Best puppy food for a Shihpoo
A Shihpoo, a Shih Tzu and Poodle cross, is a small-to-toy-sized dog whose size and coat can vary more than a purebred's, since mixed-breed puppies inherit traits from both sides unevenly. What matters most in a food is a small kibble sized for a tiny jaw, and watching your individual puppy's body condition rather than relying on a fixed chart, given how much this cross can vary.
A small mouth needs a small kibble
Shihpoos are typically toy-to-small sized, often in a similar weight range to a Shih Tzu, and their mouths are correspondingly small. A puppy food with a small kibble, formulated for small or toy breeds rather than a standard or large-breed puppy food, is the more comfortable and appropriate starting point.
Small and toy breed mouths are also more prone to dental crowding, so a kibble with some texture that encourages chewing rather than gulping can help, alongside proper dental care as they grow.
Coat and mixed-breed variability
The low-shedding, curly-to-wavy coat many Shihpoos inherit from the Poodle side benefits from a food with a genuine source of omega fatty acids, supporting skin and coat condition alongside regular grooming, which this coat type needs regardless of diet.
Because it's a cross rather than a purebred, individual Shihpoo puppies vary more in adult size and appetite than a standard breed would, so it's worth judging portions against your specific puppy's body condition and growth rather than assuming they'll match a typical figure for the cross.
Choosing a food
A small or toy-breed puppy formula, in a protein your puppy takes to, is the sensible starting point. Since toy-sized puppies can be more prone to fussy eating, introducing any new food gradually and keeping mealtimes calm and consistent helps avoid a puppy learning that refusing food gets something better offered instead.
If your Shihpoo puppy seems unusually small even for a toy breed, or growth seems to have stalled, check in with your vet rather than assuming it's simply how the individual dog is built.
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
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
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
Common questions
- How big does a Shihpoo get?
- It varies more than a purebred, since a Shihpoo inherits traits unevenly from Shih Tzu and Poodle parents, but most sit in a small-to-toy size range. Because of that variability, judging your individual puppy's growth against a vet's guidance is more reliable than a fixed weight expectation.
- Do Shihpoos need a grain-free diet?
- Not specifically because of the cross - there's no established breed-linked need to avoid grain. Whether to choose grain-free is a separate decision from anything particular to Shihpoos, and a good-quality food either way can suit them.
- Are Shihpoos prone to dental problems?
- Small and toy-sized dogs generally are more prone to dental crowding because of their smaller jaws, and Shihpoos are no exception. Regular dental care alongside an appropriately textured kibble both help, and your vet can advise on a dental care routine.
- When should a Shihpoo puppy move to adult food?
- Small and toy breeds typically reach adult size earlier than large breeds, but because Shihpoos vary in size, it's worth watching your individual puppy's growth rather than working from a fixed age, and checking with your vet if you're unsure.
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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.