How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Bull Terrier Puppies
Bull Terrier puppies are adorable little bundles of fun. Roly poly and easily identified by their unique egg-shaped heads, Bull Terrier puppies delight their families with their sweet-natured, comical ways.
A breed that traces its roots back its days as a fighting dog in England in the mid 1900s, this amiable little pooch went on to become a popular gentleman’s company by the turn of the century. Today, Bull Terrier puppies are much loved family pets, providing their owners with endless hours of fun…and comical stories to share.
Bull Terrier puppies are not known for being the most stable on their feet. In fact, the breed is renowned for being clown-like and clumsy. Stubborn by nature, training a Bull Terrier puppy takes a lot of patience and some ingenuity.
A breed that is easily motivated by food, it is very important to feed Bull Terrier puppies a very high quality diet to support their nutritional needs and critical growth phases. Since Bull Terrier puppies can be predisposed to skin irritations and hotspots, it is important that their diet be free from common allergens for the breed including such items as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, corn, wheat, and soy.
As with all breeds, there are a few health problems that Bull Terrier puppies can be predisposed to. Some of these conditions can be positively impacted by the best dog foods for Bull Terrier puppies.
The most common ailments associated with Bull Terrier puppies include:
- Deafness
- Spinning (a behavioral disorder that is inherited)
- Heart disease
- Skin irritations/allergies
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Bull Terrier Puppies
Determining the correct amount of food to feed a Bull Terrier puppy can be quite a challenge. The best dog foods for Bull Terrier puppies include a list of suggested serving sizes on their packaging. This amount can be used as a starting point with adjustments made until the right portion size is found.
Since Bull Terrier puppies will eat past the point of being full if allowed to, it is important that this dog breed never be free fed. All food should be carefully measured and monitored. At the first sign of excess weight, portions should be adjusted to encourage a return to a more healthful body condition.
Rapid bone growth from a food that is too rich in protein or that has the wrong proportions of calcium to phosphorus can create permanent structural problems in the adult Bull Terrier. It is best to select a food that lists the ratio of 1.2 parts of calcium to each part of phosphorus in its nutritional analysis.
Bull Terrier puppies should be fed puppy food until the dog reaches one year of age. At this time, the dog should be transitioned to an appropriate adult diet.
Bull Terrier pups require a food that contains a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat.
Dietary Requirements for Bull Terrier Puppy Foods
Bull Terrier puppies require a diet based on meats to thrive. Lean meats are the best choices, but meat meals are also an excellent concentrated source of protein, containing all the nutrients Bull Terrier puppies need to attain optimal health.
The best dog foods for Bull Terrier puppies are free from by-products and plant-based proteins like soy, corn, and wheat. These are common allergens for many dogs. In addition to this, no diet suited to the needs of the skin sensitive Bull Terrier should contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. These low quality ingredients are linked to skin problems in this breed.
Carbohydrates are an important part of the Bull Terrier puppy’s ideal diet. These can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Each carbohydrate included should be rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants to support healthy digestion and strong immunity in puppies.
Healthy fats provide Bull Terrier puppies with energy and also support coat and skin health. These are best derived from animal origins such as chicken fat and oily fish like mackerel, anchovies, sardines, salmon, and herring. Plant-based oils such as canola and safflower also offer a powerhouse punch of nutrients to benefit puppies.
Supplements added to a diet also increase the food’s efficacy. The most beneficial supplements to look for in a food for the Bull Terrier puppy include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Bull Terrier Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in a food for a Bull Terrier puppy:
- Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
- Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
- Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
- Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
- Includes the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus to promote a healthy rate of bone growth