How much to feed a Border Terrier: feeding chart by weight
A Border Terrier usually weighs 11.5–15.5 lb. Here’s how much to feed per day, a feeding chart by weight and activity, and a puppy weight chart.
How much should a Border Terrier eat per day?
An adult Border Terrier weighing 11.5–15.5 lb eats about 1–1¼ cups (106–132 g) of dry food a day if spayed or neutered with normal activity – that’s 399–495 kcal.
That’s for food with 380 kcal/cup (3,750 kcal/kg), using 1.6 × 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 kcal from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Calculate with your own food right below.
Calculate with your food
How much does your dog weigh?
Decimals help, e.g. 22.5. No pet scale? Weigh yourself, then again holding your pet.
A starting point – the scale has the final say. If your dog is ill, talk to your vet.
Border Terrier feeding chart by weight and activity
Dry food per day for spayed or neutered dogs, food with 380 kcal/cup (3,750 kcal/kg).
| Weight | Low activity | Normal | Very active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 lb | ⅞ cup93 g | 1 cup106 g | 1⅛ cups120 g |
| 13 lb | 1 cup99 g | 1⅛ cups113 g | 1¼ cups127 g |
| 14 lb | 1 cup105 g | 1⅛ cups119 g | 1⅜ cups134 g |
| 16 lb | 1⅛ cups116 g | 1¼ cups132 g | 1½ cups149 g |
A starting point – the scale decides: weigh your dog every two weeks and adjust the amount if it gains or loses. Intact dogs need about 12% more. “Low activity” and “very active” are our own simple steps (0.2 lower or higher factor).
How much does a Border Terrier weigh?
- males
- 13–15.5 lb
- females
- 11.5–14 lb
Border Terrier puppy weight chart and feeding amounts
A Border Terrier grows to about 14 lb. Here’s what a puppy weighs at each age on the growth curve in the FEDIAF guidelines, and how much dry food with 380 kcal/cup (3,750 kcal/kg) it needs a day by the FEDIAF formula.
| Age | Weight | Dry food per day |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 5.1 lb | 1 cup102 g |
| 3 months | 7.2 lb | 1⅛ cups119 g |
| 4 months | 8.6 lb | 1¼ cups127 g |
| 5 months | 9.8 lb | 1¼ cups130 g |
| 6 months | 11 lb | 1¼ cups132 g |
| 7 months | 12 lb | 1¼ cups132 g |
| 8 months | 12 lb | 1¼ cups131 g |
| 9 months | 13 lb | 1¼ cups130 g |
| 10 months | 13 lb | 1¼ cups130 g |
| 11 months | 14 lb | 1⅜ cups134 g |
| 12 months | 14 lb | fully grown |
Every puppy grows a little differently. Weigh your puppy every week; if it doesn’t gain steadily, talk to your vet.
Border Terrier feeding tips
What the sources say about feeding this breed. For health questions, talk to your vet.
- Brisk exercise every day
Borders are active dogs and need plenty of exercise daily, says the AKC; a brisk half-hour walk or play session with a ball or flying disc should be enough. Because they chase small animals, they belong on a leash or in a fenced area. The Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour a day in its breed facts, but at least an hour in its breed text. Choose the column by how much yours actually moves.
- More often overweight
A VetCompass study (RVC, 2021) found Border Terriers had about 1.7 times the odds of being overweight compared with crossbreeds. So treats count: too many can cause obesity, says the AKC – include them in the daily amount.
- Weight in hardworking condition
The AKC standard gives its weights expressly for Border Terriers in hardworking condition. Body shape tells you better than the number whether yours is too heavy.
- Weigh it out
With such small portions, a few grams make a big difference. Weigh each one on a kitchen scale instead of guessing – the Merck Veterinary Manual recommends measured meals for adult dogs anyway.
- Puppies: more meals
Small-breed puppies may need more than three meals a day, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Keep feeding puppy food until your dog is fully grown – for small breeds at about 8–12 months, says Merck.
Questions
How much should a Border Terrier eat per day?
An adult Border Terrier weighing 11.5–15.5 lb eats about 1–1¼ cups (106–132 g) of dry food a day if spayed or neutered with normal activity – that’s 399–495 kcal. That’s for food with 380 kcal/cup (3,750 kcal/kg), using 1.6 × 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 kcal from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Use the calculator above for your food.
How much does a Border Terrier weigh?
According to AKC, adult males weigh 13–15.5 lb and females 11.5–14 lb.
How much does a Border Terrier weigh at 6 months?
About 11 lb on the growth curve in the FEDIAF guidelines, for an adult weight of 14 lb. Every puppy grows a little differently; the weight chart above shows every month from 2 to 12.
How much wet food does a Border Terrier need?
A Border Terrier weighing 14 lb, spayed or neutered with normal activity, needs about 14.9 oz of wet food with 30 kcal/oz or 1⅛ cups of dry food with 380 kcal/cup a day. That’s about 448 kcal. Use the calculator above for your food.
My dog weighs more than this. Is that too much?
Not necessarily. The range is for typical dogs; large or muscular dogs can weigh more. Your dog’s shape tells you more than the number: you should feel the ribs and see a waist from above. If in doubt, ask your vet.
Sources
- AKC – Border Terrier Dog Breed Information (Exercise, Nutrition)
- Royal Kennel Club – Border Terrier (Breed characteristics: Exercise; About this breed)
- Pegram C et al. (2021): Frequency, breed predisposition and demographic risk factors for overweight status in dogs in the UK. J Small Anim Pract (RVC VetCompass)
- AKC – Official Standard of the Border Terrier (Size, Proportion, Substance)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Feeding Practices in Small Animals
Last checked: October 2026