Dog Food for Small Breeds: How to Choose the Best Option

With so many options available, deciding which dog food to feed your small breed can seem bewildering. However, there are some key things to look for when making your decision that will help.

Food is essential to your dog’s health, providing the energy they need for exercise, exploration and play, so it is worth taking your time to choose the best one for them. A good food with high quality ingredients will also support their muscle development, joints, skin and coat and even their cognitive function.

Here are some pointers on what you should be thinking about when evaluating what to feed your small breed dog:

Why Small Breeds Need Special Dog Food

Whether you have a Bichon Frise, a miniature Dachshund, a Chihuahua or a Yorkshire Terrier, you’ll know that while they are small in demeanour, they are big in character and energy. To nourish them and help them keep up with their longer legged friends, they would benefit from a Biologically Appropriate diet to provide the energy they need.  

A Biologically Appropriate diet is based on the food our dogs ancestors would have eaten in the wild and includes whole prey ingredients. Meaning, it is packed with meat including organs and bone leaving less room for carbohydrates.  

Size is also important. Small breed dogs have smaller jaws so a smaller kibble size will help them to enjoy their food.

Best Dog Food for Small Breed Puppies 

The best food for small breed puppies is one rich in protein, ideally from a variety of animal sources and including organ meat. 

The ORIJEN Small Breed Puppy diet contains 85%* quality animal ingredients like fresh or raw** chicken, salmon and turkey. It is packed with WholePrey animal ingredients like organs and bone and is made with the most nutrient-dense, succulent parts of the prey to deliver the nutrition puppies need. 

Small Breed Dry Dog Food vs. Wet Food

In many ways the ingredients of a food are more important than the format. We recommend opting for the highest quality food based on what is most Biologically Appropriate. Look for high meat content, named meat and organs for example chicken instead of poultry. This should be balanced with fresh ingredients including fruits, vegetables and herbs that help provide essential nutrients naturally. A diet with fewer carbohydrates is also considered better quality as dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates. Check that the food you choose is complete and balanced. Wet foods are typically complementary foods that need to be supplemented or fed as a topper for a complete dry food.  Always ensuring your dog has easy access to fresh clean water throughout the day.  

Dog Food for Small Breeds: Key Ingredients to Look For

Dog owners need to look for quality when it comes to their dog’s diet. Their diet should be rich in animal protein, ideally from different sources e.g. two different types of meat and fish to provide variety and interest. Often pet food includes cheaper ingredients to fill dogs up with little nutritional value, often resulting in a long list of synthetic supplements.  

ORIJEN dog food is packed with high quality, easily digestible meat. Champion Petfood’s research shows use of fresh or raw animal ingredients in kibble results in high protein digestibility in dogs. ORIJEN Small Breed is made from 85%* animal ingredients from multiple sources including Raw Turkey, Fresh Chicken, Raw Quail, Raw Whole Hake, Raw Whole Herring, and Fresh Egg so they benefit from a variety of proteins that support their immunity, skin and coat and digestion. Plus, because ORIJEN is nutrient dense most owners find they feed less when compared to other foods, therefore the bag lasts longer!  

Common Feeding Mistakes to Avoid

Not reading the labels 
All the information about what’s in your dog’s food is found on the label on the back of the bag or tin. Manufacturers will list the ingredients, and they are listed in order so the first ingredients will make up most of the food so make sure they are good ones! ORIJEN’s first five ingredients are always fresh or raw animal ingredients.  

Sudden changes in diet 
A dog needs time to adjust to new food so avoid sudden changes in their diet. A sudden change between different foods will likely cause your dog to experience digestive discomfort, upset stomachs or constipation.  

Sticking only to one recipe  
Life would be very boring if we only eat the same thing every day. Like us, our dogs need variety in their diet. So, consider rotational feeding to prevent flavour fatigue. If your dog is enjoying ORIJEN Small Breed why not try ORIJEN Small Breed Marine Fish which is loaded with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids to support skin & coat health? 

Not having a mealtime routine 
Mealtimes are one of the best moments of the day for dogs. Aim to feed at the same time each day. We recommend splitting your dog’s daily feeding amount into two, so they have a morning and evening meal. Keeping a regular routine will build their trust in you and help regularise when they need to out to go to the toilet. 

Feeding too much 
Unfortunately, pet obesity is on the rise with veterinary professionals estimating that 46% of dogs are overweight or obese. It’s important to pay attention to the recommended feeding amounts. You can find this presented in a table on the bag or tin. Identify the recommended amount based on the weight of your dog. Following the manufacturers feeding guide, monitoring your dog’s body condition and providing regular exercise is the best way to keep your small dog healthy. 

There is so much joy to be had in looking after a small dog. Choosing a food they love will strengthen your bond together, help keep them healthy and very happy. 

*Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.  

**Our fresh ingredients use refrigeration as the sole method of preservation and our raw ingredients are frozen at their peak freshness.