What to Feed Shih Tzu Puppies: A Guide to Dry Food

Bringing home a Shih Tzu puppy brings a lot of joy—and a lot of questions about mealtime. The right food fuels their rapid growth, and getting the portion size and schedule right prevents both upset stomachs and unhealthy weight gain. Your job is to pick a complete, balanced puppy food designed for small breeds, then follow the feeding guide on the bag while paying close attention to your puppy’s body condition.

Here’s what that looks like in practice, from choosing the kibble to knowing when to switch to adult food.

Choosing the Right Dry Food

A growing Shih Tzu needs a complete food made for puppies, not adult dogs or “all life stages” formulas. Look for a growth formula that is specifically suited to their small size. Toy breeds like the Shih Tzu have unique nutritional needs during development, and a size-appropriate kibble is easier for their tiny jaws to pick up and chew.

Stick with the food your breeder provided for the first week or two while the puppy settles into their new home. If you do decide to switch brands, do it gradually over a couple of weeks. Mix a small amount of the new food into the old, slowly increasing the ratio to avoid digestive upset.

A quality puppy food takes the guesswork out of balanced nutrition. If you’re weighing options, our roundup of tested dry food picks for Shih Tzu puppies breaks down the leading brands by ingredient quality and price.

How Much and How Often to Feed

Portion size depends on your puppy’s age, target adult weight, and the calorie density of the food. Don’t guess—use the feeding chart printed on the bag. Serving sizes are based on weight, and calorie density varies by product.

Use a standard measuring cup, not the scoop that comes with the bag, for accuracy. Monitor your puppy’s body condition regularly: you should be able to feel their ribs without a thick layer of fat over them.

These are starting points—adjust to keep your puppy lean.

Young puppies need frequent meals. Puppies under 6 months old should get three meals per day, spaced evenly. After 6 months, you can transition to two meals a day—morning and evening. Keeping a consistent schedule also makes house-training easier.

Transitioning From Soft to Dry Food

Before 4 weeks of age, puppies get everything they need from their mother’s milk. If you’re hand-raising or weaning early, you can introduce dry food softened with water at about four weeks. Mix one part food with three parts warm water. Over the next few weeks, gradually reduce the water. By around the seventh week, puppies should be eating dry kibble only if you’re moving to a dry-food-only diet.

Watch for a common mistake during this stage: switching foods too quickly. Any change—whether from milk to solids or from one brand to another—should be slow.

Small-Breed Specific Concerns

Toy breeds like the Shih Tzu are prone to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. For puppies under 3 months old, free-feeding—leaving dry food available for them to nibble throughout the day—can help prevent blood sugar dips. They need small amounts often, not two big meals. It also keeps their tiny stomachs from getting overloaded.

The most common feeding mistakes are feeding too few meals, changing food too fast, and ignoring the bag’s feeding directions. Weigh your puppy regularly to confirm they are growing at a steady rate. If you have any concerns about their diet, growth, or general well-being, contact your veterinarian for guidance tailored to your puppy.

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