10 Best Dog Food Delivery Services For Your Shih Tzu 2024

Shih Tzus have a long and fascinating history. They were first bred more than 1,000 years ago to be loyal companions for Chinese royalty, which is why today’s descendants are elegant couch potatoes! These small yet spirited dogs don’t require much daily activity, but they can be fussy eaters and are prone to health issues such as tartar buildup, obesity, and allergies.

Thankfully, most Shih Tzu health conditions can be avoided with a nutrient-rich diet, but finding the right food for your pet can be a challenge. So many dog food services promise high-quality, human-grade ingredients – but which ones really deliver? 

I’ve researched and reviewed 10 of the best dog food delivery services for Shi Tzus, all of which bring nutrient-packed meals to your door. The Farmer’s Dog tops my list, thanks to its highly personalized service and well-thought-out recipes, but all the options on this list offer something for every dog and their owner. 

The Best Dog Food Delivery Services For Shih Tzus Reviewed

1. The Farmer’s Dog – Best Overall Dog Food Delivery for Shih Tzus

The Farmer's Dog provides highly-customized, pre-portioned meals for pets of all ages. The vet-developed recipes feature only (recognizable) fresh, human-grade ingredients that have been minimally processed and are free from preservatives and anything artificial. 

Choose from up to 4 recipes, including Turkey, Beef, Pork, and Chicken, all packed with wholefoods like sweet potato, lentils, carrots, kale, sunflower seeds, fish oils, and more. This is a service that keeps its meals simple – expect lean proteins, produce, and a dog-friendly blend of essential vitamins and minerals in every dish, and that’s it.

When you sign up, you’ll be asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire about your dog’s health, lifestyle, and other factors, to enable you to customize your pup’s eating plan. The meals then arrive perfectly portioned based on your Shih Tzu’s caloric needs to prevent overfeeding. You’ll even spot their name on the front of the packet! 

The meals are flash-frozen to ensure they’re at optimal freshness when they reach your door and to preserve the nutrients. You can choose to keep them in the freezer (where they’ll last for 6 months unopened), or you can pop them in the fridge and use them within 4 days. Your dog can enjoy it straight from the thawed packet, or you can add a little hot water if your pet prefers warm meals.   

The Farmer’s Dog also offers a DIY Nutrient Mix if you prefer to cook your dog’s meals yourself. This supplement is a great way to boost your pet’s health and prevent conditions like immune dysfunction and degenerative muscle diseases. Like the fresh food, the Nutrient Mix will be customized to your pet, with a guide on how much to add to each batch of food. 

The service also does its best to offer environmentally friendly packaging. Inside your recyclable cardboard box you’ll find biodegradable insulation (that can be composted or dissolved down the sink), a biodegradable food storage container, and all the food packs are made from non-toxic BPA-free materials. My colleague talks more about the unboxing in her in-depth review.

The Farmer's Dog prices start from $2/day, though the total cost will always depend on the size and needs of your pet. Estimated costs for an adult Shih Tzu weighing around 13lb will cost approx $28.56 per week if you feed it only fresh food.

2. Ollie – Best Fresh & Baked Food For Shih Tzus

Ollie’s balanced meals are formulated with the help of board-certified vet nutritionists in order to make sure your pup gets the right type of nutrition in line with AAFCO standards. Its Fresh recipes are packed with human-grade wholefood ingredients that have been slow-cooked for nutrition and flavor – then flash-frozen for freshness.  

The meals are free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, too. The Fresh recipes include Fresh Beef with Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Turkey with Blueberries, Fresh Chicken with Carrots, and Fresh Lamb with Cranberries. Each dish includes high-quality meats and whole veggies, plus a series of canine-friendly supplements that help improve digestion and nutrient absorption.

Ollie also offers 2 Baked recipes. These bite-sized, kibble-style morsels have been made with the same quality meat and veggies as the Fresh meals but have been gently baked in small batches for maximum nutritional value. You can choose from the Baked Beef and Sweet Potatoes or Baked Chicken and Carrots. 

Ollie’s plans are highly flexible. You can choose from the Full Fresh Plan, a Mixed Plan (combining both Fresh and Baked meals), or a Half Fresh Plan which delivers half portions to your door for the benefits of fresh food at a lower price. Find out more about what the plans entail in my colleague’s review of Ollie. 

Just like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie offers customized meals based on your dog’s needs, taking into account their age, weight, activity level, and any health concerns or goals. To put together your pup’s meal plan, you’ll have to answer a few questions so Ollie can figure out your furry friend’s caloric requirements and preferences. This ensures your pup is getting the right balance of nutrients to support their health and wellbeing.

Ollie’s prices start from $4-$8 per day. For a 13lb adult Shih Tzu, you can expect to pay around $27.90 per week on the premium Full Fresh Plan. You can also pick up subscriber-only extras, including treats and supplements, which will bump up the cost of your order total. 

3. We Feed Raw – Best Raw Food For Shih Tzus

We Feed Raw specializes in providing dogs with a well-balanced raw food diet. And though there is a common misconception that only large breeds can eat raw food, the truth is that high-quality raw meals can be beneficial for all dogs, including smaller breeds like Shih Tzus. It’s particularly great for digestion and nutrient absorption. 

The company offers 6 recipes: Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Duck, Lamb, and Venison. Each dish includes USDA-approved, human-grade muscle meat, organ meat, and bone, plus a vitamin and mineral premix that is necessary for your pet’s health. The proteins are never cooked or heated, and everything has been formulated by a PhD animal nutritionist and approved by vets. 

The proteins are also of the highest quality. The pasture-raised, grass-fed lamb and venison is sourced in New Zealand, while everything else is sourced locally from trusted farms in the USA. My colleague’s We Feed Raw review can tell you more about the ingredients and recipe formulas. 

You’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire when you sign up, so you can customize a meal plan for your Shih Tzu’s needs. The food then arrives in frozen patties, which will take around 12 hours to thaw in the fridge before serving. You’ll always receive guidance to help you avoid over- or under-feeding, and you can always supplement with other types of foods – including kibble – if your pet prefers a mix. 

As well as subscribing to a plan, you can also order We Feed Raw proteins in bulk. These need to be purchased in 30lb increments (30lb, 60lb, 90lb, 120lb, etc) in order to fill a box, but these could be a good option if you have other dogs (or cats!) to feed. Just be sure you have the freezer space. 

We Feed Raw prices start from $6.59/lb, and for an adult Shih Tzu, you might expect to pay around $24.64 per week.

4. Nom Nom – Best Customizable Meals For Shih Tzus 

Nom Nom offers fresh meals formulated by a team of pet health experts, including board certified veterinary nutritionists. The company only uses high-quality, human-grade ingredients sourced from its trusted local suppliers, and the recipes are minimally processed, so the ingredients retain their shape, texture, and individual taste.

The proteins and veggies in each meal are gently cooked and mixed in small batches to seal-in the nutrients and freshness. The result is a dish that your pooch will likely go crazy over from the moment they get a whiff. Everything is individually portioned based on your dog’s caloric needs, so all you need to do is open the pouch, pour, and serve. 

Nom Nom’s menu includes 4 Fresh recipes: Pork Potluck, Chicken Cuisine, Turkey Fare, and Beef Mash. The quality proteins and produce are instantly recognizable, and there are never any fillers or preservatives. Each recipe also includes a custom mix of vitamin D, vitamin E, and B vitamins, plus iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, choline and taurine to boost your pet’s overall health. 

You can also pick up probiotic supplements. They could prove useful if your pet is suffering from issues like vomiting or itching, or something has changed in their diet. You can also order a sample variety pack if you want to try the meals without committing to a subscription.

To help you find the right meals for your Shih Tzu, Nom Nom will ask a few questions regarding your puppy's breed, level of activity, health conditions, current weight, allergies, and more. With the information you provide, Nom Nom will create a profile for your pooch, which will be used to create a customized meal plan. You can find out more about this in my colleague’s detailed review. 

Nom Nom’s prices start at $2.40, which puts it at the steeper end of the dog food delivery scale. For an adult 13lb Shih Tzu, you might expect to pay around $31.25 per week.

5. Spot & Tango – Best For Sensitive Dogs & Picky Eaters

Spot & Tango keeps things simple with 7 meals made from just 12 ingredients. In each dish, you’ll find a combination of lean protein, high-quality carbs, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a mix of vitamins and minerals that will help your dog stay happy and healthy. Plus, all the meals are free of fillers, additives, and preservatives.

The company has worked with a team of veterinary nutritionists to formulate the tastiest, most nutrient-rich meals a dog could dream of. Of course, all these recipes follow and meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for all life stages. 

Spot & Tango’s fresh food menu features 3 recipes – Turkey and Red Quinoa, Beef and Millet, and Lamb and Brown Rice. All the meats used are GMO- and hormone-free, but you can find out more about what’s in each meal in my colleague’s Spot & Tango review.

Additionally, Spot & Tango has a version of dry food, called UnKibble. Unlike traditional kibble, these meals are made from fresh, whole ingredients rather than meat meals or powdered mystery meats, and they're not extruded. The recipes include Cod and Salmon, Beef and Barley, Chicken and Brown Rice, and Turkey and Sweet Potato. You’ll even get a personalized scoop for your Shih Tzu. 

To create a customized meal plan, you’ll have to take the quiz. The questions are easy to answer, however, and focus on learning more about your dog’s weight, breed, health, allergies, age, and activity level among other things. By the end, you’ll know your dog’s daily caloric needs and will get a recommendation about which Spot & Tango recipes will work best. However, keep in mind that you can’t mix and match the fresh and dry food recipes. 

Spot & Tango’s prices start at $7 per week, but the final cost depends on whether you choose fresh food or UnKibble. If you choose fresh food, your total will also depend on which meals you select, since the 3 recipes are individually priced. As a guide, a Shih Tzu of around 13lb that only eats fresh food will cost approx $33.04 per week.

6. The Honest Kitchen – Best Variety For Dogs & Cats

The Honest Kitchen’s menu includes a wide range of products for both dogs and cats. Every ingredient promises to be thoughtfully sourced, human-edible, and of the highest quality, with proteins such as wild-caught fish and cage-free turkey. 

Dog owners can choose from dry food, dehydrated food, or wet food, as well as being able to add a number of treats, toppers, and supplements to their order each week. There are 8 Clusters dry food recipes to pick from and a number of dehydrated options that include either whole meals or “base mixes”, which are designed to be combined with raw or cooked proteins at home to make a complete dish for your pet.  

The wet food includes recipes such as Chicken and Super Greens Butcher Block Pâté or Simmered Salmon and Chicken One-Pot Stew. You’ll also find plenty of grain- and legume-free options throughout the menu, which are perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs or skin irritations.

There is a great range of supplements and treats to select. With canine-friendly treats like Blueberry and Vanilla Goat’s Milk N’ Cookies, Beef Jerky Harvet Bars, and even liver chips and bone broths, there’s something for every pup’s taste. The supplements, meanwhile, are designed to boost your pet’s bowel health and digestion. 

You can take a “Find My Recipe” quiz when you sign up to help you choose from the wealth of options. However, since The Honest Kitchen works much like an online pet store and doesn’t require a subscription, it’s perhaps not as personalized to your Shih Tzu as some services like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, or Nom Nom. 

The Honest Kitchen offers recipes for dogs at all life stages (puppy, adult, and senior), as my colleague explores in their review. The menu filters available are also super helpful, since there are so many options. 

The Honest Kitchen prices typically start at $5.99 for dry food, but you can order as much or as little as you like without a subscription. 

7. Open Farm – Best For High Ethical Standards

Open Farm features a wide range of food options for both dogs and cats. This is a service that focuses heavily on sustainability and green ethics – every ingredient can be traced back to its origin and has been prepared with the utmost care to ensure maximum nutritional benefit. You can even filter the meals for lower-carbon options. 

Open Farm’s commitment to the environment means you can access information on every ingredient in your pup’s meal – something my colleague loved when they reviewed this service. All you have to do is scan the code on the bag for the full details. 

This service only uses antibiotic-free meat and wild-caught or sustainably sourced fish – and everything is free from growth hormones, fillers, and artificial flavors. The farms that the ingredients are sourced from are third-party verified to ensure they only employ humane farming practices. 

Dog owners can shop from a wide variety of meal types. There is a selection of kibble-style dry food, wet food, gently-cooked fresh food, freeze-dried raw food, and the RawMix – a unique nutrient-dense kibble coated in bone broth and freeze-dried raw blend, with added chunks of raw meat. Every dish has been created in conjunction with the service’s team of pet experts, which include food and animal scientists, and pet nutrition specialists. 

You can also choose from a number of extras, such as dehydrated treats, supplements, and collagen-rich bone broths. Like the meals, the ingredients in the chewable supplements are all traceable and formulated to help boost digestion, joint health, skin and coat health, immunity, and more.   

I like the filtering system on the website – it makes it incredibly easy to browse. You can search by protein choice, sensitivities, and life stage to help you find products that fit your dog’s requirements. However, Open Farm doesn’t offer a customization quiz, so it’s a service best suited to pet owners who already know their dog’s needs. 

Open Farm prices start at $7/lb without auto-shipment, and you can order as much and as little as you need, with or without a subscription. 

8. JustFoodForDogs – Best Vet-Recommended Fresh Food

JustFoodForDogs is committed to providing pets with the best nutrition and care. The recipes are formulated with the help of veterinarians, nutritionists, and certified whole food formulators to make sure they meet AAFCO guidelines, and the company touts itself to be the number-one vet-recommended service for fresh dog food. 

The menu is pretty diverse and includes a number of categories. You can choose from Fresh-Frozen meals or Pantry Fresh meals (with shelf-stable packaging), as well as DIY Nutrient Blends, which can be added to meals you cook for your pet at home. You could also create a custom diet for your Shih Tzu, but for that, you’ll need to fill out the appropriate questionnaire. 

You can also choose from a selection of treats, supplements, and variety starter packs. There are bundles, too, which include paired products designed to work together. You might choose something like the Healthy Skin and Coat Supplement, or the Joint Support Bundle – there’s even a cute gift option which includes 3 plush toys.  

To navigate the menu, you can filter by health goal, life stage, needs, and more. And because JFFD isn’t a subscription-based service, it means you can order as much or as little as you need for your pet. Check out this in-depth review for more information what signing up includes. 

JFFD offers an online feeding calculator to help you figure out your dog’s daily needs. Though there is the option to create a custom diet for your pet, this is more expensive and does involve having to schedule a consultation with a vet – so the calculator is a great feature for anyone who wants to shop quickly and get speedy advice on how much to feed their dog. Of course, it’s always recommended that you also talk with your vet to ensure the calculations are correct.

JFFD is not a subscription-based service, but you can schedule repeat deliveries using the autoship feature. Prices start at $6.45 but will vary depending on the food type and quantity you order. 

9. Raised Right – Best For Home-Style, Low-Carb Meals

Raised Right offers human-grade meals for your dog, all of which have been formulated in collaboration with veterinarians and pet-food formulation experts to make sure they meet AAFCO’s requirements for a complete and balanced diet. 

The meals are designed to be high in protein and low in carbs (less than 2%). That’s because the company doesn’t use filler ingredients like potatoes, oats, barley, parsnips, yam, squash, pasta, corn, wheat, or rice. Plus, the vitamins and minerals in each recipe come only from whole foods, with no synthetic elements. Each recipe is lab tested and lightly cooked to ensure the removal of any pathogens present, then flash frozen for safe transportation, freshness, and storage. 

Raised Right offers 4 fresh food recipes for adult dogs (Turkey, Beef, Pork, and Chicken), 4 pâté formulas (also for adult dogs), and 3 Puppy Growth meals. Each one contains familiar wholefoods like flaxseed oil, cod liver oil, and organic dried kelp, all of which are super beneficial for your dog’s health and great for the immune system in particular. These arrive frozen and should be stored in the freezer until ready to thaw and eat. In the fridge, they’ll last around 6 days. 

Raised Right also offers treats in the form of bites or flakes, available in a variety of liver flavors, such as beef, turkey, pork, or lamb. You can find out more about the complete menu – and what might work for your Shih Tzu – in my colleague’s indepth review. 

You can also build a customized meal plan for your pooch according to their weight, level of activity, and age. Based on your answers to a simple questionnaire, Raised Right’s algorithm will suggest the amount to feed every day and offer options for every budget by allowing you to choose if you want to go with a full fresh food menu or combine it with other meal types, like kibble.

Raised Right is on the more expensive side, with prices starting at $9.99/bag. For a 13lb adult Shih Tzu on a full fresh food diet, the cost would be around $5.61 per day, which can feel a bit steep. The subscription service offers 16 bags of food, which can be delivered as frequently as you like for free. Or you can opt for a one-off sample box of 4 bags for a $9.99 shipping fee.

10. A Pup Above – Best For High-Protein Recipes 

A Pup Above specializes in providing customized, science-backed meals for dogs made using only human-grade ingredients. The menu features fresh recipes, dry food options, and combo meals, which means you can pick and mix between the 2. 

The main proteins are Pork, Turkey, Beef, and Chicken. The Fresh meals come as frozen patties that have been gently sous-vide. All you need to do is defrost and serve. These meals are rich in collagen and packed with nutrients thanks to the gentle cooking process, and they come with a tasty gravy that Shih Tzu pups will go mad for. They’re also super high in protein (10g per 100 Kcal) and contain superfoods like turmeric, thyme, and parsley. 

The Dry recipes are also made with high-quality proteins and non-GMO veggies. These have been gently dried through a special cooking process called Nutridry™, which preserves nutrients and flavor. Just scoop and serve. 

A Pup Above recipes are formulated with the help of expert vets, are free from fillers, preservatives, or artificial additives, and they’re cooked at a USDA-inspected facility. As my colleague highlights in their review, dog owners can trust that these meals will do nothing but support their pet’s health and wellbeing.

You’ll get feeding instructions with each recipe based on your dog’s weight. But you can adjust this depending on your individual pup’s needs and appetite. Dry food recipes come in 2lb and 4lb bags, while the Fresh food comes in 3lb and 7lb packs. You can make a one-time purchase or request auto-shipping every 1 to 8 weeks. 

A Pup Above sits somewhere in the middle when it comes to pricing. Prices start at $7.50/lb but become steeper for larger dogs or if you’re ordering for more than one animal. The good news is, you can get quite a significant discount if you opt for a subscription.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Dog Food Delivery For Your Shih Tzu

Since Shih Tzus can be picky about their food and have specific health concerns, it can be challenging to find a dog food delivery service that meets their needs. To help you out, these are the main features I considered when building this list:

• Read reviews from other users. Check out the reviews from other pet owners who have used the service, particularly those who have Shih Tzus of their own! 

• Pay attention to the quality of the ingredients. All the services on my list offer high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients that are also human-grade. Consider those that will happily reveal the sources of their proteins and look at how the meals are preserved to maintain their freshness. Many – like The Farmer’s Dog – are flash-frozen rather than deep frozen. 

• Look for customizable options. Services like Ollie that allow you to design a customizable meal plan for your pooch based on their age, health, activity levels, and more will undoubtedly boost the wellbeing of your pet in the long term. 

• Consider special dietary needs. Perhaps your dog needs grain-free options or meals that are especially high in protein? Make sure the dog food delivery service you choose offers food that meets the needs of your pet’s dietary restrictions.

FAQ

Which dog food is best for Shih Tzus?

Shih Tzus need a high-quality diet based on lean proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. You should also opt for those services that use human-grade ingredients. The Farmer’s Dog tops my list as the best service for Shih Tzus since it offers vet-approved fresh food and a highly customized service with plans for every kind of dog.

Do Shih Tzus need special food?

Your Shih Tzu requires meals that are high in lean protein, such as turkey and chicken, and healthy fats like salmon, flaxseed, or fish oils. They also need plenty of fiber to keep their digestive system healthy, which is why a combination of fresh meals and kibble-style food, like the ones offered by Spot & Tango, is a great option.

Can Shih Tzus eat raw dog food?

Yes, as long as it’s prepared in a safe environment and includes a high-quality combination of muscle, organ meat, and bone. We Feed Raw is a great option because the meals are balanced, USDA-approved, and only contain human-grade proteins.

Best Dog Food Delivery For Shih Tzu in 2024 — Final Score