Any owner is concerned with the question of how to structure a pet’s diet in such a way as to avoid most health problems in the future. The principles of feeding dogs are the same, but to feed a Jack Russell, you need to observe your own nuances: take into account the propensity for diseases, food allergies, temperament and other points. Let's figure out how to feed a Jack Russell pet: natural food or ready-made food, what menu a puppy and an adult dog need, what supplements to use.
Caring for a Jack Russell puppy
As mentioned above, this is a hunter of small animals. This is why puppies are very mobile and curious. To prevent the baby from getting into something and getting injured, at first his movement around the apartment should be limited. For this purpose, a playpen or a locked room is used.
Puppies need sufficient physical activity, only in this case they will not misbehave at home. This will have a beneficial effect on the behavior, general well-being and development of the animal.
In addition, the dog is small in size, so you need to make sure that it does not learn to sit on high furniture. This can cause a fall, which is very dangerous for puppies, for their immature skeletal system.
Don't forget that your baby has very sharp and growing teeth. You need to worry about special toys in advance. You can buy them at a specialized pet store or make them yourself. Such devices are created specifically for itchy gums and teeth.
Representatives of this breed, like all dogs, need coat care. Depending on its type, home and professional care is possible.
Vaccinations, parasite control, claw and ear care are the same as for any other breed. As you can see, raising a Jack Russell Terrier puppy is not very difficult.
What to feed a Jack Russell Terrier puppy
The dog is small in size. Therefore, the volume of feed must be calculated so as to provide the required amount of energy and avoid excess weight in the animal.
The owner must decide for himself what kind of food he will choose for the puppy - dry or natural. As soon as the baby is brought home, you should not immediately offer him new food. During the adaptation period, it is better to feed him the same food as the breeder for at least 10-14 days.
Ready-made feeds are already balanced in composition. Available in dry and semi-liquid form. For a puppy, select only specialized food for dogs up to one year old.
Natural nutrition is a combination of proteins (meat, eggs, fish), vegetables and cereals. This ensures normal growth, intestinal function, and shiny coat.
The number of parts should be 2:1:1.
Feeding frequency and daily intake
If the Jack Russell Terrier is separated from the bitch early, then he is given water from a bottle with a pacifier. Then gradually add porridge, lean meat and fermented milk products.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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From the third month from birth, the puppy can already be given a dry ready-made composition.
Food should always be heated, the consistency should be homogeneous and the same for each feeding.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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To make teeth strong, pets are given bones or special hard objects. Such processes make it possible to strengthen teeth and develop the chewing apparatus in puppies.
Number of meals per day:
- up to three months – 6 times;
- from the first month to six months – 4;
- from 6 to 8 months – 3;
- After a year, the dog is switched to two meals a day.
Dry food for Jack Russell puppies
Feeding your puppy dry food has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it is much simpler. The owner does not need to worry about how much, what and in what proportion to give. Very convenient to store, no need to waste time preparing food for your Jack Russell puppy.
On the other hand, you need to choose a specific one from among the variety of feeds and give it taking into account age. In addition, eating this way requires a very good drinking regime. There are certain nuances that must be taken into account when feeding this way:
- Selection of food by age. There are different types of food available for adults and children; this should not be neglected.
- Accounting for possible animal pathologies. There are hypoallergenic foods for animals with kidney or liver problems.
- Be sure to check how the new food affects the behavior and condition of the baby’s coat. Whether it suited him or not. Intolerance can manifest itself in loose stools, constipation, and severe flatulence.
- Listen to the advice of your veterinarian and reviews from owners of dogs of the same breed.
- Avoid eating too cheap. This can lead to damage to the baby's health . Dry food for Jack Russell Terrier puppies must be of high quality.
What to feed a newborn Jack Russell Terrier puppy
A puppy up to a month needs almost daily intake of dairy products - milk and cottage cheese. Gradually, by 3-4 months, the volume and frequency of their intake will have to be reduced. This is due to the fact that adult animals develop an aversion (intolerance) to milk protein.
It is best to use goat milk, as its composition is very similar to dog milk. If this is not possible, then the nutritional value of cow eggs can be improved by adding a quarter of a homemade raw chicken egg. The baby is not allowed cheese, but up to 20 grams of cottage cheese per day is beneficial.
Meat products are given in pureed raw form - starting from the tip of a dessert spoon. Then they give you half, then the whole. To avoid problems with the digestive system, vegetables are given boiled or baked, pre-chopped.
In terms of time, a Jack Russell puppy is fed every three hours. Before going to bed, it is better to give not vegetables and milk, but more nutritious meat, which will allow the animals to sleep better and withstand the night break in feeding.
Natural nutrition
If the breeder fed your pet natural products, then do not forget to specify which ones, and follow this menu. If the baby was fed ready-made food, gradually switch it to natural food.
To begin with, it is enough to give a new species 1 teaspoon at a time, then alternate between dry food and natural food. But you should not delay the transition period for more than a week.
Meat broths are the first to be introduced into the diet, which can be used to dilute dry food. Next, vegetables and porridges are introduced: rice, buckwheat, oatmeal. A small two-month-old pet is given milk porridge once a day.
From two months onwards, you can feed your Jack Russell puppy finely chopped boiled meat, which should be lean. It is advisable to pre-boil vegetables during this period.
But for three-month-olds, you can add raw vegetables to the porridge. At this age, the dog is given cottage cheese, vegetable oil, and fruits.
The daily diet of a young Jack Russell Terrier should approximately contain:
- meat—200 gr;
- cereal products—150 gr;
- vegetables – 100 gr;
- dairy products - 100 mg.
In addition, bone meal is added to the food, at least 15 grams and one egg once a week.
Food is served warm; food should not be served directly from the refrigerator. It is best to prepare them immediately before use. If, when consuming factory-made products, the volume of food corresponds to the instructions, then with natural feeding, the portion is calculated based on the dog’s weight.
Since the Jack Russell Terrier is a hunting breed, the daily food intake (should not exceed 6% of weight) is divided by the number of feedings.
- Hunting dogs gain weight quickly, but musculoskeletal mass does not develop so rapidly. Therefore, overeating can eventually affect movement, positioning of limbs, and lead to metabolic disorders.
However, underfeeding will lead to slower growth and the development of rickets.
To determine the norm, watch your baby. He must eat the entire portion and lick the bowl. But when a pet tries to push the bowl after eating and doesn’t want to leave, it means that there isn’t enough of it. Therefore, at your next meal, increase the serving size by a quarter. If there is food left, then reduce the remainder or reduce the number of meals.
Feeding a 2 month old Jack Russell Terrier puppy
The baby is gradually growing up, and accordingly, his menu is gradually changing.
- Now, instead of pure milk, porridge with milk or porridge with vegetables, cottage cheese, and raw meat are used.
- You need to use different grains. The animal must always have access to clean water to avoid intestinal problems.
- The preferred meat is beef or veal. You can use chicken and young lean pork.
When adding new foods to your Jack Russell Terrier puppy’s diet, you need to do this gradually, in small portions, carefully monitoring his health and stool. After all, the main thing is the baby’s health.
What should not be included in the diet?
All owners of the Jack Russell Terrier breed must familiarize themselves with the following list of foods prohibited for dogs:
- sausage, frankfurters and pork lead to pancreatic diseases;
- fried, salted and smoked foods have a negative effect on the blood;
- grapes and raisins can overload the kidneys;
- tubular bones can harm the stomach;
- chocolate has a bad effect on the functioning of the heart and the nervous system as a whole, it can provoke a heart attack, internal bleeding and even an epileptic attack;
- onions can cause anemia;
- strawberries, citrus fruits and millet are strong allergens, so you should avoid them;
- corn, legumes, garlic, mushrooms, broccoli, potatoes and raw eggs lead to dry skin, dull coat, anemia and overload of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Freshwater fish contains a large number of small bones that can damage the larynx and stomach.
Avocados, pomegranates, nuts and popcorn are also prohibited.
Nutrition for a Jack Russell Terrier puppy aged 3-4 months and older
If it seems to you that the baby has grown up, you still cannot use foods that are harmful to the liver for feeding - fatty, fried, smoked, salty, sweet. Even if the pet asks for a treat from the table.
Nutrition is gradually expanding.
- The animal can be given boiled fish (sea), boiled meat, 2-3 eggs per week.
- Porridge is seasoned with vegetable oil.
- Kefir or fermented baked milk can be given little by little, but apples and other vegetables and fruits can be given daily. The puppy has already grown up, so they can be used both raw and boiled.
The number of feedings is gradually reduced to 4 per day. At this time, teeth change. It is good to accustom your puppy to rye crackers - a source of B vitamins.
At six months the puppy is switched to three meals a day.
After 9 months, the dog receives food twice a day.
Until a year old, a puppy is still considered small, so morning food is provided only in liquid form. Remember to alternate between meat and dairy meals.
Prohibited Products
The Jack Russell Terrier is a unique and active breed, so when creating a menu for it, you should not forget about the prohibitions and contraindications.
Dogs are prohibited from adding to their food:
- pork, fatty beef;
- baked goods and sweets;
- egg yolk;
- tubular bones from poultry and fish;
- sausage;
- over-salted food;
- nuts;
- pasta.
Dogs are also prohibited from giving carbonated drinks, fast food, and citrus fruits.
How to raise a Jack Russell Terrier puppy
This breed is distinguished by its cheerful, lively character and relative docile nature. This is why Jack Russells have become very common as companion dogs. Raising a Jack Russell Terrier puppy should take into account the following factors:
- Relief of natural needs in a certain place. Gently but persistently, without shouting or poking with your muzzle, this needs to be achieved.
- Reacting to a name and following the command “no” or “fu”. The puppy must comply with these two requests of the owner immediately.
- The commands are “near”, “place”, “to me”.
- Accustoming to the safety of furniture, wires, and shoes.
- You should not encourage your dog to feed food from the common table.
The commands “lie down” and “sit” are not mandatory for this breed.
