Best dog food for a German Spitz
A German Spitz is a small breed with a thick double coat and a lot of energy packed into a compact frame, and both of those traits point toward a food built for small, active dogs rather than a generic all-breed recipe. Portion size matters more here than with a larger dog — a small daily miscalculation shows up faster on a Spitz's frame.
Feeding a German Spitz
A small breed
An adult German Spitz typically weighs 5–11 kg, so a healthy German Spitz eats a modest amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A small breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 13–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
How much should a German Spitz weigh?
Adult 5–11 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.8–1.8 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.4–3 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.7–6 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 5–11 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a small breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a German Spitz
Complete foods from our range, matched to a German Spitz's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Why size changes the choice
Small-breed dogs generally have a faster metabolism relative to their size than large breeds do, which is part of why small-breed recipes tend to carry a higher calorie density per bowlful — a German Spitz needs a proportionally bigger energy hit from a smaller portion than a Labrador does.
Kibble size matters too, and it's an easy thing to overlook. A small-breed formula is shaped and sized for a smaller mouth and jaw, which makes it easier for a Spitz to eat comfortably and chew properly rather than gulping down pieces sized for a much bigger dog.
What the coat means for feeding
A German Spitz's dense double coat is partly built from the protein and fatty acids in its diet, so a food with a genuinely good-quality protein source and a reasonable fat content tends to support coat condition better than a cheaper recipe padded out with fillers.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, often listed from fish oil or flaxseed, are commonly included in recipes marketed for coat and skin health, and they are worth looking for on the label for a breed that carries this much coat all year round.
Reading past the marketing
'Small breed' on the front of a bag is a genuine formulation difference, not just a size claim, so it's worth checking for on a German Spitz's food specifically rather than assuming any adult dry food will do. Compare the actual protein and fat percentages between bags rather than the claims printed around them.
A named meat as the first ingredient, rather than a vague description, is a reasonable quick check when comparing options, and it takes seconds longer at the shelf than reading the front of the bag alone.
Common questions
- How much should I feed a German Spitz?
- This depends on your individual dog's weight, age and activity level, so the feeding guide on the bag is a starting point rather than a fixed number. Check body condition every couple of weeks and adjust gradually, and ask your vet if you're ever unsure.
- Do German Spitz dogs need a grain-free diet?
- Not specifically because of the breed — grain-free is a formulation choice rather than a requirement, and plenty of German Spitz dogs do perfectly well on a food that includes grain. Choose based on how your individual dog does on a food, not the label trend.
- Are German Spitz dogs prone to weight gain?
- Like many small, food-motivated breeds, a German Spitz can gain weight quickly on a diet with too many treats or too large a portion for its size. Measuring food rather than guessing by eye is a simple habit that helps a lot here.
- What age is a German Spitz considered senior?
- Small breeds generally live longer and are often considered senior later than large breeds, commonly from around eight to ten years old, though this varies between individual dogs. Your vet can advise when it's worth moving to a senior-formulated food for yours.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.