So you’ve just puppy’d up and brought a furry bundle of joy home! Congratulations, and welcome to the world of puppyhood. Now, it’s time to take care of your new best friend by choosing the best puppy food for its needs.
But with so many options on the market, choosing the best food for your pooch can be a bit daunting. Should you go with raw or dry food, kibble or canned, fresh or frozen? And the list goes on. To make things easier, we compiled a list of six top dog foods that will give your pup all the nutritional support it needs to grow strong and healthy. Snacks For Dogs
Here are the top contenders:
Choosing just six puppy dog food products to include on this list was not easy. There are a lot of reputable dog food companies crafting safe, nutrient-dense foods. However, after diligent research and testing, we feel confident recommending these products to loving and conscientious puppy owners.
JustFoodForDogs Chicken & White Rice was our choice for Best Overall thanks to its simple, gluten-free ingredients, tasty flavor, and nutritionally balanced formula. This company takes great pride in transparency, sharing as much as possible about its ingredients and how its foods are made.
JustFoodForDogs Chicken & White Rice features a blend of fresh chicken, long-grain white rice, spinach, carrots, and apples. It looks like real food, not kibble, making it a great choice for picky pups. The formula meets the needs for AAFCO approval.
Reviewers can’t stop raving about this food for a wide range of breeds, including Australian shepherds, Jack Russel Terriers, and Mini Schnauzers. Most find it to be easy on their puppies’ digestive tracts. We saw numerous reviews commenting on how soft puppies’ coats became after switching to this food. Customers also love the convenient packaging. Just thaw the packaged food, and serve it to your pup. The package instructions will help you figure out how much to feed your puppy based on weight and age.
Each package of JustFoodForDogs Chicken & White Rice contains 18 ounces of prepared food. You can purchase this food in boxes of 7 or 21 packages. Or, purchase a large box containing 7, 72-ounce packages.
JustFoodForDogs Chicken & White Rice supplies 43 kcal per ounce. The Guaranteed Analysis states that it provides a minimum of 8.0% protein and 3.0% fat. This means that by weight, the food is 8.0% protein and 3.0% fat.
Visit JustFoodForDogs.com to learn more
Raw diets can be healthy for puppies as long as they are carefully balanced and formulated with safe ingredients. We Feed Raw is our top choice in the Raw Puppy Food category because of its unique, detailed customization options. The company helps puppy owners create their own meal plans using nutritionist-formulated, veterinarian-approved ingredients.
Tell We Feed Raw about your puppy, including its age, weight, breed, and any health concerns. They’ll create the perfect raw diet for your pup and deliver the food to your doorstep in insulated, biodegradable packaging. All diets are made using USDA-approved, human-grade meats such as duck, lamb, beef, venison, and chicken.
Customers love the convenience of We Feed Raw. The pre-packaged, balanced meals save owners many hours in the kitchen. Reviewers often comment on how excited their puppies are to eat their raw meals. Many find that their puppies’ digestion and skin health improve on this meal plan. It’s a good choice for pups with allergies and sensitive stomachs.
Every order from We Feed Raw is different. The company will craft a balanced, nutrient-dense diet based on your puppy’s unique needs. Meals come in individual portions. Simply thaw, and serve. All custom diets exceed AAFCO standards and are vet-approved.
Visit WeFeedRaw.com to learn more
Large-breed puppies often need more protein in their diets to develop strong, healthy muscles. The winner in our Best for Large Breeds Category is Purina One +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula. We chose this food because it is high protein content, appealing texture, and veterinarian-recommended formula.
This puppy dry dog food is also rich in nutrients that your growing pup needs including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is made with highly digestible ingredients that help your puppy maintain healthy digestion. This food comes in the right size to suit the needs of medium, large, and even giant breed puppies.
Purina has been in the pet food business for more than 90 years, and they have always worked with the top veterinarians and nutritionists to create nutritionally sound, healthy products. Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula is no exception. The first ingredient is real chicken. Other healthy ingredients include chicken meal, dried peas, and dried carrots. The recipe contains DHA, a nutrient known to support healthy vision and brain development. Omega-3 fatty acids promote a healthy coat and skin.
Customers say their large breed puppies love this food. The combination of crunchy bites and tender morsels appeals to picky puppies. Reviewers report that their large-breed dogs reliably put on weight and healthy muscle when fed this food. We saw lots of positive reviews from owners of German shepherds, Great Danes, mastiffs, and huskies.
Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula comes in an 8-pound or 16-pound bag. The bag includes feeding instructions for puppies of various weights.
This food supplies 397 kcal per cup. The Guaranteed Analysis states that it provides a minimum of 28% crude protein and 17% crude fat.
Read more about Purina ONE
Wet food can be a good choice for puppies as a usual part of their diet or when they are teething. The winner in our Best Wet Puppy Food category was Iams ProActive Health Puppy With Chicken & Rice. We chose this food because of its simple ingredient list, high omega-3 content, and tasty flavor.
Iams was founded in the 1940s with the goal of creating better-quality foods to enhance the lives of dogs and cats. The company has long been a forerunner in animal nutrition research. Their foods, including ProActive Health Puppy Food With Chicken & Rice, are widely recommended by veterinarians.
This wet puppy food is ideal for puppies between 1 and 12 months of age. The main ingredients are chicken, brewers rice, and dried egg product. Iams ProActive Health Puppy Food With Chicken & Rice is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, which promotes a healthy coat, skin, and heart. This food is also high in DHA for healthy brain development.
Many customers report feeding this wet food to their puppies during growth spurts or after a bout of illness. Pups teething and having trouble chewing kibble will benefit from its soft texture. We saw many positive reviews from customers whose pups gained healthy weight after switching to this wet food.
Iams ProActive Health Puppy With Chicken & Rice comes in a 13-ounce can. Feeding instructions are included on the can.
This food provides 468 kcal per can. The Guaranteed Analysis states that it provides a minimum of 9.0% crude protein and 8.0% crude fat.
Some puppies are sensitive to gluten and other proteins in grains and do best on a grain-free diet. While there are lots of quality grain-free foods out there, we chose Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food as the winner in this category. Blue Buffalo uses real meat as the first ingredient in all of their foods. They also fortify their foods with added vitamins and minerals, as needed, to ensure your puppy’s nutritional needs are always met.
Blue Buffalo was founded in 2003 and named after the founders’ family dog, Blue. The company continues to treat their customers, humans and canines, like family. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food looks like a classic kibble, but it’s higher in protein and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. It’s also free from common allergens, including corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. If your pup ever gets itchy after eating conventional dog foods, this is a good alternative to consider.
Customers have successfully used this food for various breeds, including boxers, German shepherds, and labs. We saw many reviews from customers whose pups’ dry and itchy skin cleared up on Blue Buffalo. Some dog owners use this food as a more convenient alternative to a raw diet.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Food comes in a 24-pound bag with feeding instructions included.
This food supplies 411 kcal per cup. The Guaranteed Analysis states that it provides a minimum of 35% crude protein and 14% crude fat.
Learn more about Blue Buffalo
Tiny pups have tiny mouths and often need puppy food with smaller bites. The winner in our Best for Small Breeds category is Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites. We appreciate how Hill’s designed this food specifically for smaller breeds, from the size of the kibble to the nutrient density.
Hill’s Science Diet is a leader in the pet food industry. They focus on creating specialized foods for pets with specific needs. Many veterinarians carry and recommend their formulas. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites features chicken meal, barley, and whole grain wheat as core ingredients. It’s high in DHA from fish oil, along with vitamins C and E for immune support. Hill’s recommends this food for puppies up to one year of age.
We saw many positive reviews from owners of chihuahuas, Yorkies, miniature poodles, and poodle mixes. Customers appreciate not having to worry about their tiny pups choking on this dog food. Reviewers often comment on how healthy and energetic their puppies seem when fed Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites.
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites comes in 4.5-pound and 15.5-pound bags. Dog owners can reference the bag for specific feeding instructions based on their puppy’s age and weight.
This food supplies 374 kcal per cup. The Guaranteed Analysis states that it offers a minimum of 25.0% crude protein and 15.0% crude fat.
Learn more about Hill’s Science Diet
Walk into your local pet food store, and you’ll quickly discover just how diverse the dog food market has become. Puppy dog food comes in various shapes and sizes: Raw dog food, dry dog food, fresh food, grain-free food, kibbles, and more. How did we take all these dog foods and come up with a list of just six best puppy food recommendations?
To start, we got specific about what we were looking for. Then, we combed through numerous product descriptions, reviews, and comments to determine which brands stood out from the crowd.
Here are the top five things we considered when compiling our list.
We looked for brands that have been in the dog food market for a while. We also preferred brands that work with pet nutritionists and veterinarians to ensure their formulas are nutrient-dense and balanced. When vets recommended a brand, we took that seriously.
The better the ingredients, the better the food. To ensure quality, we closely examined where the companies source their ingredients. We preferred companies that source their ingredients from within the United States. Some even use human-grade food, USDA-approved meats, which earned them “bonus points” in our eyes.
Does the food meet AAFCO standards for pet nutrition? Is the nutritional information readily available in the product description? We asked these questions, and when the answer was “yes,” we felt great about including that dog food on our list.
The best puppy food is only the best if puppies enjoy eating it. We read customer reviews of different dog foods, including wet and dry food, frozen and canned, grain-based and grain-free, to name a few. We looked at the ingredients each product recipe contains to get a clear idea of which foods puppies preferred. The dog foods on this list all received raving reviews from customers whose pups ate them with gusto.
The goal with any puppy food is for the puppy to grow healthy and strong. So, we looked carefully at reviews from customers whose puppies are now mature and grown. If they felt the dog food was a contributing factor in their pups’ lifelong health, we took that seriously.
Whether you just brought your pup home or have had them for a while, it’s important to do your research before choosing a dog food. Here are the key factors to consider as you read reviews and product descriptions.
AAFCO, the Association for American Feed Control Officials, has set minimum standards that all pet foods need to meet in order to satisfy an animal’s needs. At a minimum, any puppy food you purchase should meet AAFCO standards. Some of the best foods exceed AAFCO standards regarding nutrient content, which is even better. Reputable dog food companies are usually happy to share that their products meet AAFCO standards, so this information should not be hard to find when browsing puppy foods.
The best puppy food is free from fillers and contains few if any, added preservatives or artificial colors. You want the first ingredients to be real foods, such as chicken meal, beef, or venison. You also want to see other whole-food ingredients, such as brown rice, blueberries, and spinach.
Not all puppies need a grain-free diet. However, if your puppy has allergies or requires a low-carbohydrate diet for certain veterinarian-diagnosed health conditions, a grain-free diet may be ideal. When shopping for grain-free food, you want to be sure the key ingredients, which are usually meat, are sourced responsibly and prepared safely.
Most puppies do fine on a diet of mostly kibble. However, some pups prefer kibble with softer pieces in it. If your puppy is picky, has an irritable digestive tract, or has dental issues, it may do best on a diet or all or part wet food. There are also some “natural” and “real food” dog foods that have a human-food texture and are made with a blend of whole ingredients like rice and shredded chicken. Really, this comes down to your preference and what your puppy seems to prefer.
Most good-quality pet food brands list the calorie content of their dog food on the bag. Puppy foods tend to be higher in calories than dog food made for mature dogs. This is one reason it’s so important to feed your puppy real puppy food while they are young – to ensure their high-calorie needs are met.
If your puppy is underweight and your vet wants them to eat a bit more, look for a food that’s a bit higher in calories. Your puppy will take in more calories in a small volume of food. For example, 1/2 cup of puppy food containing 400 kcal per cup supplies more energy than ½ cup of food containing 350 kcal per cup.
While there are some incredible new pet food companies on the market, you are often better off buying from a brand that has been around for a while. They’ve had time to do the research, perfect their formula, and make changes to improve their product based on customer needs.
Finally, consider the convenience factor of the puppy food you’re about to buy. Puppies are already a lot of work. If you’re busy with work, family obligations, and puppy care, feeding a raw diet or even refrigerated food might not be right for you. Or, you may want to choose a brand that simplifies your raw or natural feeding routine with great packaging and a customizable delivery schedule.
Remember that while raw and natural diets are nice, most puppies can thrive on good-quality kibble or wet dog food from a can.
Since puppies grow rapidly and have such high-calorie needs, it’s important to feed them more often than mature dogs. Experts generally recommend feeding your puppy three meals per day until the age of 6 months. This could be a simple breakfast, lunch, and dinner fed around the hours you eat your own meals.
When your puppy reaches 6 months, you can scale back to offering 2 meals per day. Most owners find it easiest to keep feeding breakfast and dinner and to eliminate the lunch meal. Do this slowly. Feed a little less dog food at lunch and a little more at breakfast and dinner. Slowly keep decreasing the lunch amount while making the other meals larger.
Toy and small-breed puppies may benefit from eating more often since their stomachs are so tiny. Feed your small-breed pup four meals a day until they reach 6 months. Then, scale back to three meals a day.
Feeding your puppy at the same time every day will help them learn a consistent schedule. This can help keep them on track with all other aspects of their lives, including potty training and napping.
Resist the urge to leave dog food out all the time for your puppy. This often leads to over-eating. Or, if your puppy is not eating enough, you may not notice because you always keep food in the dish. You should, however, always leave a fresh bowl of water out for your pup at all times of the day.
Puppies may need a lot of food for their size because they are growing so quickly. Don’t be surprised if your puppy ends up needing more food than your adult dog!
Every puppy’s nutritional needs are different. Large-breed puppies generally need more food than small-breed puppies. Older puppies need more food than younger pups to sustain their growing body mass. A good way to determine how much to feed your puppy is to reference their dog food bag. Most companies print detailed feeding instructions in their bags. There is often a chart that allows you to look up your puppy’s age and weight and determine how much food they need each day based on those factors.
As a general recommendation, puppies less than 4 months old need about 125 kcal per day if they weigh 1 pound. Puppies who weigh 2.5 pounds need about 226 kcal. Those who weigh 5 pounds need about 392 kcal, and a 10-pound puppy needs about 649 kcal per day. A 20-pound pup aged 4 months or younger needs about 1100 kcal per day.
Once puppies reach the age of 4 months, their calorie needs change. A 5-pound puppy at this age needs about 261 kcal per day. A 10-pound pup needs 433 kcal, a 20-pound pup needs 734 kcal, and a 30-pound pup needs about 991 kcal.
Reference the calorie content of your puppy’s food to determine what volume of food to give them. For example, if your puppy’s food contains 400 kcal per cup and your puppy needs 500 kcal per day, you would need to feed them 1 ¼ cups of food per day to meet their calorie needs.
Keep an eye on your puppy’s weight, and adjust their food intake accordingly. If your puppy starts to look a bit chubby, you may want to start feeding them a little less. If they look a little slender, increase their food intake a little at a time.
Puppies who have been malnourished and are underweight often need to eat more than the average pup to restore a healthy weight. However, it is important not to re-feed them too quickly, as this can lead to an upset stomach. Consult your veterinarian for advice when designing a feeding plan for a malnourished or severely underweight pup.
Puppies can begin eating solid food at the age of 3 ½ to 4 ½ weeks. At this stage, the majority of their nutrition will still be coming from their mother’s milk, and they should still be allowed to nurse at will. However, you can begin introducing small amounts of puppy food soaked in water or a puppy milk replacer.
It might take puppies a few days to start eating moistened dog food, but you should keep offering it two or three times per day until the puppies begin lapping it up on their own. Once the puppies are confidently eating the soaked food, you can slowly reduce the amount of moisture added. By the time they are 6 weeks old, most puppies can eat puppy kibble with little to no water added.
How long should you keep feeding puppy food before switching to food for adult dogs? That depends on your puppy’s breed and size. Most small-breed dogs can transition to adult dog food between 7 and 12 months. Large breed puppies should wait until 12 - 14 months to make the switch.
When you do choose to switch your puppy from puppy food to regular dog food, do so slowly. Start by replacing just a tiny bit of the puppy food with adult dog food. Over several weeks, slowly increase the proportion of adult food and decrease the proportion of puppy food until you’re feeding 100% adult dog food.
If you’re not sure whether your puppy is ready to switch to adult dog food, there is no harm in waiting a bit longer to make the change. Puppy food is very nutrient-dense and will meet your dog’s needs until you’re ready to switch.
Most veterinarians recommend against feeding puppies a vegan diet. Dogs, and especially puppies, have very high protein needs. They specifically need a lot of the essential amino acids taurine and L-carnitine, which are lacking in plant-based ingredients. It is hard to meet these nutritional needs with a vegan diet. Dogs are natural meat eaters, and puppies’ nutrient needs are most easily met on a diet that contains plenty of meat.
Puppies stop eating for several reasons. Sometimes, puppies are just picky and decide they do not enjoy the dog food you’re providing. If you suspect this is the case, try switching to a different food. Look for one with different base ingredients or a different texture than the one your puppy has refused to eat. For example, if you’re currently feeding a kibble with a chicken meal, consider switching to soft, beef-based food.
If your puppy does not want to eat at all, then there’s likely a deeper medical reason for their loss of appetite. They could be teething, which is making their mouth sore. In this case, your puppy may be happy to eat wet or softened food. Or, they could have an upset stomach due to an infection or parasites. If your puppy refuses to eat for more than a meal or two, it’s wise to take them to the vet.
While a bite or two of adult food is unlikely to harm your puppy, the majority of their diet really should be food designed specifically for puppies. Puppy foods are higher in fat, protein, and total calories than adult dog foods. They are formulated to ensure your pup has the nutrients they need to grow. Dog food for adult dogs may not meet these needs and may leave your pup deficient in certain nutrients.
Some adult dog foods are also too large for puppies to chew properly. You would not want your pup to choke on a too-big kibble. It’s also common for puppies to have sensitive stomachs. Puppy foods are designed with this in mind, while some adult dog foods are not.
If you want to switch your puppy to a different food, do so slowly over one or two weeks. Start with just a little new food added to the old food. Each day, give your puppy a little less old food and a little more new food. This approach gives your puppy time to adapt to the different taste and texture of the new food. It also helps prevent upset tummies.
Eating too quickly can be unhealthy for puppies. This habit can cause them to vomit, and in rare cases, it can lead to a condition called bloat in which a dog swallows too much air as they eat.
There are a few safe ways to slow down your fast-eating puppy. First, try spreading their food out on a cookie sheet. Having to hunt around for individual pieces will slow them down significantly. If your pup still seems able to speed eat, you can instead look for a puzzle bowl. These bowls have raised rims and mazes within them to partially block your puppy’s snout so they can only eat one piece at a time.
As a puppy owner, it is only natural for you to want to feed your pup the best puppy food available. Finding the right food is not always easy, but we’re confident that the products featured above are some of the best on the market. Whether you’re looking for raw puppy food, whole-ingredient puppy food, or a grain-free formula, we encourage you to explore the brands featured here. Your pup will thank you with years of dependable snuggles and good health.
Catch up on the day’s headlines from the news and information source you trust
By signing up you agree to our privacy policy
Dog Food Advisor Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas