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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Shorkie

The Shorkie is a tiny dog with a big appetite for life — a Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier mix that packs maximal personality into a 7-to-16-pound frame. At that size, every calorie and every mouthful counts, which makes how you feed one matter enormously.

Here is exactly how to feed a Shorkie on freeze-dried raw: small, nutrient-dense meals scaled to a toy body, with the nutrition that protects their silky coat, their tiny teeth, and their steady blood sugar.

  • Adult weight7–16 lb
  • SizeToy
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan10–18 years
  • CoatLong, silky, single coat — low shedder
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A healthy Shorkie
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Shorkie's body needs

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

  • Tiny body, fast metabolism

    Needs: Small, nutrient-dense, frequent meals

    Freeze-dried raw is concentrated whole food, so a Shorkie gets complete nutrition in the few small bites their walnut-size stomach can hold — no empty filler taking up room.

  • Puppies prone to low blood sugar

    Needs: Steady, frequent feeding

    Real meat protein and fat give slow, stable energy across 3–4 small meals a day, helping toy-breed puppies avoid the blood-sugar dips they are prone to.

  • Long, silky, human-like coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting the soft, flowing hair a Shorkie is known for and easing dryness and itch.

  • Small teeth, gum-disease risk

    Needs: Low-residue, sugar-free whole food

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy, sticky fillers that feed plaque, supporting cleaner teeth in a breed especially prone to dental trouble.

  • Sensitive small-breed digestion

    Needs: Simple, single-protein recipes

    Short, recognizable ingredient lists with one clean protein are easy on a small, sensitive gut and make it simple to pinpoint what agrees with your dog.

How much to feed a Shorkie

Quick answer: a healthy adult Shorkie (7–16 lb) needs about 1.1–2.4 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)
7 lb 1.1 oz 0.5 oz
9 lb 1.4 oz 0.7 oz
11 lb typical Shorkie 1.7 oz 0.8 oz
13 lb 2.0 oz 1.0 oz
16 lb 2.4 oz 1.2 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 Shorkie

For a Shorkie we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — broken into small, easy-to-chew pieces that suit tiny teeth and short muzzles.

Lean single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod are gentle and easy to portion; Salmon adds skin-and-coat omegas for that long silky hair. Just add water to rehydrate into a soft, aromatic meal a small dog finds easy to eat and digest.

Recipes for Shorkies

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Daily support for Shorkies

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Treats Shorkies love

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Feeding a Shorkie by life stage

  • Puppy: Shorkie puppies are tiny and prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so feed small, frequent meals — typically 3–4 times a day — of calorie-dense freeze-dried raw, and never let them go long stretches without food.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist across 2–3 small meals a day. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition — a few grams matter a lot in a dog this small.
  • Senior: Older Shorkies slow down but still need high-quality protein to hold lean muscle. Keep portions modest, prioritize easy-to-chew soft-rehydrated meals, and lean into omega-rich nutrition for skin, coat, and comfort.

Common Shorkie concerns — and the diet connection

  • Periodontal (gum) diseaseToy breeds are especially prone to dental disease; a low-residue, sugar-free whole-food diet avoids the sticky starches that feed plaque and supports a cleaner mouth alongside regular brushing.
  • Patellar luxationThis small-breed kneecap issue is largely structural, but keeping a Shorkie at a lean, healthy weight with measured portions reduces strain on the joints day to day.
  • Tracheal collapseCommon in tiny breeds, the windpipe handles a lighter load when a dog stays lean — measured, calorie-honest feeding helps keep extra pounds off a delicate frame.
  • Skin & coat healthThat long, silky hair depends on a healthy skin barrier; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports coat condition from the inside and helps reduce dryness and itch.

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

Feeding a Shorkie: what to know

A Shorkie's stomach is the size of a walnut, so meals must be small, frequent, and nutrient-dense — there is no room for fillers that take up space without earning it. Freeze-dried raw is concentrated whole food, so a little goes a long way in a dog this small.

Watch portions closely: a few extra morsels are a big percentage of a Shorkie's daily calories, and treats should stay under 10% of intake. Weigh meals rather than eyeballing them, since over- and under-feeding both show up fast in a toy breed.

Shorkie feeding questions

How much should I feed my Shorkie?
A healthy adult Shorkie (7–16 lb) needs roughly 1–2.5 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across 2–3 small meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — weigh portions and feed to a lean waistline.
What is the best food for a Shorkie with a sensitive stomach?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet built on a single clean protein like Chicken or Cod, with a short ingredient list and no fillers, is gentle on small, sensitive guts and makes it easy to see what agrees with your dog.
How do I switch my Shorkie to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Rehydrate the meal with warm water so it is soft and aromatic — easy for a small dog with tiny teeth to eat and digest.
How often should a Shorkie eat?
Puppies need 3–4 small meals a day to avoid low blood sugar; adults do well on 2–3. Frequent small portions suit a tiny stomach and a fast metabolism better than one or two large meals.
Does feeding affect my Shorkie's coat?
Yes. Their long, silky hair relies on a healthy skin barrier, which is fueled by omega-3 fatty acids from real meat and fish. A whole-food raw diet — or a Salmon recipe and a skin-and-coat supplement — supports softness and shine from the inside.

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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.