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Bull Terrier

Bull Terrier genetic profile from the CanVAS Atlas. 44 dogs in the Atlas, heterozygosity 0.20. Nearest relatives, trait loci frequencies, cohort distribution.

What the atlas says about Bull Terrier

In the atlas, the Bull Terrier clusters consistently as Bull Terrier (100% of the 44 dogs here). Genetic diversity is low (mean heterozygosity 0.196), suggesting a tightly-related local population. At the trait loci, SMOC2 runs lower than average (2% here vs 75%); HMGA2 runs lower than average (7% here vs 56%). Dogs here sit in a relatively sparse region of the atlas, fewer close neighbors than typical.

Ranks 5 of 107 on the bottleneck severity scale, among the most genetically contracted breeds in the atlas. Mean heterozygosity is 0.196, low even for a closed-stud breed. High breed predictability score (5.01), individual dogs of this breed reliably cluster together genetically.

Closest genetic neighbors in the atlas: Miniature Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, and Bulldog.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Bull Terrier

Computed from the 14,478 research dogs in the Atlas. Methods: technical methodology.

Dogs in the Atlas
44Founders
26 from Hayward2016, 13 from Shannon, 4 from Spatola
Genetic diversity
0.20Severe bottleneck
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 5th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 32.93 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
Nearest genetic relatives
  1. Miniature Bull Terrier30.10
  2. Bullmastiff47.88
  3. Staffordshire Bull Terrier63.73
  4. Boston Terrier68.54
  5. Bulldog69.31
Top-10 PC corrected Euclidean. Lower = closer.
Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP. Methods + caveats in technical methodology.

Body size
IGF189%
HMGA27%
SMAD251%
LCORL93%
STC297%
ADAMTS1732%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA1885%
FGF4·CFA1297%
Coat
RSPO286%
FGF544%
KRT7199%
MC1R97%
Ear set
MSRB399%
Skull shape
BMP399%
SMOC22%
Add your Bull Terrier to the Atlas

You can add your Bull Terrier right now at /add/ as a Charted star. Or, if you'd rather wait for DNA uploads, leave your email and we'll let you know the moment those open.

Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · CanVAS dimensions data