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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Welsh Terrier

The Welsh Terrier is a small dog with a working terrier's engine — bred to hunt otter and badger, wired with high energy, a strong prey drive, and a real tendency to put on weight if that energy isn't burned. How, and how much, you feed one matters.

Here is exactly how to feed a Welsh Terrier on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their joints, skin, wiry coat, and waistline.

  • Adult weight15–22 lb
  • SizeSmall
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12–15 years
  • CoatDouble, wiry — seasonal shedder, needs hand-stripping
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A healthy Welsh Terrier
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Welsh Terrier's body needs

Every Welsh Terrier trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • High drive, easily bored

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% real meat, organs and bone fuels lean terrier muscle and steady, all-day energy for a dog that needs a job — without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Prone to weight gain

    Needs: Precise, measured portions

    Freeze-dried raw fed by weight makes portion control easy on a small dog where a few extra ounces add up fast. Staying lean is the single biggest lever for a longer, healthier life.

  • Allergy-prone, itchy skin (atopy)

    Needs: Omega-3s + a simple, whole-food diet

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, while minimally processed single proteins make it easy to avoid the ingredients that can trigger flare-ups.

  • Wiry double coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Omega-rich whole-food fats support a healthy skin barrier and a glossy, well-conditioned coat between hand-stripping and grooming sessions.

  • Joint watch-outs (knees & hips)

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin; omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and keeping a Welshie lean takes daily load off the knees and hips.

How much to feed a Welsh Terrier

Quick answer: a healthy adult Welsh Terrier (15–22 lb) needs about 2.3–3.3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
15 lb 2.3 oz 1.1 oz
17 lb 2.6 oz 1.3 oz
19 lb typical Welsh Terrier 2.9 oz 1.4 oz
21 lb 3.2 oz 1.6 oz
22 lb 3.3 oz 1.7 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Welsh Terrier

For a Welsh Terrier we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition.

Simple single-protein recipes like Chicken, Wild-Caught Cod or Salmon suit itch-prone, sensitive Welshies and make it easy to spot what agrees with them. It's calorie-dense, so measure carefully on a small dog — just add water and serve.

Recipes for Welsh Terriers

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Daily support for Welsh Terriers

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Treats Welsh Terriers love

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Feeding a Welsh Terrier by life stage

  • Puppy: Welsh Terrier puppies are small and burn energy fast — feed 3–4 small meals a day to keep blood sugar steady and prevent the hypoglycemia tiny puppies are prone to. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight and adjust as they grow.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag — Welshies gain weight easily.
  • Senior: Activity tapers but appetite rarely does. Trim portions to avoid weight gain, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and skin-supporting nutrition.

Common Welsh Terrier concerns — and the diet connection

  • Weight gainWelsh Terriers gain easily and a few extra ounces matter on a small frame. Measured raw feeding and a lean body condition lower the strain on joints and support overall health.
  • Atopic dermatitis (itchy skin)This breed is genetically prone to allergy-related skin flare-ups. A whole-food, omega-rich, single-protein diet supports the skin barrier and makes it easier to avoid trigger ingredients.
  • Joint conditions (patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes)Largely structural, but lean weight plus joint nutrients — natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3 — support day-to-day comfort and take load off the knees and hips.
  • Coat & skin conditionA wiry double coat shows the diet behind it; omega-3 whole-food fats support a healthy skin barrier and a glossy, well-conditioned coat between groomings.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Welsh Terrier: what to know

Welsh Terriers are small and busy, and the weight creeps on quietly — a few extra treats or a skipped walk adds up fast on a 20-pound frame. Feed to body condition, not to the begging: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above.

Because they're small and prone to gaining, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them, keep treats to about 10% of the day's food, and re-check the amount every few weeks — especially after any drop in activity.

Welsh Terrier feeding questions

How much should I feed my Welsh Terrier?
A healthy adult Welsh Terrier (around 18–22 lb) needs roughly 3–4 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What's the best food for a Welsh Terrier with itchy skin?
A simple, whole-food freeze-dried raw diet built on a single protein (Chicken, Cod or Salmon) makes it easy to avoid trigger ingredients, and the natural omega-3s support the skin barrier from the inside. Introduce one protein at a time so you can see what agrees with your dog.
How do I keep my Welsh Terrier from gaining weight?
Weigh every meal rather than eyeballing it, keep treats to about 10% of the day's food, and feed to body condition — you should feel the ribs and see a waist. Measured freeze-dried raw makes honest portions easy on a small, food-motivated terrier.
How do I switch my Welsh Terrier to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. It's rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline — small dogs need only a little.
Does a Welsh Terrier need joint support?
Many benefit from it, given the breed's risk of patellar luxation, hip dysplasia and Legg-Calve-Perthes. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Welshie lean is the most effective joint protection there is.

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  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.