Best dog food for a Shih-poo
A Shih-poo — a Shih Tzu and Poodle cross — is a small dog, typically somewhere in the region of 4 to 9kg fully grown, with low-to-moderate energy needs and a face and jaw shape inherited from the Shih Tzu side of the cross. That combination points towards a small-breed food with a kibble size suited to a small mouth, rather than a generic all-breed formula.
Feeding a Shih-Poo
A toy breed
An adult Shih-Poo typically weighs 4–7 kg, so a healthy Shih-Poo eats a small amount — often under 100g of dry food a day 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 toy 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 Shih-Poo weigh?
Adult 4–7 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.7–1.3 kg | 18% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.2–2.1 kg | 30% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.4–4.1 kg | 59% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 4–7 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 toy 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 Shih-Poo
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Shih-Poo'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 Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
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 Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, 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 Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
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 size and shape mean for feeding
Small dogs have a faster metabolism relative to their size than large breeds, and a small-breed food is generally more calorie-dense per gram to reflect that, alongside a smaller kibble sized for a small jaw. A Shih-poo with a flatter face, depending on how strongly that trait comes through from the Shih Tzu parent, can also find a very hard, large kibble more difficult to manage than a softer or smaller one.
Dental health is worth paying attention to as well — small breeds as a group are prone to dental crowding and tartar build-up, and a kibble texture designed to help scrape plaque during chewing, or a food range that includes a dental-specific option, is a genuinely useful thing to look for.
Sensitive stomachs and coat condition
Some individual Shih-poos, like many small crossbreeds, can be prone to a sensitive stomach or mild skin and coat issues, though this varies dog to dog rather than being universal to the cross. If your dog shows recurring loose stools, itching or a dull coat, a food formulated for sensitive skin and stomach is worth trying, alongside a conversation with your vet if it doesn't settle.
Weight management is also worth watching in a small, less active dog — it's easy to overfeed a small dog without meaning to, since even a small amount of extra food is a larger proportion of their daily needs than the same amount would be for a bigger breed.
Common questions
- How much should I feed a Shih-poo?
- This depends on your individual dog's weight, age and activity level, so the feeding guide on the specific food you choose — checked against your dog's actual weight — is the right starting point, adjusted based on body condition over time.
- Is grain-free food better for a Shih-poo?
- Not automatically. Grain-free is only worth choosing if your dog has a diagnosed or suspected grain sensitivity; for most dogs, a good quality food with grain is perfectly suitable, and the choice should be based on your dog's individual needs rather than the label alone.
- Do Shih-poos need small breed dog food specifically?
- It's generally the better fit — a smaller kibble size suits their jaw, and the calorie density is calculated for a small dog's faster metabolism, both of which an all-breed food doesn't specifically account for.
- What food is best for a Shih-poo with a sensitive stomach?
- A food formulated for sensitive digestion, often built around a single named protein and limited ingredient list, is a sensible place to start, alongside a chat with your vet if the sensitivity is a recurring problem rather than an occasional one.
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.