Burns for small breeds
Burns is a UK dog food brand built around single-meat, gentle recipes originally developed with sensitive digestion in mind, and the range includes formulas specifically sized and balanced for small and toy breeds rather than a smaller bag of the standard adult recipe.
What's actually different for a small breed
Burns' Toy Breed and Puppy/Junior Mini recipes use a smaller kibble size, which matters more than it sounds — a small or toy breed's jaw and throat genuinely struggle with a biscuit sized for a medium or large dog, and an oversized kibble can put a small dog off dry food altogether or lead to bolting and gulping.
The calorie density is also tuned differently, since small breeds have a faster metabolism relative to their size than large breeds do, and a food balanced for a Labrador can under- or over-feed a Chihuahua-sized dog quite quickly if portioned the same way by simple weight alone.
The single-protein approach
Across the wider range, Burns recipes are built around one named meat protein rather than a blend, which several owners of small breeds specifically look for if their dog has a known or suspected sensitivity — there is only one protein to rule in or out rather than several in combination.
This single-protein structure runs through the puppy, adult and senior formulas alike, so a small breed can generally stay on a similar protein through different life stages if that protein continues to suit them.
For this need
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
- Does Burns make a specific small breed dog food?
- Yes, Burns' Toy Breed and Puppy/Junior Mini recipes are sized and balanced specifically for small and toy dogs, rather than being the standard adult formula in a smaller bag.
- Why does kibble size matter for a small dog?
- A biscuit sized for a medium or large breed can be genuinely difficult for a small or toy breed to chew comfortably, and an oversized kibble can lead to gulping or a dog going off dry food altogether. A smaller kibble is easier and safer for them to eat properly.
- Is Burns a good choice for a dog with a sensitive stomach?
- Burns' single-protein approach across most of its range is a genuinely useful feature for a dog with a known or suspected sensitivity, since it is easier to identify what does or doesn't agree with them than with a food using several blended proteins.
- How much should I feed a small breed dog?
- Follow the feeding guide printed on the specific pack, which is calculated for that recipe's calorie density, and adjust based on your dog's body condition. Small breeds often need proportionally more calories per kilogram of body weight than large breeds, so scaling down a large-breed guide by weight alone is not accurate.
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.