Shih Tzu Feeding Guide: How Much to Feed by Age & Weight
How much should a Shih Tzu eat? The honest answer is: less than you think. Shih Tzus are small dogs — most adults weigh between 9 and 16 pounds — with small stomachs, slow metabolisms, and a talent for begging that makes you feel guilty for feeding them correctly. Overfeed one and the extra weight creeps on fast; underfeed one and you get a picky, low-energy grazer. This guide gives you the numbers: a feeding chart by age and weight, meals per day, what food suits this breed, and how to check your dog’s weight.
The Short Answer
Most healthy adult Shih Tzus eat ½ to 1 cup of dry food per day, split into two meals. Puppies eat more for their size — roughly ¾ to 1½ cups per day of puppy food, split into three or four meals. Seniors usually eat a little less, around ½ to ¾ cup per day, often a senior or weight-control formula. Those are starting points, not prescriptions: the right amount depends on weight, activity, and your food’s calorie density. The bag’s feeding guide — based on the actual calories in that food — is your best friend, and the chart below is its plain-English version.
Shih Tzu Feeding Chart
Use your dog’s current weight and age to find the starting portion. These are total daily amounts — split them across the day’s meals, never the full amount at every meal.
| Age & weight | Food per day | Meals per day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy, 2–4 months (2–5 lbs) | ½–¾ cup puppy food | 4 small meals | Soak kibble if chewing is hard |
| Puppy, 4–6 months (5–9 lbs) | ¾–1 cup puppy food | 3–4 meals | Growth is fastest here — watch the ribs |
| Puppy, 6–12 months (7–14 lbs) | 1–1½ cups puppy food | 3 meals | Switch to adult food around 12 months |
| Adult, 9–12 lbs | ½–¾ cup | 2 meals | Most common adult range |
| Adult, 13–16 lbs | ¾–1 cup | 2 meals | Adjust down if your dog is a couch potato |
| Adult, over 16 lbs | ¾–1 cup + vet check | 2 meals | Above standard — ask your vet about a weight plan |
| Senior, 7+ years (9–16 lbs) | ½–¾ cup senior food | 2 meals | Fewer calories, more fibre; joint-friendly formulas help |
Two warnings. First, a cup is a measuring cup, not a mug — eyeballing portions is the number one reason small dogs gain weight. Second, wet food is far less calorie-dense than kibble, so portions look much bigger: a typical small tin replaces roughly ¼ to ⅓ cup of kibble — check the tin’s label. When in doubt, ask your vet — one visit sets a calorie target.
Feeding a Shih Tzu Puppy
Puppies are the exception to every rule here. A Shih Tzu puppy is building bones, coat, and muscle all at once, so it needs more food per pound — and it needs it often, because a tiny stomach cannot hold a whole day’s food.
Feed four small meals a day until about four months old, then three meals until about twelve months, at the same times each day — routine also makes house training easier. Use a puppy-specific food: more protein and calories per cup, plus the calcium and DHA growing dogs need. If the kibble seems too hard, soak it in warm water for ten minutes — many Shih Tzu puppies have small jaws and give up on rock-hard kibble. Around twelve months, switch to adult food gradually over a week. For puppies that refuse the bowl, see our shih tzu picky eater guide — many “picky” puppies are simply full, bored, or fed at the wrong times.
Feeding an Adult Shih Tzu
Adulthood is where the routine settles down: two meals a day, morning and evening, roughly twelve hours apart. Two meals beats one big meal for this breed — it keeps energy steady and stops the all-day begging a long gap encourages. Measure every meal with a cup or a kitchen scale; the bag’s gram guide is even more accurate when you switch brands.
The most common adult mistake is the “just a little extra” habit: a handful of kibble here, a biscuit there, a piece of chicken from dinner — each adds up fast on a ten-pound dog. If your Shih Tzu gains weight on the chart amount, cut treats first, then the daily food by about 10%. And keep fresh water available all day — a flat-faced breed can overheat faster than a longer-nosed dog.
Feeding a Senior Shih Tzu
Around seven, a Shih Tzu counts as a senior. Metabolism slows, activity drops, and the portion that kept an adult trim now adds weight. Senior formulas help: usually lower in calories, higher in fibre, often with joint support like glucosamine. If your senior has dental problems — common in this breed — soften the kibble or mix in wet food, and see your vet about the teeth: dental pain is a common reason seniors stop eating.
A raised bowl stand can help older dogs with stiff necks or arthritis — a comfort measure, not a necessity, so use one if your dog seems more comfortable. Keep weighing seniors monthly: weight loss is worth a vet visit just as much as weight gain — it can signal dental pain, kidney issues, or thyroid problems.
How Many Times a Day Should You Feed?
| Age | Meals per day | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | 4 | Tiny stomach, fast growth, steady blood sugar |
| 4–12 months | 3 | Growth slowing, stomach bigger |
| Adult (1–7 years) | 2 | Steady energy, easy routine |
| Senior (7+ years) | 2 (or 3 small) | Smaller, easier meals suit older digestion |
Free-feeding — leaving a full bowl down all day — is the one method to avoid. It makes portion control impossible, hides appetite changes (a dog that stops eating is often the first sign something is wrong), and turns many Shih Tzus into grazers owners read as picky. Set the bowl down, give 15 to 20 minutes, then pick it up.
What to Feed: Kibble vs Wet vs Homemade
Kibble is the simplest choice and the right one for most owners: calorie-dense, easy to measure, good for teeth, and it keeps well. Choose a small-breed formula if you can — smaller pieces suit a Shih Tzu’s small jaw — and check the first ingredient is a named meat (chicken, lamb, salmon), not vague “meat meal.”
Wet food is smellier, softer, and usually more exciting to a picky dog. It is mostly water, so portions look large while calories stay low — useful for dogs losing weight, or seniors with sore mouths. The downside is cost, mess, and teeth: wet food alone does not scrub teeth like kibble does, so dental care matters more.
Homemade food — cooked chicken, rice, and vegetables — can be excellent, but only if balanced. Plain chicken and rice is not a complete diet: dogs need calcium, essential fatty acids, and vitamins home cooking often misses. Use a vet-approved recipe or a balancer supplement, and ask your vet before you switch. Our homemade dog food for picky eaters recipe is a good starting point.
A mixed approach works for many owners: kibble as the base, a spoonful of wet food for interest, homemade as an occasional meal.
The 10% Treat Rule
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories. For a Shih Tzu eating ½ to 1 cup of kibble a day, that is a small handful of tiny treats — not a large biscuit every hour. The easiest way to stay inside the rule: set aside a few pieces of kibble from the morning meal and use those as training treats. Dental chews count too — some large chews carry as many calories as a whole meal for a small dog. And table scraps are not treats: fatty or seasoned human food upsets small stomachs fast, and onions, garlic, grapes, chocolate, and xylitol are genuinely dangerous for dogs.
How to Tell If Your Shih Tzu’s Weight Is Right
You do not need a scale to do the first check — your hands will do it.
The rib test. Run your fingers lightly over the ribs. You should feel them under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard. Cannot feel them at all? Overweight. Sharp with no cover? Underweight.
The waist test. Look down from above: there should be a gentle narrowing behind the ribs. A straight barrel shape from shoulders to hips means extra weight.
The side test. From the side, the belly should tuck up slightly behind the ribs, not hang level with the chest.
Weigh your dog every month or two — most vet clinics offer a free weigh-in, or weigh yourself holding the dog and subtract your weight. Note the number: a slow half-pound creep is easy to miss on a fluffy dog, and much easier to fix early.
Signs You Are Overfeeding
- You cannot feel the ribs, or the waist has disappeared from above.
- Your dog is gaining weight month over month on the same food.
- Soft stools that never firm up — too much food is a common cause.
- Your dog begs constantly but leaves food in the bowl — habit, not hunger.
- The vet mentions weight at a check-up — extra weight on a small frame strains joints, breathing, and the heart.
If you see these signs, cut treats first, then daily food by about 10%, and re-weigh in two to three weeks. Do not crash-diet a small dog — slow and steady is safe — and see your vet if weight does not move or your dog seems unwell.
Common Feeding Mistakes
- Eyeballing portions. A “scoop” is not a measurement — use a cup or a scale.
- Free-feeding all day. It hides appetite changes and makes weight control impossible.
- Feeding from the table. It teaches begging and adds uncounted calories.
- Switching foods suddenly. Change over a week, or expect an upset stomach.
- Treating begging as hunger. A dog that ate an hour ago is not starving — it is negotiating.
- Ignoring dental pain. A dog that drops food or suddenly goes off kibble may have a sore mouth — see your vet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food should a Shih Tzu eat per day?
Most healthy adults eat ½ to 1 cup of dry food per day, split into two meals. Puppies eat ¾ to 1½ cups across three or four meals; seniors usually eat ½ to ¾ cup. Start from the bag’s guide, adjust by weight and activity — ask your vet for a calorie target if unsure.
How many times a day should I feed my Shih Tzu?
Four small meals under four months, three from four to twelve months, then two a day as an adult. Seniors do well on two, or three smaller ones if digestion is sensitive. Avoid leaving food down all day.
Is wet or dry food better for Shih Tzus?
Both work. Kibble is easier to measure and better for teeth; wet food is smellier and more tempting, and useful for seniors or dogs losing weight. Many owners mix the two — kibble as the base, a spoonful of wet food on top.
Why is my Shih Tzu always hungry?
Usually, it is not hunger — it is habit. Shih Tzus learn fast that begging earns treats, and a dog that just ate will still beg. If your dog is at a healthy weight and eating its meals, the begging is behaviour, not starvation. Stick to measured meals and the 10% rule.
Can Shih Tzus eat homemade food?
Yes, if it is balanced. Plain chicken and rice alone is not a complete diet — dogs need calcium, essential fats, and vitamins home cooking can miss. Use a vet-approved recipe or a balancer, and ask your vet before switching. Our homemade recipe for picky eaters is a good start.
Final Thoughts
Feeding a Shih Tzu is simpler than the internet makes it look: measure the food, feed twice a day, keep treats under 10%, and check the ribs once a month. The chart here is your starting point, your dog’s body is the real feedback, and your vet is the tie-breaker whenever they disagree. Get the routine right and the rest — picky phases, begging, weight creep — gets much easier. And if your Shih Tzu turns its nose up no matter what you serve, our picky eater guide is the next read: nine fixes that work, starting with the routine you just built.
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