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.
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 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.