How to Select the Best Dog Food for Jack Russell Terriers
The Jack Russell Terrier is a flurry of activity, a quality that leaves some referring to the breed as the little white wonder. A dog that traces its roots to England in the 19th century, the Jack Russell Terrier’s original purpose was to accompany its owner on fox hunts over rigorous terrain. As a result, this breed should possess immense heart and stamina as well as the drive to track quarry and drive it above ground through its baying.
The Jack Russell Terrier is easy to identify. This dog should be at least 51 percent white in color; however, markings of brown, black, or a combination of the two are permitted.
A charming little breed, the Jack Russell Terrier is intensely smart and requires daily physical and mental exercise to remain content. Without this, the breed will easily fall into nuisance behaviors including digging, barking, and other forms of destruction.
A highly active dog, the Jack Russell Terrier is not prone to becoming overweight. However, it is still a good idea to carefully measure this dog breed’s food and to monitor all daily intake. Some dogs are so busy that they do not eat sufficient calories to maintain a proper body condition and can become too thin. Since Jack Russell Terriers often do not want to stop to eat, a calorie dense food is recommended for them since it allows the dog to consume more calories within a smaller portion.
The Jack Russell Terrier is a loving and affectionate family companion. Though small of size, the breed is big in both heart and attitude and can often get itself into trouble since it doesn’t know its own size. The breed typically enjoys meeting new people and other dogs but is not tolerant of rude behavior.
This happy little breed is quite friendly but does require an owner that will establish and reinforce boundaries for the dog. Jack Russell Terriers are notoriously difficult to train, resisting doing anything that wasn’t their idea in the first place. However, most owners feel their naughtiness is only part of their charm.
The best dog foods for Jack Russell Terriers consist of a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Jack Russell Terriers
The Jack Russell Terrier requires a diet that is well balanced and full of premium quality ingredients. Determining how much of this type of food to feed can pose a challenge. The best dog foods for Jack Russell Terriers list suggested serving sizes on the side of the bag. Owners can use these as a starting point, adjusting the amounts to reflect their dog’s weight, age, activity level, and appetite until the right portion is found.
The Jack Russell Terrier is not a breed that should be free fed. This busy little terrier will often forget or refuse to stop to eat, meaning the dog could easily become underweight if mealtimes are not carefully monitored.
Dietary Requirements for Jack Russell Terrier Dog Foods
A highly active breed, the Jack Russell Terrier needs a diet that is full of top tier nutrition in order to fuel its busy lifestyle. The best dog foods for Jack Russell Terriers are based on a lean, white meat if possible. Red meat tends to be too hot a protein for this breed and can lead to skin sensitivities.
Whole meats and meat meals are the preferred foundation for the Jack Russell Terrier’s diet. By-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are best avoided entirely. Other ingredients that do not benefit the Jack Russell Terrier include chemicals, fillers, additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.
Carbohydrates play an important role in any food for this athletic breed, encouraging good digestion and a healthy immune system. This breed can eat a grain-inclusive or grain-free food; however, dogs that have previously expressed sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free diet.
Healthy fats fuel the Jack Russell’s energy levels and also provide support for coat and skin health. These are best derived from animal sources and include such ingredients as chicken fat and oily fish.
It is always a great idea to select a food that includes supplements. The most beneficial supplements for the Jack Russell Terrier are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Jack Russell Terriers
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Jack Russell Terrier:
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Lean meat-based proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
The Jack Russell Terrier requires a diet based on meat. Whole meats and meat meals are the best options. Foods containing by-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are best avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
All items introduced into a food formulation should add nutritional value. Chemicals, flavorings, fillers, and mystery ingredients do not contribute anything positive to a Jack Russell Terrier’s diet. In fact, many of these ingredients can be the cause of allergy issues in Jack Russell Terriers.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements help improve the efficacy of a diet. The ideal supplements to look for for this energetic breed are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
The AAFCO seal approval should accompany any food considered for the Jack Russell Terrier. This designation indicates a food has been assessed and found to be complete and properly balanced.