Best Dog Food for Bull Terriers in 2024

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bull terrier dog

This is our review of the best dog food for Bull Terriers in 2024.

Bull Terriers are stocky and deep-chested — a similar body type to dogs twice their size. Because of this, they need plenty of calories to keep up with their daily activities.

And, while they are a medium breed, they’ll also need a decent amount of protein and healthy fats to maintain their strong muscles and joints. 

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free formula is the best food for Bull Terriers.

Not only is it high in quality protein, but it also includes essential fatty acids to nourish your dog’s joints. 

However, there are many other options for your pup, too. Whether they need to lose weight or need a formula that avoids top allergens, this list will help you find the perfect dog food for your furry best friend. 

Our Best Dog Food for Bull Terriers

10 Best Dog Foods for Bull Terriers Reviewed 

The formulas listed below all follow the AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines. Before switching your dog’s food, please consult with your veterinarian. 


Best for Adults

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken
  • First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 34% Crude Protein, 15% Crude Fat, 6% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 409 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: Grain-free dry dog food with glucosamine for healthy joints

Bull Terriers are naturally stocky and have smaller legs compared to their size. Because of this, it’s essential to protect their legs and joints, and keep them strong. 

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free dry dog food offers both protein and healthy fats that will do just that. 

This formula starts with real chicken as the first ingredient. It provides natural glucosamine for joint health and protein for lean muscle mass.

Fish meal and chicken fat offer amino acids for extra joint support. And, these healthy fats help provide energy and keep your dog’s coat shiny.  

This recipe also includes complex carbs like sweet potatoes and peas. These offer vitamins and minerals like magnesium, which can reduce stress and blood sugar levels. They also offer natural antioxidants for immune health. 

Blue Buffalo Wilderness is made without poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, and soy. It’s also free of artificial flavors and preservatives.


Best for Puppies

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy
  • First 5 Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Product, Pea Protein
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 28% Crude Protein, 17% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 415 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: High-calorie and grain-free food with probiotics for healthy digestion in Bull Terrier puppies

Your dog deserves a healthy lifestyle. Bull Terrier pups need a higher protein and fat diet — Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy dog food introduces novel proteins to dogs under 12 months of age. It gives them 28% high quality animal protein and 17% fat to promote healthy growth.

It starts with buffalo, venison, and bison. These meat proteins are significant for puppies who may have sensitive stomachs or allergies, and they provide good sources of iron and B vitamins for energy. 

This formula is grain-free and offers peas and sweet potatoes as easy-to-digest carbs. It also adds dried chicory root for prebiotics to aid in healthy digestion. 

Chicken fat, salmon oil, and fish meal provide plenty of essential fatty acids for skin and coat health. But, they also include DHA and ARA for brain development — which is important for growing pups. 

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy food is made in the US by a family-owned brand, and includes ingredients from sustainable local and global sources. It’s made without corn, wheat, artificial flavors, and artificial colors.


Best for Seniors

CANIDAE Pure Senior Recipe Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Premium Dry Dog Food

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Senior LID Chicken
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Garbanzo Beans
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 28% Crude Protein, 10% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 409 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: Dry food with smaller kibble size and chondroitin for senior Bull Terriers

As your Bull Terrier gets older, they may have difficulties eating and chewing their food. Senior dogs need a little extra support when it comes to their kibble. 

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Senior dry dog food was formulated with seniors in mind. First, it offers bite-sized pieces with higher moisture content, which helps your dog chew easier as well as get more water. 

And, the smaller bits include two meat sources from real chicken and turkey meal. This combination will entice your pup to eat their food, and provides glucosamine and chondroitin to protect their joints.

Sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, and peas make this a grain-free formula. Instead, these complex carbohydrates fill up your dog without triggering allergy symptoms. Plus, they’re gentle on your dog’s digestion system as well. 

Supplemented probiotics and antioxidants offer extra digestive health and a healthy immune system.

This formula is free of grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors, or preservatives. And, it’s made right in Canidae’s Texas facility.


Best for Active Dogs

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe Dry Dog Food

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Chicken Freeze Dried Raw
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat, Tapioca
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 37% Crude Protein, 20.5% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber, 9% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 508 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: High-protein dry dog food for active Bull Terriers

Bull Terriers are naturally active. But if your dog has immense amounts of energy, or is a working dog, you may be looking for an even higher protein kibble. 

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe offers animal proteins and freeze-dried raw meat. Deboned and cage-free chicken and raw chicken liver offer 37% protein — helping to build strong and lean muscles. And most dogs love the taste! 

Chicken fat and pumpkin seeds offer taurine and glucosamine for a healthy heart and joints, with salmon oil adding omega-3 fatty acids for healthy joints and nourished skin. 

Apples, carrots, and blueberries offer natural antioxidants for immune health. Plus, these ingredients also include vitamins like vitamin A for eye support. Probiotics are then supplemented for easy digestion. 

This formula never contains any grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors, or preservatives. It’s also made in the US with ethically sourced ingredients. 


Best for Allergies

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance LID Grain Free Salmon
  • First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Cassava Flour, Potatoes
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 24% Crude Protein, 10% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 373 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: Limited ingredient and chicken-free dry dog food for Bull Terriers with allergies

Bull Terriers tend to have food allergies — including to ingredients like chicken, pork, and wheat. But you can still feed your pup a healthy diet filled with healthy proteins, fats, and carbs. 

Board-certified veterinarians created the limited ingredient formula for dogs with allergies

First, it features real salmon as the very first ingredient. This novel meat provides 24% protein, and also has essential nutrients like amino acids and vitamin E. These provide joint and muscle support, as well as nourish skin. 

Instead of wheat or corn, Natural Balance adds sweet potatoes for carbohydrates. These are easy to digest and provide vitamins like potassium for healthy bones and teeth. 

Sunflower oil and Menhaden fish oil provide a boost of essential fatty acids for joint health. And, flaxseeds add extra fiber and prebiotics for sensitive tummies. 

This formula is produced in the US. It doesn’t contain any peas, lentils, legumes, corn, wheat, or soy.


Best Wet Food

Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Hearty Beef Stew Canned
  • First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Beef Broth, Vegetable Broth, Beef Liver, Dried Egg Product
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 7% Crude Protein, 3% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 82% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 369 kcal/can
  • Key Feature: Grain-free and limited ingredient wet food made for picky eaters

Some dogs are picky and may not eat dry food no matter how tasty it is. If you find that your Bull Terrier turns up their nose at their kibble, it may be time to give wet food a try. 

Whole Earth Farms offers a grain-free, limited ingredient, and moderate protein diet all in one convenient can of food. 

First, the recipe starts with real beef and beef liver. These offer a plethora of vitamins, including B vitamins for energy and iron for a strong heart. While this formula is chicken-free, it does include eggs for more protein. 

Because of the eggs, it may be more suitable for dogs that don’t have a chicken allergy. 

Flaxseed oil is added for a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids which aid in joint health. And, taurine is supplemented for heart and brain health. 

Potatoes, apples, and sweet potatoes provide healthy prebiotics and fiber for digestion. Plus, they include other vitamins like folate, which help with immune function and tissue growth. 


Best Fresh Food

Nom Nom Pork Potluck

nom nom pork recipe
  • First 5 Ingredients: Ground beef, Russet Potatoes, Eggs, Carrots, Peas
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 7% Crude Protein, 5% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 75% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 1246 kcal/kg
  • Key Feature: Fresh and human-grade dog food made with real animal proteins 
Get 50% OFF your first Nom Nom order!

Many dog owners want to spoil their pup, and the best way to do that is to offer them fresh dog food. Nom Nom provides human-grade dog food with ingredients like ground beef, potatoes, and carrots. 

But Nom Nom also works differently than other fresh dog food companies. Instead of a one-size-fits-all formula, they offer a customized diet plan for your dog. 

It starts with you taking a quiz about your Bull Terrier. Some questions include their weight, body type, allergies, and how active they are. 

Once the quiz is complete, Nom Nom will find their caloric, protein, and fat needs. Then, they’ll provide a detailed plan of what and how much to feed your dog. Their recipes include pork, beef, turkey, and chicken, so your dog will never run out of delicious options. You can choose one to feed your pooch, or even all four. 

Once you’ve made your recipe choice, Nom Nom will ship the food fresh to your door. Each plate is individually portioned to feed your dog twice a day, without needing to do any measuring. 

Each recipe is evaluated by PhD nutritionists and Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists.


Best Budget Food

American Journey Active Life Formula Dry Dog Food

American Journey Active Life Formula Beef Brown Rice
  • First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Rice Bran
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 25% Crude Protein, 15% Crude Fat, 6% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 344 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: High-protein and budget-friendly dog food made without artificial fillers 

Being on a budget doesn’t mean being stuck with a diet filled with artificial ingredients. Instead, American Journey Active Life offers quality dog food and great value for the price.

The recipe starts with deboned beef and chicken meal — a combination that provides 25% protein as well as glucosamine to protect joints. They also supply taurine, which is great for heart health. 

Brown rice, barley, and oatmeal offer natural fiber and prebiotics for healthy digestion, and provide vitamins like calcium for strong bones and teeth. 

For essential fatty acids, this recipe also includes fish oil and chicken fat — healthy fats that help provide energy. Vitamin E oil is supplemented too, nourishing your dog’s skin and helping it to regenerate. 

Blueberries and cranberries offer natural antioxidants as well. These help support a healthy immune system and provide mental clarity.

This formula doesn’t include any wheat, corn, soy, poultry by-product meals, or artificial ingredients. 


Best for Weight Loss

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Nutro LID Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Lamb
  • First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Dried Potatoes, Dried Sweet Potato
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 20% Crude Protein, 13% Crude Fat, 3.5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 475 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: Low-calorie and moderate fat dry dog food for overweight Bull Terriers

Even if your dog needs to lose weight, you can still offer a healthy diet that’s full of flavor. Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed offers a high quality food that can help dogs that need to lose weight. And, with less than 10 ingredients, it can even help with food sensitivities.

Deboned lamb and lamb meal starts off the formula. These ingredients offer fatty acids and chondroitin — building lean muscle and healthy joints. And, amino acids in the lamb also help maintain a healthier metabolism.

Chickpeas, lentils, and sweet potatoes provide prebiotics and a healthy dose of fiber. This aids in proper digestion, can prevent bloat, and encourages a metabolism boost which can help with weight loss.  

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed is formulated for large breed dogs. But, due to their stature, Bull Terriers can do well on this diet. It includes higher concentrations of proteins and fats — keeping their muscles and joints strong. 

This formula is made without corn gluten, corn, wheat, or soy protein. It’s also non-GMO and has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.


Best for Healthy Skin

Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula
  • First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, Fish Meal, Potatoes, Lentils, Peas
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 25% Crude Protein, 14% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
  • Caloric Content: 337 kcal/cup
  • Key Feature: Chicken-free dog food with omega fatty acids and vitamin E for healthy skin

Because of their potential allergies, Bull Terriers can have sensitive coats. When they have allergic reactions, you can usually tell through their skin. Because of this, you’ll want a dog food that nourishes their coat and avoids top allergens. 

Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat formula is a hypoallergenic kibble. It provides plenty of protein from wild-caught salmon as the first ingredient. It also provides omega fatty acids to maintain a healthy coat and skin. 

Canola oil and coconut offer fats for extra skin health, as well as add taurine for heart health and to reduce inflammation.

Pumpkin, blueberries, and papaya contain natural probiotics for digestive support. And, oranges and spinach include vitamin C and are sources of antioxidants to boost immune system health. 

This premium quality food is made in the US by a family-owned company, and is made without chicken, corn, wheat, or artificial additives. 


bull terrier eating bone

How to Choose Food for Your Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers will eat anything, even if it’s not good for them. But they need high-quality food with real meat proteins and moderate fats to feel and be their best. 

Here’s how to choose the best food for your dog.

Moderate to High Protein

Your Bull Terrier can thrive on moderate proteins, but higher protein is great for highly active, working, or pregnant pooches. These medium breed dogs will need about  20% to 25% protein

Bull Terriers also process animal proteins best. So focus on real meats like deboned chicken, lamb, or salmon. These are easier to digest and include essential nutrients that your pup needs. 

Low or Moderate Fat

Bull Terriers are thicker and are prone to weight gain. To avoid health problems related to their weight, give your dog a diet without too much fat. Find a dog food with a fat percentage of less than 15% to keep your pooch trim. 

Also, focus on healthier fats, like fish oil, coconut, flaxseed, and chicken fat. These fats provide energy and essential amino acids for joint and bone health.

Carbohydrates and Fiber

While carbohydrates are an important source of nutrients and energy, they shouldn’t make up the bulk of your dog’s food. Instead, focus on animal proteins first — carb sources should be lower on the ingredient list. 

Also, focus on complex carbs like starchy vegetables, quinoa, and brown rice. These will provide fiber and prebiotics naturally, which will aid in digestion. 

Vitamins and Minerals

There’s no need to supplement any extra nutrients. In fact, commercial dog food already has the vitamins and minerals your dog needs. 

Be sure that the food you choose includes zinc. A zinc deficiency can cause digestive issues and skin problems in Bull Terriers.

Ingredients to Avoid

When choosing a dog food, ensure that it’s free of artificial flavors, colors, and artificial preservatives. The two toxic preservatives to completely avoid are BHT and BHA, as both have shown links to kidney disease and other health issues. 

If your Bull Terrier is prone to allergies, it’s also best to avoid wheat, soy, corn, and meat by-products. And avoiding certain proteins like chicken and beef may help as well.

bull terrier standing

Bull Terriers Feeding Guide

Bull Terriers may be a medium breed, but they need plenty of calories to keep up with their stocky build. Here’s what you should know about feeding them.

Puppies

Bull Terrier puppies will need about 30 calories of food per pound of weight that they will be when grown. Since the average Bull Terrier is around 55 pounds, that’s about 1,600 calories. 

Also, because of their deep chests, focus on feeding your pup smaller meals 3 times a day. This will help avoid bloat and overeating. 

The food your dog eats should also include a higher concentration of protein. Puppies will need about 25% while they’re growing — this will help build their muscles and provide extra energy. 

Be sure to choose a formula that’s made for puppies. It will include DHA and vitamin A, which are essential for brain development.

Adults

Around 12 months of age, you can switch your pup to adult dog food. In adulthood, Bull Terriers only need 25 calories per pound that they weigh — unless they are active, pregnant, or breastfeeding. 

So, the average 55-pound dog should eat around 1,400 calories. You can also limit feedings to twice a day. 

Seniors

Bull Terriers can live up to 15 to 18 years of age. Due to their longer lifespans, they don’t reach seniorhood until around 8 or 9 years of age. 

It’s important to switch them to senior dog food when that age comes. Formulas made for older pooches include extra moisture to prevent dehydration, and also have vitamins for joint health.

If you notice your dog is starting to gain weight, you may want to lower their calories to around 1,200 a day. But, you’ll continue to feed them two meals.

Common Bull Terriers Health Issues 

Bull Terriers can lead long lives. To help your pet live a fulfilling life, it’s important to watch out for possible health issues. 

The most common issue is food allergies, with wheat and chicken being the top culprits. While allergies don’t affect every Bull Terrier, you’ll want to test foods and formulas during puppyhood to see. It’s easy to cut out these allergens, but you’ll need to choose a food with limited ingredients. 

Kidney disease is another common health problem, but is treatable if caught early. While it’s not curable, the earlier it’s caught the longer your pup can live. 

You’ll want to offer food with omega fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation. Luckily, there are also diets that help the kidneys, and your veterinarian will be able to prescribe one to your dog. 

Another minor health issue that may affect your Bull Terrier is obesity. If not treated, obesity can lead to other health issues like heart problems, but, luckily it’s preventable and it’s possible to help your pup lose weight.

Focus on feeding your dog the appropriate amount of calories for their weight. Also, look for foods that are lower in fats and carbohydrates.

Our Verdict

The Bull Terrier is a medium sized dog, but it needs the same nutrients as larger dogs. 

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free offers a high-protein diet that’s perfect for them — it includes omega fatty acids to protect and strengthen joints, and tastes great. 

The other foods on this list can meet specific dietary needs that your dog may have as well, from puppy food to weight loss formulas. 

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AUTHOR
Kim Studdard is a freelance writer for many websites in the pet universe. When she isn't spending time with her family and pets, or saying "Look a dog" everytime she sees one, you'll find her reading a book or traveling the U.S.

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