How much should a Scottish Terrier eat?
Adult weight range 8–10 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 10–12 months of age · raw rate 3.0% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
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Scottish Terrier portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 kg | 333 kcal | 533 kcal | 130 g | 1.3 | 65 g | 240 g |
| 9.0 kg | 364 kcal | 582 kcal | 142 g | 1.4 | 71 g | 270 g |
| 10.0 kg | 394 kcal | 630 kcal | 153 g | 1.5 | 77 g | 300 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 3.0% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 9.0 kg Scottish Terrier
A 9.0 kg adult Scottish Terrier (neutered): RER 364 × 1.6 = 582 kcal − 58 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 142 g — that is 71 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Scottish Terrier puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 10–12 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 10–12 months.
Feeding notes for the Scottish Terrier
Small breeds reach adult factors early (10–12 months) and hold weight easily; the 1.6× default with two measured meals a day is the reliable baseline for this size class.
What makes feeding a Scottish Terrier different: Scotties are sturdy, compact and prone to quiet weight gain — the waist disappears under the wiry coat before anyone notices. Weigh monthly and keep treats inside the daily number.
Health, treats and the senior years: Scotties are prone to bladder problems in old age, so a senior that strains to urinate or asks out more often should be seen by a vet promptly. Keep the diet steady throughout life: measured meals, counted treats, and monthly weigh-ins under the wiry coat.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Scotties are sturdy, compact and prone to quiet weight gain, so the whole household has to agree on one measured portion and one treat budget. They do best on two small, measured meals a day, and a slow feeder stops the bolting — but nothing works if someone is slipping extras under the table.
Weight & condition for the Scottish Terrier: Scotties are sturdy, compact and prone to quiet weight gain — the waist disappears under the wiry coat before anyone notices. Weigh monthly and keep treats inside the daily number. At 8–10 kg, half a kilo is a real percentage of body weight, and the joints feel all of it.
Body condition check: A number on the scale is not a body condition. Score the dog on the 9-point scale and aim for 4–5 — ribs palpable through a thin fat layer, waist visible from above, abdomen tucked when viewed from the side. Can't feel the ribs? Feed 10% under the table. Ribs plainly visible? Feed 10% over it.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 10–12 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Scottish Terrier
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 9 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Scottish Terrier feeding questions
How much food should a Scottish Terrier eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (8–10 kg), a Scottish Terrier needs about 533–630 kcal/day — 130–153 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (9.0 kg) needs about 582 kcal/day, roughly 142 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should a Scottish Terrier eat?
Two small, measured meals a day is right for a Scottish Terrier: about 71 g per meal from a daily total of 142 g (582 kcal) for a 9.0 kg adult. A Scottie gains weight quietly, so the whole household must agree on the two meals and the treat budget — one person slipping extras undoes everything. A slow feeder stretches each small meal out, and treats stay inside the 58 kcal allowance.
How many cups of food does a Scottish Terrier need per day?
About 142 g/day is roughly 1.4 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. At this size the margin is tiny — a heaped cup instead of a level one can add a fifth of the whole day, which is why a gram scale pays off most for small dogs.
How do I switch a Scottish Terrier to a new food?
Over 7 days: 25% new food for 2 days, 50% for 2 days, 75% for 2 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. Small dogs should not skip meals during a switch: if your Scottish Terrier refuses the new mix for more than a day, slow down and check with your vet rather than letting them go hungry. If stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra day or two.
How much should a Scottish Terrier puppy eat?
Small-breed puppies reach adult factors at about 10–12 months. Use ×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, recalculated every two weeks — growth is quick at this size and the answer changes monthly.
How much raw food does a Scottish Terrier need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 3.0% of ideal body weight, a 9.0 kg Scottish Terrier eats about 270 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding a Scottish Terrier change as they age?
From about 10–12 months a Scottish Terrier counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 9.0 kg Scottish Terrier from 582 to about 509 kcal/day — roughly 124 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Scottish Terrier may hold condition on the adult number.
Why is my Scottish Terrier gaining weight on the same food?
Because the breed gains quietly and the wiry coat hides it: a Scottie can be half a kilo over before anyone notices, and at 8–10 kg that is a real percentage of body weight. Weigh monthly and judge by the ribs through the coat — if you can't feel them, cut the 142 g/day by 10% and re-weigh in two weeks. Also check the treats: at this size, two biscuits a day can be the whole surplus.
How much should a Scottish Terrier eat per day?
A 9.0 kg adult needs about 582 kcal/day — roughly 142 g of typical kibble after the treat allowance, split into two 71 g meals. The number is small, so weigh it in grams: a heaped scoop instead of a level one can add a fifth of the whole day, and the treat budget (58 kcal) has to cover every biscuit.
Related calculators
Raw & BARF Calculator
Daily raw grams split into meat, bone, liver, organ and veg. BARF and PMR models.
Puppy Food Calculator
Growth portions by age in weeks and months, kibble or raw.
Dog Weight Loss Calculator
Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.