Feeding a Russian Toy Terrier Correctly: What’s Allowed and What’s Not

Proper nutrition is an essential part of caring for your four-legged friend. Feeding a Russian Toy Terrier is no exception. The rules for feeding a Toy Terrier are a very important part of dog care, as they are directly related to the overall well-being and health of the dog.

A monotonous diet for humans can lead to health problems, which is why we, homo sapiens, must consume a wide variety of foods. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for animals, particularly dogs — they need food enriched with plant fats, animal proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This is quite sufficient for dogs.

General Information on Feeding Toy Terriers

It’s understandable that it’s very hard to resist your pet when they beg for something from the table, looking at you with those adorable eyes. But you must restrain yourself and not spoil your pet with treats.

Digestive system disorders in dogs can be caused even by the most expensive sausage or chocolate candy. Believe me, such products will bring no benefit to your dog, but rather harm.

Also, lovers of spicy and peppery dishes, who prefer to add a lot of seasonings and spices everywhere, should know that spicy food is contraindicated for dogs. Dogs should not be given products that contain salt (except in very small amounts).

In addition to food, your dog should have access to fresh water — don’t be lazy to change your pet’s water more often, pour in plenty.

Although the decorative Toy Terrier is very miniature, its activity and energy can be envied by any other dog. It’s no surprise that a Toy eats a lot and can rightly be called a glutton. But don’t be fooled by this little beggar. Do not train your pet to eat from the table.

If you cannot resist the little beggar, buy special dog treats from specialized stores — this way, you won’t deprive the Toy of the pleasure of begging, while also treating your pet to a tasty snack.

BUT! It should be emphasized that these treats should only be given during the main meal.

Now let’s recall our biology lessons and answer the question “What category does a dog belong to in terms of diet?”. Correct, it belongs to carnivores. And what does a carnivore eat? Of course, meat. So don’t even think about giving a Toy Terrier millet porridge — this is the most common mistake in dog feeding.

Tooth loss in dogs, a whole bouquet of diseases, and hair loss — all of this can be provoked by improper nutrition.

Meat is the source of the maximum amount of protein that your pet needs. Let your tiny dog feel like a predator and proudly chew on a juicy piece of meat. But everything should be in moderation — you shouldn’t feed a Toy Terrier only meat — the dog needs a balanced diet.

Animals need vitamins A, C, and D, as well as phosphorus and calcium, so the menu for a Toy Terrier should be thoughtfully composed — you can’t go far on meat alone, as the diet will be incomplete and will not provide your pet with all the necessary nutrients.

Another downside of a meat-based diet is the lack of fiber, so don’t be surprised if your pet has intestinal problems and constipation, a weakened immune system, brittle bones (due to calcium depletion), and much more.

Don’t stuff a Toy Terrier with minced meat — this is a typical mistake. Your pet needs a whole piece of meat. 50% of the Toy’s menu should consist of meat, but no more.

How Many Times a Day Should You Feed a Toy Terrier

Many people ask the question “How to feed a Toy Terrier?”. It’s clear that the menu should be balanced and the food healthy, but what about the timing of meals?

You’ve probably noticed that when you eat at the same time every day, your well-being and overall physical condition are much better than when meals are irregular. The same goes for dogs.

The feeding schedule for a Toy Terrier is not a complicated science, and you don’t need to waste time reinventing the wheel. Leading veterinarians have long developed a feeding scheme that clearly shows how many times a day you need to feed a Toy Terrier.

When your dog reaches one and a half years old, one feeding per day is sufficient. But if you notice that your Toy is hungry and the food is not enough, feed them twice a day.

If you feed your Toy twice a day, it should be done in the morning and evening at the same time. The first meal should not be late, as the Toy may experience “hunger vomiting.” For dinner, it’s advisable to give a little less food than in the morning — a “heavy” meal before bedtime negatively affects the Toy’s health.

Whether you choose natural food or ready-made pellets, or a mixed feeding approach — deciding which feeding method to use for your Toy Terrier is entirely up to you.

If you lean more towards natural food, remember that the amount of food in a portion is directly proportional to the dog’s weight: 1 kg of weight — 50-80 grams of food.

The caloric content of the food should be determined based on the age of the animal. Puppies, nursing, pregnant, and active pets require more calories, while older Toys eat much less.

If you prefer ready-made granulated food, you don’t need to think about the portion size — manufacturers indicate the recommended portion volume on the package.

At What Age Can You Start Giving Dry Food to a Toy Terrier

Ready-made dry food for Toy Terriers is a balanced diet, meaning the Toy does not need additional supplementation. You can feed your Toy with both dry pellets and soaked ones. Keep in mind that when a Toy eats dry pellets, their teeth are cleaned of plaque and tartar.

Don’t consider this an advertisement for dog food; we just want to explain the features of feeding a Toy Terrier special food.

• It couldn’t be simpler

You don’t need to choose fresh products, you don’t need to fuss in the kitchen preparing and reheating food. There are no difficulties during travels, trips to nature, or the dacha — you can take a bag of pellets with you everywhere and not worry about them spoiling.

• A balanced and consistent composition of food for dogs affects the regularity of their stool.

If your Toy is a real glutton, you can control the number of calories consumed, as they are indicated on the packages.

• At what age can you start giving dry food to a Toy Terrier?

You can choose dry food for your Toy regardless of their age, size, or even lifestyle — all the necessary information is indicated on the packages.

Important: Soak the pellets in warm water, then let them swell for an hour. Do not leave soaked pellets in the bowl for more than a day, and in summer — for more than a couple of hours.

What Dry Food is Best for a Toy Terrier

Yes, some people are staunch opponents of dry food, arguing that it contains by-products, which include plant fats, flavor additives, and are generally of low quality.

But all of the above concerns economy-class feeds. They can be found in any supermarket, and their price is below average.

On the other hand, there are special feeds that contain meat, grains, and animal fats. Such industrial food can only be purchased in “dog” stores. Understanding which dry food is best for Toy Terriers will be aided by a table that classifies ready-made dog food.

The quality of the food, and consequently its price, is influenced by the amount of protein and fat.

For decorative breeds, it’s better to choose the “super” and “premium” class lines.

Foods Suitable for Toy Terrier Puppies

Now, on the shelves of stores, you can find food for both small dog breeds and for puppies of these breeds. Such special lines are produced by the best manufacturers in the world.

“Plan Growth”

“Medium junior”

“Maxi junior”

“Premium junior”

“Pedigree junior — 2”

“Pedigree advance puppy”

“Pedigree advance junior”

“Pedigree advance junior maxi”

“Eukanuba junior”

“Eukanuba junior rich in Lamb and Rice”

“Canine Growth with Lamb and Rice”

“Medium and Larger Breeds Puppies”

If you have doubts about which food to choose for your Toy Terrier, ask your veterinarian for advice.

You don’t need to worry that your Toy will get used to the same food and lose its appetite — in the wild, there is no variety of food. Don’t get fancy and don’t feed your Toy chocolate and caviar — it’s simply not in their nature.

How and What to Feed a Toy Terrier Puppy from 1 to 9 Months

You don’t need to think about what to feed a Toy Terrier puppy as long as its mother is taking care of its feeding. But as soon as her milk supply decreases and the puppies are not getting enough, you need to take care of supplementary feeding for the little ones. Ideally, the mother should feed the puppies for about a month, but often supplementary feeding has to start as early as the third week.

If the mother stops feeding the puppies due to a lack of milk, you should adhere to the feeding schedule developed by scientists:

• every two hours — 1-2 weeks of life;
• every three hours — 2-3 weeks;
• every four hours — 3-4 weeks.

When the puppy reaches one month, you can transition to six feedings a day. The puppy’s diet should include milk (milk and cottage cheese). Remember that you should not give the Toy puppy fatty milk (homemade), as the puppy’s stomach cannot handle that load. Tip: You can dilute fatty milk with water.

As mentioned earlier, the basis of the Toy’s menu should be meat (chicken or beef). Before giving your dog meat, remove the bones. Cartilage can be left. Terriers can also be fed sea fish, but you must ensure that there are no bones in it. Do not feed your pet pork, lamb, sausage, hot dogs, or frankfurters! Also, do not feed the Toy raw eggs, especially the whites.

Speaking of cereals, small breeds can be fed buckwheat, rice, and oatmeal. Other cereals are not recommended.

You can also add vegetables — raw and stewed — to the Toy’s diet.

Garlic and onion must never be given to a toy in any form: they are toxic to dogs, even if they are recommended “against worms”. Worm prevention is done with products prescribed by a vet. Sweets and products containing sugar are a taboo for the Toy. You can give the Toy fruits and occasionally honey.

Do not feed your pet pasta and white bread — they will only harm him. Black bread is a different matter. It should be cut into small pieces and dried. Believe me, your pet will enjoy such a treat.

How to Properly Feed a Toy Terrier Puppy

Since the puppy develops in stages, the nutrition should be appropriate, as different periods of development require different nutrients for full growth.

To eliminate any doubts about how to properly feed a Toy Terrier puppy, it is necessary to understand what the pet needs during this period.

Active puppies expend a lot of energy, so it needs to be replenished often — give the Toy plenty of easily digestible proteins. Fatty and calorie-dense food can harm the little pancreas.

To keep your pet healthy and active, stick to the feeding schedule for the Toy from 1 to 9 months.

For a tiny pet older than 1 month, you can create the following menu:

• First breakfast (7 AM). Cook rice porridge (or better yet, grind rice in a coffee grinder) and add low-fat cottage cheese in a 1:1 ratio. Plus warm milk.
• Second breakfast (9 AM). Grate half a hard-boiled egg on a fine grater and add a couple of drops of vegetable oil. You can replace the boiled egg with a mini-omelet.

Tip: Do not give the Toy puppy eggs more than once every 3 days.

• Lunch (12:00). Feed the puppy warm chicken broth with finely chopped chicken or other boiled meat.
• Afternoon snack (3 PM). Feed the puppy grated boiled offal (heart, liver) and grated carrots. Offer the puppy the broth in which the offal was cooked.
• Second afternoon snack (7 PM). Feed the puppy boiled fish, but be sure to remove all bones and serve it in small pieces. Plus milk.
• Dinner (10 PM). For the night, you can feed the Toy chicken or other meat + warm broth. After such a meal, the dog will sleep soundly.

Starting from two months, increase the portion sizes and reduce the number of feedings — they should be 5. Give your pet less dairy, replacing dairy products with meat.

Starting from three months, treat the Toy to stewed vegetables and fish, and feed the pet raw vegetables and fruits. Milk is still present in the animal’s menu.

When the Toy turns 5 months old, you can confidently transition the dog to three meals a day.

Below is a weekly feeding menu for a Toy Terrier puppy from 5 to 9 months that you can use as a basis and modify to suit your needs.

Weekly Menu for a Toy Terrier Puppy

Monday

• For breakfast, finely chopped beef and rice.
• For lunch, cottage cheese mixed with honey or egg yolk.
• For dinner, boiled sea fish and grated carrots.

Tuesday

• For breakfast, give the pet finely chopped beef and oatmeal.
• For lunch, treat the Toy with kefir or buttermilk.
• For dinner, prepare boiled sea fish + seaweed.

Wednesday

• Breakfast consists of beef and buckwheat.
• Lunch – boiled or stewed vegetables (beet, carrot, zucchini).
• For dinner, feed the pet beef broth and a little sauerkraut.

Thursday

• For breakfast — chicken with rice porridge.
• For lunch — cottage cheese.
• For dinner, serve chicken broth and grated carrots.

Friday

• In the morning – buckwheat porridge and chicken.
• For lunch, feed the Toy dairy products.
• In the evening – fish and seaweed.

Saturday

• For breakfast — rice porridge and offal.
• For lunch, feed the pet stewed vegetables.
• For dinner, give the dog the broth in which the offal was cooked + vegetables.

Sunday

• In the morning — buckwheat and offal.
• For lunch — honey and homemade cottage cheese.
• For dinner, prepare fish with parsley and dill.

What Can and Cannot Be Fed to a Toy Terrier, List

To help you easily navigate when composing your pet's diet, we offer you a table that clearly outlines what can and cannot be fed to a Toy Terrier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods should not be given to a Russian Toy Terrier?

Do not give a Toy Terrier chocolate, sausage, and spicy food, as they can cause digestive disorders and other health problems.

What diet is best for a Toy Terrier?

A Toy Terrier needs a balanced diet that includes meat, plant fats, animal proteins, and vitamins.

Can you give a Toy Terrier treats from the table?

It is not recommended to spoil your pet with food from the table; it is better to use special dog treats during the main meal.

How often should you change the water for a Toy Terrier?

Fresh water should be available to the pet at all times, so don’t forget to change it regularly.

How to properly compose a diet for a Toy Terrier?

The diet should be varied and include meat, vitamins, and minerals to provide the pet with all the necessary nutrients for health.