Best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers to keep them healthy and well-fed

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers, it’s not just about finding food that will fill their bowl and satisfy their tastebuds. You’ll want to find a recipe that will give them all the vital nutrients and minerals to grow up happy and healthy. The right dog food will support their immune system to ensure your pup has everything they need to thrive both physically and mentally from puppyhood into adulthood and beyond.

While the Jack Russell may be small in size, they have a big personality. They're generally happy and spirited dogs with high intelligence levels, a love for mischief and plenty of energy, and what do they need to fuel that energy? A good quality dog food, of course, that is rich in essential nutrients, proteins and healthy fats.

Best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers at a glance:

• Best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers overall: Royal Canin Jack Russell Terrier Adult Dry Dog Food, 1.5kg – View on Viovet
• Best wet food for Jack Russell Terriers: Forthglade Chicken & Lamb Natural Wet Dog Food Variety Pack for Small Dogs, 24 x 150g – View on Amazon UK
• Best dry food for pure breed and mixed Jack Russell Terriers: Eukanuba Complete Dry Dog Food for Adult Jack Russell Breed Types, 2kg – View on Amazon UK

A well-balanced diet that is tailored to the specific needs of your Jack Russell can help improve certain health problems that are quite common to the breed. JRTs are prone to dental problems, such as tartar buildup and gum disease, due to their small mouths and crowded teeth. That’s why opting for a crunchy kibble for small dogs, designed in the right shape and size, can help promote oral hygiene and prevent dental issues through its crunchy texture. Jack Russell dogs also have a tendency to gain weight easily, which can lead to obesity-related health problems like diabetes and joint strain, so you may want to consider food with adapted calorie content to suit the needs of their size to stop them from piling on the pounds.

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers, you have two main options: wet dog food or dry. You may even want to feed them a mixture of them both. Some Jack Russells may prefer the texture and taste of wet food but dry food has plenty of dental benefits for them as we’ve discussed and it’s often more convenient for you to store. Whatever type of food you want to feed your JRT, we’ve rounded up the best of the best below that will keep their tummy full and satisfied and their tail wagging.

Best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers

How we chose the best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers

All of these dog foods have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered quality, taste and value in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching the best dog food for Jack Russell Terriers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.

FAQs

We asked PDSA vet nurse, Gemma Renwick, all your burning questions to do with feeding your Jack Russell. She comments, “Although small in size, Jack Russell Terriers are lively little dogs and are well known for their high energy levels and exercise needs. To match these needs, we recommend (as with all dogs) that they are fed a complete, balanced, commercially prepared diet suitable for their age and lifestyle, which includes a combination of high-quality protein, vitamins, healthy fats, minerals, and fibre.

What is the best type of food to feed Jack Russells?

“Just like all dogs, Jack Russell’s nutritional needs will vary depending on their age, health and lifestyle, so speak to your vet about which diet is best for your dog. We recommend looking for a dog food from a reputable company that is labelled complete, as this will contain the correct balance of nutrients needed to help keep your dog healthy.

“As the breed is often energetic and active by nature, consider a food for active dogs – but only if you know you’re able to provide them with the exercise they need to avoid weight gain! Look for a food that provides high-quality ingredients but remember to also check the nutritional analysis of the food, which is a better indication of the food’s nutritional quality and digestibility. Some foods may be marketed as being high in meat content, but remember, just because a meat ingredient is first in the list of ingredients, doesn’t necessarily mean the protein provided is of high quality.

“To maintain their skin and coat health, consider recipes that include healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids – these may be listed as EPA or DHA in the nutritional analysis. These promote a healthy coat while also supporting your Jack Russell’s overall well-being.

“Also consider the life stage of your Jack Russell – are they a puppy, adult or senior dog, and select a food formulated for that age, as age stage has different nutritional needs.

“To support healthy teeth, try feeding a complete dry dog food or combination diet to help keep teeth clean, on top of regular tooth brushing. Smaller breed dogs like Jack Russells are more likely to suffer from dental disease than their larger canine friends."

What should I not feed my Jack Russell?

“Regardless of the breed, we strongly advise pet owners to always purchase food from a manufacturer who is a member of ‘UK Pet Food’. Members of this organisation produce food guaranteed to meet all your dog’s nutritional needs, and also comply with additional quality standards than the legal minimum.

“To ensure your Jack Russell is receiving a balanced diet, you should also feed a diet labelled as ‘complete’ as this means it will contain all the nutrients that your Jack Russell needs, in the correct amount. We do not advise feeding your pet a home-prepared diet without the advice of a specialist veterinary nutritionist, as it is incredibly hard to provide the correct balance of nutrients in this way."

How often should you feed a Jack Russell?

“We usually recommend splitting a dog’s daily allowance into two equal meals at similar times each day. Each meal should be half your dog’s daily food amount: feeding twice a day doesn’t mean giving twice the amount! However, if you give your Jack Russell the occasional treat or use treats for training throughout the day, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily allowance accordingly. Treats shouldn’t make up more than 10 per cent of their daily food intake as otherwise, your dog’s diet could become unbalanced nutritionally.

“Be careful not to overfeed treats as this could cause them to become overweight, leaving them at risk of health problems such as arthritis. The same is also true for leaving food out all day as in many dogs this can lead to overeating. When meal times arrive, always weigh each portion and contact your vet if you need help tailoring your dog’s feeding plan to maintain their perfect weight."

Do Jack Russells have sensitive stomachs?

“Like all breeds, Jack Russells can get upset stomachs for various reasons, but they are no more prone to these than other breeds. Gastroenteritis is commonly referred to as a stomach upset, and just simply means there is inflammation in the stomach and digestive tract. The classic symptoms of gastroenteritis include being sick, having diarrhoea, tummy pain, and not wanting to eat. This is often caused by picking up a bug from another pet out on a walk or eating something that has upset them.

“Less commonly, food allergies can be another cause of the symptoms of a sensitive stomach which Jack Russells, can suffer from. Speak to your vet if you think your pet may be suffering from food allergies."

Are Jack Russells fussy eaters?

“Jack Russells aren’t especially known as fussy eaters, but like all other dogs, and humans too, food preferences are individual and may change with age. If your Jack Russell has suddenly taken a dislike to the food they previously enjoyed, it’s important to make sure they don’t have a medical condition such as a sore mouth that requires veterinary attention. Look out for any changes in your pet’s appetite and eating habits and speak to your vet if you’re concerned as they can be early indicators of a problem.

“Once you’ve found a food that suits your dog, it’s a good idea not to switch it about too often, and avoid adding your own leftovers, as this can risk your dog developing a taste for less healthy foods!”

This article contains advice from vet nurse, Gemma Renwick from the PDSA. As the UK’s largest veterinary charity, PDSA strives to improve pets’ lives and they believe that every pet deserves a happy and healthy life.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.