Best dog food for a poochon
A poochon — a cross between a poodle and a bichon frise — is a small dog that inherits traits from both parent breeds, and food choice for this cross usually comes down to two things: a small-breed kibble sized for a smaller mouth, and some attention to dental health, since both parent breeds can be prone to crowded teeth at this size.
Feeding a Poochon
A small breed
An adult Poochon typically weighs 3–8 kg, so a healthy Poochon 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 12–15 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 Poochon weigh?
Adult 3–8 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.5–1.3 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 0.8–2.2 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 1.6–4.3 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 3–8 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 Poochon
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Poochon'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
Sizing the food correctly
A small-breed formula, with kibble sized appropriately for a smaller mouth and a calorie density suited to a smaller dog's energy needs, is the sensible starting point for a poochon. Both poodles and bichon frises are small dogs, so a food formulated for larger breeds is rarely the right fit, either in kibble size or in calorie content relative to a poochon's actual energy needs.
Poochons can range a bit in size depending on which generation of cross and which parent sizes were involved, so it is worth feeding to your individual dog's actual weight and body condition rather than assuming every poochon is the same size.
Dental health is worth building in early
Small breeds generally, and poodles and bichon frises specifically, are prone to dental crowding because a normal number of teeth sit in a smaller jaw, which increases the risk of plaque build-up and dental disease over a dog's life. Choosing a food or adding a dental chew that supports oral health from an early age is a sensible habit to build in rather than something to address only once a problem appears.
Regular tooth brushing alongside diet makes the biggest difference for dental health in a small breed like this, but a dental-supporting kibble texture or a dedicated dental chew is a reasonable addition on top of that routine.
Sensitive stomachs and coat
Some poochons, inheriting from either parent breed, can have a more sensitive digestion than a larger, more robust breed, so a recipe built around a single named protein and easily digestible ingredients is worth trying if your dog has shown any signs of a sensitive stomach.
The curly, low-shedding coat both parent breeds are known for also benefits from a diet including omega fatty acids for skin and coat condition, which supports coat quality alongside regular grooming.
Common questions
- What size dog food should I buy for a poochon?
- A small-breed formula, with kibble sized for a smaller mouth and calorie content matched to a smaller dog's energy needs, suits a poochon better than a food formulated for medium or large breeds.
- Are poochons prone to dental problems?
- Small breeds generally, including both parent breeds in this cross, can be prone to dental crowding, which raises the risk of plaque and dental disease over time. Regular brushing alongside a dental-supporting diet or chew is a sensible habit to build in early.
- Do poochons have sensitive stomachs?
- Some individual poochons do, inheriting the trait from either parent breed, though it is not universal across the cross. A single-protein, easily digestible recipe is worth trying if your dog shows signs of a sensitive stomach.
- How big does a poochon get?
- It varies depending on the generation of cross and the size of the parent dogs involved, so feeding to your individual dog's actual weight and body condition is more reliable than assuming a fixed size for the cross generally.
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.