5 Best Dog Foods For Bull Terriers

How to Choose the Best Dog Foods for Bull Terriers

The distinctive egg-shaped head of the Bull Terrier makes the breed easily recognizable in any crowd. A dog breed renowned for its clumsy, comical ways, it’s hard not to love this stubborn yet sweet natured pooch.

The Bull Terrier traces its roots to 1835 when it was the result of an intentional breeding between the now extinct English Terrier and the Bulldog. Over time, the breed was further refined through planned crosses to the Spanish Pointer to improve the dog’s physical size and provide an appearance that was more masculine in nature.

Originally used as fighting dogs, the breed later became a status symbol for elegant gentlemen during the 19th century. The Bull Terriers of today are loving family companions that are essentially low maintenance dogs, requiring very little grooming though regular exercise is a must.

The Bull Terrier is a breed of immense power and muscle, and thus, requires a diet of exceptional quality to thrive. The breed is well known to have skin sensitivities due to the shortness of their coat. Because of this, hotspots often occur that require regular treatment. Experts agree that one of the leading causes of skin irritation in the Bull Terrier can be traced to artificial flavors and colors in dog foods, and thus, they must be avoided.

Bull Terriers have certain physical conditions the breed can be predisposed to. A high quality diet can help support the Bull Terrier’s health and wellness, and in some cases, can help prevent or eliminate potential health problems.

Among the ailments that can befall Bull Terriers are:

• Deafness
• Heart disease
• Skin problems
• Spinning (an obsessive behavioral disorder)

Though diet alone cannot necessarily thwart predisposed genetic illness, the best dog foods for Bull Terriers can provide a vital help in maintaining the dog’s best possible health.

Choosing the Correct Calorie Counts for the Best Dog Foods for Bull Terriers

Bull Terriers enjoy an active lifestyle and require a diet that can provide them with the energy they need each day. Determining precisely how much of the best dog food for Bull Terriers to feed a dog will take some trial and error. The best course of action is to consult the suggested serving size on the bag of food and use this as a baseline measurement.

It will be necessary to adjust the Bull Terrier’s portions by increasing or decreasing the amounts until the correct serving size is determined. Free feeding is very strongly discouraged as this breed can and will overeat if given opportunity to do so. As a general rule of thumb, a dog’s appetite and weight can serve as helpful guidelines in discovering appropriate meal sizes for the Bull Terrier.

Bull Terriers should receive a diet that consists of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat at a minimum. Slightly higher percentages are also acceptable.

Dietary Requirements to Look for the Best Dog Foods for Bull Terriers

Bull Terriers are carnivores. To this end, the best dog foods for Bull Terriers should be based on a meat. Lean meats are the best choice, but meat meals also offer all of the nutrition the breed needs to enjoy good health.

Because the Bull Terrier is prone to skin and stomach sensitivities, it is best to avoid diets that contain by-products or plant-based proteins like soy, corn, and wheat. Also, any food that contains artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives must be left on the shelf as Bull Terriers are highly susceptible to developing skin irritations from eating these types of diets.

Carbohydrates are an important part of the Bull Terrier’s diet. The emphasis on any carbohydrate included in a high quality food for this breed is its ease of digestibility and high antioxidant content. Carbohydrates can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables with their main role being encouraging healthy digestion and a strong immune system.

Healthy fats are of particular importance to the Bull Terrier. Not only do they help fuel the breed’s energy reserves, but they also promote skin and coat health, something that is critical to dogs that suffer from recurring irritations of the skin. The best sources for healthy fats are animal-based and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish like mackerel, salmon, herring, anchovies, and sardines.

Supplements can help provide support for many of the Bull Terrier’s systems. The most beneficial ingredients to look for include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.

Things to Look for in the Best Dog Foods for Bull Terriers

Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in a food for a Bull Terrier:

• 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