The bull terrier does not have any upper size limits so they can get quite big. If you see one Stafford size then it either a mini bull or a small one as the ones I see at shows are bigger than Staffords. Well bigger than a standard sized stafford although I am always being told my SBT are small even though they are top size for the standard. I would go to a few shows were you will see lots of different dogs together. You will see the good the bad and the ugly as a comparison. And talk to lots of owners.
I have 2 fabulous bitches that come training. the owners have put in SO much time and work into them, one is a year old, the other is a few weeks younger. The owners walk them for up to 2 hours each day, and they go off lead. They are both social with dogs and have some good friends. Neither are huge, but not as small as a Mini. On the other end of the scale, I recently saw a young male (18 months) who had developed a major issue Shadow chasing, he was causing excessive stress at home, totally unable to relax, no recall and the owners were giving him maybe 30/40 mins of exercise a day. He has a lot of problems and it is going to take a fair amount of work on his owners part to sort him out.
We have a 20 month old female EBT and she is the best!! Stubborn yes, but she is wonderfully funny and totally non-aggressive. We think we are lucky to have a good example of the breed and she even does what she's told, when given a stern voice! Please could I just say though, do your research before getting one (as you should with any breed) and unless you are really set on getting a puppy, please, please, please look up Bullies SOS online. They are totally inundated with EBTs at the moment and some are even at risk of being put to sleep as there are no homes for them!! I don't know if you are on a well known social networking site, but I am subscribed to Bullies SOS on there and EVERY single day they are putting posts on about a new dog that has come into rescue and needs a good home, there are just so many!! Please consider helping some of these dogs instead of getting a puppy. You can get quite young dogs in rescue too and it is such a good feeling to give a dog a second chance at a loving home.....OR, you could always offer to foster one (if you are able) and that way you could get some experience of living with EBTs and help out a dog too!!
These are my 2 bull terriers, Beryl (Tri) & Betty (white) Betty was born deaf so was really hard work for about the first 18 months of her life. She tested us to the limits so many times But all the hard work we put in payed off, as she is now 4 yrs old and even though she is very lazy, she does agility and has passed her KC good citizen silver award. And last year she was also in a production of Oliver Beryl my other bullie is completely different, shes got so much energy and is like zebedee She is 2 yrs old. She loves going for walks and going to training classes & agility. She has passed her good citizen silver award also and is now doing competitive obedience. She has been challenging in other ways, but just because she thinks everything is a game, and is a class clown Bull terriers are like toddlers, nothing is safe when they are pups or adolescents. If its in there way, they will either walk through it or chew it. So if you are house proud, do not get a bullie. Be prepared for tears, because they are hardwork but they also are so funny when you least expected it This breed certainly need training and socialising, but its so worth it in the long run. I wouldn't be without mine now
They can be a handful I've lived with em for 33 years speak to breeder and look for parents that are more laid back we've had some that are as laid back as can be n others that are mega hyper From a puppy they can be a handful and should be socialised early they ned a lot of exercise and stimulation the "destructive" ones are just bored if they are going to be left for more than 4 5hrs they are not the dog for you They are much ore of a handful than staffs but just as enjoyable and 100 times dafter lol