Before adopting a new dog such as a Bull Terrier, you may be curious how long they live and what you can expect after the adoption.
Of course, the lifespan for any dog breed can depend on several factors such as diet, exercise, and overall care, but usually, it is safe to give an average lifespan of a dog’s life and have it hold true.
As a Terrier owner myself and an avid fan of the Bull Terrier dog breed, here is what I can tell you on this topic.
How Long Do Bull Terriers Live For?
A Bull Terrier will live for 11-14 years with proper care, proper diet, and exercise. Bull Terriers may experience health conditions later during the lifespan, such as patellar luxation and heart complications.
Do not get too worried about that previous statement.
It stated that a Bull Terrier can have some health conditions later in life, much like any other dog breed.
The rest of this discussion will break down what you need to know about the Bull Terriers lifespan and detail some more of those health conditions that may arise and what you can do about it or expect.
Here is how I intend to break down today’s discussion for you:
- The Average Lifespan Of A Bull Terrier
- The Bull Terriers Lifespan Compared To Other Terrier Dog Breeds
- What Health Problems Do Bull Terriers Have?
- Adopting A Bull Terrier Gives You The Chance At A Long and Loving Bond
The Average Lifespan Of A Bull Terrier
A Bull Terrier will have an average life span of 11-14 years.
Some Bull Terriers may exceed this average, and some may fall short.
That is why it is an average.
The factors that go into assuring your Bull Terrier reaches the average life span can include diet, exercise, and overall upbringing.
This can even include socialization if you want to get super technical about it.
On the flip side, sometimes dogs, including the Bull Terrier, get sick and do not live quite as long.
The good news is that Bull Terriers do not typically suffer from too many health complications.
For now, I want to take a minute and give you an idea of how long the Bull Terrier lives compared to other dog breeds within the Terrier family.
The Bull Terriers Lifespan Compared To Other Terrier Dog Breeds
For being a relatively large dog breed, filled with muscle mass, 11-14 years is a good lifespan.
Of course, smaller dogs typically have longer lifespans than larger dog breeds and usually have fewer health complications.
I am currently raising a Jack Russell Terrier.
She has a lifespan of 13-17 years, which may seem like a long time, but when you compare it to the Bull Terrier, it is only a few additional years on average.
Compared to other dog breeds that are more closely related to the Bull Terrier, the Bull Terrier also fairs well with their average life span.
- Pitbull Terrier Average Life Span- 10-14 Years
- Airedale Terrier- 10-12 Years
- Australian Terrier- 11-13 Years
- Boston Terrier (Small Dog Breed)- 13-15 Years
- Rat Terrier (Small Dog Breed)- 15-18 Years
As you can see with the Rat Terrier, which is the smallest dog being compared on this list, the Bull Terrier’s lifespan is somewhat shorter.
However, compared to some of the other larger dog breeds on this list, the Bull Terriers lifespan on average plays out in favor of the Bull Terrier.
Overall, lifespan concerns should not make you hesitate to adopt a Bull Terrier.
You can count on a long, loving, and happy bond with your new dog.
Here are some other ways to ensure your Bull Terriers lives their life to its fullest potential and reaches its average lifespan.
Provide Excellent Care, A Loving Home, And Exercise To Increase Your Bull Terriers Lifespan
I think we can all agree that, to some extent, we have the control to better our dog’s life and help them live to their fullest potential.
Especially when it comes to average lifespans and overall happiness.
Of course, as I mentioned earlier, it is always possible that unforeseen circumstances arise, and plain luck comes into play.
Those are unfortunate events, and I genuinely feel for the individuals that go through this.
I, personally, went through this with one of the Labradors about 10 years ago.
A Labrador has an average life span of 10-13 years.
Unfortunately, my 6-year-old Labrador passed much earlier from a growth she had pop up that was remarkably similar to having cancer as a human.
Nonetheless, you should always focus on 3 essential items to ensure you are doing your part as the owner to allow your dog the chance to reach its lifespan and happiness potential.
Here is what I consider those 3 key things to be:
- Proper Diet
- Proper Exercise
- Love
I think that if you can provide a healthy and adequate diet for your dog, you are already on the right track for raising a healthy dog in general.
Much like humans, dogs are not meant to sit around and do nothing all day.
Hence, exercise also plays a role in ensuring that your Bull Terrier will reach its average lifespan with the best chances of being health complication-free.
And of course, love.
I am not saying that without love showering down on your dog that they will pass away prematurely.
I do believe overall mental health and happiness for a dog are essential.
A wildcard to ensuring your Bull Terrier remains healthy and can live a long life is completing regular checkups for your dog with your trusted vet.
Trust me, I know this from experience, and on the off chance, something could be wrong with your Bull Terrier, it is 100% worth the effort.
If you were not aware previously, regular checkups with a vet are about the only option you have at detecting an issue early.
So, to recap, be sure to provide an adequate and healthy diet, provide exercise, provide love, and get your dog checked for issues regularly with your vet.
Now that we have the things you can control out of the way; I want to briefly highlight some of the common health problems that Bull Terriers encounter.
What Health Problems Do Bull Terriers Have?
Deafness
Deafness is a common problem with the Bull Terrier dog breed.
Bull Terriers, even if deafness does not occur, are known to have less than perfect hearing.
Nearly 1 out 5 Bull Terriers are said to experience deafness at some point during their lifespan.
Other common health conditions that the Bull Terrier may experience or that is known to be relatively common with this dog breed include the following:
- Patellar Luxation
- Heart Complications
- Allergies
- Compulsive Behavior At Times
- Kidney Failure
Suppose you feel that one of these common health conditions is currently taking place or that something may be wrong with your Bull Terrier.
In that case, you should contact your vet as soon as possible and have your Terrier seen in person.
It is always better to be safe than sorry in these situations.
Adopting A Bull Terrier Gives You The Chance At A Long and Loving Bond
Hopefully, any of you who were on the fence about adopting a Bull Terrier now realize that you get more than a decade of a loving bond and friendship with your Bull Terrier.
Not to mention, the Bull Terrier can undoubtedly make a great all-around family dog.
Provide proper care, a healthy diet, and some exercise, and you can expect a healthy and long-life span from your Bull Terrier.
Luna and I wish you the best of luck with your Bull Terriers and the long journey you have ahead of you.
Share Your Thoughts On The Topic?
Do you have any further information you can share with the community about the Bull Terrier’s lifespan or what health conditions potential Bull Terrier owners should be aware of?
Be sure to share those thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.
As always, Luna and I appreciate you stopping by and reading today, and we will see you again next time.