Best dry dog food for a Shih-Poo
A Shih-Poo — a Shih Tzu and Poodle cross — does best on a small-breed dry food with a genuinely small kibble size, since both parent breeds are on the smaller side and a Shih-Poo typically inherits a compact jaw that struggles with a standard or large kibble. Dental health is also worth prioritising specifically for this cross, since both Shih Tzus and small Poodles are prone to dental crowding and gum problems.
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 the crossbreed background means for feeding
Shih-Poos typically weigh somewhere between about 4 and 9kg depending on the specific Poodle parentage (toy or miniature), placing them firmly in the small-breed category for feeding purposes. Small-breed dry foods are formulated to be more energy-dense per gram than standard formulas, which matters because small dogs have a faster metabolism relative to their size and need to get sufficient calories from a realistically small daily volume of food.
Both parent breeds — Shih Tzu and Poodle — are known for dental crowding and a tendency toward gum disease, a trait commonly passed on in the cross, so a kibble shape and size designed to encourage chewing rather than swallowing whole is a genuinely useful feature to look for rather than a marketing detail.
Other things worth checking
Shih-Poos can inherit a curlier, Poodle-like coat, a straighter Shih Tzu-like coat, or something in between, but coat type has no bearing on diet — it is a grooming consideration, not a feeding one, and does not need a specific food. Some individuals within the cross are prone to a sensitive stomach, inherited from either parent breed, so a food with a shorter ingredient list is worth trying if your Shih-Poo has shown any digestive sensitivity.
As with most small breeds, they can be prone to weight gain if overfed relative to their genuinely low calorie needs, so measuring meals against the feeding guide on the bag, rather than free-feeding, is a sensible habit from puppyhood onward.
What we stock
We carry small-breed dry food across several brands, along with dental chews sized for a small mouth, which suit a Shih-Poo's combination of small size and dental predisposition well. Wet food and mixers are also worth having on hand for a Shih-Poo going through a fussy phase or needing extra encouragement to eat.
Whichever dry food you choose, introduce any change gradually over a week or so and keep portions measured rather than estimated, given how easily a small dog's weight can creep up on a diet that looks modest by eye.
Common questions
- How much should I feed a Shih-Poo?
- Follow the feeding guide for your dog's actual weight on whichever small-breed food you choose, then adjust based on body condition. Because Shih-Poos are small with modest calorie needs, it is easy to overfeed without realising.
- Are Shih-Poos prone to dental problems?
- Yes, both parent breeds are commonly prone to dental crowding and gum disease, a trait that often carries through to the cross. A dental-friendly kibble shape and regular dental care both help manage this.
- Does a Shih-Poo's coat type affect what food it needs?
- No, coat type — whether curlier or straighter — is a grooming consideration and has no direct bearing on dietary needs. Feeding decisions should be based on size, activity level and any individual sensitivities rather than coat.
- Can Shih-Poos have grain in their food?
- Yes, there is nothing about the cross that requires grain-free food specifically. Most Shih-Poos do fine on a good-quality grain-inclusive small-breed diet unless an individual dog shows a specific sensitivity.
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.