Being a mix between a yorkshire terrier and a shih tzu, shorkies are a small breed. They are known for their spunk and lovable demeanor. In general the best dog food for shorkies will have a high protein content and contain natural ingredients free of preservatives or fillers.
Here’s our top picks for the the best dog foods for a Shorkie.
Best dog foods for Shorkies
1) Front of The Pack Air Dried Dog Food
Best dog food for shorkies overall
If you’re looking for the best dog food for a shorkie then look no further than Front of the Pack. Front of Pack is our top pick because their recipe was formulated by a team of experts in biochemistry, animal nutrition, and veterinary science. Every ingredient in this dog food was chosen because its clinically proven to help meet your shorkie’s nutritional needs.
Another benefit of this dog food is that it is air dried. Your typical dry dog food is baked at very high temperatures which remove some of the natural nutrients.
The air drying process occurs at milder temperatures strong enough to kill off harmful bacteria. However the temperature is low enough that it preserves the natural nutrients found in the raw ingredients, providing your dog with the most nutritious food possible.
Front of the pack is also more affordable than other premium dog foods. For small breed dogs like Shorkies, one Front of the pack meal costs just a little over $1. The company also offers a free taster dog food bag, so you and your shorkie can try out Front of the Pack for yourselves before purchasing anything.
2) We Feed Raw
Best dog food for shorkies on a raw diet
We Feed Raw is the best dog food for shorkies on a raw diet. No other raw dog food matches this brand’s quality, safety, and convenience for their customers. One of the biggest concerns for pet parents feeding their shorkie a raw diet is safety. Feeding raw carries a higher risk of exposure to harmful pathogens and bacteria for both you and your shorkie.
We Feed Raw knows this and that’s why they use a special cold pressure process on all of their meals. This process helps reduce harmful bacteria without using chemicals, additives, or altering the raw ingredients. In 13 years of operation the company has sold and shipped hundreds of tons of raw dog food with zero recalls.
All of We Feed Raw’s meals meet the AAFCO recommendations for all life stages of dogs and can be fed to shorkie puppies, adult dogs, and senior shorkies. All of the meat used in their dog food are USDA human grade. So you won’t find any fillers like chicken meal here. It’s 100% natural animal protein.
Every We Feed Raw recipe is formulated by a PhD animal nutritionist, and includes the right ratio of muscle meat, edible bone, and organ meat to give your shorkie a balanced raw meal.
3) Wild Earth Complete Protein Dog food
Best plant based dog food for shorkies
Did you that traditional dry kibble dog food accounts for 25% of all the meat consumed in the United States? The ecological cost of meat production is high, and the folks at Wild Earth asked themselves if they could create a plant based dog food recipe that was nutritionally balanced for all dog breeds.
The result was their complete protein dog food recipe. Wild Earth’s plant based food was specifically formulated by a team of veterinarians and scientists to provide your shorkie with the essential protein and amino acid profile they need for a healthy diet.
Their recipe meets the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance, so you can be sure that your shorkie won’t be missing out on any essential nutrients when they eat Wild Earth.
Wild Earth knows that making a switch to a plant based diet can be a leap of faith for pet parents. That’s why they offer a 30 day money back guarantee. Try their dog food and if you or your shorkie aren’t satisfied with the results you can request a full refund within 30 days.
4) Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed
Best puppy food for Shorkies
Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula is made especially for small breed puppies. Chicken and oatmeal are the first ingredients in this dog food recipe. This dog food includes essential vitamins and minerals that will help a shorkie puppy grow up happy and healthy. Phosphorus and calcium are included to promote healthy bone development. There’s also omega fatty acids to promote skin and coat health.
This Blue Buffalo recipe also contains no soy, wheat, or corn, which is good if your shorkie has food allergies triggered by grains.
5) Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
Best dry food for Shorkies
Castor and Pollux Chicken and Sweet potato recipe is made with organic cage free chicken and organic sweet potatoes. In fact Castor and Pollux’s Organix line is of the few USDA certified organic grain free dry dog foods around. This dog food is a great option for shorkies because it provides important nutrients like omega fatty acids and antioxidants. It’s also free of preservatives, artificial flavors, and is non-GMO.
Also the kibble pellets are small, making this a great option for toy breeds with small mouths.
If you want to feed your Shorkie premium dry food, then this Organix recipe is worth looking into.
6) Farmer’s Dog
Best high quality dog food for shorkies
Farmer’s Dog is the creme of the crop when it comes to high quality dog food. This food uses only human grade ingredients and absolutely zero preservatives or artificial flavors. There’s also no animal byproducts in this food either. Most commercial dog food includes byproducts like chicken meal or fish meal. These ingredients are code for the undesirable leftovers that meat producers can’t sell to anyone but dog food companies.
Farmer’s Dog strives to feed dogs food that their owners would be comfortable eating themselves. Farmer’s dog also takes a personal approach to dog food. Once on their site you’ll walk through a quick questionnaire asking you questions about your shorkie concerning their size, age, and weight. Then Farmer’s Dog provides you with a personalize meal plan based on your shorkie’s unique nutritional needs.
7) Purina Pro Plan Small & Toy Breed Formula
Best food for shorkies with sensitive stomachs
This dog food for shorkies and other small breed dogs contains dense nutrients that help meet the needs of the faster metabolism often found in small canines. This recipe also includes naturally occurring prebiotic fibers that help promote digestion and gut health. The ultra small size kibble is perfectly suited for dogs weighing 10 lbs or less. This dog food also has a high protein content, making it great for active shorkies.
Buying guide – How to find the best dog food for shorkies
Ingredients to look for in your shorkie’s food
1) Omega fatty acids
These fatty acids are an essential part of a shorkie’s coat and skin health. Most commonly Omega fatty acids are found in fish oil, algae oil, and flaxseed. If you see any of these ingredients listed on a dog food label then it’s a good sign!
2) Animal protein
Protein is the foundation for a shorkie’s diet, so you don’t want to cut any corners here. Look for ingredients like cage free or organic chicken or pasture raised beef. In general if a meat was naturally raised and processed it will be good for a shorkie. If your shorkie is on a plant based diet then make sure their dog food includes complete proteins and has a full amino acid profile.
3) Small sized dog food
Being a mix between a yorkshire terrier and shih tzu means that shorkies are a small mixed breed. Thus they need a dog food that size appropriate for their tiny mouths. Most dog food designed for small dog breeds will meet this requirement.
4) Vegetables and fruits
Like all dogs Shorkies are omnivores. This means the ideal diet for a shorkie includes fruits and vegetables in addition to protein. Fruit and vegetables provide much needed vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your dog.
Ingredients to avoid in your Shorkie’s food
1) Artificial ingredients and preservatives
Preservatives and artificial ingredients like flavors and colors are known to trigger allergies in dogs and even cause digestive problems. They also provide little to no nutritional value.
2) Corn and other cheap fillers
Corn and cornmeal are common fillers found in dog food. They add calories to the nutritional label but not much else. A dog food with corn listed as one of the main ingredients is likely a cheap dog food and is of poorer quality.
