Border Terrier feeding guide: how much and how often
Daily calories, portions by age and practical feeding tips for the Border Terrier.
Few Border Terriers turn down food, and many will open bins, raid bags and eat things found on walks. An adult of 6.5 kg (14 lb) typically needs 100 to 120 g of dry food a day, a little over a cup, split into two meals. Active working dogs need more, and neutered pet dogs often need less than the packet suggests.
Because they gobble, a slow feeder or a food puzzle can stretch a two-minute meal into ten and give the dog something to think about. Use part of the daily ration for training on walks, which helps with recall and keeps treats from adding extra calories.
Check weight by feeling for the ribs and looking for a visible waist from above. A Border that has gone round in the middle loses the athletic build the breed depends on, and extra weight makes jumping and long walks harder on the joints.
Border Terrier feeding in numbers
Illustrative adult portions
| Dog | Weight | Calories | Dry food per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female, relaxed lifestyle | 6 kg | 350 kcal | 95 g (1 cups) |
| Female, typical pet | 6 kg | 400 kcal | 110 g (1 cups) |
| Male, typical pet | 7 kg | 460 kcal | 125 g (1.3 cups) |
| Male, very active | 7 kg | 570 kcal | 155 g (1.5 cups) |
Puppy portions need measured weight, growth stage and the food’s energy content. A breed-average curve is not a feeding plan. Calculate with measured inputs and review the result with your vet.
Bowl capacity
900 ml
17 cm across
Product height estimate
21 to 27 cm
not a veterinary recommendation
Rough drinking estimate
0.3 to 0.4 L
keep fresh water freely available
Adult examples assume midpoint breed weights, neutered pets and food with 370 kcal per 100 g. Cups assume 100 g per cup; actual food density varies. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.