What to feed a Schnauzer
Schnauzers come in three sizes with very different feeding needs, and the breed as a whole is often discussed in relation to fat tolerance. Here's what matters at the bowl for an adult Schnauzer, whichever of the three recognised sizes you actually own.
Which Schnauzer are you feeding?
Schnauzer covers three genuinely different sizes — Miniature at around 5.5 to 8.5kg, Standard typically 14 to 20kg, and Giant up to 35kg or more — and feeding one as though it were the other is one of the easiest mistakes to make. A complete food sized correctly for your dog's actual weight category, rather than a generic 'Schnauzer' assumption, is the starting point.
A Miniature does well on a small-breed adult food; a Standard or Giant Schnauzer needs a medium or large-breed formula with a feeding guide that matches their real weight, since portioning a Giant Schnauzer like a small dog would leave them seriously underfed.
Fat content across the breed
Schnauzers of all three sizes are commonly discussed by vets in relation to fat tolerance, and a moderate rather than very high fat complete food is a sensible general choice for the breed, alongside keeping rich table scraps and fatty treats to a genuine minimum.
This is a general breed tendency rather than a certainty for every individual dog, but it is common enough that many Schnauzer owners choose a food description that mentions moderate fat, or one aimed at dogs with a sensitive digestion, over a very rich or high-fat recipe.
Keeping an active Schnauzer at a healthy weight
Schnauzers of all sizes are alert, active dogs that do best with regular exercise and a portion sized to match it, rather than a fixed amount regardless of activity level. A Schnauzer that is less active than usual, for example during recovery from an illness or injury, usually needs a correspondingly smaller portion for a while.
Checking body condition every few weeks — feeling for ribs without heavy pressure, and looking for a visible waist from above — is a more reliable guide than sticking rigidly to a feeding chart regardless of how your individual dog is actually doing.
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.
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
£82.35
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
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
Bakers Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables Dry Dog Food
Bakers Chicken with Vegetables dry dog food, 14kg, complete nutrition for adult dogs
£39.15
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for adult dogs, evenly balanced with potato in the mix
From£12.75
James Wellbeloved Adult Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, in small and large breed versions, built around single-source turkey protein
From£45.75
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Common questions
- Do Miniature, Standard and Giant Schnauzers eat the same food?
- They can eat the same style of recipe, but portion and kibble size should match their actual weight category. A Miniature suits a small-breed food, while a Standard or Giant Schnauzer needs a medium or large-breed formula with a feeding guide based on their much greater adult weight.
- Why is fat content often mentioned for Schnauzers?
- Vets commonly discuss the breed in relation to fat tolerance, which leads many owners to choose a moderate rather than high-fat complete food and to keep rich extras and fatty treats to a minimum. It is a general breed consideration rather than a fixed rule for every dog.
- How many meals a day should an adult Schnauzer have?
- Two meals a day is typical for an adult Schnauzer of any size, which helps keep energy levels steadier through the day than one large meal and makes it easier to spot a change in appetite.
- What if my Schnauzer is gaining weight?
- Reassess their daily portion against their current weight and activity level, and check how many extra treats or scraps they are getting on top of their main meals. If weight gain continues despite that, it is worth discussing with your vet.
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.