11 Best Dry Dog Foods For Small Dogs In 2023 Reviews Top Picks

If you’re the proud owner of a proud tiny dog, you know that they have specific food requirements. They have faster metabolisms, grow faster, and have smaller stomachs and mouths than larger breeds. All of this means that not only are their nutritional requirements a little different, but the kibble itself needs to be small enough for their tiny mouths and teeth. But there is so much dog food out there!

We’ve reviewed 10 of the best kinds of dry dog food that will be ideal for most small dogs. We hope these reviews will help take some of the guesswork out so you can just point and click and bring home the perfect food for your best friend.

A Quick Comparison of the Winners (2023)

Image Product Details

Best Overall

Ollie Baked Meal Plan

Slowly cooked to retain nutrients

Meal plan catered to your small dog’s requirements

Uses high-quality ingredients

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Best Value

Cesar Small Dog Dry Food

Great price

Real beef is the main ingredient

Bag is resealable

Check Price

Hill’s Diet Prescription

Supports a healthy urinary system

High in fiber so your dog feels fuller

Helps dogs with weight control

Check Price

Best for Puppies

Royal Canin X-Small Dry

Extra small kibble

Highly digestible protein

Prebiotics for digestive health

Check Price

Blue Buffalo Life Protection

Available in 3 sizes

Main ingredient is deboned chicken

Rich and natural source of protein

Check Price

The 11 Best Dry Dog Foods for Small Dogs

1. Ollie Baked Meal Plan Dog Food – Best Overall

Click Here to Save 50% with Ollie

Sizes: Choose your frequency

Flavor: Baked beef or chicken

Special diet: No corn, wheat, soy, or by-products

Ollie is a subscription-based dog food delivery service. When you sign up for a subscription, Ollie will ask for a number of details about your dog and their diet. You can also choose from fresh, baked, or a combination of the two meal types. The baked meal plan contains the same high-quality ingredients, but because it undergoes a less intensive cooking process, it costs less than that of the fresh meal. It is similar, in concept, to a traditional kibble food, except that it uses real meat, fruit, and vegetables with meat as the primary ingredient. It is also free from low-quality and undesirable by-products like hormones.

There is currently only a limited range of baked menu flavors: chicken or beef. And, while the food does cost a little more than traditional kibbles, the ingredients are high quality and the food is gently prepared, ensuring that the ingredients retain their nutritional value. Plus, it is less expensive than feeding a fresh menu. The combination of reasonable pricing with high-quality ingredients makes it the best overall dry dog food for small dogs.

Pros

Slowly cooked to retain nutrients

Meal plan catered to your small dog’s requirements

Uses high-quality ingredients

Delivered directly to your door

Cons

Limited choice of only two flavors

Cesar’s Small Breed Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for small dogs for the money. The price is right, and it contains crunchy kibble small enough for your dog as well as tender, meaty chunks. It has 26 nutrients and is high protein for your small dog. Real beef is the first ingredient, and the shape of the crunchy kibble can help with your dog’s dental health. Lastly, the bag has a resealable zipper, keeping the food fresh.

Slowly cooked to retain nutrients

Meal plan catered to your small dog’s requirements

Uses high-quality ingredients

Delivered directly to your door

Slowly cooked to retain nutrients
Meal plan catered to your small dog’s requirements
Uses high-quality ingredients
Delivered directly to your door

Limited choice of only two flavors

Limited choice of only two flavors

Sizes: 7, 5, or 12 pounds

Flavor: Filet mignon and spring vegetables

Special diet: None

Check Price on Chewy

The main disadvantage of this dog food is that it does contain wheat, corn, soy, and animal by-products.

Pros

Great price

Combination of crunchy kibble and tender chunks

Contains 26 nutrients and is high in protein

Real beef is the main ingredient

Shape of the kibble helps with dental health

Bag is resealable

Cons

Contains wheat, soy, corn, and animal by-products

Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Dry Dog Food is perfect for those small dogs that need a little help controlling their weight. It also helps maintain healthy digestion and normal blood glucose levels and provides excellent support for a healthy urinary tract. This includes the prevention of the formation of urinary crystals. This food is high in fiber, which will help dogs feel fuller, and is high in L-carnitine, which increases the metabolism and burns fat.

Great price

Combination of crunchy kibble and tender chunks

Contains 26 nutrients and is high in protein

Real beef is the main ingredient

Shape of the kibble helps with dental health

Bag is resealable

Great price
Combination of crunchy kibble and tender chunks
Contains 26 nutrients and is high in protein
Real beef is the main ingredient
Shape of the kibble helps with dental health
Bag is resealable

Contains wheat, soy, corn, and animal by-products

Contains wheat, soy, corn, and animal by-products

Sizes: 5, 17.6, or 27.5 pounds

Flavor: Chicken

Special diet: Weight control, vet diet, pea-free

The primary disadvantages of this dog food are that it is pretty expensive and needs veterinary authorization.

Pros

Helps dogs with weight control

Maintains healthy digestion and normal blood glucose levels

Supports a healthy urinary system

High in fiber so your dog feels fuller

High in L-carnitine for metabolism and burning fat

Cons

Expensive

Need vet authorization

Royal Canin’s X-Small Dry Puppy Food is specifically designed for puppies under 10 months of age and up to 8 pounds in weight. For this reason, the kibble is extra small for those tiny mouths and teeth, and it contains highly digestible proteins for growing bodies. This dog food also includes antioxidants and prebiotics to help digestive health and encourage a robust immune system.

Helps dogs with weight control

Maintains healthy digestion and normal blood glucose levels

Supports a healthy urinary system

High in fiber so your dog feels fuller

High in L-carnitine for metabolism and burning fat

Helps dogs with weight control
Maintains healthy digestion and normal blood glucose levels
Supports a healthy urinary system
High in fiber so your dog feels fuller
High in L-carnitine for metabolism and burning fat

Expensive

Need vet authorization

Expensive
Need vet authorization

Sizes: 3 or 15 pounds

Flavor: Chicken

Special diet: Extra small puppies

However, the first ingredient listed is a chicken by-product, and it also includes corn and wheat gluten.

Pros

For puppies up to 10 months of age and up to 8 pounds

Extra small kibble

Highly digestible protein

Antioxidants for a strong immune system

Prebiotics for digestive health

Cons

Includes chicken by-products, corn, and wheat gluten

Another good dry food for small dogs is Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula Dog Food. It comes in three sizes and is chicken and brown rice flavored. The primary ingredient is deboned chicken, which provides your small pup with a natural and rich source of protein. It also includes fruits and veggies as well as minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that are high in antioxidants. It’s high in carbs and protein, perfect for the smaller dog. The kibble itself is the right size for small teeth and also works to help remove tartar buildup. Finally, it doesn’t contain poultry by-products, wheat, soy, or corn.

For puppies up to 10 months of age and up to 8 pounds

Extra small kibble

Highly digestible protein

Antioxidants for a strong immune system

Prebiotics for digestive health

For puppies up to 10 months of age and up to 8 pounds
Extra small kibble
Highly digestible protein
Antioxidants for a strong immune system
Prebiotics for digestive health

Includes chicken by-products, corn, and wheat gluten

Includes chicken by-products, corn, and wheat gluten

Sizes: 3, 6, or 15 pounds

Flavor: Chicken and brown rice

Special diet: No corn, wheat, soy, or by-products

However, Blue Buffalo includes the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants combined into a small, dark brown chunk of food called LifeSource Bits. These bits seem to get rejected by several dogs, so you might notice these small, dark pieces of food scattered around the food bowl.

Pros

Available in 3 sizes

Main ingredient is deboned chicken

Rich and natural source of protein

Contains fruits and veggies high in antioxidants

Kibble is small but helps with tartar buildup

Doesn’t contain wheat, soy, corn, or by-products

Cons

LifeSource Bits are often rejected by some dogs

Nutro’s Natural Choice Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is made with whole chicken making for a high-quality protein. It also contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which will help to support your dog’s joints, as well as antioxidants for a strong immune system. This food doesn’t contain GMOs, corn, wheat, soy, or chicken by-products.

Available in 3 sizes

Main ingredient is deboned chicken

Rich and natural source of protein

Contains fruits and veggies high in antioxidants

Kibble is small but helps with tartar buildup

Doesn’t contain wheat, soy, corn, or by-products

Available in 3 sizes
Main ingredient is deboned chicken
Rich and natural source of protein
Contains fruits and veggies high in antioxidants
Kibble is small but helps with tartar buildup
Doesn’t contain wheat, soy, corn, or by-products

LifeSource Bits are often rejected by some dogs

LifeSource Bits are often rejected by some dogs

Sizes: 5 or 13 pounds

Flavor: Chicken and brown rice

Special diet: No GMO, corn, wheat, or soy

Unfortunately, this dog food is a little on the expensive side. Plus, some dogs might be on the picky side with this food.

Pros

Whole chicken is the main ingredient

Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health

Antioxidants for a healthy immune system

Doesn’t include soy, wheat, corn, GMOs, or chicken by-products

Cons

A little pricey

Picky dogs will be picky

Nature’s Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food contains chicken as the first and primary ingredient but is also full of sweet potato and pumpkin. Antioxidants and fiber for digestive health, a hardy immune system, and added vitamins and minerals. It doesn’t contain any by-products, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives or flavors.

Whole chicken is the main ingredient

Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health

Antioxidants for a healthy immune system

Doesn’t include soy, wheat, corn, GMOs, or chicken by-products

Whole chicken is the main ingredient
Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
Antioxidants for a healthy immune system
Doesn’t include soy, wheat, corn, GMOs, or chicken by-products

A little pricey

Picky dogs will be picky

A little pricey
Picky dogs will be picky

Sizes: 4 or 12 pounds

Flavor: Chicken, sweet potato, and pumpkin

Special diet: No wheat, soy, or corn

The main flaw with this food is the price. It is on the expensive side, and like most food, picky dogs will be picky.

Pros

Chicken is the main ingredient with pumpkin and sweet potato

Fiber and antioxidants for digestive health and immune system

No artificial preservatives or flavors

No corn, wheat, soy, or by-products

Cons

Picky dogs are picky

Expensive

Taste of the Wild’s Appalachian Valley Dog Food contains venison as the main ingredient, and it includes both probiotics and prebiotics to aid in healthy digestion. It has lamb, duck, egg, and ocean fish which are all high in protein and provide a healthy dose of amino acids and fat that can also give your pup a healthy coat and skin. It does not contain artificial flavors, colors, corn, wheat, or grains.

Chicken is the main ingredient with pumpkin and sweet potato

Fiber and antioxidants for digestive health and immune system

No artificial preservatives or flavors

No corn, wheat, soy, or by-products

Chicken is the main ingredient with pumpkin and sweet potato
Fiber and antioxidants for digestive health and immune system
No artificial preservatives or flavors
No corn, wheat, soy, or by-products

Picky dogs are picky

Expensive

Picky dogs are picky
Expensive

Sizes: 5, 14, or 28 pounds

Flavor: Venison and green beans

Special diet: Grain-free

However, like the other dog foods with fewer or no fillers, it’s expensive, and some dogs seem not to like it very much.

Pros

Venison is the main ingredient

Contains probiotics and prebiotics for healthy digestion

High in natural proteins and fats

Doesn’t have any artificial flavors, colors, wheat, soy, or corn

Cons

Expensive

Some dogs don’t like it

The Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites Dry Dog Food has real beef as the first and main ingredient and other high protein sources. It’s a combination of dry crunchy kibble and softer tender morsels, and it contains glucosamine for joint health. This food also supports coat and skin health with essential omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants for a robust immune system.

Venison is the main ingredient

Contains probiotics and prebiotics for healthy digestion

High in natural proteins and fats

Doesn’t have any artificial flavors, colors, wheat, soy, or corn

Venison is the main ingredient
Contains probiotics and prebiotics for healthy digestion
High in natural proteins and fats
Doesn’t have any artificial flavors, colors, wheat, soy, or corn

Expensive

Some dogs don’t like it

Expensive
Some dogs don’t like it

Sizes: 5 or 31.1 pounds

Flavor: Beef and rice

Special diet: Natural

On the downside, this food does contain chicken by-products, corn, soy, and wheat. Also, while the softer morsels are enticing for most dogs, they might prove to be too enticing, and your dog might reject the kibble in favor of the tender bits.

Pros

Real beef is the primary ingredient

Combination of kibble and tender bites

Includes glucosamine for joint health

Essential omega-6 fatty acids for coat and skin health

Antioxidants for a robust immune system

Cons

Contains corn, wheat, soy, and chicken by-product

Dogs might reject kibble in favor of softer morsels

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dry Food For Small Dogs

Now that you’ve had a look at some of the options, you should read our Buyer’s Guide, as we’ll go over a few points of interest that should help you make your decision.

Combination of tender bites and kibble

Whole chicken is the main ingredient

Has vitamin A and linoleic acid for healthy coat and skin

Prebiotics and live probiotics for immune system and digestion

Combination of tender bites and kibble
Whole chicken is the main ingredient
Has vitamin A and linoleic acid for healthy coat and skin
Prebiotics and live probiotics for immune system and digestion

Some dogs will pick out the shredded pieces

Contains by-products, wheat, soy, and corn

Some of the bags have little to no shredded pieces

Some dogs will pick out the shredded pieces
Contains by-products, wheat, soy, and corn
Some of the bags have little to no shredded pieces

Dog Size

The smaller your dog, the smaller the bag might need to be. Of course, this is something you can decide on at your own discretion but stocking up on enormous bags of food for a dog that will take twice as long to eat it, as compared to its larger counterparts, might not be the best idea, particularly in the summer. But if you have the space and aren’t worried about the food going off or being attacked by pests, then get the larger bags.

Dog Food Ingredients

Fillers are the concern here. Sometimes manufacturers add extra fillers, which does seem to take down the product’s price. Animal by-products, wheat, corn, soy are all fillers. There are also the artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors added to some of the recipes. It’s always a good idea to get into the habit of reading the ingredients list on your dog’s food, especially if your dog has any allergies or health issues. Some dogs do just fine on these cheaper foods but just be aware of what is going into your pup’s food.

Dog Food Flavor

Chicken is sometimes an ingredient you should avoid, as many dogs have food sensitivities with it. It can be difficult to find food that doesn’t contain chicken in some form or other. Yet another reason to read the ingredients. Otherwise, if you know your dog favors beef, look for beef or filet mignon flavors. Many dogs sometimes seem to be put off by the “healthier” dog foods, so play around with the flavors until you find the right one.

Conclusion

Ollie’s Baked Meal Plan is our overall favorite as it doesn’t contain any wheat, soy, corn, or animal by-products, and the dry food is customized to your small dog’s needs. Cesar’s Small Breed Dry Dog Food is priced well, and it contains crunchy kibble as well as tender, meaty chunks perfectly sized for your pup’s mouth. Finally, Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Dry Dog Food is expensive, but it’s the perfect food for those small dogs that need a little help controlling their weight.

We hope our reviews have helped you to figure out what food will be the best for your little friend and that they’ll thank you for it in their own way.

Related read: 10 Best Dog Foods for Shih Tzus – Reviews & Top Picks

Featured Image Credit: thanakarn Singto, Shutterstock

A Quick Comparison of the Winners (2023)#

The 11 Best Dry Dog Foods for Small Dogs#

1. Ollie Baked Meal Plan Dog Food – Best Overall#

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dry Food For Small Dogs#

Dog Size#

Dog Food Ingredients#

Dog Food Flavor#

Conclusion#

A Quick Comparison of the Winners (2023)

The 11 Best Dry Dog Foods for Small Dogs

1. Ollie Baked Meal Plan Dog Food – Best Overall

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dry Food For Small Dogs

Dog Size

Dog Food Ingredients

Dog Food Flavor

Conclusion