Small dogs eat about 2 to 3% of their body weight in raw food a day, the same share as big dogs, so a 5 kg dog eats around 100 to 150 g. A 10 kg carton of mince lasts a dog that size about three months, so the main things to plan are small portions and freezer space.
Cavoodles, Poms, Jack Russells, Shih Tzus and Chihuahuas are some of the most common dogs in New Zealand homes, and plenty of them are raw fed. Raw food for small dogs works the same way as for big ones, just in smaller portions.
How much to feed a small dog
These amounts use the same percentages as our feed calculator: 2% for a quieter dog, 2.5% for a moderately active one and 3% for a very active dog.
| Dog’s weight | Quieter (2%) | Moderate (2.5%) | Very active (3%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 60 g | 75 g | 90 g |
| 5 kg | 100 g | 125 g | 150 g |
| 7 kg | 140 g | 175 g | 210 g |
| 10 kg | 200 g | 250 g | 300 g |
A Pomeranian often weighs 1.5 to 3 kg, a Jack Russell around 5 to 8 kg, and a Cavoodle anywhere from about 5 to 12 kg depending on the poodle side. Weigh your own dog rather than going by the breed, and use their ideal weight if they need to lose or gain a little.
Small dogs can gain weight on very little extra. Count treats as part of the day, and check their shape every couple of weeks at first: you should be able to feel the ribs easily without seeing them.
Portioning small meals
Our mixes and minces are cut into blocks of a few hundred grams. For a small dog, one block can cover two or three days. Thaw a block in the fridge, then split it into meals in a covered container.
A tip we pass on to small-dog owners: weigh one scoop of food once. If a scoop holds about 50 g and your dog eats 125 g a day, that’s two and a half scoops, and the scales can go back in the drawer.
How long a carton lasts
Our calculator plans about 90% of the food as mince or blend and 10% as raw bones. A 5 kg dog eating 125 g a day gets through about 110 g of mince a day, so one 10 kg carton lasts around three months. A carton of bones lasts a small dog a very long time. Many owners of small dogs choose a mince with the bone already in it instead, such as our Chicken Mince, which is minced with the bone.
That makes freezer space easy to plan: one carton of mince, about 30 × 20 × 15 cm, covers a season.
Bones for small dogs
Choose the bone to match the rest of the diet, then pick a piece your dog has to chew rather than one they could swallow whole. Supervise every bone, and take it away once it’s small enough to swallow. Our guide to which raw bones dogs can eat has the pairings, and the chicken necks guide has a note on necks that’s worth reading if you have a small dog.
Foods that suit small dogs
- Chicken Mince: 100% NZ chicken, minced with the bone.
- Fussy Mix: veal and chicken with liver and offal, a good one for choosy eaters.
- Veal Mince: a single protein that’s easy to portion.
Small dogs can be choosy. If yours is, our guide to getting a fussy dog to eat raw has six things to try.
Common questions
Once a day or twice?
Either works. Some owners feed small dogs once a day, others split it into two small meals. Pick what suits your routine and keep it consistent.
Can a small dog and a cat share the same food?
Often, yes. Fussy Mix, Veal Mince and Chicken Mince all suit cats as well, which makes one order cover both. Our guide to feeding cats raw meat has the cat amounts.
More guides
Can cats eat raw meat?
How much raw food a cat needs, which of our foods suit cats, and how to switch a suspicious eater.
Read the guide →
What raw bones can dogs eat?
Raw meaty bones, the ones to skip, and how to pick a bone that matches what your dog already eats.
Read the guide →
Getting a fussy dog to eat raw food
Six things to try, in order, when your dog turns their nose up at raw.
Read the guide →