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THE TEETH.
Discussion.The teeth have become more of a problem as the profile has become more exaggerated. In order to accommodate a very curved (and therefore somewhat shortened) nose profile, the underjaw has either remained deep, long and broad producing undershot dentition, or become narrow and shortened (pig-jawed) which allows the front incisors to meet in the preferred scissors, but crowds the lower canines inward where they can prevent the mouth from completely closing, and damage or puncture the hard palate above. Premolars are often missing in Bull Terriers as well, possibly as a result of this progressive genetic shortening of the lower jaw to achieve a more exaggerated profile and retain a scissors bite. A deep strong underjaw can be appropriately balanced by a long, wide muzzle with the correct profile to accommodate proper dentition..
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This is a correct mouth with the top incisors (1) closely overlapping the bottom incisors (2)the canine teeth (3) properly placed and fully visible, with the premolars (4) present just posterior to the canines.
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This is .
also a correct mouth with the upper and lower incisors meeting with no overlap, hence the description "level". |
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A slight .
mouth fault with one or more of the bottom incisors just forward of the upper incisors with no space in-between. |
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Discussion.- The expression is a key feature of the Bull Terrier. Together with the dense, muscular, shapely body and correctly shaped head, the "varminty" look is responsible for making the dog a BULL TERRIER and not just a strong, chunky dog. The eye openings should be slanted and triangular, set relatively high in the head, with a dark, keen eye. The ears add to the alert expression and should be close together and pointing upwards. A Bull Terrier with donkey ears and a round, "kind" or pale eye loses the intense, alert "varminty" look so valued in the breed.
Small vertical well shaped ears, a small triangular eye opening set high in this smooth egg-shaped head create the desirable "varminty" expression in this Bull Terrier
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UNDERSHOT BITE
A more severe mouth fault with the lower incisors well forward of the uppers and the lower canine beside or forward of the top lateral incisor. |
OVERSHOT BITE
The upper incisors forward of the lower incisors with a space in between. This fault is more severe when the lower canine falls behind the upper canine as pictured here. |
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MISPLACED CANINE TOOTH
A scissors bite with a misplaced lower canine. The top half of the canine is not visible when the jaws are closed. |
A "WRY" MOUTH
This mouth looks scissors from one side and undershot from the other resulting from a crooked line of dentition. |
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