How much should I feed my Small Dog per day?

Small Dogs feeding amounts depend on their weight, age, and activity level. As a general guide, most Small Dogs do well with two meals per day, morning and evening. Use the Tom&Sawyer Feeding Calculator to get a portion size tailored specifically to your dog.

Are Tom&Sawyer meals suitable for small breed puppies?

Tom&Sawyer dog meals are formulated for adult maintenance. If you have a small breed puppy, speak with your veterinarian about their growth-stage nutrition needs. In Canada, Puppy Booster may be available for some puppies, but it is not available in the U.S. and should be used only when appropriate for your dog.

What ingredients should I look for in dog food for my Small Dog?

For Small Dogs, prioritize recipes with a named animal protein as the first ingredient, such as chicken, beef, or turkey. Helpful features can include whole vegetables, healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, and no artificial preservatives or fillers. Given that Small Dogs can be prone to picky eating, easily digestible proteins and minimal ingredient lists are especially important.

Is gently-cooked dog food good for Small Dogs?

Yes, gently-cooked dog food can be a suitable choice for Small Dogs. Cooking at low heat preserves the natural vitamins and minerals found in fresh ingredients, which are often destroyed in high-heat kibble manufacturing. Small Dogs with picky eating habits may especially benefit from the improved digestibility of gently-cooked meals.

How often should I feed my Small Dog?

Adult Small Dogs are commonly fed two meals per day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Small Dog puppies are often fed three to four smaller meals per day. Consistent feeding times may help regulate digestion and energy levels, which may be helpful for Small Dogs prone to sensitive stomach.

What protein sources are best for Small Dogs?

Suitable protein options for Small Dogs may include high-quality, named animal proteins, chicken, beef, turkey, or fish. For Small Dogs prone to picky eating, a single-protein or limited ingredient recipe can help identify and avoid triggers. Tom&Sawyer uses human grade meat in every recipe, with no byproducts or mystery proteins.

What is human grade dog food and why does it matter for Small Dogs?

Human grade dog food means every ingredient meets the same safety and quality standards as food made for people. For Small Dogs, this matters because it avoids the low-quality byproducts and fillers found in most commercial pet food. Tom&Sawyer prepares all meals in a human grade kitchen in Canada, regulated to AAFCO standards.

Made for your breed

Healthy Dog Food For Small Dogs

Tom&Sawyer's human grade, gently-cooked meals can help support your small dog’s unique nutritional needs. Our culinary-inspired meals are made with 98% or more whole food ingredients, offering complete and balanced nutrition and deliciousness to help fuel their playful energy and small-breed lifestyle.

Get Gently-Cooked Dog Food for Your Small Dog

100% Human Grade*
Non-GMO Ingredients
Chef-Crafted Dog Food
Expertly Developed by Animal Nutritionists & Vets

Breed profile

Here's What Makes Your Small Dog Special

Size & Weight: 2 to 22 lbs
Energy Level: Low to Medium
Common Health Risks: Picky Eater / Sensitive Stomach / Itchy Paws & Skin
Dietary Needs: Calorie-dense / easy to chew
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years

Small dogs burn through energy fast and may benefit from nutrient-dense food that delivers real nutrition in every small bite.

The Tom&Sawyer difference

Why Tom&Sawyer gently-cooked dog food could be a great match for your Small Dog

Small dogs have fast metabolisms and tiny digestive systems that may benefit from every bite to count. Here's why ingredient quality matters so much for your small dog.

01 · Recipes
Whole foods. Always.
Every ingredient in Tom&Sawyer has a purpose. Small dogs deserve real food.
02 · Protein
Made for Picky Eaters
Real, gently cooked meals made with whole ingredients dogs love, designed to get even the pickiest small dogs excited to eat.
03 · Ingredients
Human grade protein
Real meat in every bite. The same quality protein you would buy at a grocery store, made for small dog bodies.

What’s inside the bowl

What's Actually in Your Small Dog's Bowl?

Human grade Ingredients
Real meat and whole food ingredients in every bite. There is nothing hidden in the ingredient list; no ingredients you wouldn't recognize at a grocery store.
Gently Cooked, Nutrient Rich
We gently cook each ingredient to preserve key nutrients in small, nutrient-dense daily meals.
Benefits You Can See
Shinier coat, better digestion, more energy. Some small dog owners may notice a visible difference within the first few weeks.
98%+ Whole Food Ingredients
Real, whole food ingredients support complete, balanced nutrition your dog can enjoy every day.

Your Small Dog deserves fresh, healthy food

Small Dogs are active, sensitive dogs with serious nutritional needs. Tom&Sawyer's human grade, gently-cooked meals are built for them.

Build a Meal Plan For Your Dog →

Health & nutrition

Small Dog Health Risks and How Food Can Help

Knowing your Small Dog's vulnerabilities helps you make smarter feeding decisions.

Tom&Sawyer meals were crafted by a team of collaborative experts including animal nutritionists, vets, and culinary-trained chefs. Why? Because to us, the taste of the food is almost as important as the nutrients your dog gets, which will be 0 if they don’t want to eat it. If you’ve ever seen your pup salivating over your plate of Spaghetti Bolognese, just wait until they try our Italian Beef Pasta Dinner!

Picky Eater
Small dogs are notoriously selective eaters, often rejecting food that lacks real aroma and flavour from quality ingredients.
Sensitive Stomach
Small dog digestive systems are easily overwhelmed by low-quality proteins, fillers, and artificial additives in commercial formulas.
Itchy Paws & Skin
Skin reactions in small dogs are often triggered by allergens and low-quality ingredients hiding in standard commercial pet food.

Build a plan

Your Small Dog Deserves Fresh, Healthy Dog Food. Try Tom&Sawyer

Small dogs may benefit from every bite to count. Tom&Sawyer's human grade, gently-cooked meals deliver real nutrition in portions made for small bodies.

Get Fresh Dog Food for Small Dog

Happy tales about happy tails

Loved by pets. Trusted by their people.

Tail-Wagging Taste
Ferguson
“Pug is obsessed! Ferguson paces the kitchen while prepping these meals.”
Justin C.
5.0out of 5
Visible Health Wins

Why we’re better

Tom&Sawyer: Human grade through and through.
Tom&Sawyer: Real cuts of meat & whole food ingredients.
Tom&Sawyer: Culinary-inspired, complete & balanced recipes.
Tom&Sawyer: Developed by animal nutrition, veterinary & culinary experts.
Tom&Sawyer: Co-founded the Fresh Pet Food Alliance.

Other brands

Healthy Dog Food for Small Dogs That They love

Human grade, gently-cooked, and delivered fresh. Real food for small dogs that shows results from the inside out.

Shop Healthy Dog Food for Small Dogs →

*Ingredients and manufacturing facility meet human food standards.

Healthy Dog Food For Small Dogs

Get Gently-Cooked Dog Food for Your Small Dog

Here's What Makes Your Small Dog Special

Size & Weight

2 to 22 lbs

Energy Level

Low to Medium

Common Health Risks

Picky Eater / Sensitive Stomach / Itchy Paws & Skin

Dietary Needs

Calorie-dense / easy to chew

Life Expectancy

12 to 16 years

Small dogs burn through energy fast and may benefit from nutrient-dense food that delivers real nutrition in every small bite.

Why Tom&Sawyer gently-cooked dog food could be a great match for your Small Dog

Small dogs have fast metabolisms and tiny digestive systems that may benefit from every bite to count. Here's why ingredient quality matters so much for your small dog.

01 · Recipes

Whole foods. Always.

Every ingredient in Tom&Sawyer has a purpose. Small dogs deserve real food.

02 · Protein

Made for Picky Eaters

Real, gently cooked meals made with whole ingredients dogs love, designed to get even the pickiest small dogs excited to eat.

03 · Ingredients

Human grade protein

Real meat in every bite. The same quality protein you would buy at a grocery store, made for small dog bodies.

What's Actually in Your Small Dog's Bowl?

Human grade Ingredients

Real meat and whole food ingredients in every bite. There is nothing hidden in the ingredient list; no ingredients you wouldn't recognize at a grocery store.

Gently Cooked, Nutrient Rich

We gently cook each ingredient to preserve key nutrients in small, nutrient-dense daily meals.

Benefits You Can See

Shinier coat, better digestion, more energy. Some small dog owners may notice a visible difference within the first few weeks.

98%+ Whole Food Ingredients

Real, whole food ingredients support complete, balanced nutrition your dog can enjoy every day.

Small Dog Health Risks and How Food Can Help

Knowing your Small Dog's vulnerabilities helps you make smarter feeding decisions.

Picky Eater

Small dogs are notoriously selective eaters, often rejecting food that lacks real aroma and flavour from quality ingredients.

Sensitive Stomach

Small dog digestive systems are easily overwhelmed by low-quality proteins, fillers, and artificial additives in commercial formulas.

Itchy Paws & Skin

Skin reactions in small dogs are often triggered by allergens and low-quality ingredients hiding in standard commercial pet food.

Healthy Dog Food For Small Dogs

Here's What Makes Your Small Dog Special

Why Tom&Sawyer gently-cooked dog food could be a great match for your Small Dog

Whole foods. Always.

Made for Picky Eaters

Human grade protein

What's Actually in Your Small Dog's Bowl?

Human grade Ingredients

Gently Cooked, Nutrient Rich

Benefits You Can See

98%+ Whole Food Ingredients

Your Small Dog deserves fresh, healthy food

Small Dog Health Risks and How Food Can Help

Picky Eater

Sensitive Stomach

Itchy Paws & Skin

Your Small Dog Deserves Fresh, Healthy Dog Food. Try Tom&Sawyer

Why we’re better

Healthy Dog Food for Small Dogs That They love

Healthy Dog Food For Small Dogs

Here's What Makes Your Small Dog Special

Why Tom&Sawyer gently-cooked dog food could be a great match for your Small Dog

Whole foods. Always.

Made for Picky Eaters

Human grade protein

What's Actually in Your Small Dog's Bowl?

Human grade Ingredients

Gently Cooked, Nutrient Rich

Benefits You Can See

98%+ Whole Food Ingredients

Your Small Dog deserves fresh, healthy food

Small Dog Health Risks and How Food Can Help

Picky Eater

Sensitive Stomach

Itchy Paws & Skin

Your Small Dog Deserves Fresh, Healthy Dog Food. Try Tom&Sawyer

Why we’re better

Healthy Dog Food for Small Dogs That They love

Common Questions About Fresh Dog Food for Small Dogs

Most pet foods…

Best Dog Food for Small Dogs