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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a small, lively companion under a famously bright white double coat — and behind that easy charm sits a fast metabolism, a small stomach, and a coat that lives or dies by the fats in the bowl.

Here is exactly how to feed a Japanese Spitz on freeze-dried raw: small, nutrient-dense meals matched to their size and life stage, built to protect their coat, joints, teeth, and steady energy.

  • Adult weight10–25 lb
  • SizeSmall
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan10–14 years
  • CoatDouble, pure white — seasonal heavy shedder
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A healthy Japanese Spitz
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Japanese Spitz's body needs

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

  • Small breed, small stomach, brisk metabolism

    Needs: Nutrient-dense, smaller portions

    Freeze-dried raw packs real meat, organ and bone into a small serving, so a Japanese Spitz gets complete nutrition without having to fill a tiny stomach with bulky filler.

  • Brilliant white double coat that blows twice a year

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids + quality protein

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting that signature dirt-shedding white coat and easing the heavy seasonal undercoat shed.

  • Prone to early dental tartar and gingivitis

    Needs: Low-starch, whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy carbs that feed plaque, while real-meat texture and single-ingredient chews give teeth something better to work on.

  • Patellar luxation risk in the knees

    Needs: Joint support + a lean frame

    Real bone and cartilage supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and keeping a Spitz lean takes daily load off small, slender joints.

  • Playful, devoted energy all day

    Needs: Clean animal protein and fat

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels steady, all-day energy for tricks, fetch and walks — without the carb spikes and crashes of filler-heavy food.

How much to feed a Japanese Spitz

Quick answer: a healthy adult Japanese Spitz (10–25 lb) needs about 1.5–3.8 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)
10 lb 1.5 oz 0.8 oz
14 lb 2.1 oz 1.1 oz
18 lb typical Japanese Spitz 2.7 oz 1.4 oz
22 lb 3.3 oz 1.7 oz
25 lb 3.8 oz 1.9 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 Japanese Spitz

For a Japanese Spitz we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition from kibble.

Lean single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit easy keepers and sensitive stomachs, while Salmon brings extra omega-3s that show up in coat shine. Just add water and serve in small, measured meals.

Recipes for Japanese Spitzs

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Daily support for Japanese Spitzs

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Treats Japanese Spitzs love

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Feeding a Japanese Spitz by life stage

  • Puppy: Japanese Spitz puppies have tiny fuel tanks and can dip into low blood sugar if meals are too far apart — feed small portions 3–4 times a day, and keep protein and fat high to support steady growth and a strong coat.
  • Adult: Feed twice daily, morning and evening, to a lean and visible waist. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition rather than the appetite of a dog that loves attention (and snacks).
  • Senior: Activity eases with age but the appetite often does not. Trim portions to hold a lean weight, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common Japanese Spitz concerns — and the diet connection

  • Patellar luxationLargely structural, but a lean body weight plus joint nutrients — natural glucosamine from real bone and omega-3 from whole-food fats — help support comfortable, well-cushioned knees.
  • Early dental diseaseThis breed tends toward tartar and gingivitis young; a low-starch, whole-food raw diet starves plaque of the sugars it feeds on, supporting cleaner teeth and gums alongside regular dental care.
  • Coat & skin healthTwice-yearly coat blows and the occasional dry-skin flare respond to omega-3-rich, whole-food nutrition that supports the skin barrier and the bright, easy-clean white coat from the inside out.
  • Lean weight & energyA small, food-loving dog gains weight quietly; measured, nutrient-dense raw feeding keeps calories honest and supports steady, playful energy without filler.

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

Feeding a Japanese Spitz: what to know

Because a Japanese Spitz is small, a few extra treats or a too-generous scoop add up fast. Feed to body condition — you should feel the ribs easily under the coat and see a tuck at the waist — and weigh portions rather than eyeballing them.

That dense coat hides weight well, so check the waistline with your hands, not just your eyes, and re-measure portions every few weeks, especially during the calmer months between shedding seasons.

Japanese Spitz feeding questions

How much should I feed my Japanese Spitz?
A healthy adult Japanese Spitz (10–25 lb) needs roughly 1.5–4 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Japanese Spitz's coat?
A whole-food raw diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids supports that signature bright white double coat. Salmon and Wild-Caught Cod recipes are especially good for coat shine and easing the heavy seasonal undercoat shed.
How do I switch my Japanese Spitz to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because raw is rich and a Spitz is small, start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline as you go.
How often should a Japanese Spitz eat?
Adults do best on two measured meals a day, morning and evening. Puppies need 3–4 smaller meals to avoid low blood sugar, since small breeds run through their fuel quickly.
Does a Japanese Spitz need supplements?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet covers the basics. Many Spitz benefit from extra omega-3 for the coat, and a joint supplement can support the knees in a breed prone to patellar luxation — a good pairing for this little dog.

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  • Vet-formulated
  • AAFCO complete & balanced
  • 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.