Responsible Bullie Ownership



Owning a bullie (or any dog) is sometimes not all fun and games.  Some of the responsibilities that go along with ownership are covered below and are things that you should think about before deciding on whether to take on the possible 10+ year commitment.


Collars & Micro-chipping

By law all dogs must wear a collar with the owners name and address on it (not the dogs name), but what happens if your dog loses this collar when he becomes lost? Micro-chipping your dog became law on 6th April 2016. Micro-chipping is the only way of providing your bullie with permanent identification as to who it's owners are. 

Absolute do not ever recommend or agree with the use of prong/pinch collars.


Vaccinations

When puppies born they are usually protected from infections by their mother’s milk, providing she has been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts a few weeks. Puppies are typically vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks with an initial course of two injections. Your young bullie should then be given a booster every 12 months thereafter. Please check the cost of these with vets so that you remember to take this cost into consideration.

Neutering

Neutering not only prevents unwanted litters but can also help prevent tumors and other health related problems. In male dogs it can help curb straying or aggression. Most rescues will ensure any bullie is neutered before it is re-homed (where the dogs health allows this).

Poop and Scoop

All bullies poop and whilst your in a public place you will have to get used the lovely job of picking it up. The council /parks can impose fines if you are caught leaving it on the pavement/grass and we all know how annoying it is when you step in it. Most vets/pets shops now sell poo bags for as little as £1 for 50 and some are even scented!.

Exercise

Regular walks/exercise provide your dog with a change of scenery and stimulation. If possible your bullie should go out at least once a day to get some physical exercise. A well exercised dog is an obedient dog. Without regular exercise your bullie may become bored. We have of course known many exceptions to these guidelines and some bullies have been known to not want to go out if its raining or cold. Some prefer to stay in bed until lunchtime!. You will get to know your own bullies needs and requirements but exercise is something that you should make time for.

Training/Socialisation

Both you and your bullie will be happier if you can socialise with other people and animals from an early age (if possible). Dog training classes allow your dog to meet others in a controlled environment, and enable you to learn correct handling techniques. This will also strengthen the bond between you.

Socialising from an early age will assist any dog with learning his doggie body language and should help prevent behavioural problems.

Worming & Fleas

Worm your dog regularly - its usually best to take your vets advise and the worming treatment is usually based on your bullie's weight.

Make sure you treat your bullie for fleas and ticks - again you can seek your vet's advice.

Usually a council's Pest Control department can carry out treatment for fleas on your property if you do find yourself infested some Some councils will provide dog bags free of charge (check libraries and council offices)

Health and Pet insurance

Please don't wait until your bullie is ill before registering with a vet. Having the annual booster done is usually a good opportunity to get a general health check at the same time.

Pet insurance is a very important consideration for all bullie/dog owners. There are many different policies available with many different providers - some will limit the amount of money you can claim and also the amount of time the dog is covered for. It is also advisable for any policy to have Third Party Liability cover in case your dog causes an accident.


Holidays & Travel

When planning a holiday be sure to make proper arrangements for your bullie. You should only entrust your bullie to someone that you are 100% sure will take care of them properly. Its ideal to make sure your bullie knows the person or family that will taking care of them so please take the time to introduce them before hand. Explain your bullies usual routine and leave contact numbers for yourself and your vet in case of emergencies.

If you are leaving your dog at a boarding kennel visit them beforehand on a couple of occasions and look for signs that the kennels are kept clean. Also ask as many questions as possible as to when the dogs are fed, how much exercise/human attention they will get. Go with your gut feeling, most owners care of their bullies like they are their children so you want to make sure you have peace of mind before you leave them there. Word of mouth is usually the best recommendation, and the best kennels are always booked up in advance.

When travelling in a car there are various harnesses you can purchase which will control the movement of you dog whilst you are driving. For long journeys make sure you take regular stops, so that your bullie can get out and take some brief exercise and have a drink of water. Never leave your dog unattended in the car!

Food & Water

There are various ways to feed your dog and many varieties/types are available depending on your preference and pocket. The age of your dog will usually dictate how much they should roughly eat. Bullies are known for their voracious appetites so making sure your bullies gets everything it needs may need further research. We do here at Absolute find feeding Barf (bones and raw food) does cut down on the amount of poop that comes out the other end and has benefits of minimising any skin conditions. We have a Barf section below.

Water must always be available and should always be clean and fresh. Water bowls should be washed daily.

Garden

Is your garden big enough? Check for holes in fences and gates. If possible any fencing should be at least 6ft tall. Don't forget you will be doing poo patrol if the dog is allowed to go to the toilet in this area, so any concrete may well benefit from being disinfected regularly. Bullies are well known for chewing/eating whatever they can get their nose to so every precaution should be made. Some plants are also poisonous so it maybe worth checking them beforehand.

Brushing

Brush your bullie's coat regularly. Although they have short hair brushing can help dislodge mud, loose hairs and we personally find it a fun way to spend 5/10 minutes with your dog making a fuss of them.

Toys

Bull Terriers are kings of the hard chew. You will find that 'standard' or 'hard wearing' toys just don't usually cut it and end up in pieces. Kong toys are a favourite for many bullie owners and a coconut has been often mentioned as a natural chew/toy alternative. Any bullie should be under supervision when given something to chew/play with. 

Bathing

You wouldn't ordinarily need to bathe your bullie more then once every few months. However bullies in our experience like to get dirty so if you need to bath more often use a shampoo that is gentle.

Barf (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food OR Bones And Raw Food)


This is the best alternative to commercial foods. 
There are many benefits to feeding a raw diet, especially for dogs that have skin issues. A raw diet should include; Raw meat- this can be in minced or in whole form. 

Any meat is good, including tripe, turkey, lamb etc. Make sure minced form has at least 10% bone in it. Chicken carcass are a cheap feed, these can be bought from butchers. Fish such as salmon and sardines are also a vital part of the diet, this can be fed once or twice a week. 

Bones should always be raw, lamb rib bones are the best. Offal/Organs eg heart, kidney, liver should be provided at least once a week. A tablespoon of veg (either puréed or whole) should also be added, along with a raw egg if you wish. How much you feed, depends on your individual dog. 

Its all about experimenting and getting the right amount. As a rough guide for a 25kg Bull terrier: Half a packet (454g) minced meat (these can be bought from most pet shops or on-line) 2 chicken/duck wings (or 2 necks) 1 tablespoon puréed vegetables,  1 Cod liver oil capsule,  1 raw egg (once a week).

The above is just a guide, meats can be mixed about, a carcass can be added and half the meat amount etc. Do not mix raw and kibble together, kibble takes longer to digest. If you want to feed kibble as well, feed this later on. 

If feeding raw isn't for you, then a decent commercial dry food (or a mix of dry and tinned) can be provided. Always make sure meat is the first ingredient on the back of the packet. Cereal is used as a filler for cheap foods, which is no good for your bullie. Cereal/wheat/ maize can be a cause of skin allergies in Bull terriers (and other breeds). Avoid any foods with E numbers in them, these can also cause hypersensitivity, tumours and illness dogs. Hyper aggression has been connected with a poor diet. 

RECOMMENDED DRY FOOD (some of these will have a small amount of cereal, maize etc. in them):
James Wellbeloved (Lamb flavour is good for digestion, salmon/fish good for skin)
Arden Grange 
Taste of the wild 
Orijen 
Barking Heads 
Lily's Kitchen 

RECOMMENDED WET FOOD LIST: 
Lily's Kitchen
Nature Diet 
Applaws 
Burns
Denes 
FOODS TO AVOID (any super market own brand dry foods as these are really cheap and poor quality):
Wagg 
Iams (it's actually tested on animals) 
Eukanuba 
Dr Johns Frolic 
Hi life Omega
Bakers

 
Fresh vegetables can be fed to dogs regularly as part of a raw dog food diet: Alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, beetroot, celery, carrots, dandelions, green beans, green squash, parsnip, parsley, pumpkin, peppers (red and yellow), romaine lettuce, turnips, yams, and courgette.

These vegetables can be fed occasionally, and carefully: Avocado fruit, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, aubergine, green peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, spinach, tomatoes.