Best Dog Food for Bull Terriers : 15 Healthy Options + Helpful Answers to Feeding FAQs

The history of the Bull Terrier dates to 1835 when the Bulldog crossed initially with the English Terrier that is now extinct. The terrier style dog was later bred with the Spanish Pointer to give them a larger size and more masculine features.

At the time these dogs were gladiators and known well for their fighting abilities. Around the mid-to-late 1800s the breed was a fashionable gentlemen dog known as a sturdy companion and a sign of status for men.

Today, Bull Terriers are a thriving family companion and are best kept indoors with their family. This breed is not high maintenance and doesn’t require much more than a gentle wipe down and brushing once a week.

It’s important to train this breed young and socialize them around people and other dogs, so they do not become aggressive. With the right training, love, and diet, the Bull Terrier is a strong-willed but loving addition to every family.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

What Is The Best Dog Food for a Bull Terrier?

Understanding A Bull Terrier’s Diet Requirements

While socialization and emotional training are an essential part of owning this breed you also want to pay close attention and make sure you are feeding them the best Bull Terrier food. This breed is full of energy, and as a result, they require a lot of protein and fat in their diet.

There are many different foods on the market for dogs, and they do not all do the same thing. Some of the ingredients in a lot of these foods are harmful to our dogs, and they serve no purpose in their diet. It’s critical to your Bull Terriers health that they receive a diet that contains real animal protein as the first ingredient alongside plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Here are some general guidelines you can follow when feeding your Bull Terrier:

• Puppy Bull Terrier Diet – During the first months of their life your Bull Terrier requires a lot of protein and fat to keep up with their rapid growth. At this time is when cognitive development is crucial to their growth and adaptation to society. A standard guideline is at least 20% protein and 10% fat in their diet.
• Adult Bull Terrier Diet – Since Bull Terriers range in size they generally need 2-4 cups of food per day depending on their size and level of activity. Similar to humans, not all dogs require the same amount of food, so you want to base their feedings on how they are putting on weight. This breed is prone to obesity, so you want to limit treats, canned foods, and table food as much as possible.
• Senior Bull Terrier Diet – Once your Bull Terrier reaches seven or eight years old their level of activity will start to decrease, and you may notice they put on a few pounds. At this time you can reduce their daily feedings but make sure to feed them high-quality food that contains real meat based protein. Consider putting them on a specified “senior” dog food.

Special Dietary Considerations For Bull Terriers

All dogs are considered healthy, but each has its specific issues they may run into based on their breeding and their parents. Unfortunately, a lot of the severe ailments that Bull Terriers face have little to do with their diet and more to do with their breeding but having a healthy diet always helps.

The most important thing you can do for your pup is to feed them food you can be proud of. By providing your Bull Terrier with a diet rich in wholesome ingredients like real meats, vegetables, and fruits; you can sleep soundly knowing you are doing everything in your power to make sure your pup lives the best life.

Here are some of the most common health and diet issues Bull Terriers face:

• Deafness – Partial and full deafness is common in all-white dogs so al Bull Terriers should receive a brainstem auditory evoked response test to ensure their hearing is normal. Regular trips to the veterinarian will help prevent or slow down the loss of hearing.
• Heart Disease – Defects in the structure of the heart is another common issue facing Bull Terriers. Sometimes these cases are more severe, and other times they go entirely unnoticed. Symptoms are usually a heart murmur, and some dogs live with this their whole life with no problem. Treatment often includes medication for early stages and possibly surgery for severe cases.
• Skin Irritations – White Bull Terriers have sensitive skin that is prone to rashes and irritation. Short haired dogs often experience skin irritations from household irritants or inhalants like cleaning sprays and fabric cleaner. They are also susceptible to airborne allergens like pollen and dust. You want to pay attention to your Bull Terrier and notice if he or she is scratching and biting excessively. If the irritation goes on too long, it could turn into an infection that requires steroids and antibiotics.
• Spinning – This obsessive tail chasing occurs around six months and results in your pup spinning around for hours without stopping to drink or eat. Some experts say this is the same as a seizure and can get reconciled with “anxiety type” medication like Anafranil or Prozac. The best way to try and prevent spinning is by engaging in activities with your Bull Terrier and making sure they are not alone too much during their youth.

Bull Terrier Feeding Chart

As we said previously, how you feed your Bull Terrier should depend a lot on their size and level of activity. You can tweak their feedings based on their needs and recommendations from a Veterinarian.

If you are switching their food from lower quality food, it’s important to transition them slowly so they can adjust to the changes of flavor as well as the nutrient intake. Dogs are not meant to take rapid dietary shifts, so it’s essential to start slow.

Consider mixing 25% of the new food in with 75% of the old food and gradually increase the new food percentage every week until the old recipe is wholly gone.

Here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Bull Terrier Puppies: 2-3 cups divided into two meals per day
• Bull Terrier Adults: 3-4 cups divided into two meals per day
• Bull Terrier Seniors: 2-4 cups per day depending on their weight and activity

The Best Dog Food For Bull Terrier: Our 2023 Top 15 Picks

Now that you have a solid understanding of your Bull Terrier’s needs and health considerations we can dive into some examples of high-quality foods. All of these foods contain real meat as the primary source of protein alongside healthy fruits and vegetables.

The best Bull Terrier food contains no by-products, fillers, corn, wheat, or soy and all of these foods below meet those restrictions.

Here are our top 15 picks:

Our 2023 Picks: Bull Terrier Food Recommendations:
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Best Overall	Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Grain-Free Real Chicken Buy Online Customer Reviews	$3.33/lb	A+
Best Value	Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Grain-Free Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.20/lb	A+
Most Popular	American Journey Salmon and Sweet Potato Grain-Free Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.66/lb	A+
Super Premium	Tylee’s Human-Grade Beef Recipe Frozen Dog Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$4.99/lb	A+
Best for Allergies	Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.69/lb	A+
Sensitive Stomachs	Nutro Large Breed Limited Ingredient Lamb and Sweet Potato Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.65/lb	A
Grain-Free	Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.39/lb	A
Grain-Included	Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Chicken Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.62/lb	A
Joint Health	Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken and Brown Rice Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.63/lb	A

Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Grain-Free Real Chicken

Overall Best Food for Bull Terrier: This recipe combines traditional kibble alongside boosted nutrition from freeze-dried raw meat throughout. They use cage-free chicken as the first ingredient which is a lean source of protein for strong muscles.

The food contains probiotics for digestive health along with omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. This formula contains no grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, or by-products. The recipe has a protein content of 37% and fat of 20.5% which makes this food ideal for highly active Bull Terriers who need to extra boost.

• Pros: Contains a high concentration of protein and fat, chicken is a lean protein source, probiotics help regulate bowel movements
• Cons: Protein and fat could be too high for some pups, some dogs pick out the raw boost pieces and leave them on the floor

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Grain-Free Recipe

Most Affordable Food: Everyone has a budget they have to follow, and that is why many turn to cheap alternatives to healthy dog food. Luckily, with Blue Buffalo, you don’t have to because their food is designed to meet the needs of every budget.

The Blue Wilderness line focuses on a diet that closely resembles what wolves eat in the wild. That is a diet rich in protein with limited carbohydrates. This formula uses chicken as the primary protein source alongside antioxidant-rich fruit and Blue’s LifeSource bits that contain all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay active and healthy.

The formula also contains chelated minerals which are ideal for immune system health.

• Pros: Affordable for all budgets, grain-free recipe, contains a lot of antioxidant-rich fruits
• Cons: Contains some fillers like pea protein and tomato pomace, 34% protein could cause some pups to gain weight

American Journey Salmon and Sweet Potato Grain-Free Recipe

Most Popular Food: When you are struggling to come up with an idea for what to feed your pup, sometimes it’s best to go with what everyone else is doing. This food from American Journey has nearly 2000 reviews on Chewy with most of them being five stars. That should help take some of the concern away if you’re unsure what to do.

This formula contains wholesome salmon and sweet potato which are easily digestible and provide the protein and amino acids your dog needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s vital for Bull Terriers to have food that nurtures their cognitive development and this food contains DHA which gets derived from mothers’ milk and is excellent for brain health.

• Pros: Contains lean sources of protein, salmon is easily digestible and contains a lot of healthy oils, DHA is an excellent ingredient for cognitive development in Bull Terriers
• Cons: The food has three different sources of protein which could trigger allergies, contains some fillers like pea protein and beet pulp

Tylee’s Human-Grade Beef Recipe Frozen Dog Food

Super Premium Food: Sometimes less is more when it comes to dog food. If you feed your pup the highest quality food possible, they don’t need to eat as much, and they feel more satisfied with each feeding. This food contains all human-grade ingredients and requires freezing during transportation.

The recipe uses wholesome ingredients that you could eat including USDA beef with sweet potatoes, mango, broccoli, and zucchini. The food contains a high amount of fiber as well as flaxseed and sunflower oil which are essential to your Bull Terriers skin health. The recipe contains no corn, wheat, soy, or by-products.

• Pros: All-natural ingredients, easily identifiable ingredients, contains a variety of healthy oils
• Cons: Requires freezing, can only store in the refrigerator for ten days, expensive when used by itself

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Sweet Potato and Venison

Best Food for Bull Terrier with Allergies: If your Bull Terrier deals with allergies from household allergens or environmental allergens you might need food that helps reduce the negative impact of these irritants. Some foods contain harmful ingredients like food dye and artificial flavoring which do not help your pup with their allergy problem.

This limited ingredient diet does its best to limit the impact of any of the ingredients. Each component of the food gets carefully included because it is sensitive on the stomach and nourishing to the skin. The food uses highly digestible protein in venison, and it’s the only protein the food so your pup will not have an adverse reaction to anything.

The recipe is grain-free and contains omega-3 fatty acid from the flaxseed which helps lubricate the skin and prevent skin irritations. The formula also has a lower protein and fat content of 20% protein and 10% fat to help with digestion.

• Pros: Ideal for sensitive skin, the oil helps make skin and coats soft, lower protein and fat for sensitive stomachs
• Cons: Not enough protein and fat for some pups, does not contain meat as the first ingredient, uses a lot of fillers like pea protein and potato protein

Nutro Large Breed Limited Ingredient Lamb and Sweet Potato

Best Food for Bull Terrier with Sensitive Stomachs: If your Bull Terrier has a hard time eating and maintaining weight they might need a limited ingredient diet that is easier on their stomach. A lot of the time allergies and sensitive stomachs go hand in hand and limited ingredient diets contain proteins that are easily digestible along with probiotics to help regulate gut health.

This food from Nutro is specifically formulated for large breed dogs and uses lamb and sweet potato as the two main ingredients. The formula offers a premium taste with metabolism-enhancing nutrients from omega-6, zinc, and vitamin B. These ingredients help nurture your Bull Terriers skin while being easy on their stomach.

Lamb is also a lean, easily digestible protein. The food contains 20% protein and 13% fat which is low to help with the digestion process as well.

• Pros: Easily digestible protein, lamb is a highly desirable protein for taste and lean muscles, prevents vomiting and gas
• Cons: Contains added salt, protein and fat might leave active Bull Terriers still hungry

3 More Top Rated (5 Star) Bull Terrier Adult Foods

Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato

In this recipe, Merrick uses allergy-friendly nutrition from real deboned beef as the first ingredient with sweet potatoes and peas. The formula contains vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition. If you are feeding this to an aging Bull Terrier, it also contains glucosamine and chondroitin which helps pups maintain their mobility as they age.

The formula has 38% protein and 15% fat which is ideal for Bull Terriers that are still highly active and maintaining their independence. The blend has a variety of probiotics to help with gut health as well.

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Chicken

There has been a lot of concern over the impact that a grain-free diet has on your pup. There have been links between grain-free foods and cardiomyopathy and other heart disorders so here is a grain-included option if you want to stick with grains as part of your pup’s diet.

This recipe uses chicken and brown rice alongside sweet potatoes for a well-rounded and balanced diet. The food contains omega fatty acids to help with your dog’s coat, and it contains no by-products, corn, wheat, or soy.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken and Brown Rice

Like the previous food, this one also contains grain from brown rice, and the recipe has vitamins and minerals in the Blue Buffalo LifeSource Bits. The formula includes a bunch of different fruits and vegetables to provide your Bull Terrier with the right amount of carbohydrates and natural sugars from premium sources.

This recipe does not contain any corn, wheat, soy, or by-product meals. It also has glucosamine which is essential to joint health and mobility as your dog ages.

3 More Top Rated (5 Star) Bull Terrier Puppy Foods

Our 2023 Picks: Bull Terrier Puppy Food Recommendations:
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Overall Best	Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Puppy Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.69/lb	A+
Most Affordable	Blue Buffalo Homestyle Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables for Puppies Buy Online Customer Reviews	$0.17/oz	A+
Most Popular	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Chicken and Turkey Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.42/lb	A+

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Puppy Food

This food provides your dog with novel proteins like buffalo and bison in a grain-free formula that uses peas and sweet potatoes to supplement their diet. The recipe uses highly-digestible proteins that help your pup absorb all the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.

Real buffalo gets used as the first ingredient with bison and venison which are all lean proteins that help develop strong muscles. The food uses powerful antioxidants from real fruits and vegetables to support overall health and skin nourishment.

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables for Puppies

If your pup has a hard time with solid kibble, you could try this canned food from Blue Buffalo. The recipe uses all-natural ingredients in the deboned chicken along with plenty of grains like barley and brown rice to provide complex carbs necessary for energy throughout the day.

The food comes in a desirable pate texture that dogs love. It contains no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. The recipe also uses plenty of cranberries and blueberries that are rich in antioxidants to help your pup develop a robust immune system.

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Chicken and Turkey

Wellness CORE prides itself on providing food that is basic and limited in its ingredients. This recipe is grain-free and uses chicken and turkey as its primary protein sources. The recipe has the optimal number of calories to suit the needs of a growing pup as well as balanced digestive aids like probiotics to help them digest the food and absorb nutrients.

Wellness stands by their promise to never include any by-products, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial anything in all their foods. The recipe is high protein and high fat to help a growing pup that needs the energy.

3 More Picks For Bull Terrier Foods For Seniors

Our 2023 Picks: Bull Terrier Senior Dog Food Recommendations:
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Overall Best	Canidae Grain-Free PURE Senior Real Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Garbanzo Beans Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.70/lb	A+
Most Popular	Nulo FreeStyle Grain-Free Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.99/lb	A+
Most Affordable	Diamond Naturals Senior Formula Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.05/lb	A+

Canidae Grain-Free PURE Senior Real Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Garbanzo Beans

As your Bull Terrier ages, their needs change, and they do not require quite as much as they did before. It’s essential to pay close attention to your dog’s behavior and activity, so you can determine if they need a dietary change.

At around 7-8 years of age, you want to switch your pup over to a senior formula like this one. The formula uses a limited amount of ingredients that are easy for digestion, and they offer the most amount of nutrition for the least amount of calories. The recipe uses chicken and sweet potatoes as the primary ingredients with plenty of probiotics to help regulate bowel activity.

Nulo Freestyle Trout and Sweet Potato

For seniors, simple is better, and it doesn’t get much simpler than this formula from Nulo. The grain-free recipe contains a lean protein source in trout which also helps your dog maintain healthy skin and coat as the age. The best Bull Terrier food will cater to their specific needs at their exact stage of life.

This food contains glucosamine and chondroitin which is essential for aging dogs because it helps their joints and mobility. The formula also has heart-healthy ingredients like L-Carnitine that help your pup maintain their metabolism and healthy weight.

Diamond Naturals Senior Formula

This food is ideal for seniors that have a hard time keeping food down. The recipe is easy on the stomach and contains an assortment of probiotics to help keep digestion flowing. It has real fruits and vegetables like peas, kale, blueberries, and coconut that provide a lot of fatty acids for skin health and antioxidants to keep your senior feeling well.

The recipe contains no corn, wheat, artificial coloring, or preservatives. Diamond Naturals prepares its food in the USA by a family-owned company.

Our FAQ And Bull Terrier Feeding Guide

By this point, you should have a solid understanding of what high-quality food looks like and the ingredients you want to pay attention to. Even more important than knowing what a premium food is, is knowing how to use it to impact the life of your pup.

There is so much marketing out there that tells you that certain ingredients are right for your pup and certain ones are not, but we’re here to break apart all the misinformation and give you the facts.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Bull Terrier food:

What are some ingredients to avoid?

Unfortunately, so many of the most popular dog foods contain some of the worst ingredients. These companies produce their foods on assembly lines, and they pack them full of artificial preservatives and pretty colors to sell them to us. Here are some examples of these ingredients.

• Artificial Coloring – We’ve said it a bunch of times already, but food dye is one of the worst things you could give your pup. It has no place in dog food, and manufacturers know that, but they include it to try and sell their food to pet owners; not pets.
• Corn Syrup – This ingredient is most commonly found in canned foods, and it’s usually in there to mask the flavor of low-quality ingredients that dogs won’t eat. Dogs love the flavor of real meats and vegetables in their foods so if the can contains meat-based protein they’ll have no problem eating it.

Dog’s get addicted to sugar in the same way that humans do so if you feed your pup food that contains corn syrup it will be hard to get them off it.

• Meat By-Products – There is a lot of skepticism over this ingredient and pet food giants like Purina will argue that by-products are okay to have in dog food, but they are also the leading cause of a lot of recalls. By-products are the remaining pieces of a carcass after all the good cuts of meat are gone.

At this time is when butchers or farmhands start washing the area and spraying chemical sanitizers about that then soak into the remaining meat on the carcass. Much of the time, animals get euthanized, and that deadly medication remains in the flesh that is then processed into food. By-products are a tough subject, but all the premium food brands do not use them.

Can I feed my Bull Terrier table food?

The answer to this is, sometimes. Everything is okay in moderation, but you want to make sure you don’t feed your pup anything that is overly greasy because it’s too much for their stomach. Feeding your dog French fries, sausage, or leftover fast food is always a bad decision.

If you are looking to treat your pup to some table scraps, do so in moderation and make sure it’s something light. Table feeding results in a variety of bad habits like begging if done too often.

Is it okay to feed my Bull Terrier a grain-free dog food?

There is a ton of controversy around the grain-free craze, and as you can tell by the food recommendations above, so many pet food companies have jumped on the bandwagon. Grain-free diets are usually ideal for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies.

If you feel that your Bull Terrier is not fully benefiting from a diet that contains carbohydrates than you could try a grain-free diet. Each pup is different, so it’s impossible to say whether or not something is the right or wrong decision in this case.

What are some of the best ingredients to find in my Bull Terrier food?

For every low-quality ingredient, there is a high-quality one to match it. As you know, you want to find animal-based protein in your pups’ food at all times as well as fruits and vegetables to balance everything out. Here are some other high-quality ingredients that signify a premium dog food.

• Sweet Potatoes
• Peas
• Sunflower Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Salmon Oil
• Flaxseed
• DHA

Bull Terrier Dog Food – A Final Word

Now you have a thorough understanding of how to make the most out of your Bull Terrier food. Diet and nutrition are incredibly crucial to your dog’s life, and as pet owners, we all want to do everything we can to make our dog’s life the best life.

The best Bull Terrier food will always contain real meat as the first ingredient as well as limited sources of protein to reduce the risk of food sensitivities and other allergies. Premium foods usually have an agenda, and every element is carefully chosen to help your dog in some way.

Always look beyond the first couple of ingredients for things like probiotics, fruits, chelated minerals, and high-quality oils.

If you are on the fence about choosing a premium Bull Terrier food, we highly recommend trying any of the top 15 picks reviewed above!