Miniature Poodle feeding guide: how much and how often

An adult at 6 kg (13 lb) usually needs somewhere around 90 to 120 g of a typical dry food per day, roughly 1 to 1.25 cups, split into two meals. Very active dogs doing agility may need a little more, while a sofa-loving senior often needs noticeably less.

Minis are rarely gluttons, and some are picky. Resist the urge to top every meal with something tasty, because a poodle quickly learns that refusing kibble makes the good stuff appear. Pick up an untouched bowl after 15 to 20 minutes and offer it again at the next mealtime.

Because they are fine-boned and long-lived, keeping them lean pays off. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under the curls, which means using your hands, not your eyes, since a full coat hides a surprising amount of extra weight. A shallow, stable bowl at floor height suits their size, and the ear fur stays cleaner if the bowl is narrow enough that ears fall outside it.