About the Jack Russell Terrier
Fearless, extremely energetic working terriers. A typical adult Jack Russell Terrier weighs around 5–8 kg (Small).
How many calories does a Jack Russell Terrier need?
Calorie needs use the veterinary formula 70 × weight(kg)0.75 (the Resting Energy Requirement), multiplied by a lifestyle factor of ×2.16 for a typical dog at the life stage shown. Enter your own animal's details in the calculator for an exact figure. The Jack Russell Terrier carries a breed metabolic adjustment of ×1.08, already applied below.
| Body weight | Daily calories | Dry kibble ~3,500 kcal/kg | Wet ~1,050 kcal/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 506 kcal | 144 g | 481 g |
| 5.429 kg | 538 kcal | 154 g | 512 g |
| 5.857 kg | 569 kcal | 163 g | 542 g |
| 6.286 kg | 600 kcal | 172 g | 572 g |
| 6.714 kg | 631 kcal | 180 g | 601 g |
| 7.143 kg | 661 kcal | 189 g | 629 g |
| 7.571 kg | 690 kcal | 197 g | 657 g |
| 8 kg | 719 kcal | 205 g | 685 g |
Feeding a Jack Russell Terrier for a healthy weight
Jack Russells are high-energy for their size and burn well when active, but a sedentary one gains weight. Their drive means they need mental and physical exercise alongside measured feeding.
What to feed a Jack Russell Terrier
Dogs are facultative carnivores: they thrive on meat-forward diets but can use carbohydrate and plant matter. A complete-and-balanced food (dry, wet, fresh, or properly-formulated raw) meeting AAFCO or FEDIAF standards should make up the vast majority of intake, with treats capped at 10% of daily calories.
Most adult dogs do best on two meals a day. Puppies under four months need three to four smaller meals; large-breed puppies should be fed a large-breed-specific formula to slow bone growth and protect their joints.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed a Jack Russell Terrier?
An active 7 kg Jack Russell needs roughly 450-550 kcal a day. They're energetic little dogs, but a less-active pet needs fewer calories — adjust to keep them lean and muscular.
How much should I feed my dog per day?
A 10 kg neutered adult dog at a healthy weight needs roughly 500-560 kcal per day — about 150-165 g of standard dry kibble split over two meals. Scale up or down with weight, activity and life stage using the calculator above.
Should I feed my dog once or twice a day?
Twice a day suits most adult dogs and helps regulate appetite and blood sugar. Puppies need three or more meals; some giant breeds prone to bloat also do better with smaller, more frequent meals.