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Best Dog Food for Miniature Schnauzers 2024
Written by Adam Lee-Smith
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 07/26/2023, edited: 03/21/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Miniature Schnauzers are the smallest of the Schnauzer breeds — usually no taller than 14 inches and weighing no more than 18 pounds. They're adaptable, friendly, and strong, with reasonably high energy levels.
Since Mini Schnauzers are prone to diabetes, allergies, bladder stones, and pancreatitis, you'll want to consider these health risks when shopping for food.
Need a helping paw picking out the best dog food for your Miniature Schnauzer? Here's an expert tip from Wag! veterinary consultant, Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS:
“Opt for the best quality diet you can afford. It should be minimally processed and rich in plenty of meat or fish as well as grains, veggies, and fruits. The best foods will also contain supplements such as probiotics.”
To help you make the best choice for your fur-family, we've sniffed out the best dry, wet, and fresh foods for Mini Schnauzers!
Overview
Spot & Tango UnKibble
Best dry dog food
Made with 100% fresh, whole ingredients, Spot & Tango UnKibble is one of the most unique "kibbles" on the market. These recipes are rich in protein for dry foods, containing 26.7% protein as dry matter on average.
Take Spot & Tango's quiz to generate a custom plan based on your Mini's weight and activity levels. After selecting the perfect diet, you can even try it before you buy it. If your pup loves their UnKibble, it's super easy to schedule recurring deliveries right to your door.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!'s veterinary consultants, recommends Spot & Tango UnKibble to her own clients:
“Spot & Tango offers customized human-grade meal plans for pups with the added benefit of being shelf-stable. Nutrient profiles are preserved through low-temperature dehydration, products have guaranteed nutrient analysis, and all recipes are developed by certified veterinary nutritionists. If your pup turns their nose up, Spot & Tango also offers a ‘Happy Pup Guarantee’ and will give you 100% of your money back after your 2-week trial.”
Spot & Tango markets its UnKibble as being 40% less expensive than fresh-frozen foods. All recipes meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) dog food nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages.
To get the scoop on this furrific food, check out our Spot & Tango fresh dog food review.
Spot & Tango UnKibble dog food flavors
Spot & Tango Unkibble
Why Wag! loves Spot & Tango
- Personally recommended by Dr. Jeremiah, Wag! veterinary consultant
- Made with 100% fresh, whole ingredients
- Gently dried to preserve nutrients
- 40% less expensive than fresh-frozen alternatives
- Generous 100% money-back guarantee
Concerns & considerations
- Better quality means higher prices
- Lack of flavor varieties
What pet parents say about Spot & Tango UnKibble
"My dog was on kibble previously and had terrible digestion. We recently switched to Unkibble and within a week his stool was firm and back to a regular bathroom schedule. We also love the easy food scooper that comes with it."
"I recently switched my two dachshund pups over to the dry unkibble and they absolutely love it! I have a picky eater and she has started eating so much better now that I switched to unkibble."
Read more reviews on Trustpilot.
Product image sourced from the Spot & Tango website. Copyright Spot & Tango.
Open Farm Gently Cooked dog food
Best fresh dog food
Open Farm fresh food is made of 100% human-grade ingredients and gently cooked to preserve nutrients.
Gently Cooked recipes come in grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes — perfect if your Mini Schnauzer has a grain allergy or sensitivity. Both grain-free and grain-inclusive options are high in protein, with 38.7% dry protein matter on average.
Open Farm is another brand that gets 5 paws up from Wag!'s veterinary consultant, Dr. Jeremiah:
“Open Farm dog food is formulated with high-quality ingredients and does not contain any artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. The company also prioritizes the use of ethically sourced and humanely raised ingredients.”
Open Farm's fresh recipes meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, which means you can feed your Mini the same food throughout their life — no need to transition your pup to a new food as they grow older!
Dig into Open Farm's brand history, product offerings, FAQs, and more in our Open Farm dog food review.
Open Farm Gently Cooked flavors
- Grass-Fed Beef & Brown Rice
- Harvest Chicken & Brown Rice
- Grass-Fed Beef
- Homestead Turkey
- Surf & Turf
- Harvest Chicken
- Puppy
Open Farm Homestead Turkey Gently Cooked Recipe
Why Wag! loves Open Farm
- Earns the seal of approval from Dr. Jeremiah, one of Wag!'s veterinary consultants
- 100% human-grade ingredients
- Ethically sourced, traceable ingredients and recyclable packaging
- No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
- Recipe available for puppies
Concerns & considerations
- Pricier than some alternative fresh foods
- Some recipes contain multiple protein sources, which can be an issue for dogs with meat allergies
What pet parents say about Open Farm
"Another amazing product that my dog enjoys. The food is packaged so well, it always is fresh and the ingredients are helping keep my gal healthy! Thanks for making such great products."
"The dogs all love their new food! They are thriving, their coats are shiny and there have been no ill effects noted."
Read more reviews on Open Farm.
Product image sourced from the Open Farm website. Copyright Open Farm.
Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites
Best raw dog food
Halo Freeze-dried Raw Meal Bites are the "complete and balanced" offerings in raw dog food range.
Each recipe is high in protein and contains below-average fat levels, with 52.6% dry matter protein on average.
Whole and organ meats account for 99% of the ingredients in this minimally processed food, with herring oil and a supplement mix rounding out the rest of the list.
Halo is another brand that gets 5 paws up from Dr. Jeremiah:
“Halo’s science-based recipes are geared towards your pet’s breed size and life stage. Their food contains high-quality protein sources, and they offer a money-back guarantee if you or your pet are not completely satisfied.”
All Halo Freeze-dried Raw Meal Bites meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for maintenance (adults).
For more info about this vet-recommended brand, check out our comprehensive Halo dog food review.
Halo Freeze-dried Raw Meal Bites flavors
- Beef
- Turkey
- Turducken
- Whitefish
Halo Freeze-dried Raw Meal Bites Beef Recipe
Why Wag! loves Halo
- Brand is recommended by Dr. Jeremiah, one of Wag!'s veterinary consultants
- Made of 99% fresh and organ meat
- Freeze-dried from raw to improve shelf life
- No fillers, artificial flavors, or artificial colors
- Generous money-back guarantee
Concerns & considerations
- Pricier than some alternatives
- No recipes for all life stages
- Grain-free dog food may be linked to heart health problems in certain breeds
- Handling raw food can cause health problems in humans
What pet parents say about Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites
"My dogs are just getting introduced to freeze dried food. This was one of their favorites so far."
"Halo is very high quality and I use these as both training treats and a meal topper to help my dog eat. Not all dogs are big eaters. I like this brand a lot as does my vet and I buy many of their product. My dog is always very excited when he sees the bag come out."
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Halo Pets.
Weruva B.F.F. Fun Size Meals
Best wet dog food
Weruva's B.F.F. Fun Size Meals range is formulated for pint-sized pups like Mini Schnauzers.
All recipes contain limited ingredients, including high-quality meat and grains for a healthy dose of carbs for energy. Weruva B.F.F. Fun Size Meals consist of 49% protein as dry matter on average.
This is another brand that Dr. Jeremiah pawsitively loves:
“Weruva dog food focuses on minimal carbohydrate recipes and human-grade ingredients, incorporating boneless meats that are free from added hormones or antibiotics.”
All Weruva B.F.F. Fun Size Meals recipes meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for maintenance (adult).
To discover if this is the best dog food for your Mini Schnauzer, read our full Weruva dog food review.
Weruva B.F.F. Fun Size Meals flavors
Weruva B.F.F. Fun Size Meals Chicken Breast, Rice, and Pumpkin Recipe
Why Wag! loves Weruva
- Recommended by Dr. Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!'s veterinary consultants
- High-quality meat is the top ingredient
- Limited ingredients make it ideal for dogs with food allergies
- Packaging is 100% recyclable
Concerns & considerations
- High quality means higher prices
- Most recipes unsuitable for dogs with chicken allergy
- No recipes for puppies or seniors
What pet parents say about Weruva B.F.F. Fun Size Meals
"My tiny boy absolutely loves these new cups from Weruva! Its the perfect size for him, and the peel open cup is super convenient."
"These were a huge hit in my household! I give wet food as a topper everyday, and I try to find wet foods with real chunks of meat and healthy ingredients. These were all devoured!"
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Weruva.
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
Best for seniors
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe is specially formulated for small senior dogs.
This grain-free dry dog food contains fewer calories and less fat than other dog foods, as well as L-carnitine to help balance your golden oldie's metabolism. This recipe supports lean body mass with 33.7% dry protein matter.
Dr. Jeremiah recommends Merrick products to her own clients, including the Lil' Plates Senior recipe:
“Merrick products are made with high-quality, whole food ingredients, and they use no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.”
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe meets the AAFCO nutrient profile for maintenance (adult).
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
Why Wag! loves Merrick
- Recommended by Dr. Jeremiah
- A named quality meat is the top ingredient
- It's formulated specifically for small senior dogs
- Contains fewer calories and less fat than standard dog food
- Supports healthy digestion, metabolism, and joints
Concerns & considerations
- Only 1 recipe available
- Grain-free dog food may be linked to heart health problems in certain breeds
- Kibble pieces are on the small side
What pet parents say about Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Senior Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
"Every other brand of dry senior dog food I’ve tried contained large kibble pieces and was not designed for small breeds. So happy to find this one so I can phase out the other brand. The difference in the sizes of the kibble is very apparent!"
"This is the first time I tried this product. My senior dogs enjoyed the food. It was easy for them to chew."
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
FAQ
What do Miniature Schnauzers like to eat?
Do Miniature Schnauzers need special food?
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