THE ENGLISH TOY TERRIER (BLACK & TAN) CLUB

English Toy Terriers are very small dogs, ideally standing between 10-12″ at shoulder and weighing between 6-8lb, so they are relatively inexpensive to feed but feeding a high-quality, complete and balanced diet is essential to an ETT’s overall well-being and can make a significant difference to its health, happiness, and longevity.

Here are some things to think about for your dog’s diet:

1. Choose a good quality, complete food
   • Useful dog food review sites
2. How often and how much
3. The benefits of a balanced diet
4. Dog treats
5. Supplements
6. Beware of common toxic foods

1. Choose a good quality, complete food

Always choose the best quality food that you can for an English Toy Terrier. Just as the saying “we are what we eat” goes for humans, the same applies to our dogs. The better quality food you can feed, the stronger the foundation for their good health and wellbeing.

• The food should be balanced and “complete” i.e. balanced for all the nutritional needs of your dog.
• High-quality protein – the best protein sources are from real meat, e.g. chicken, beef, lamb, fish, etc., ideally using meat that is also fit for human consumption.

Balance and variety is essential in a dog’s diet – just as with humans. For example, a dog may well love it if they ate steak every meal, but they would quickly become malnourished. It may seem like a steak diet would be gourmet but your dog would be lacking in essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that it needs to stay healthy.

Avoid foods that contain:

• Meat meal which is made from parts of animals that humans don’t eat.
• Meat derivatives which could be anything including the best quality meat but if a dog food manufacturer was using top quality meat they wouldn’t be hiding it under a ‘meat derivative’ label.
• A high percentage of fillers, such as corn, wheat and soy etc., which offer little nutritional value. 
• Artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives.

In general dog foods fall into four categories:

• Dry food – kibble and other forms of dry food e.g. air-dried raw or freeze-dried raw foods
• Wet food – usually tinned, in pouches, trays or airtight boxes.
• Fresh/Frozen Raw food – be sure to buy those marked ‘complete’ as these are balanced at around 80% meat, 10% bone, 10% offal.
• We do not advise home cooking unless you do so with guidance from a vet nutritonist as it is difficult to ensure appropriate nutritional balance in home-cooked diets.  

Which type of food you choose will depend on what suit you and your dog best but remember, always go for the best quality food that you can afford.

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Useful dog food review websites:

• All About Dog Food
• Dog Food Advisor

Both of the websites above are good resources for anyone researching what dog food to feed their dog. Focus on high-quality foods, as many of the cheaper foods may satisfy the ETT appetite but provide low nutritional quality.  The same applies to treats and chews with many of the cheaper brands from overseas having ingredients which are of very uncertain origin, and indeed potentially harmful.

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2. How Often and How Much

• Puppies need 3 feeds each day until they are 5-6 months old
• After 6 months of age, two meals a day plus an evening treat

Follow the manufacturer’s recommended feeding guide in terms of quantity to feed but bear in mind that it is only a guide. If you find your ETT is gaining weight or losing weight, then adjust the feed amount up or down accordingly.

English Toy Terriers are meant to be quick and nimble – they should neither be underweight or overweight.  For example, you should not be able to see the ribs or pins but should be able to see a well-defined waist.  If you notice your ETT gaining too much weight, reduce their food amount and limit treats until they reach their ideal weight again. There are specialist diet foods available with high-fibre content (filling but fewer calories) that can help in severe cases of canine obesity – seek advice from our vet.

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3. The Benefits of A Balanced Diet

1. Supports Overall Health and Longevity – a nutrient-rich diet helps support all major body systems—immune, cardiovascular, muscular, digestive, and nervous systems. ETT’s fed a balanced diet with high-quality ingredients may live longer, healthier lives than those on poor diets.
2. Promotes Healthy Weight – feeding the right portions of quality food is very important for an ETT as they can put on, and lose, weight quite quickly.  Good portion control will help keep your ETT at an optimal weight, reducing stress on joints and lowering the risk of later life obesity-related diseases.
3. Boosts Immunity – quality food rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants will strengthen an ETT’s immune system, making it easier for them to fight off infections, recover from injuries, and maintain overall health. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids – found in oily fish such as Sardines, Sprats, and Salmon – have anti-inflammatory properties that can be especially beneficial for immune health.
4. Improves Skin and Coat Health – the condition of an ETTs skin and coat can be directly affected by their diet. Essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6, promote a shiny, healthy coat and help reduce issues like dry, itchy skin and help with the common seasonal problem of light thinning round the neck and chest. Proteins and certain vitamins also contribute to coat quality.
5. Aids Digestive Health – ETTs require a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fibre to maintain a healthy digestive system. A good diet provides the right amount of fibre for gut health, prevents constipation, and promotes regular bowel movements. Probiotics, which are included in some dog foods, can also support digestive health.
6. Promotes Dental Health, Joint and Bone Health – Diets that include dental-friendly ingredients such good quality crunchy kibble or raw chicken necks /wings can help reduce plaque buildup and prevent dental disease.  The calcium in chicken bones – raw and NEVER cooked – will help strengthen bones.
7. Increases Energy and Vitality – dogs need sufficient energy to stay active, and a balanced diet provides the right mix of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to fuel their activities. Protein is especially important, as it helps build muscle, and fat provides a concentrated source of energy.

Appropriately balanced diets are key in managing and preventing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Certain breeds may have genetic predispositions to particular health issues, and the right diet can help mitigate these risks.

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4. Dog Treats

Treats should be considered in the round as part of an overall complete diet.

Choose your treats carefully and feed quality. Be creative with food and avoid ultra-processed treats. Many dogs love fresh fruit and vegetables e.g. a slice of apple, watermelon, carrot sticks, baby tomato, a boiled egg (with shell on) for a fun, edible toy, etc. Note: dogs can absorb nutrients from fresh fruit but not from raw vegetables so cook those lightly.

When doing a lot of training with your ETT you may want to use a complete dry food as training treats and reduce their main feed accordingly to prevent your ETT from gaining excessive weight. 

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5. Supplements

There are many supplements you may wish to consider adding into your English Toy Terrier’s diet to help ensure balanced nutrition, or to help support specific health concerns. Brands such as Dorwest and YuMove along with other household recognised names are a great place to research further on suitable supplements and how they can help nutritionally improve your ETT’s condition.

The main supplements that ETT owners add to their dog’s diets tend to be:

• Pro-biotics – to aid gut health
• Omega 3s – for joints and coat condition
• Seaweed – to improve dental hygiene by disrupting plaque formation

Please be aware that supplements should be considered in the context of a balanced diet. If you are not sure whether or not your dog requires a supplement to their diet, speak to your vet.

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6. Beware of Common Toxic Foods

Some foods that are fine for human consumption can be deadly to dogs. Common human foods that are toxic for dogs include:

• Chocolate (the higher the cocoa content the worse)
• Grapes, raisins and anything deriving from a grape
• Garlic, onions and chives      
• Xylitol – an artificial sweetener found in all manner of human foods and medicines.
• Nuts
• Blue Cheese
• Any mouldy food e.g. mouldy bread and beware of dogs scavenging food in public places.
• Alcohol

The Royal Kennel Club has a guide to common foods that are toxic for all dogs.      

If you think your dog has eaten anything harmful whether it is a food or other substance (e.g. garden fertilisers, slug/rat/ant killers, poisonous plants), contact your vet immediately.  All of these can cause serious damage to internal organs.

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