Best food for a Poochon puppy
A Poochon — a Poodle crossed with a Bichon Frise — is a small breed, typically somewhere between 3kg and 9kg fully grown depending on whether a toy or miniature Poodle was used, so a small-breed puppy formula, with its smaller kibble size and higher calorie density, generally suits a Poochon puppy better than a standard or large-breed puppy food.
Why small-breed puppy food fits best
Small breed puppies have faster metabolisms and higher energy needs relative to their size than large-breed puppies, which is why small-breed puppy formulas are more calorie-dense per gram, alongside a smaller kibble that's easier for a small mouth to manage. A Poochon fed a standard, non-size-specific puppy food can end up under-fed relative to their actual energy needs without it being obvious from the amount in the bowl.
As a crossbreed, a Poochon's exact adult size varies more than it would for a purebred dog of a fixed size, since it depends on genetics from both parent breeds. Weighing your puppy regularly and adjusting portions to their actual weight, rather than an assumed adult size, matters more here than for a breed with a narrower size range.
Feeding frequency and portions
Small-breed puppies generally need more frequent, smaller meals than large-breed puppies, particularly while very young — three to four meals a day is common at first, moving to two or three as they get older. This helps manage blood sugar in a small, fast-metabolising puppy and matches how much a small stomach can comfortably hold in one sitting.
Follow the feeding guide on the pack for your puppy's current weight, checked and adjusted every couple of weeks as they grow, rather than a fixed amount decided at the start. A Poochon growing towards the toy end of the size range needs considerably less food than one growing towards the upper end of miniature.
Coat and dental considerations
Poochons typically have a curly, low-shedding coat inherited from their Poodle parent, which doesn't have a direct link to diet, but general skin and coat condition does benefit from a good-quality complete food. Small breeds, including Poochons, are also prone to dental crowding as adults, so some owners choose a kibble shape designed to encourage more chewing from early on.
There's no need for a coat-specific food for a healthy puppy on a good-quality complete diet — a well-balanced small-breed formula covers general coat condition without needing a specialist product.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chewy Cubes with Chicken
Soft chewy puppy training treats with 13% chicken and added calcium, 125g
£2.25
Forthglade Complete Puppy Chicken with Liver Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A complete grain-free wet food for puppies, built on 71% chicken and 4% chicken liver
£35.89
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Puppy/Junior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey and potato kibble for puppies and junior dogs, evenly balanced recipe
£12.75
Wagg Puppy Treats
Puppy Treats in a 120G pack, with 23.2% protein and 7% fat and full label detail
£1.49
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Chicken Recipe — 6 x 400g Tins
Sold as a case: 6 x 400g tins. Complete 400G wet puppy chicken recipe with 67% fresh chicken
£22.79
Pooch & Mutt Puppy Bite Size Beef Jerky
Bite-size beef jerky training treats for puppies, scaled by dog size
£3.99
Whimzees Puppy
Softer dental chews for puppies over three months old, grain free and gluten free
£7.99
Burns Grain Free Puppy Duck Potato
Grain-free duck and potato puppy food with a prebiotic, for starting a new litter on a novel protein
From£16.49
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Recipe Chicken — 10 x 150g Trays
Sold as a case: 10 x 150g trays. Complete 150G puppy chicken recipe with 67% chicken and salmon oil
£16.89
Common questions
- How much should I feed a Poochon puppy?
- Follow the feeding guide on your chosen small-breed puppy food for your puppy's current weight, weighed regularly rather than estimated, since a Poochon's adult size varies more than a purebred dog's does. Adjust the amount every couple of weeks as they grow.
- How many meals a day does a Poochon puppy need?
- Three to four small meals a day is common while very young, reducing to two or three as they get older. Small breed puppies generally do better on more frequent, smaller meals than large-breed puppies.
- Does a Poochon need grain-free food?
- Not necessarily — grain-free isn't required unless your puppy has a specific diagnosed sensitivity. A good-quality small-breed puppy formula, grain-inclusive or grain-free, is generally a fine choice without a particular reason to avoid grain.
- When can a Poochon puppy move to adult food?
- Most small breeds reach adult size faster than large breeds, often by around 9 to 12 months, though this varies by individual dog. Ask your vet at a routine check-up to confirm the right time for your particular puppy rather than switching on a fixed date.
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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.