Grooming
If you hate getting loose fur and dirt in the house, the Bull Terrier is your dog. Here’s what to know about grooming your Bull Terrier:
Brushing: You’ll only need to brush their coats once a week with a soft-bristle brush or a grooming mitt, except during their twice-yearly shedding season (spring and fall).
Baths: Bathing doesn’t have to be frequent either (once a month is fine), and a sprinkle of dry shampoo or running over their coats with a damp cloth will suffice most of the time.
Ear cleaning: Check your Bull Terrier’s ears for debris and any redness or swelling. If you notice anything, speak to your vet. If your vet recommends at-home cleaning, check out our guide on how to clean dog ears.
Nail trimming: Trim their nails short a couple of times a month to avoid any problems with walking, running or getting caught in the carpets. (Pro tip: You’ll know it’s time to trim their nails when you hear them click-clacking on hard surfaces.)
Dental care: For your sake, as much as theirs—especially if you don’t want to be overpowered by dog breath next time they want to cuddle—don’t forget their oral hygiene. Stock up on a toothbrush and toothpaste designed specifically for dogs, and give your Bull Terrier’s teeth a cleaning daily. Once a year, get their teeth professionally cleaned by your vet.
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Training
While the Bull Terrier has a mind of their own, they will bring their A-game to training as long as you make it fun for them. Using lots of positive reinforcement and rewards-based training allows them to use their sharp intelligence and express their unique personalities.
Their competitive and curious nature makes them excellent students—and they certainly don’t get tired easily. (Even though they’re known goofballs.) Bonus: You’ll probably get more than a few laughs along the way, in addition to the reward of watching them learn to excel at pretty much any skill or sport you want to teach them. Even clowns have a serious side, and Bull Terriers are no exception. With the right training, they’ve excelled in roles ranging from guard dogs and bomb detection to search and rescue, so don’t take their antics as a sign they can’t be taught.
The earlier you can start their training, the better, especially with learning to socialize with other animals and getting used to a variety of different situations and people.
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Diet
Bull Terriers can do well with any high-quality dog food, whether store-bought or prepared at home, but they do need plenty of natural calcium, especially as puppies. You might consider adding some calcium-rich goodies from the fridge, like fresh broccoli. Be sure to check with your vet first before serving your dog new foods, though, because vets are in the best position to make nutrition recommendations based on your dog’s unique needs. Also, don’t forget to give your pup lots of clean, fresh water and wash their bowls daily before replenishing them.
Watch what treats you give when you’re training and rewarding them for good behavior. Their strong bite force allows them to bite off and swallow just about anything—including throat-obstructing rawhides and bones. Use a high-quality dog training treat; or, if you prefer something you’d like, too, try frozen blueberries or green beans (not canned). Just like you, if your pup eats more calories they can burn, they’ll pack on the pounds. So, try to avoid excessive snacking and watch how many calories they consume.
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Exercise
Bull Terriers (like their cousins, the Miniature Bull Terrier) have high exercise needs, so say goodbye to your couch. This energetic pup never runs out of batteries (they have very high energy levels), which means you’ll be walking, chasing and playing fetch outside for at least an hour every single day. Without enough exercise, not only will your dog become overweight, but they will find other ways to burn that excess energy—like zooming through your house and taking down furniture, kids or whatever else gets in the way.
Don’t forget to exercise their brains as well as their bodies. Bull Terriers love mental stimulation of all kinds, so dig out the interactive toys and games for their next playtime session. Bull Terriers are great at dog sports, like flyball, weight pulling and agility; these are excellent ways to burn their energy and have a lot of fun together.
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Environment
Bull Terriers can do well in an apartment provided they have lots of space in which to play, but they’re really in their element in a large home with an active family and older kids. They love being surrounded by people and having lots of mental and physical stimulation to keep them busy.
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