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.
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 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
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 Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
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.