Sometimes I wonder what the most famous Cairn Terrier ever, Toto from the Wizard of Oz, ate. Did he have a good diet? These little working dogs have a lot of courage and energy, and you want to make sure you feed them the best dog food for Terriers to keep their bodies and brains working well.

Cairn Terriers don’t have many dietary restrictions out of those that are common to all terrier dogs. First off, Cairn Terriers are at risk for becoming overweight, so you should avoid foods with corn or soy in them, and you should feed them 2x a day instead of 1x. This will help keep their weight in check.

Additionally, they are at risk for developing allergies. That’s another reason to stick to a grain-free food, as grain-free formulas are better for treating dogs with allergies and preventing them from ever developing. A grain-free option free from BHA and BHT will be your best bet when it comes to choosing a great food for your dog.

Reviews of Best Dog Food for Cairn Terriers​

Since the best dog food for Cairn Terriers is one that is grain-free, I felt that Nutro Max Grain-Free deserved to get mentioned today. This food isn’t one I’ve heard about often, but many Cairn Terrier owners swear by it, so I did a little research and I have to agree that it’s a great food. It's also fairly affordable and easy to find which makes it a better choice than some other less well-known brands on this list.

There are no grains that can cause digestive upset. Legumes and potatoes are used as alternative carbohydrate sources. The food also uses no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and Nutro Max claim that they only buy from natural ingredients they directly track from suppliers, which is great to hear! All in all, this seems to be a great food.

Another dog food that owners recommend as the best food for Cairn Terrier breed dogs is the Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food from the Horizon Legacy line. As its name suggests, this food is grain-free and doesn’t contain grains that are common allergens for terriers.

The animal protein in this formula comes from chicken meal, turkey meal, and salmon meal. The fat is named chicken fat. This food also contains eggs, a lot of anti-oxidant heavy vegetables, and many other great nutritious additions.

This is the only food on this list that isn’t completely grain-free, but I still think it’s a great food for your Cairn Terrier. Why? While it contains rice, it doesn’t have any wheat, corn, or soy, which are the three grains that cause the most allergies in dogs. Many dogs eat brown rice just fine, so it’s okay that this food includes it.

This food is particularly formulated for small breed animals, which I love. It also uses chicken, chicken meal, salmon meal, and lamb meal, all of which are great sources of protein. Antioxidants, nutrients, and fibrous vegetables are also present in the ingredient list. Every ingredient included has a purpose, and I'm not seeing many ingredients that make me nervous to feed this food. Give it a try!

The last food on our list today is from one of my favorite brands, Wellness CORE. I’m including their puppy formula here, because new Cairn Terrier owners might be unsure about what foods will be good for their puppies. This is definitely a great option. Not only is it grain-free, but it also has a superb ingredients list at a relatively affordable cost. When you want affordable quality, get Wellness.

The first three proteins in the food are real chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal. Overall, the food is pretty limited in ingredients which makes it a great choice for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities that can cause digestive problems. The food also has a lot of healthy amino acids through ingredients such as salmon oil. This is a really great food for Cairn Terriers.

Remember, the best dry dog food for Cairn Terriers keeps them from becoming overweight through unnecessary products like corn or soy, and also helps them avoid the risk of allergies with an entirely grain-free ingredients list.

Your Cairn Terrier needs a high quality food to keep them healthy and energetic. Feed them a great food so that their intelligence and knack being courageous don’t fade away. Choose whichever of these foods fits your lifestyle and budget, and you’ll be on your way to a happy life with your own little Toto.