Bull terriers have captured our heart since the 1860's when the breed was first recognized. Loyal bully owners love the combination of distinctive looks and exceptional personality. A few bullies are famous because of the owners like General Patton. Some bullies like Patsy Ann are famous because she was adopted by a whole city and lived to meet the incoming ships but was stone deaf. Several popular books include bull terriers and showcase their unique personality and determination. In more recent years we were entertained by the Budweiser dog, Spuds Mackenzie, and the Target dogs.

The most famous bull terrier owned by General Patton was purchased in March 1944. He was named Willie, short for "William the Conqueror." When General Patton bought Willie, he wrote in his diary, "My bull pup...took to me like a duck to water. He supposedly had his own set of "dog tags" too. Willie was devoted to General Patton and followed him everywhere. After General Patton’s death Willie was sent home to the United States, and lived out the rest of his life with the General's wife and daughters. There is a statue of Patton and Willie at the General Patton Memorial Museum. Not everyone was charmed by Patton and Willie. When Sgt. Bill Maudlin, Stars and Stripes cartoonist, met Gen. Patton in March 1945, he described Willie this way: Beside him, lying in a big chair was Willie, the bull terrier. If ever dog was suited to master this one was. Willie had his beloved boss's expression and lacked only the ribbons and stars. I stood in that door staring into the four meanest eyes I'd ever seen.

 In 1903 Richard Harding Davis wrote "The Bar Sinister" that was a rag to riches story about a street wise bull terrier named Kid. Mr. Davis was inspired by a dog called Edgewood Cold Steel. Successful show dog, Edgewood Cold Steel, died June 15, 1906 and the obituary was in the New York Times.

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford has a bull terrier. The tale tells of the magnificent adventure shared by three domestic animals as they travel in the wilderness, searching for their beloved masters. It reveals the suffering and stress of an arduous journey together with the unveering loyalty and courage of the three animals.

Patsy Ann, a deaf bull terrier, and unofficial greeter in Juneau, Alaska. Patsy Ann showed up sometime in the late 1920's but no one is certain who she once belong too. The town adopted her and raised the money to buy her license with a nice collar. She made her rounds through town until March 30, 1942 when she was found dead in the Union Hall. She was buried under the Alaska Steamship dock but her statue continues to greet ships and tourists.

Spuds Mackenzie’s popularity wasn't diminished a drop when some enterprising reporter discovered that the dog who played Spuds in commercials was really a she, a female bull terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye. Budweiser officials tried to conceal the true gender from the public, even using their coats to shield Spuds from cameras when she had to potty, but eventually word leaked out. Several entities claimed Budweiser was targeting children so Spuds was retired and later died from kidney failure at a ripe old age.