Skip to content
PetPrep
Get early access

Animal register · DogIn the app

Bull Terrier

English Bull Terrier, Bully

The Bull Terrier comes from Great Britain; the FCI lists it among the bull-type terriers (group 3). It is a medium-sized, short-coated terrier: the PDSA gives an average height of 51–61 cm and an average weight of 22–31 kg, and PetMD describes an athletic build of about 21–22 inches and 50–70 pounds. PetMD calls regular exercise a must and says Bull Terriers are affectionate with family, including children, but not always friendly with other dogs or cats, and that early and frequent socialisation and training are key.

The PDSA recommends at least an hour of exercise a day, split across the day, and a gap after meals before exercise. It says a well-socialised Bull Terrier gets along with people of all ages but, being a bit excitable, is better with older children; it likes company as much as possible and has a high prey drive, so care is needed around cats and other small animals. A weekly brush is enough for the coat. The PDSA gives an average lifespan of over 10 years and PetMD 12–13 years; like other medium-sized dogs it is fully grown at about 12–15 months (PetMD).

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Bull Terrier — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium — PDSA S591
Adult weight
males 22–31 kg, females 22–31 kg — PDSA S591
Daily exercise
at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S591
Lifespan
more than 10 years — PDSA S591; 12–13 years — PetMD S592

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • families with childrenS592

Keep in mind:

  • lively dog — better with older childrenS591
  • loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS591
  • strong prey drive — may chase small petsS591

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S591

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — PDSA S591
  • Lifespan: 12–13 years — PetMD S592

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium — PDSA S591
  • Height at the withers: males 51–61 cm, females 51–61 cm — PDSA S591
  • Adult weight: males 22–31 kg, females 22–31 kg — PDSA S591

Training

  • No. 66 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 11, group 3 (terriers); origin: Great Britain. — FCI S589

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Bull Terrier need?

According to our sources, the Bull Terrier needs this much exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PDSA S591.

How long does a Bull Terrier live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Bull Terrier is: more than 10 years — PDSA S591; 12–13 years — PetMD S592. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does a Bull Terrier get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Bull Terrier, according to our sources: Size: medium — PDSA S591; Adult weight: males 22–31 kg, females 22–31 kg — PDSA S591.

Who is the Bull Terrier a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Bull Terrier as a good fit for: families with children — PetMD S592. Keep in mind: lively dog — better with older children — PDSA S591; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PDSA S591; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S591.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6
Young dogmonth 926,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)26,000 steps
Seniormonth 90 (7.5 years)24,500 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.7× its speed).
  • Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing once a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S591

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Deafness in one or both ears occurs in the breed; puppies' hearing can be checked with a BAER test. — PDSA S591
  • Lethal acrodermatitis, an inherited disease that causes severe skin and growth problems in puppies, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S591
  • Kidney problems occur in the breed; urine tests can screen the parents before breeding. — PDSA S591
  • Heart disease can occur in the breed; heart scans can check the parents for heart valve problems before breeding. — PDSA S591
  • Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S591
  • Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S591

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Other screening schemes for this breed

  • Kneecap check for luxating patella before breeding — American Kennel Club K33
  • Heart examination of the parents (breed club recommendation) — American Kennel Club K33
  • Hearing test for deafness (BAER) — American Kennel Club K33
  • Urine test (protein to creatinine ratio) for kidney disease (breed club recommendation) — American Kennel Club K33

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S589FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — BULL TERRIER (11)https://fci.be/en/nomenclature/BULL-TERRIER-11.html
  11. S591PDSA — English Bull Terrier breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/english-bull-terrier
  12. S592PetMD — Kristen Seymour, reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM (updated Jan. 9, 2023) — Bull Terrierhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/bull-terrier
  13. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  14. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  15. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  16. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  17. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
  18. K33American Kennel Club — Terrier Group Health Testing Requirements (breeder programs)https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements/terrier-group-health-testing-requirements/

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

Ready for a pet?

Be among the first families to try PetPrep. We will email you when it is ready — nothing else.

By subscribing you agree to receive emails about PetPrep. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy