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

What could be a better food for a Jack Russell Terrier than a food that's literally tailored to the nutritional needs of a Jack Russell? The Royal Canin Jack Russell Terrier Adult Dry Dog Food formula is enriched with antioxidants that are designed to maintain muscle mass and support the lively and energetic temperament the breed is known for. It has an adapted kibble shape, size and texture so it's just right for your little JRT's mouth with added calcium to support your pup's dental hygiene while slowing down tartar formation.

Customer review: "I bought this one as I have a Jack Russell and found that she really liked the taste and size of the biscuit."

Whether you want to give Forthglade Chicken & Lamb Natural Wet Dog Food Variety Pack for Small Dogs as a standalone meal, mixed in with dry food or as a topper, the 150g trays are the perfect size for Jack Russell Terriers. What we love about Forthglade wet food is the amount of protein in the recipes. This variety pack has 75 per cent chicken or lamb in each tray alongside essential vitamins and minerals to ensure your pooch grows up strong and healthy. The recipes are free from grains and fillers and are naturally hypoallergenic too.

Customer review: "If I was a dog, I’d want to eat this! My 12-year-old (guesstimate – she’s a rescue) Jack Russell simply loves this and literally wolves it down without pause for breath. The portion size is perfect. Of course, there are cheaper brands but if your budget can stretch to it, your dog will thank you for feeding it the food it deserves."

While this Eukanuba Complete Dry Dog Food is made to be a breed-specific Jack Russell food, it's also designed for Parson Russells, Fox and Border Terriers so it doesn't matter whether your JRT pup is a pure breed or a mixed, they'll be getting the right mix of essential nutrients with this food. This food has a high level of prebiotics in it to promote healthy digestion and a tailored level of L-carnitine, which is an amino acid nutrient, to help your pooch naturally burn fat so you don't have to worry about them gaining too much weight.

Customer review: "Vets have always chopped and changed my dog's food. So, I soon started researching myself, I am so happy I've found this product! My old Jack Russell now keeps a great weight, she's excited for her Meals, doesn't leave her bloated feeling and also never now struggles to go 'toilet'. She has so much more energy too at 15 years! Love this stuff, and now buy it monthly. Thank you so much and for the next-day delivery! Awesome, would 1000% recommend."

Lily's Kitchen Chicken & Duck Dry Food has been a favourite with doggos and their owners for years but they've recently released a version for small dogs with a smaller kibble so they can get their tiny mouths around it more easily, which is why we think it's a good option for Jack Russells. It's made with natural ingredients and proper meat and offal so you know you'll be feeding your pup quality stuff. As it can be fed to hounds from four months old, this is a great choice if you're after a food that will see your Jack Russell from puppyhood into adulthood and beyond.

Customer review: "Perfect-sized kibble for my small dog who struggles with larger nuggets."

Designed to cater for small dogs that are over 10 months old and weigh up to 10kg, Royal Canin Mini Food has all the right ingredients to satisfy the typical Jack Russell. Like other dry foods on our list, the kibble size has been adapted to suit the size of mini-breed dogs so it's not too big or too crunchy for their little mouths and teeth to get around. It also has an adapted calorie content to suit Jack Russells and other smaller dogs so you can be assured they're getting all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need to meet their energy needs while also keeping them at a healthy weight.

Our review: "While Gina isn't a purebred Jack Russell (she's a Yorkie X JRT cross), she has a lot of Jack Russell traits and this food suits her to a tee. She isn't a fan of overall crunchy food as she struggles to get through it with her teeth and if she feels like a piece of kibble is too big for her, she simply won't even attempt to put it in her mouth. The Royal Canin Mini Food is just the right size for her and she'll happily munch it down at mealtimes - no more turning her nose up."

The perfect accompaniment to any of the dry food we've included on the list or a satisfying meal served on its own, the Royal Canin Mini Adult Dog Food Wet Pouches are sure to tempt the taste buds of your little Jack Russell. Just like the mini breed dry food, these wet food pouches also have a specially adapted calorie content that will help your JRT keep to a healthy weight while also keeping their bones strong and healthy through its specific balance of nutrients. If your Jack Russell has a tendency to be a little fussy with their food, the aroma of the gravy that these meaty chunks are in should be enough to lure them to their bowl at mealtimes.

Customer review: "My Jack Russell loves this, he always licks the bowl clean & never leaves any, perfect!"

As we've mentioned earlier, Jack Russells are prone to weight-gain-related issues and one of those is strain on their joints. This Pooch & Mutt Joint Care Dry Food can aid with improving your pooch's joint wellbeing if you've started to notice they're under a bit more strain. It's high in Omega 3 fatty acids that will help reduce inflammation and stiffness of the joints. As well as being good for your JRT's joints, it can also get your hound's coat looking in tip-top condition, reduce the smells coming from their stool and make their digestion better as it contains NUTRA-BIONIC. This supplement is made with natural ingredients including glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, Omega 3, 6, zinc and biotin for skin and coat condition and prebiotics and probiotics for a happy tum to name but a few. We love that you can feed this food from puppyhood into adulthood and beyond to their twilight years.

Customer review: "My dog loves the flavour, and I love that it cares for his joints now he is getting a little older"

Finding the balance between good quality food and food that is also kind to your wallet can be tricky but we think this Harringtons Advanced Science Diet Complete Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is a great option for a value dog food for your Jack Russell. You can 8kg of food for under £35 so it should last you a while, just make sure you’ve got plenty of room to store it properly so it doesn’t go stale. It offers a smaller kibble for smaller mouths, Omega 6 & 3 oils which will keep their skin and coat feeling soft and looking lush and increased levels of protein compared to standard Harrington’s dry food recipes to ensure your Jack Russell is getting all the energy they need for their size. Not to mention the food is cooked in a mouthwatering chicken gravy so it’ll certainly whet the appetite of even the fussiest of terriers.

Customer review: "My Jack Russell is a picky eater. Unexpectedly, she likes this! Worth giving a try if you are like me - have a picky eater prince/princess."