Best dog food for a Shiba Inu
A Shiba Inu generally does well on a good quality complete food matched to their size and life stage, with grain-free or single-protein recipes worth considering if your particular dog shows signs of a skin or digestive sensitivity — a pattern reported by some Shiba Inu owners, though far from universal across the breed. Shiba Inus are also known for being naturally lean, moderate eaters, so overfeeding rather than underfeeding is usually the more common issue.
Feeding a Shiba Inu
A small breed
An adult Shiba Inu typically weighs 8–10 kg, so a healthy Shiba Inu 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 13–16 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 Shiba Inu weigh?
Adult 8–10 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 1.3–1.7 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 2.2–2.7 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 4.3–5.4 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 8–10 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 Shiba Inu
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Shiba Inu'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
What to think about for this breed
Shiba Inus are a medium-sized, naturally athletic breed, and many owners find them to be more moderate eaters than some other breeds their size, sometimes even fussy. A good quality complete food appropriate to their age and size is the starting point, and there is no single ingredient or format that every Shiba Inu specifically needs beyond that.
Some owners do report skin sensitivities or digestive upset in the breed, which is why grain-free or limited-ingredient recipes come up often in Shiba Inu discussions, but this is not true of every dog of the breed, and switching food unnecessarily can create its own problems. If your dog shows no signs of sensitivity, there is no need to seek out a specialist diet.
Managing a moderate or fussy appetite
If your Shiba Inu is a naturally light eater, resist the temptation to constantly switch foods or add extras to tempt them, since this can make a mildly fussy eater more selective over time rather than less. Stick with a good quality food appropriate to their life stage and monitor body condition rather than appetite alone as the measure of whether they are eating enough.
Because Shiba Inus are a naturally lean breed, it is worth checking body condition regularly by feeling for the ribs and looking for a visible waist, since this breed can carry extra weight less obviously under its dense double coat than a shorter-coated dog would.
What we stock
Our dry dog food range includes grain-free and sensitive-formula options alongside standard complete foods across life stages, suitable for a Shiba Inu whether or not sensitivities are a factor for your individual dog. What is shown in the grid above reflects what is currently available to order.
If your Shiba Inu shows ongoing itching, digestive upset or a sudden change in appetite, speak to your vet before changing diet, since they can help identify whether food is actually the cause rather than something else entirely.
Common questions
- Do Shiba Inus need grain-free food?
- Not automatically. Some owners report their Shiba Inu does better on a grain-free or limited-ingredient diet due to sensitivities, but this is not true of every dog of the breed. If your dog shows no signs of sensitivity, a good quality standard complete food is perfectly appropriate.
- Why is my Shiba Inu such a fussy eater?
- Many Shiba Inus are naturally moderate eaters and some are genuinely selective, which is a fairly common trait reported in the breed. Constantly switching food or adding extras to tempt them can reinforce fussiness, so sticking with a consistent, good quality food and monitoring body condition is usually the better approach.
- Are Shiba Inus prone to food allergies?
- Some owners report skin or digestive sensitivities in the breed, though this varies between individual dogs. If your Shiba Inu shows persistent itching or digestive upset, see your vet to help identify whether food is the cause before switching diets.
- How much should I feed a Shiba Inu?
- Follow the feeding guide on your chosen food based on your dog's weight and adjust for body condition, since Shiba Inus are a naturally lean breed and it is worth checking regularly that a dense double coat isn't hiding gradual weight gain. Your vet can help assess body condition at a check-up.
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.