Best dog food for a Japanese Spitz
The Japanese Spitz is a striking, medium-small breed with a dense, pure-white double coat and, by reputation, fewer major hereditary health problems than many popular breeds of a similar size. That does not mean diet is unimportant — a coat this thick and consistently maintained puts steady demand on skin and coat health, and an active, alert temperament means energy levels also need to be matched sensibly to the food.
Feeding a Japanese Spitz
A small breed
An adult Japanese Spitz typically weighs 5–10 kg, so a healthy Japanese 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 12–16 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 Japanese Spitz weigh?
Adult 5–10 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.8–1.7 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.4–2.7 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.7–5.4 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 5–10 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 Japanese Spitz
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Japanese Spitz's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Burns Adult/Senior Weight Control Chicken and Oats
A low-fat weight control dry food for adult and senior dogs, oat-based
£35.99
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 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
Supporting a dense double coat from the inside
A Japanese Spitz's coat is thick, straight and stands away from the body, and unlike some breeds that shed heavily on a seasonal cycle, this breed's coat needs consistent upkeep and reasonable ongoing skin condition to stay healthy-looking year-round. A food with a genuinely good fat content and named animal fat sources, rather than the bare minimum, tends to support a healthier skin and coat over time than a very low-fat, budget formula.
A coat that looks dull, feels unusually dry, or a dog that seems excessively itchy is worth mentioning to a vet, since coat condition can be affected by things beyond diet alone, including parasites or an underlying skin condition.
Matching energy levels to an alert, active breed
Japanese Spitz are lively and enjoy regular exercise and mental stimulation, and a food with an appropriate calorie density for their size and activity level helps keep condition good without tipping into weight gain. As a medium-small breed rather than a true toy breed, they generally do well on either a small or medium-breed formula, with the right choice depending more on the individual dog's actual size than the breed label alone.
Because the breed is often described as generally robust, there is no single "Japanese Spitz diet" requirement beyond good general nutrition matched sensibly to the dog's size, age and activity.
General health and life stage considerations
Like most breeds, a Japanese Spitz's needs shift across life stages, from a puppy formula supporting steady, controlled growth through to an adult maintenance diet and, later, a senior formula if activity levels and metabolism slow with age. Sudden changes in appetite, coat condition or weight at any life stage are worth a vet visit rather than assuming a food switch will resolve them on its own.
Because the breed is generally considered healthy, most Japanese Spitz do well on a good-quality complete diet without needing anything especially specialised, provided it is matched properly to their size and life stage.
Common questions
- Do Japanese Spitz have specific dietary needs?
- Not especially specific ones beyond good general nutrition, since the breed is generally considered a robust, healthy one. The main practical consideration is supporting their thick double coat with adequate fat content and matching food to their size and activity level.
- What food is best for a Japanese Spitz's coat?
- A food with a good fat content and named animal fat sources tends to support healthy skin and coat condition well, which matters for a breed with a dense double coat that needs consistent upkeep rather than shedding out seasonally in one go.
- Are Japanese Spitz prone to allergies?
- They are not particularly known as a high-allergy breed compared with some others, though any individual dog can develop a sensitivity. Persistent itching, digestive upset or skin irritation in any dog is worth discussing with a vet rather than assuming it's breed-related.
- How much should I feed a Japanese Spitz?
- This depends on the individual dog's weight, age and activity level, so the feeding guide on your chosen food is the right starting point, adjusted based on how your dog's body condition looks and feels over time, ideally with input from your vet at routine check-ups.
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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.