Dog food for small breeds
Dog food labelled for small breeds is not a different diet so much as a different shape and a different calorie density. Small dogs burn energy faster relative to their size than large dogs do, and their jaws and throats are built for a smaller kibble, so the two things worth checking on a bag are the kibble size and how energy-dense the recipe actually is.
What "small breed" actually changes on the label
The biggest physical difference is kibble size. A small dog's mouth and throat cannot comfortably manage the same chunk of kibble a Labrador would take in its stride, so small breed recipes are milled smaller, which also makes them easier to eat for a dog with less patience for chewing.
The second difference is calorie density. Small dogs have a faster metabolism per kilogram of bodyweight than large dogs, so many small breed foods pack more calories into a smaller volume, meaning a Chihuahua does not need to eat an unreasonable pile of food to get what it needs each day.
Neither of those things makes a small breed food nutritionally superior to a standard adult recipe. A healthy small dog can do perfectly well on a normal adult food as long as the kibble size suits its mouth and the portion is adjusted for its size, which is exactly what the feeding guide on the back of any bag is there for.
Wet, dry, or a mix
Dry food is the practical choice for most small dogs day to day: it is cheaper per meal, keeps for longer once opened, and does more for dental health simply through the mechanical action of chewing a firmer kibble.
Wet food pouches and trays suit a small dog with a smaller appetite, a fussier palate, or an older dog whose teeth make dry kibble harder work. Many owners mix a spoonful of wet into dry kibble rather than feeding one exclusively, which adds moisture and flavour without changing the overall diet much.
Reading the feeding guide properly
The grams-per-day figure on a bag is a starting point based on an average dog of a given weight, not a fixed rule. A small dog that is overweight or lightly active needs less than the guide suggests, and one that is very active needs more, so weigh your dog's food out for a couple of weeks and adjust based on whether they are gaining, losing, or holding steady.
If you are unsure whether your dog's weight is where it should be, a vet can check its body condition in a couple of minutes at a routine visit and tell you whether the current amount is about right.
What we stock
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
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
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
Common questions
- Do small dogs really need small breed food?
- Not strictly. A healthy small dog can eat a standard adult recipe as long as the kibble is a size it can manage comfortably and the portion matches its weight. Small breed formulas are a convenience rather than a medical necessity for most dogs.
- How often should small breed dogs eat?
- Most adult small dogs do well on two meals a day rather than one large one, since a small dog's stomach is limited in capacity and a single big meal can be harder to digest. Puppies of small breeds often need three or four smaller meals until they are a few months old.
- Is grain-free better for small dogs?
- Not automatically. Grain-free is a formulation choice rather than a health upgrade, and most small dogs digest grain-containing recipes perfectly well. Choose based on how your individual dog does on a food, and check anything unusual with your vet rather than assuming grain-free is the safer default.
- Why is my small dog always hungry after eating?
- Small breed kibble is often calorie-dense, so a correctly sized portion can look smaller in the bowl than owners expect, which reads as stinginess even when it meets the dog's needs. If your dog seems genuinely hungry between meals, check the portion against its current weight and ask your vet if the behaviour continues.
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.