Itibull - Miniature Bull Terriers NZ

03/01/2025

Path to Puppies - X-ray Day!
Today the lovely Alice from Taranaki Vet Centre Pets in Hawera assisted me to get suited up to hold Vinca for an x-ray. Vinca stayed very still while Alice clicked the button to take the magical picture, to help us determine how many babies are in that growing belly.

The conclusion is definitely 4, possibly 5 🥳 and thankfully not 11! 🤣

I've played with the lighting on the image as best as I can so you can hopefully see the skulls and spines a little clearer. Unfortunately Vinca did have a little bit of gas and "bowel traffic" that could possibly be hiding an additional puppy. We do have the option to have another x-ray next week or can wait and see what arrives! Not long now 😬

How many can you see?

31/12/2024

Wishing all our magnificent minibull lover friends a safe and fun New Years! We are looking forward to the adventures, experiences and laughter ahead in 2025 🥳

Much wuvs Lisa & Vinca 🧡🐾

Photo credit: Aunty Sam

27/12/2024

Path to Puppies - 2 weeks to D day!
Quick update on how things are going ... the biggest change this last week has been Vincas belly, it has definitely filled out and dropped. Her weight is up to 17kgs, which is about a 15% increase on her normal weight, this is on track and the heaviest she has ever been 🥳

She still takes her folic acid and vitE tablets like treats, vitC has to be disguised. Keeping her food varied helps keep her interested, but she has been a little fussy and some hand feeding has been involved to make sure she is getting the goodness she needs.

Cuddles on the couch in the sun is her favourite thing to do, and I don't mind at all 😂 I set up the whelping box yesterday and waiting on supplies to arrive so can set the room up fully. We will start spending more time in there over the next week to get her used to it and comfortable being in there.

On Friday the 3rd of January we have an xray booked to give us an idea of how many babies are baking in that beautiful belly. How many do you think are in there? 🤔

25/12/2024

This is one example (of many) of why I feel honoured and privileged to co-own Vinca (Ch Boromir Luminary Wytch from Vortex ROM) with Heidi & Linda.

Being relatively new to the Bull Terrier Miniature breed, I am truly blessed to have been welcomed into the Boromir Bull Terriers family and have not only an amazing mentors but also amazing friends through this connection.

There is so much more to being a preservation breeder, than just mating two dogs. It's about striving for the best for the breed, in the show ring, the home and overall. Love how this post demonstrates the international community of bull terrier breeders working together to achieve this.

This picture shows an obvious bond between a dog and his little boy. Every time I see these two together it gives my heart a little squeeze. Thank you so much to mum Rach for letting me publish it.

Looking at them this morning got me thinking about the years, the money, the heartache and the triumphs that went into producing this beautiful dog.

It got me thinking about the benefits of breeding well-thought-out litters of Kennel Club registered pedigree dogs that are healthy in both body and brain. The benefit of being involved with and personally knowing generations of their ancestors and health testing every parent before mating, considering them to be a good enough representation of the breed standard to be included in the breeding program, and being happy that their temperaments are good enough to breed from.

I’ve traced this particular dog’s pedigree back past 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘄 (1931) to 𝗘𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗲 (1924), 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗖𝗵 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘁 and beyond. That’s better than I have managed to do with my own family tree!

The picture makes me think of the treasured friends I’ve made among the breeders that Deane and I have worked with along the way as well as the importance and generosity of their contributions to the breeding undertaken at Boromir kennels over the years.

The dog in the picture is 'Maverick' - 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁 & 𝗡𝗭 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘅 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁 & 𝗡𝗭 𝗥𝗢𝗠 and he is busily illustrating just how much a well-bred, healthy pedigree dog that can win the big shows is also the very best pet dog. He joined this family at 4 years of age.

Maverick was born here in NZ in 2018, one of 8 beautiful white babies in a joint litter between Linda Flegg (Vortex) and I. Delivered naturally, his mother 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘅 𝗥𝗢𝗠 was very nurturing and the litter was an easy one. Maverick stayed with me and had a successful show career in NZ before moving to Australia to be shown by Kerry King of Brasshead Bull Terriers. After a trans-Tasman total of 7 Best in show awards under specialists we decided to retire him from showing and he went to live in a pet home. They adore him and he obviously adores them. He has such a sweet temperament that we were sure it would be a lasting match, borne out by the amazing photos we get from them on a regular basis.

He is nine generations down from one of our original foundation bitches 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 (1993).

His pedigree (to me anyway) is a picture of successful collaboration between breeders around the world.

The fashioning of this particular dog started for me in 1991 when Deane and I purchased 𝗖𝗵 𝗧𝗲𝗵𝗶𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗻 (𝗜𝗺𝗽 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁) who can be found 11 generations back in Mav's pedigree. Aragorn first came to NZ with his breeders Robert and Debbie Pirika and we got him from them while he was still a pup and he grew up with our kids.

Trudy Maynard and Neil Cook sold the bitch 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 to Deane and I in 1992, she was Black Widow’s mother.

I will always be thankful to Espen Thygesen of Quest Kennels in Norway who sent us the puppies 𝗖𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗴𝗴𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗥𝗢𝗠 'Brie' in 1997 (7 generations back) and 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻 in 2001 (5 generations back). Yggdrazil was the only bitch in her litter but Espen kept his promise to me and she became an honorary Kiwi. Brie was another dog that spent her life with us.

A pair of new breeders in the UK were happy to sell a pup to us in NZ after Deane and I saw their litter in 1995, the pup was 𝗖𝗵 𝗥𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 (9 generations back) sired by 𝗖𝗵 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿. Raging Thunder went to Gayle and Lance Stephenson of Satori Kennels in Australia as a mature dog.

Tracy Schick in Australia took a chance in 1997 and sold me 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁/𝗡𝗭 𝗖𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗢𝗠 (7 gens back) and his daughter 𝗖𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘅 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 (6 gens).

Kiss This is the mother of our sweet 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗢𝗠 and the bitch line in this pedigree goes directly back to her.

In 2007 Linda Flegg and I imported 𝗖𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 (6 gens back) from Espen, she was an adult dog at the time. She arrived health tested and in pup to 𝗘𝗺𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗮. I can still remember how excited Linda and I were when we got the news that she was pregnant and definitely coming to NZ!

Then there was the collaboration between Kerry King and I to produce 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘅 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗔/𝗡𝗭 𝗥𝗢𝗠 'Java' three generations back. Peter O’Brien in Australia sold me the sire’s semen (𝗖𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿) and Linda and I brought Java over to NZ as a pup.

And finally the deal between Memo Teran (Ecuador) and I to swap my dog - 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗢𝗠 in exchange for semen from his dog - 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲 - who is Maverick’s sire.

As a follow on to the idea of building up pedigrees and working with others, I recently titled Maverick's grandson 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗢𝗠 whose mother 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗘𝗶𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗢𝗠 was co-bred with Pip Webster ( Bulltanica) and sire 𝗖𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘅 𝗥𝗢𝗠 co-bred with Linda Flegg (Vortex).

Without all these other breeders it would be impossible for me to continue striving to create quality pedigree Bull Terriers. An added bonus is that several of them are still my best friends!

www.bullterrier.co.nz

25/12/2024

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE 🎄🧡
Vinca and I hope your Christmas has been full of love, laughter and cuddles!

We had a lovely breakfast with Nana, Grandad and Uncle Mark this morning, and lots of cuddles for the little white hippo.

Amazing to see how pregnancy has chilled out my tiny dancer and this year she had no interest in ripping open the wrapping paper, only priority was, you guessed it ... cuddles 🤣

Our afternoon has been spent napping, eating and in the garden, a perfect day!

Much love to you and your fur families
Lisa and Vinca 🧡🐾
ItiBull Miniature Bull Terriers NZ

21/12/2024

With 3 weeks to go, thought I would watch some whelping/birthing videos in preparation ... trying to get through them without gagging 😂

This video is really informative and not so graphic! Definitely agree with the health and temperament, then confirmation ethos - Vinca has weak points (mainly front angulation), we selected Jax as he compliments her health wise, had strengths in her weaknesses and an amazing temperament, the hope is these babies are a step closer to the elusive perfect miniature bull terrier.

Please support the Channel by checking out my affiliate links!!!Become a Dogumentary TV Channel member!!!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpejL4mTlUJ_hfQY1Pi...

16/12/2024

Bulltanica Bull Terriers and Bonsai Miniature Bull Terriers have the stunning Polar Bear available. If you are interested in a brilliantly breed FULL SIZE bull terrier, please READ THE POST and make contact with Bulltanica.

11/12/2024

Christmas is coming in hot and will be here before we know it 🌲🎅 Get your shopping sorted now, with our range of bully-licious clothing and apparel! Everyone needs a bully tee this summer ☀️

Shop at https://itibull.digitees.co.nz/shop

25/11/2024

Path to Puppies - Stitches Out
Where have the last couple of weeks gone? Today marks two weeks since Vinca had her surgical insemination, which means it’s time for her stitches to come out.

After being on crate rest and having minimal visitors for the past few weeks, visiting Taranaki Vet Centre Pets in Hawera was an exciting outing and a great opportunity to receive lots of love from all the staff!

The incision is healing well, but we will continue to take things easy for a little while longer to ensure everything goes smoothly. In another couple of weeks, we can do a scan to confirm her pregnancy—how exciting!