Best dog food for a Patterdale Terrier
A Patterdale Terrier generally does well on a complete food built for small, active breeds, with enough protein and fat to support a genuinely high energy output packed into a compact, dense body. This is a working terrier by background, and their calorie needs often outpace their size.
Feeding a Patterdale Terrier
A small breed
An adult Patterdale Terrier typically weighs 5–7kg, so a healthy Patterdale Terrier eats a modest amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A small breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Patterdale Terriers sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through a couple of hours of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
How much should a Patterdale Terrier weigh?
Adult 5–7kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.8–1.2 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.4–1.9 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.7–3.8 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 5–7 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a small breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Patterdale Terrier
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Patterdale Terrier's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
What a Patterdale actually needs from a food
Despite standing under 40cm, a Patterdale Terrier is solidly built and bred for stamina, and a dog that is genuinely active day to day burns through more energy relative to its size than its compact frame suggests. A food formulated for small or working breeds, rather than a generic small-breed light recipe, tends to match this better.
Look for a named meat protein high on the ingredients list rather than a food built around cereal filler, since protein and fat are what fuel sustained activity. A dog who spends most of the day resting on a sofa needs meaningfully less than one who is out working or exercising for hours.
Kibble size and dental health
Small-breed kibble is sized for a smaller jaw and mouth, which matters more for comfortable, efficient eating than it might seem. A standard-sized kibble is not dangerous for a Patterdale, but a size made for their mouth tends to be easier for them to eat properly.
Terriers as a group are prone to dental tartar building up over time, so a dental chew or a kibble with a texture designed to help clean teeth as they chew is worth considering alongside the main diet, on top of any brushing routine.
Getting the amount right
Feed to the guide on the pack for your Patterdale's actual weight, then adjust based on how active a life they genuinely lead rather than their size alone. A working or very active Patterdale can need noticeably more than the standard guide suggests.
Check body condition regularly by feeling for ribs without heavy pressure, and speak to your vet if you are ever unsure whether your dog's weight or portion size needs adjusting, particularly if their activity levels change.
Common questions
- Are Patterdale Terriers prone to being overweight?
- They can be, particularly if their food does not account for how much energy they actually use day to day, or if activity drops off as they get older. Regularly checking body condition rather than relying on a fixed portion size helps catch this early.
- Do Patterdale Terriers need a high-protein diet?
- Many benefit from a food with a reasonably high proportion of named meat protein, given how active and dense-bodied this breed typically is, but the right level still depends on your individual dog's activity and any advice from your vet.
- What size kibble suits a Patterdale Terrier?
- A small or medium kibble sized for a compact jaw generally suits this breed better than a large-breed biscuit. It is about comfortable eating rather than safety, so a standard kibble will not cause harm, it is simply less well matched.
- Can I feed a Patterdale Terrier a raw diet?
- Some owners do, and raw ranges are available for active, small breeds. Any change of diet, raw included, is worth introducing gradually and discussing with your vet first, particularly for a dog with a genuinely high activity level.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.