Shorty Bulls are capable of running short distances, Moby and the 12 miles is the exception to the norm. Running 1-3 miles is
much more realistic with a Shorty Bull. Shorties are very strong given the build
and one of our foundation females, a
weight pull contender, could consistently
pull 2000 lbs, weighing in at only
40 lbs herself. Many Shorties compete
in pulling events. Shorty Bulls also enjoy
a good game of tug of war and they love to bounce and jump. A 4’ fence will not keep a Shorty enclosed.
The standard calls for the ears to be cropped close to the head. Shorty Bulls without cropped ears are not permitted in the show ring. Ear cropping should be performed by a veterinarian with the dog under anesthetic and should be done no later than four months of age. Tails that are longer than one inch at birth should be docked to one inch. Most Shorty Bulls are born with a naturally short tail which may be either kinked or screwed, but longer tails occasionally appear in the breed at this point and those must be docked. Shorty Bulls with tails will not be permitted in the show ring.
SHORTY BULL BREED STANDARD CHART LIST:
HEIGHT: 15 INCHES AND UNDER
WEIGHT: 40 LBS
HEAD: Round head with typical bulldog features. Eyes should set far apart and should not protrude. Nose should turn up slightly and may be black or liver colored. Dudley noses are a cosmetic fault.
BITE: All dogs must be undershot, but not to an extreme degree.
EYES: May be of any color but brown in preferred. Eyes should have an oval shape and not protrude from the skull.
EARS: Must be cropped close to the head.
BODY: Body should be short from withers to tail. Chest should be broad for height and have depth reaching to the elbow. A compact look is desired, width of front quarters and hindquarters should be proportionate, not lending to a narrow rear, and the chest may be broader than the rear but very narrow hindquarters are a fault.
SHOULDERS AND RUMP: Well rounded and well muscled, lending to the appearance of strength. There may be a slight rise over the loins.
LEGS: Heavy boned and in direct proportion to the body. Long legs in proportion to the body or fine bones are a fault. Cow hocks and pigeon toes are a fault.
FEET: Tight feet and straight pasterns are desired. Splayed feet are a fault, weak pasterns are a fault.
TAIL: Tail must be short, either docked or screwed, but no long tails permitted.
COLOR: All coat colors are accepted except for black and tan or merle.
TEMPERAMENT: Good natured and even tempered. Extreme shyness or undue aggression is a serious fault.