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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Bolognese

The Bolognese is a centuries-old companion bred to sit close, travel light, and live long — small, calm, and famously healthy. At 6–10 pounds, the margin between a lean dog and an overweight one is just an ounce or two of food, so precision matters more than portion size suggests.

Here is exactly how to feed a Bolognese on freeze-dried raw: tiny, measured meals matched to a toy-breed metabolism, with the nutrition that protects their knees, teeth, and that signature white coat.

  • Adult weight6–10 lb
  • SizeToy
  • EnergyLow to moderate
  • Lifespan12–14 years
  • CoatSingle, long & wavy — low shedder
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A healthy Bolognese
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Bolognese's body needs

Every Bolognese trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Tiny body, fast metabolism

    Needs: Calorie-dense, precise portions

    Freeze-dried raw packs real nutrition into a small volume, so a Bolognese gets complete meals from a few measured grams — easy to portion accurately and easy on a little stomach.

  • Prone to luxating patella & joint issues

    Needs: Joint support + a lean frame

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while staying lean keeps load off the knees and hips this breed is prone to straining.

  • Prone to dental disease

    Needs: Low-sugar, whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy, sticky carbs that feed plaque, supporting cleaner teeth and fresher breath in a small mouth where dental crowding is common.

  • Signature fluffy white coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside for a soft, bright coat — and a healthy diet helps reduce the tear staining white breeds are known for.

  • Calm, companion-paced lifestyle

    Needs: Lean protein without excess calories

    A Bolognese is more cuddler than athlete, so clean animal protein maintains muscle without the surplus calories that quietly turn into weight on a small frame.

How much to feed a Bolognese

Quick answer: a healthy adult Bolognese (6–10 lb) needs about 0.9–1.5 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
6 lb 0.9 oz 0.5 oz
7 lb 1.1 oz 0.5 oz
8 lb typical Bolognese 1.2 oz 0.6 oz
9 lb 1.4 oz 0.7 oz
10 lb 1.5 oz 0.8 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Bolognese

For a Bolognese we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — broken into small, calorie-honest meals or used as a topper while you transition.

Gentle single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit a small, easygoing stomach, while Salmon adds skin-and-coat omegas for that bright white coat. Just add a splash of water to rehydrate, and the soft, aromatic texture is easy on small mouths and tempting for picky companions.

Recipes for Bologneses

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Daily support for Bologneses

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Treats Bologneses love

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Feeding a Bolognese by life stage

  • Puppy: Bolognese puppies are tiny and burn energy fast, so they need small, frequent meals — 3–4 times a day — to avoid hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar). Feed roughly 5–7% of current body weight across those meals and never skip one.
  • Adult: Feed two small measured meals a day to a lean, hand-felt body condition. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to the dog under the coat, not the bag.
  • Senior: Older Bolognese stay active later than most, but trim portions as they slow down, keep protein high to hold lean muscle, and lean into joint- and dental-supporting nutrition.

Common Bolognese concerns — and the diet connection

  • Luxating patellaA common toy-breed concern where the kneecap slips. Keeping a Bolognese lean reduces strain on the joint, and the natural glucosamine and chondroitin in raw bone and cartilage support healthy joint structure.
  • Legg-Calvé-Perthes diseaseThis hip-joint condition is largely genetic, but a lean body weight and joint-supporting nutrients ease day-to-day load and help keep an affected dog comfortable and mobile.
  • Dental diseaseSmall mouths crowd teeth and trap plaque. A whole-food, low-sugar raw diet avoids the sticky carbohydrate residue that feeds tartar, supporting cleaner teeth alongside regular brushing.
  • Tear staining & coat brightnessWhite coats show staining easily. An omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin and coat from within and can help reduce the tear staining common in light-coated breeds.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Bolognese: what to know

A Bolognese eats very little, which makes every calorie count and every overfeed obvious. Weigh meals to the gram rather than eyeballing them — at this size, a heaping scoop is a meaningful percentage of the day's food.

Toy breeds also burn through energy fast, so never leave a Bolognese, and especially a puppy, too long between meals. Feed to a lean, hand-felt body condition: you should easily feel the ribs and see a tuck behind them under all that coat.

Bolognese feeding questions

How much should I feed my Bolognese?
A healthy adult Bolognese (6–10 lb) needs roughly 1–1.5 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two small meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's a very small amount by volume — weigh it and feed to a lean waistline, adjusting every couple of weeks.
What is the best food for a small, picky Bolognese?
Complete freeze-dried raw in gentle single proteins like Chicken or Cod tends to win over picky companions — rehydrated, it's soft, aromatic, and easy on a small mouth. Start at the lower end of the range since it's rich, and weigh each meal.
How do I switch my Bolognese to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Go slowly with a small stomach, start at the lower end of the portion range, and watch stool quality and body condition as you adjust.
Can the right food help my Bolognese's teeth and coat?
Diet plays a real supporting role. A low-sugar, whole-food raw diet avoids the sticky carbs that feed plaque, and the omega-3s in real meat and fish support a soft, bright white coat from the inside — alongside daily brushing and good grooming.
Do Bolognese dogs gain weight easily?
At 6–10 pounds, even a small overfeed is a big percentage of their daily intake, so yes — extra weight adds up fast. Measured freeze-dried raw makes portioning precise, and keeping a Bolognese lean is the best protection for their knees and hips.

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  • Vet-formulated
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  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.