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10 Best Dog Foods for Chiweenies – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

Chiweenie lying on ground outdoor

The Chiweenie is a cross between the Chihuahua and Dachshund. Although they’re quite small, this high-energy dog needs a good source of protein to maintain good health and development. You will also need food that your dog enjoys the smell and taste of and that meets your budgetary target.

There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing the best food for Chieweenies, including grain-free and grain-inclusive ones and ones with a selection of meat-based proteins to aid in your dog’s development and muscle maintenance. With so many choices, you can be sure that there is an option to match your needs, but the selection can be overwhelming at first glance. So, we have put together reviews of the 10 most suitable Chiweenie foods to help you find the right food for your four-legged friend.

Divider 8A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription
  • Discounted starter box
  • 100% money-back guarantee
  • High-quality proteins
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Purina ONE SmartBlend Purina ONE SmartBlend
  • Affordable
  • Primary ingredient is lamb
  • Extra minerals
  • Third place
    Wellness CORE RawRev Wellness CORE RawRev
  • 36% protein level
  • Natural ingredients
  • Grain-free formula
  • Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
  • Primary ingredient is chicken
  • Contains chelated minerals
  • Good source of B vitamins
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6
  • Reasonable price
  • Limited ingredients
  • No artificial ingredients
  • The 10 Best Dog Foods for Chiweenies

    1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription — Best Overall

    Ollie dog food scoop fresh food and bowl

    Chiweenies take after their Chihuahua and Mini Dachshund parents, often weighing between 5 and 12 pounds. The mixed breed’s diminutive size puts them at risk for overfeeding and obesity. Your spunky little dog needs tasty food that meets their dietary requirements, and that’s where Ollie comes in.

    The subscription-based company produces fresh, mouth-watering recipes like Beef With Sweet Potatoes and Turkey With Blueberries. Ollie prides itself on using premium ingredients like meats sourced from the U.S. and Australia. Its recipes are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. All fresh recipes come vacuum-sealed and must be kept in the refrigerator or freezer.

    Check out Ollie’s Baked Beef and Chicken recipes if your pup likes the crunch of kibble or if you need shelf-stable dog food. If you can’t decide between fresh or baked, you don’t have to! Ollie offers a split subscription so your Chiweenie won’t get bored at meal times. High-quality food, an attentive customer service hotline, and a money-back guarantee make Ollie the number-one choice for your Chiweenie. If you’re on the fence about trying Ollie, the company offers a discounted starter box for your pup to sample. While the brand is not available in stores, Ollie has flexible, convenient subscription options.

    Overall, this is the best overall dog food for Chiweenies that we have found.

    Pros
    • Discounted starter box
    • High-quality proteins
    • 100% money-back guarantee
    • Monday-through-Sunday phone support
    • Convenient subscription
    Cons
    • Fresh food requires refrigeration/freezing
    • May be more expensive

    2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Dry Dog Food — Budget Buy

    8Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Adult Formula Dry Dog Food

    Purina ONE SmartBlend Dry Dog Food is an inexpensive dry food that has a solid 26% protein ratio at a great price. It also has extra minerals, though these do not appear to be chelated, which means that your dog will not be getting the full benefit of their inclusion in this food. Despite this, Purina is potentially a good source of B vitamins.

    The primary ingredient in this food is lamb. High on the list of ingredients, however, are rice flour, whole-grain corn, and whole-grain wheat. Corn and wheat are low-cost grains. They do have a high protein rate, but meat is preferred as a high-quality protein source.

    One especially controversial ingredient found in this food is menadione. This is offered as a source of vitamin K, which isn’t usually considered an essential vitamin, and this particular source in excess can cause liver toxicity and allergies.

    It is a grain-inclusive formula, and SmartBlend does have several ingredients that might be considered cheap fillers to help keep costs down, but overall, it is a decent-quality food at a very decent price and represents the best dog food for Chiweenies for the money.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive
    • Primary ingredient is lamb
    • Extra minerals
    Cons
    • Contains filler ingredients
    • Minerals are not chelated
    • Contains menadione

    3. Wellness CORE RawRev Dry Dog Food

    Wellness CORE RawRev

    One food that doesn’t contain cheap filler ingredients is Wellness CORE RawRev Dry Dog Food. Its main ingredients are deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. Also high in the list of ingredients, you will find freeze-dried turkey and chicken fat. This food derives a lot of its protein from meat sources, and it has a high level of protein. In fact, Wellness CORE is listed as having 38% protein!

    A raw food diet is touted as being closer to a dog’s natural diet. Proponents claim that it yields shinier and healthier coats, teeth, and improved energy levels. Opponents say that there is a greater risk of bacteria from the raw meat, while raw bones can pose a choking hazard to your dog.

    Even if you do want to feed your dog a raw food diet, it is viewed as being difficult. There is considerably more preparation involved compared to simply pouring kibble out of the bag and into the bowl.

    RawRev food combines the best of both worlds. It is a packaged food that is ready to serve so it doesn’t require lengthy preparation, but it offers the required constituent ingredients of a raw food diet. However, this reliance on meat protein and natural ingredients does increase the cost, and you should expect to pay more for this food than any other. In some cases, it costs a lot more than standard kibble.

    Pros
    • A raw food diet without the preparation work
    • 36% protein level
    • Natural ingredients
    • Grain-free formula
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Raw food diet is still controversial

    4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Dog Food

    Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

    Blue Buffalo combines natural meat, fruit, and vegetables with its exclusive LifeSource Bits. These are combinations of nutrients and antioxidants that can further aid your dog’s health.

    The primary ingredient in the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Dog Food is deboned chicken. It also contains chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, and barley. This food is grain-inclusive, so it should be avoided if your dog has an allergy or sensitivity to this type of food.

    Additional ingredients include menhaden fish meal, which provides omega-3 fatty acids that not only protect your dog’s health but also their coat and skin. Flaxseed supports this with omega-6 fatty acids. Other beneficial additives include B vitamin supplements, and the minerals are listed as chelated, which makes them easier for your dog to absorb.

    The Life Protection Formula contains 26% protein, which is about average for a food of this type. It does contain garlic, which is a somewhat controversial ingredient, but it is found in a low enough quantity that it should be safe for consumption. The ingredients also include dried yeast, so this food should be avoided if your dog has a proven yeast allergy.

    Pros
    • Primary ingredient is chicken
    • Contains chelated minerals
    • Good source of B vitamins
    • Decent omega fatty acid levels
    Cons
    • Contains garlic
    • Contains dried yeast

    5. Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Dry Dog Food

    10Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Limited Ingredient Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Natural Dry Dog Food boasts that it only contains six natural ingredients, though it does have added vitamins and nutrients to ensure a fully balanced diet for your dog. The primary ingredients are lamb meal, brown rice, ground rice, dried plain beet pulp, chicken fat, and natural pork flavor.

    Other ingredients offer potassium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B supplements. The additional minerals are chelated, and this means that they bind to the protein and are better absorbed by your dog, which will digest a greater portion of the minerals in the food. However, there are no probiotics, which are added to dog food to help with digestion and maintain good gut health.

    This food only has a 20% protein ratio, which is below the recommended level and should be a lot higher if it is to benefit your dog. However, there are no truly controversial ingredients listed in this food, and its price is reasonable compared to others.

    Pros
    • Reasonable price
    • Limited ingredients
    • No artificial ingredients
    • Chelated minerals
    Cons
    • Only 20% protein
    • No probiotics

    6. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food

    Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition

    Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food has a 22% protein ratio that lists its primary ingredient as chicken meal. Other major ingredients are pearled barley, brown rice, oatmeal, beet pulp, and chicken flavor. It uses natural flavors to make the food appealing to your dog, and despite the name, it is considered a suitable formula for dogs of all sizes, including your Chiweenie. It is inexpensive food, and it does have some good quality ingredients.

    Chicken fat may not sound appealing, but it is high in linoleic acid, which is a beneficial omega-6 fatty acid. Also, while other variants of food from this company contain menadione, this formula does not. The ingredients also contain chelated minerals and probiotics. Chelated minerals are better absorbed by your dog so they get the benefit, while probiotics aid in digesting the food and promote good gut health.

    Unfortunately, 22% protein is very low, but if you’re looking specifically for a low-protein diet, the cost of Gentle Giants will be appealing.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Chelated minerals
    • Contains probiotics
    Cons
    • Low 22% protein

    7. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dry Dog Food

    Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream

    Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dry Dog Food is a fish-based food that is suitable for dogs of any size and breed. The main ingredients listed in this food are salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Other notable ingredients include salmon meal and smoked salmon.

    The Taste of the Wild has 25% protein, which could be higher, especially if you have an active Chiweenie, but a good amount of this protein seems to come from fish sources. Taste of the Wild is about average in price, and the additional minerals are chelated. Chelated minerals are preferred in dry food because they have greater bioavailability.

    The ingredients also list several prebiotics and probiotics, which means that the food should be easily digestible by your dog and will help to promote good gut health.

    There are a couple of controversial ingredients in the food, with the most controversial being canola oil. This ingredient is a beneficial source of omega-3 fatty acids, but it is also sometimes, though not always, derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

    Pros
    • Chelated minerals
    • Contain prebiotics and probiotics
    • Salmon is the primary ingredient
    Cons
    • Contains canola oil

    8. Iams ProActive MiniChunks Dry Dog Food

    5Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks Dry Dog Food

    Iams ProActive MiniChunks Dry Dog Food is designed with smaller kibble chunks that are easier for your Chiweenie to digest. It contains 25% protein and lists chicken as its primary ingredient.

    Other major ingredients are corn, sorghum, and dried beet pulp. These ingredients are considered lower quality. They bump up the protein level without offering much additional nutrition, though proponents of beet pulp do point to its benefits for good intestinal health and blood sugar management.

    The ingredients also include chicken fat and flaxseed, which are good sources of omega fatty acids. Unfortunately, the listed minerals are not chelated, which means that your dog will not absorb all of them, and the ingredients also list caramel color. Caramel color is an artificial coloring and is not required in dog food because your dog has no food color preference, so it is primarily included so the food looks more appealing to you.

    This food is not suitable for dogs with grain allergies, but it is reasonably priced, and the size of the kibble makes it suitable for small and toy breeds.

    Pros
    • Small kibble is ideal for Chiweenies
    • Primary ingredient is chicken
    • Good source of essential fatty acids
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • Contains artificial coloring
    • Contains cheap filter ingredients

    9. Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

    Merrick Lil Plates Grain Free Small Breed Recipe

    Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a grain-free food that is aimed at small breed dogs like the Chiweenie. Its main ingredients are deboned beef and lamb meal. It also contains pork fat, while a combination of salmon oil and flaxseed provides omega fatty acids.

    There is a range of added vitamins and minerals, which are chelated, and some of the listed ingredients are probiotics that improve the digestibility of the food for your dog. This food has a high protein ratio of 38%, but a low fiber of just 3.5%.

    It is also an expensive food, despite having alfalfa meal listed as one of its ingredients. Alfalfa meal is a part of the straw family, is low cost, offers minimal benefit to dogs other than calorific content, and is most commonly found in horse feed rather than in premium dog food.

    Potato protein is similarly low cost and of minimal benefit to your dogs. All in all, this is an expensive food, and it does have a high protein level but a low fiber rate, and it contains some low-cost ingredients that offer little nutritional value.

    Pros
    • 38% protein
    • The main ingredients are beef and lamb
    Cons
    • Only 3.5% fiber
    • Low-quality fillers like potato and alfalfa meal

    10. Instinct Raw Boost Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed

    Instinct Raw Boost Recipe Dry Dog Food is a grain-free food considered suitable for small and toy breeds. It is only available in small bags, and it is the most expensive food per pound on this list. It also has 36% protein.

    Its high cost is partially attributed to the fact that it is another food that offers the benefits of raw feed, without the hassle of preparation, but its cost is very high. However, its primary ingredients are duck, chicken, and herring, as well as tapioca and dried tomato pomace. The inclusion of tomato pomace can be controversial, especially in expensive and premium food. Its health benefits remain disputed, and many owners still consider it to be a low-cost filler.

    Some varieties of this food contain canola oil, which is another controversial ingredient because it can be derived from genetically modified rapeseed, and the side effects of GM foods are still unknown.

    Pros
    • 36% protein
    • Chelated minerals
    • Primary ingredients are meat
    Cons
    • Very expensive
    • Some flavors contain canola oil
    • Uses tomato pomace as a cheap filler ingredient

    Divider 2

    Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Your Chiweenie

    Chiweenies are small breed dogs, and most high-quality food aimed at small to medium dogs will be sufficient for the breed in terms of nutritional value, but you do need to ensure that the kibble is an appropriate size so it is easy to chew and digest. This generally means choosing a kibble targeted at small breeds rather than a general food. You should also make sure that protein levels are appropriate and that the ingredients are healthy and supportive.

    Dry Food vs. Wet Food

    There is an age-old debate surrounding whether it is better to feed dogs wet or dry food. There is no right or wrong answer, and it will depend on your preferences, as well as your dog’s.

    Dry food tends to be cheaper, has a longer shelf life, causes less mess, and is easier to store. However, it is dry. Some dogs don’t find the food particularly appealing, and you need to ensure your Chiweenie has access to fresh water, especially at meal times. Dry kibble will meet all of the nutritional requirements of your dog, though, so it does make a suitable choice for most pups.

    Wet food has not been dehydrated. Therefore, it retains a lot more moisture than dry kibble. It is more palatable, which makes it a good choice for dogs with poor appetites. Since it’s wet, it is easy to chew and can be a good option for dogs with dental issues or that otherwise struggle to chew their food. However, once opened, wet food needs to be stored in the fridge, and it has a short shelf life. It is also more likely to cause a mess on the floor near the dog’s bowl and can be more expensive than kibble.

    It is possible to offer a combination of dry and wet food, either in the same bowl or separately. If you do offer a combination of food types, make sure you adjust feeding amounts for both types of food accordingly.

    Wet and dry pet food made of natural ingredients
    Photo Credit: Yuriy Golub, Shutterstock

    Kibble Size

    Wet food is easy to chew and digest, but dry kibble is hard. Since the Chiweenie is a small breed, you should choose a small kibble. Too large kibble will either be ignored by small breeds, or it can get caught in the throat and pose a serious choking hazard. Dry food aimed at small breeds has a kibble size that makes it suitable for your dog’s mouth.

    Protein Levels

    The Association of American Feed Control Officials recommends that the food that you give your dog contains at least 18% protein by dry matter for adult dogs and 22% for puppies and developing dogs. However, feeding a higher protein ratio is recommended by some experts, and you can feed your dog food with a protein ratio of up to 30%. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, though, take care when feeding food with high protein levels because it can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upsets.

    Protein Source

    Besides looking at the protein ratio of food, you should consider the source of that protein. Meat protein has greater bioavailability and is easier to digest than most plant-based protein, which means your dog gets more of the protein in the food.

    Dogs are omnivores, which means they can eat a combination of meat and plant-based foods, but you should try to ensure that most of the protein in their food does come from animal matter by choosing a food with at least one meat source at the top of the ingredient list.

    man buying pet food
    Photo Credit: BearFotos, Shutterstock

    Grain Free?

    There has been a trend toward feeding dogs grain-free food, but the vast majority of canines not only are fine with grains and grain ingredients, but they also benefit from them because these contain a host of essential vitamins and minerals. If your dog is allergic or your vet has specifically stated that your dog is sensitive to grains, you should choose a grain-free diet. Otherwise, grain-inclusive offers a more rounded dietary solution.

    Life Stage

    Most owners know to buy puppy food for very young dogs before progressing to adult food, usually at around 1 year of age.

    • Puppies need more protein and more calories because they expend huge amounts of energy over the course of the day. Puppy food also tends to be higher in omega fatty acids and other ingredients that encourage cognitive and physical development.
    • An adult dog that has passed their growth stage requires less protein and needs vitamins and minerals that sustain their weight and condition.
    • You can also buy senior dog foods. Like puppies, senior dogs need more protein in order to maintain muscle mass and because their systems use more protein just to get through the day. Senior foods also contain other vitamins and minerals that help keep the coat, bones, joints, and eyesight in good condition. They can also be softer, which is especially important for old dogs with poor dental health.

    Special Dietary Requirements

    Some foods contain additional ingredients or exclude certain ingredients, with the aim of benefiting dogs with certain conditions or ailments. For example, you can buy food for dogs with kidney disease. This food has less protein, sodium, and phosphorus. It also contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, all of which have been proven to aid dogs with chronic kidney conditions. You can also buy special foods that help reduce the smell of stools, support good coat condition, and more.

    a chiweenie dog lying outside
    Image Credit: Jaclyn Vernace, Shutterstock

    How Much Should You Feed a Chiweenie?

    How much you feed a Chiweenie depends on their age, size, activity level, existing health conditions, and the food you feed them. Most foods have manufacturer guidelines that take into account calories and essential vitamins and minerals and are determined by the age and weight of your dog.

    Unless you have been told by your vet to follow a specific feeding regime or your dog is on a diet in a bid to lose weight, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to determine an appropriate feeding volume.

     

    Divider 2Final Thoughts

    Your Chiweenie needs and deserves the best food: one that is high in protein, which will aid in your dog’s development and muscle maintenance. The food should also contain good levels of fiber and a host of other vitamins and minerals that provide a balanced and varied diet. There is a great range of food that is suitable, and we hope that this list of reviews has helped you make a better-informed decision about which is best for your requirements.

    We found that Ollie’s Fresh Dog Food offers a good protein level derived from impressively high-quality sources, along with amazing convenience. For those with a tighter budget, try Purina ONE SmartBlend Formula Dry Dog Food. It offers a similar protein level while being more affordable, though it does contain menadione and a few filler ingredients.


    Featured Image Credit: Destinee Marie Sims, Shutterstock

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