Feeding by breed and weight / Non-Sporting group
How much to feed a Boston Terrier
A neutered adult Boston Terrier at 25 lb needs about 692 kcal a day, which is 2 cups of a 369 kcal/cup food; at the 6 lb end of the breed's range it is 237 kcal, or ¾ cups. That is the maintenance figure before treats, from the resting energy requirement formula and the Merck Veterinary Manual's factor of 1.6 for a neutered adult.
Boston Terrier feeding table by weight and life stage
Each row is a Boston Terrier at that weight. Columns are the Merck factors: a neutered adult (×1.6), an intact adult (×1.8) and a dog that is inactive or gains weight easily (×1.4). Cups assume 369 kcal per cup, the label figure for Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice (adult dry); change it to your bag's number on the sizer.
| Weight | RER | Neutered adult | Cups | Intact adult | Cups | Inactive / weight-prone | Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 148 | 237 kcal | ¾ | 267 kcal | ¾ | 208 kcal | ½ |
| 11 lb (5.0 kg) | 234 | 374 kcal | 1 | 421 kcal | 1¼ | 327 kcal | 1 |
| 16 lb (7.3 kg) | 310 | 495 kcal | 1¼ | 557 kcal | 1½ | 433 kcal | 1¼ |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 366 | 585 kcal | 1½ | 659 kcal | 1¾ | 512 kcal | 1½ |
| 25 lb (11.3 kg) | 433 | 692 kcal | 2 | 779 kcal | 2 | 606 kcal | 1¾ |
RER = 70 × kg0.75; factors from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Calorie density from the Purina product page (3790 kcal/kg, 369 kcal per 8 oz cup, about 96 g). Checked 2026-10-20.
Why the number is lower than the bag says
Bag feeding guides are written for an active, intact adult and often run above the neutered-maintenance figure; for a 25 lb Boston Terrier the gap between the intact and neutered columns is 87 kcal a day, roughly 0.2 cups. A dog that is already carrying extra weight should start from the inactive column (606 kcal at 25 lb) and be weighed every two weeks. Treats and chews count: a single dental chew can be 70–100 kcal, which adds up faster than it looks across a week.
Formulas get a healthy adult into the right range; body condition keeps it there. Ribs should be easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, and the dog should have a visible waist from above. If that is not the case after four weeks, adjust by about 10% and re-check — and ask your vet before changing a dog with a medical condition, a pregnant or nursing female, or a working dog in season.
Grams and meals
At 25 lb and 692 kcal, 2 cups is about 192 g a day of a 96 g/cup kibble — a kitchen scale is more repeatable than a scoop. Split into two meals for an adult. Puppies eat more per pound and more often: see the Boston Terrier puppy feeding chart.
How the Boston Terrier compares
Calories per pound fall as dogs get bigger, because RER scales with weight to the 0.75 power rather than linearly. A 25 lb Boston Terrier needs 28 kcal per pound; a 18 lb Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs 541 kcal (30 per lb), a 18 lb Pug needs 541 kcal (30 per lb), a 18 lb Jack Russell Terrier needs 541 kcal (30 per lb). The breed ranks 12 of 49 by weight on this site.
Adult weight from Wikipedia breed infobox/body, checked 2026-10-20. Figures are maintenance starting points for a healthy adult; they are not veterinary advice.