What to feed a Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are a small, flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed, typically weighing between around 5.5kg and 11kg, and their flat face and stocky build shape what actually matters in their food more than the breed name does. A small-breed formula, fed carefully to avoid excess weight, and attention to any digestive sensitivity are the three things worth getting right.
Small-breed kibble and portion control
A small-breed dry food, with a smaller kibble piece sized for a Boston Terrier's compact jaw, is generally easier and more comfortable to eat than a kibble made for a large breed. Small-breed formulas also tend to be more calorie-dense per gram, which means correctly sized portions look smaller than you might expect compared with a larger dog's bowl.
Boston Terriers can put on weight readily if overfed, and extra weight is a particular concern for a brachycephalic breed because it adds further strain to a breathing system already working harder than a non-flat-faced dog's, so weighing food against the pack's feeding guide rather than eyeballing portions is worth doing consistently.
Eating speed and bloat risk
Flat-faced breeds, Boston Terriers included, often eat quickly and can swallow more air while eating than a longer-muzzled dog does, which is linked to a higher rate of digestive discomfort and bloating after meals in brachycephalic breeds generally. A slow-feeder bowl, which makes a dog work a little harder to reach each mouthful, can genuinely help slow down a fast eater.
Smaller, more frequent meals through the day rather than one or two large meals can also reduce how much a dog gulps in one sitting, which is a simple, low-cost change worth trying for a Boston Terrier that eats noticeably fast.
Sensitive digestion
Boston Terriers are among the breeds that can be prone to digestive sensitivity, sometimes showing up as wind, loose stools or intermittent sickness on a food that does not suit them individually. A limited-ingredient or grain-free recipe is a reasonable thing to try if this comes up, introduced gradually rather than as a sudden switch, and it is worth mentioning to your vet if it persists.
Keeping treats and table scraps to a genuine minimum also helps a dog with a known sensitive stomach, since a rich or unfamiliar extra is often what tips a borderline digestion into an obvious upset, rather than the main diet itself being at fault.
Weight through adulthood
Because carrying extra weight is a bigger issue for a brachycephalic breed's breathing than it is for most dogs, keeping a Boston Terrier at a healthy body condition throughout adulthood matters more than it might for a longer-muzzled breed of the same size. Regular weight checks and adjusting food amount as activity levels change through life are worth building into a routine rather than leaving to guesswork.
A Boston Terrier that becomes less active later in life, whether through age or a change in routine, generally needs its food amount reviewed downward rather than staying on the same portion it had as a younger, more active dog.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
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 Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
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 Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Common questions
- Do Boston Terriers need a special brachycephalic dog food?
- Not necessarily a specifically labelled 'brachycephalic' food, though a small-breed formula with attention to calorie content and portion control covers most of what matters. Some brands do make flat-faced-specific kibble shapes designed to slow down fast eating, which can suit a Boston Terrier that gulps its food.
- Why do Boston Terriers get wind so often?
- It is common in brachycephalic breeds partly because they tend to swallow more air while eating and breathing than a longer-muzzled dog does. Eating more slowly, using a slow-feeder bowl, and smaller, more frequent meals can all help reduce it in many dogs.
- How much should an adult Boston Terrier eat?
- It depends on your individual dog's weight, activity level and the specific food's calorie content, so the feeding guide on the packaging, weighed out and adjusted against how your dog's body condition looks, is more reliable than a fixed daily amount.
- Are Boston Terriers prone to food allergies?
- They can be, like many breeds, though it is not a defining trait of the breed specifically. Persistent itching, ear problems or digestive upset are worth investigating with your vet rather than assuming it is simply how the breed is.
Related
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.