This is a specific conversation about Puppy Essentials — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Switching from a supermarket brand to premium kibble is one of the best things you can do for a dog's long-term health — so good timing. Tell me a bit about your Min Pin: how much do they weigh, are they generally healthy, and what are you currently feeding them?
She's about 5kg, perfectly healthy, just been on Bakers Complete since we got her as a puppy. I feel a bit guilty about it honestly, but we just didn't know any better.
inparticular.ai
No need for guilt — Bakers is everywhere and plenty of dogs do fine on it. But you're right that it's heavy on fillers, artificial colours, and sugar, which adds up over time. At 5kg and two years old, she's got loads of time to benefit from a better diet. A few quick questions: any skin issues, loose stools, or signs of itchiness? And is she quite active or more of a lap dog between bursts?
She's pretty itchy actually, especially around her paws and face. And her coat looks a bit dull. She's very active — typical Min Pin, never sits still.
inparticular.ai
That itching and dull coat is a really common response to the artificial additives and low-quality fats in budget kibble. A proper food upgrade often makes a visible difference within four to six weeks. For a small, active dog with those symptoms, I'd go with Orijen Small Breed. It's around 85% animal ingredients, no grain, no artificial anything, and the fat profile is genuinely good for skin and coat. It's rich though, so you must transition slowly — swap about 25% of her current food for Orijen every few days over two weeks. Go too fast and you'll get loose stools and she'll go off it.
That makes sense. Will she actually eat it though? She's a bit of a fussy eater.
inparticular.ai
Min Pins can be dramatic about new food, but the irony is they tend to do better on high-meat kibble because the smell and flavour are much more pronounced than cereal-heavy brands. If she sniffs and walks away the first day, don't panic and don't add anything to tempt her — just pick the bowl up after 20 minutes and try again at the next mealtime. Healthy dogs don't starve themselves. Stick to the slow transition and she'll almost certainly come around within a few days.
Brilliant, that's really reassuring. How much should I be feeding her on the new food?
inparticular.ai
At 5kg and active, you're looking at roughly 65–75g of Orijen Small Breed per day, split across two meals. The bag has a guide but always use your dog's actual weight, not the top of the range. Because it's so nutrient-dense you feed noticeably less than Bakers — that often surprises people and makes them overfeed. Keep an eye on her waist over the first month: you should be able to feel her ribs easily but not see them. Adjust up or down by 5g from there.
