The English bull terrier is generally an active and affectionate breed that makes loyal companions for families.
However, without proper socialization and training, their high prey drive can sometimes lead to aggressive behavior.
The Princess Royal’s dogs have occasionally been at the center of negative attention due to such incidents.
Princess Anne’s faces prison time for unruly terriers, 2002
In 2002, the Princess Royal became the first senior member of the royal family to be convicted of a criminal offense.
The mother-of-two pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her English bull terrier, Dotty, became dangerously out of control and bit two children in Windsor Great Park.
In that incident, Dotty left a 12-year-old boy with a bite on the collarbone and two bites on his left leg. A seven-year-old boy sustained scratch marks on his leg, back, and arm.
Princess Anne was fined £500 for the attack and ordered to pay £250 in compensation, along with £148 in costs at a Magistrate Court in Slough. Her three-year-old terrier narrowly avoided being put down, but the royal was instructed by Judge Penelope Hewitt to “undergo training and be kept on a lead in all public places,” according to The Guardian.
The Queen’s beloved Corgi takes a hit, 2003
The following year, Princess Anne’s bull terrier, Florence, attacked one of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved Corgis, Pharos, who had to be put down after the incident.
The Queen’s dogs were her most loyal companions, with the former monarch owning more than 30 Corgis during her 70-year reign. At one point, Her Late Majesty even had up to ten Corgis at a time, showering them with royal treatment and a life of luxury, including home-cooked meals from a “royal dog menu.”
Princess Anne’s Boxing Day drama, 2023
On Boxing Day in 2023, it was reported that Princess Anne’s bull terrier bit into the ear of a gamekeeper’s dog during a shoot in Sandringham. While both dogs survived, the incident was undoubtedly distressing for the animals and their owners.
