What to feed a Jack Russell Terrier: which food is best?

Jack Russell Terriers are hunting dogs with great energy, a lively character and a love of active pastime.

That is why feeding is one of the main stages of proper care for these dogs.

They need a special diet.

It must fit their lifestyle and replenish vitality.

Let's figure out what is best to choose for your pet.

Natural food or dry food?

Natural food or artificial food?

Jack Russells are unpretentious and do not require complex care or special conditions of detention, but the choice of diet must be approached responsibly, the health of the pet and its life expectancy depend on it.

The menu for representatives of this breed can consist of both natural products and ready-made food; the main thing is to choose and stick to one type of feeding and remember that food should be nutritious and balanced .

The main advantage of natural nutrition is variety.

At the same time, it requires effort and time from the owners to create a diet and prepare food, while ready-made food is produced taking into account the balance of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, and all that is required is to select the appropriate food.

Expert opinion

Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich

Expert dog handler.

As a rule, professional breeders feed both adult dogs and puppies with ready-made industrial food - such a diet requires minimal labor input and contains everything necessary for the proper development of animals. However, the new owner, if he deems it necessary, can switch the pet to natural food. It is important to do this gradually, and when creating a diet, take into account that Jack Russells are hunting dogs, and their menu should be as nutritious as possible. You also need to remember that it is necessary to cook separately for the dog - feeding leftovers from the common table is unacceptable.

What can you give?

The Jack Russell Terrier is a fairly popular breed of dog, since it does not require specific care or special conditions, but the choice of food for it should be taken with full responsibility so that your pet feels good. So, it is worth paying attention to the following factors that should be taken into account when choosing a diet:

• balance;
• high quality;
• the dog's health condition.

Quite often, Jack Russell Terrier owners cannot choose what is best for their pet - natural products or dry food. It is impossible to single out just one thing. But it is worth paying attention that when choosing natural food, special attention should be paid to balance so that the pet receives proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals in the required quantities.

Approximately 75% of the diet should be animal products, and 25% should be vegetables and fruits.

Natural products

If you choose a balanced diet, then natural food can be called the best option. It is excellent for the normal development and growth of the dog. If your choice is focused on healthy natural food, then it is worth taking into account the following rules:

• feeding the pet should be done at a certain time;
• depending on age, the number of meals changes - initially puppies eat up to 7 times a day, from about 6 months the puppy already switches to three meals a day, and after a year it is worth giving the dog food only twice a day;
• Jack Russell Terrier puppies are not prone to overeating, but you should stick to the “golden mean” so as not to overfeed them;
• for a puppy, the feeding rate per day should be from 10% of its weight, and for an adult dog - from 3-5% - so there will be enough food for the dog to be active;
• For puppies, it is recommended to soften food with a blender or grate it; over time, they will become accustomed to solid food.

It is necessary to feed your Jack Russell Terrier the following foods:

• soups, for example, beef broth, but low-fat;
• meat should be combined with porridge; you can include barley, rice, and buckwheat in your diet;
• vegetable salad, but you should absolutely refuse any kind of spices and salt in them;
• dairy products - sour cream, low-fat cottage cheese;
• vegetables - cabbage, beets, carrots, zucchini;
• fruits - apples and pears.

To make your dog's coat beautiful and shiny, you should include the yolk of a boiled egg in its diet - 1-2 pieces per week.

It is strictly forbidden to feed a dog of any breed salty, spicy, sweet, fatty, smoked or fried food . Even a single case can lead to very serious consequences - contraindicated food will affect the functioning of the liver, stomach and intestines.

If you choose natural food for feeding, then you should be prepared that the menu will have to be varied, so your pet can get the maximum benefit.

Ready-made feed

Dry food is an excellent replacement for natural food. Many people prefer ready-made dry food, since they do not need to be prepared, and pets eat them well. If you don’t want to think every day about how to pamper your pet, then ready-made food is an ideal option. If you decide to feed your Jack Russell Terrier dry food, you should take into account the following recommendations from experts.

• It is necessary to calculate the portion of food depending on the weight of your pet. Usually, the manufacturer already indicates on the packaging how many grams of food should be given to the dog, depending on its size.
• The dog also needs natural food. Of course, dry food is balanced, but the animal needs vegetables and fruits, so veterinarians advise alternating dry food with natural food, and also not forgetting about liquid food.
• It is forbidden to give natural and dry food at the same time, since mixing them will only harm the dog.
• When choosing dry food, you should take into account the age and health of the dog. For example, puppies are more comfortable chewing larger kibble, while dogs with allergies need special options if they have a sensitive digestive tract.
• The dog should always have access to clean water so that it can quench its thirst at any time.
• You should not buy low-quality feed that is sold by weight, since they contain quite a lot of salt, and soy also acts as a meat substitute. Such nutrition will negatively affect the condition of the animal’s musculoskeletal system and genitourinary system.
• It is forbidden to frequently replace one food with another. Replacing the manufacturer should only happen if necessary, for example, if the dog has an allergy or completely refuses food.
• Since today the buyer has a wide range of products from various manufacturers to choose from, you should focus on the food that the breeder or club recommends. The best foods are premium and super-premium, such as Royal Canin or Acana.

General recommendations for healthy feeding

Jack Russell Terriers are carnivores and their diet should be based on animal products.

Vegetables, fruits and cereals are also necessary, but this is only an addition to the main diet.

To keep your pet's diet healthy, the owner needs to follow the basic recommendations.:

• the menu should be complete, the products should be of high quality, the portions should be moderate;
• You need to select food taking into account the age and health status of the dog;
• food should be at room temperature or a little warmer - this promotes its normal absorption;
• the ingredients should be cut into small pieces, especially when it comes to feeding a puppy;
• the bulk of the products must be thermally processed.

Due to the Jack Russell's tendency to overeat and become obese , it is necessary to follow a feeding schedule and control portion sizes .

Choosing a place and utensils for feeding the puppy

The mobility of the rock causes problems with selecting a suitable corner; the main requirements for placement include:

• easy accessibility;
• ease of cleaning;
• a place where no one will disturb the pet.

Jack Russell Terrier

In a small apartment, bowls are placed in the kitchen; the volume of dishes must correspond to two norms for one-time feeding. It should be made of food-grade materials, lightweight, and easy to clean.

Important! For Jack Russell puppies, special pedestals and risers for bowls are not provided.

Advantages and disadvantages

In addition to the fact that natural food is varied and does not get boring for the dog, it has a number of other advantages:

• the owner independently selects the products, monitoring their freshness and quality;
• the food contains no preservatives, artificial flavors, dyes or flavor enhancers;
• in case of an allergy to one of the products, it can easily be replaced with another;
• proteins, fiber, fats and carbohydrates included in a dog’s diet are of natural origin.

This type of nutrition also has some disadvantages.:

• Preparing food for a dog and preparing a balanced diet requires a lot of time;
• natural feeding involves additional intake of a vitamin-mineral complex;
• You need to cook for your dog every day.

In addition, natural feeding is problematic and inconvenient for those who are used to traveling with a pet.

Authorized Products

A balanced diet for Jack Russell Terriers with a natural diet should include:

• boiled or raw (in this case, necessarily pre-frozen) lean meat - beef, veal, chicken fillet;
• boiled offal - heart, liver, kidneys;
• boiled sea fish without bones;
• rice, oatmeal, buckwheat porridge;
• fermented milk products – cottage cheese, cream;
• raw vegetables - pumpkin, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, beets;
• greenery.

To keep the coat beautiful and shiny, you should give your pet the yolk of a boiled egg several times a week.

NOTE!

During the change of teeth, you can give the puppy bread crumbs.

Slightly sweet fruits, such as green apples, and low-fat cheese are suitable as treats.

What is strictly contraindicated

Products hazardous to the health of puppies and adult Jack Russell Terriers:

• broccoli, potatoes, legumes, onions, garlic, mushrooms, raw eggs, corn - their consumption in unlimited quantities can lead to anemia, gastrointestinal problems, as well as make the coat dull and the skin dry;
• citrus fruits, strawberries, millet – cause the development of allergic reactions;
• grapes and raisins - negatively affect kidney function;
• freshwater fish - its consumption, due to the large number of small bones, can cause wounds in the larynx and stomach;
• pork, smoked and sausage products are the cause of pancreatitis;
• tubular bones - injure the stomach;
• pickles, marinades, spicy and fried foods - lead to disturbances in blood composition.

You should also not give your dog popcorn, avocados, nuts, or pomegranates.

Chocolate is the most dangerous for Jack Russells - even a small amount depresses the heart in a few minutes, causing a heart attack, epileptic seizures or internal bleeding..

What to feed an adult Jack Russell Terrier

Adult pets are fed less often, but in larger quantities. Approximately 75% of the diet is meat and offal and 25% is vegetables. If the dog consumes dry food, then such separation is not carried out; such food already contains all the necessary elements in the required quantity.

Dry food

Russell Terriers are fed premium and super-premium food. If the dog owner cannot afford them, it is better to switch him to natural food - cereals, meat, dairy products. Good premium and super-premium food, as well as holistic food (food of this type combines various components - derivatives of meat, beans, vegetables, fruits and herbs) really cost a lot, but they have several significant advantages over food that is classified as economy class:

1. Premium feed. A good premium dry food for a Jack Russell Terrier contains approximately 30-35% natural ingredients. The basis of this food is rice. The category under consideration includes: ProBalance, Brit Premium, Purina One, Canin, Royal, Pro Plan.
2. Super premium. Approximately 25% of the feed is meat, and offal is just an addition. In this case, the by-product is the heart or liver. The food does not contain anything beyond what is already indicated on the packaging, including taste-enhancing additives. Expensive super-premium mixtures include food brands: Optima Nova, Duke Farm, Trainer, Porcelain, EuKanuba.
3. Holistics. They consist of 50% meat, sometimes even 60% meat in this food. Vegetables and fruits, some grains are used as additives.

A dog can be fed with any high-quality food constantly, without worrying that its health will be undermined due to the consumption of exclusively monotonous dry food, because manufacturers have taken care of this by producing canned food and wet food of appropriate quality.

It is recommended to feed the Jack Russell Terrier with food from the Acana, Innova EVO, and Canide brands. The Royal Canin brand has released 2 types of dry food for the Jack Russell Terrier, rated as high as super premium food. These foods, regardless of age gradation, contain:

• polyunsaturated fatty acids;
• proteins and fats;
• antioxidants.

Important! When choosing a method of feeding a Jack Russell Terrier, professionals advise taking into account the dog’s age; it is indicated on the package for a reason. If your pet is not yet 12 months old, it will be difficult for him to cope with granules intended for adults. The puppy can injure its jaw.

Natural nutrition

The Russell Terrier is allowed to feed:

1. Meat. It can be boiled or served raw, having previously been frozen. It is beneficial for your dog to eat some beef, veal or chicken meat daily.
2. By-products. The heart, liver and kidneys are pre-boiled, then chopped and only then placed in a dog bowl.
3. Boiled sea fish, from which all the bones have been previously removed.
4. Rice, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge. They are boiled in broth or milk and given to the dog cooled.
5. Fermented milk products. The pet will not refuse cream or milk.
6. Raw vegetables. Every day the dog needs to be fed a certain amount of carrots, cauliflower, beets and zucchini. Some dogs love pumpkin. It can be added to porridge.

It is useful to season ordinary dishes with chopped lettuce, parsley or dill. In order for your pet to always have smooth and shiny fur, he should receive 1 boiled yolk weekly. If a dog's teeth change, then he is given hard bread and crackers. The favorite treats of many Russell Terriers are apples and low-fat cheeses.

Having decided to switch the puppy exclusively to natural food, the owner must take into account that some types of food are dangerous for the dog. So, you should not give your pet:

• broccoli;
• raw eggs;
• any types of legumes;
• strong-smelling vegetables, for example, garlic or onions, even worse - hot pepper;
• strawberries;
• oranges and tangerines, lemons;
• an allergic reaction may develop to millet, but if it does not exist, the veterinarian will not prohibit feeding the Jack Russell Terrier puppy;
• grapes and raisins (their consumption negatively affects kidney function);
• freshwater fish (bones can get stuck in the throat and injure the dog);
• pork, smoked meats, sausage (provoke the appearance of pancreatitis);
• tubular bones (can damage the dog’s delicate stomach; a small dog simply cannot digest them);
• salty or pickled foods, as well as fried and spicy foods.

You cannot feed your Jack Russell Terrier human food. It is necessary to prepare the dog separately, taking into account the characteristics of age, breed, weight.

Industrial feed

Like natural food, industrial food has its pros and cons.

Among the obvious advantages of this type of feeding are::

• balanced composition, including all necessary vitamins, macro- and microelements;
• no need to cook;
• hygiene and ease of use;
• indication on the packaging of the daily rate of feed consumption;
• long shelf life;
• ease of use at home and while traveling.

IMPORTANT!

The modern market offers a wide range of food, allowing you to choose a menu for your pet in accordance with age, activity and health status. There are also foods specifically for pregnant bitches.

In addition, a special composition covering dry food granules helps cleanse teeth of plaque and tartar.

Disadvantages of ready-made feeds:

• the likelihood of containing meat and offal of poor quality;
• the risk of an allergic reaction when feeding the wrong food.

Cheap ready-made food also contains dyes and flavor enhancers.

Industrial food can be not only dry, but also semi-moist and wet (pates) – they already contain liquid, which has a beneficial effect on the Jack Russell’s gastrointestinal tract.

CAREFULLY!

In addition, they have a shorter shelf life - open packaging can be stored in a cool place for a maximum of 24 hours.

Ready-made feeds can be of different classes, which depends on their composition and quality of manufacture.:

• economy - made from low-quality ingredients, possibly containing soy, dyes, flavor enhancers, beans;
• premium - the composition is based on meat and offal with the addition of vegetables, but the presence of vitamin and mineral supplements is not guaranteed;
• super-premium – made from the most carefully selected ingredients, enriched with vitamins and minerals.

Also, almost every manufacturer has a line of hypoallergenic food, which contains rabbit, lamb, pike perch or salmon meat, and instead of grains, vegetables and rice, and holistic foods - the composition of which, according to the manufacturers, is as close as possible to natural nutrition.

Dry food

Premium, super-premium and holistic foods are suitable for feeding Jack Russells.

Royal Canin food manufacturers have released a separate line designed for Jack Russell Terriers: Jack Russell Terrier Junior (for Jack Russell puppies up to 10 months) and Jack Russell Terrier Adult (10 months and older) .

These foods contain an adapted amount of proteins and fats, a complex of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the shape of the granules is designed taking into account the jaw structure of these dogs.

More versatile food lines that are popular among owners of hunting breeds:

• Acana;
• Orijen;
• Hills;
• Probalance;
• Now Fresh;
• Optima Nova;
• Artemis Maximal Dog;
• Eukanuba;
• Canidae

Purina also produces food suitable for Jack Russells.

This manufacturer offers various lines adapted for puppies, adult and elderly dogs, pregnant and lactating bitches, as well as dogs with health problems.

How to feed spayed and neutered animals?

Spayed and neutered dogs should be kept on a special diet. When preparing your diet, you must adhere to the following rules:

• the animal should not be overfed to avoid obesity;
• the easiest option is to buy special ready-made food intended for sterilized dogs;
• the food must be of good quality, since treating your dog will cost you more if you feed it cheap food;
• It is necessary to provide physical activity to the dog.

Jack Russell Terriers are small, lively “motors” with a cheerful disposition. They are often chosen as hunting companions, or simply as pets. To maintain the health of such an active animal, it is necessary to organize a diet that matches its activity level.

Taking vitamins

Vitamins and minerals should be taken in courses, because Continuous consumption can cause hypervitaminosis, which is no less dangerous than a lack of vitamins.

The best option for Jack Russells is probiotics, fish oil, natural yeast, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium individually or in combination of 3-7 substances.

Pet stores and veterinary pharmacies offer a large selection of vitamin and mineral complexes; the most popular among dog breeders is Lifepack for puppies and adult dogs.

You should not use supplements that contain more than 40 components - this is just a marketing ploy.

Feeding the puppy

Puppy nutrition rules

Only a properly selected menu guarantees the normal development of puppies. It is very important to consider age categories, since nutrition for puppies of different ages is very different. It is necessary to start preparing a diet for a Jack Russell Terrier puppy from the age of 1.5 months. It is during this period that the puppy begins to wean from its mother's milk.

Experienced veterinarians note that every 2–3 months it is necessary to enrich the puppy’s menu by introducing new products. As early as six months, you can make a choice in favor of natural food or ready-made food.

So, let's look at how a puppy eats at different ages.

From birth to 4 months

A Jack Russell Terrier puppy gains weight quite quickly. During this period, he needs a lot of nutritious food, since all the important tissues are being formed. Food must contain the required amount of vitamins and minerals. The puppy should be fed in small portions, but often. On average, one serving should account for approximately 10% of the dog's weight.

A puppy of 2-3 months should be fed mainly beef and veal, although chicken is also possible. The menu should include foods such as carrots, beets, buckwheat, rice and eggs. Usually they give porridge with meat and vegetables. For a two-month-old puppy, food should be given in grated form, and it can be supplemented with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. A boiled egg can be given to a dog only 3 times a week.

As for fruit, you can give a quarter of an apple every few days, and also combine it with carrots and a small amount of sour cream. You should be quite careful with fermented milk products. The portion should be increased gradually, starting with just one teaspoon.

If the puppy does not have any abnormalities or disorders, then you can gradually increase the portion.

From 4 to 6 months

During this period, the growth of the body, as well as organs, continues rapidly. During this period, wool is already being formed. It is necessary to select an enhanced menu. The dog should be given the same food as before, but the number of servings should be reduced and the amount of food increased.

What does an adult dog need?

When your pet reaches 1 year of age, he should be switched to two meals a day.

The finished food should correspond to the age of the dog, and the serving size should correspond to the manufacturer’s recommendations indicated on the packaging.

With a natural type of diet, 75% should be animal products and 25% plant foods.

A Jack Russell aged 1 to 7 years should consume at least 550 grams of meat or fish, 50 grams of dairy products, and 300-350 grams of pasta per day.

After 7 years, the diet should consist of 80% protein foods, and the amount of grains and dairy products should be reduced.

Regardless of the diet chosen, it is necessary to adhere to the feeding regimen.

Which diet is better

What to feed Shar Peis at home: which food is better

What to feed a Jack Russell Terrier at home? The choice always remains with the owner. Professional breeders recommend choosing industrial options of proper quality; some dog breeders prefer natural products.

The problem with the latter option is associated with the frequent replacement of meat with porridge and pasta, which is contrary to the norms. In addition, good quality natural products are more expensive than ready-made diets.

Diet for an adult dog

A sexually mature pet is transferred to a two-time diet. Biscuits or canned food should be intended for adult dogs; the serving size is indicated on the packaging.

Dry food

Between one and four months

At 1-4 months the feeding pattern is different:

• the first time - from 5 to 6 times a day;
• at 2-3 - four times a day;
• at 4 - three times a day.

Regardless of the type of food, the diet must be completely balanced.

Between six months and a year

Due to the dog’s mobility, there is a large consumption of energy, which must be constantly replenished. Depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, the animal is fed 2 to 3 times a day, constantly monitoring the dog’s behavior and its general condition.

Important! Lethargy, lethargy, refusal to play and attempts to constantly sleep indicate the low energy value of food.

You should not choose biscuits as a reward during training - food does not replace a special treat.