If you have a toy dog or a small dog (up to 20 pounds), you may want to consider feeding them a specifically formulated small breed dry dog food brand. Compared to their larger counterparts, small dogs will need a dog food formula with higher levels of protein, fat, calories and other nutrients than typical adult dog foods. Additionally, it’s important to feed a small-size kibble for easier digestion and to not overfeed a small-size dog.
When searching online you may find hundreds of small breed specific dry dog food brands. In addition to the hundreds of brands available, they all claim to be the best for a small breed dog.
So what’s the best small breed dry dog food brands? Our team of dog food nutritionists researched and analyzed over 300 small breed dry dog food brands for the very best. Here are the best small breed dry dog food brands for 2022.
To qualify each dog food brand must meet the following requirements:
- Real Meat is the #1 Ingredient
- Small Breed Specific Formula
- High Protein and Fat Levels
- 100% Complete and Balanced
- No Corn, Wheat or Soy
- No Artificial Flavors, Colors or Preservatives
- Exceeds AAFCO Standards
10Wellness® CORE Grain Freed Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Dry Dog Food

Wellness CORE delivers the high energy needs for a small breed dog. The recipe has been crafted on the nutritional philosophy that small dogs thrive on a natural diet comprised of meat. The protein rich formula includes deboned turkey, turkey meal and chicken meal which help give this small breed dry dog food a 36.0% min crude protein level.
The proprietary blend of whole ingredients, essential antioxidants, vitamins and mineral help give this 5 star brand a complete and balance diet. Glucosamine and chondroitin are also included and help maintain bone and joint health. Made in the USA, Wellness CORE is designed for small, extra small and toy dog breeds. The recipe is free of grains, gluten, corn, wheat and soy as well.
Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Dried Ground Potatoes, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Choline Chloride, Spinach, Vitamin E Supplement, Broccoli, Carrots, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Kale, Sweet Potatoes, Taurine, Spearmint, Mixed Tocopherols Added to Preserve Freshness, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Chicory Root Extract, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.
Caloric Content: 396 kcal/cup
Guaranteed Analysis | |
---|---|
CRUDE PROTEIN | 36.0% min |
CRUDE FAT | 16.0% min |
CRUDE FIBER | 5.0% max |
MOISTURE | 10.0% max |
CALCIUM | 2.0% max |
PHOSPHORUS | 1.3.0% max |
VITAMIN E | 400 IU/kg |
OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS | 3.0% min |
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS | 0.5% min |
GLUCOSAMINE | 250 mg/kg min |
CHONDROITIN SULFATE | 200 mg/kg min |
BETA-CAROTENE | 5 mg/kg min |
TOTAL LACTIC ACID MICROORGANISMS* | +80,000,000 CFU/lb min |