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Welcoming a puppy into your home is a busy affair, from choosing the best puppy food to keeping up with your little one's antics. Puppies require a lot of energy to keep up with their growth and exploration. For this reason, Dr. Nancy Welborn, a veterinarian and associate professor of community practice at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, recommends feeding them three to four meals a day. Lamb Jerky Series
You can provide your puppy a nutritious start to life with wet food or kibble, says Welborn. Just make sure the food is formulated or feeding-trial tested to meet the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for growth. This means the recipe meets your puppy's recommended protein, fat, and nutrient needs, like DHA and EPA fatty acids, to support their development.
We rounded up the best dog food for small and large breed puppies so you can spend less time searching and more time bonding with your new pup. To make our top picks, we researched pet food standards, labels, and ingredients and consulted with veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists. Although our experts didn't recommend specific recipes or dog food brands, they guided our selection criteria for high-quality foods from trustworthy companies.
A complete and balanced pet food contains all the necessary nutrients required for a specific life stage, such as growth — the first stage of life when a puppy is growing. According to our experts, "complete" means the food contains all the essential nutrients required for a specific life stage, and "balanced" indicates that the nutrients are present in appropriate proportions.
Puppies need more macronutrients like protein and fat and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals than adult dogs, says Dr. Emily Luisana, a veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC. These nutrients give them enough energy for their rapid growth and playful behavior. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for puppy development since they aid in eye and brain development, Luisana says.
Our picks for the best wet puppy food include recipes that meet or exceed AAFCO's recommended nutrient profiles for puppies (22.5% protein and 8.5% fat) on a "dry matter basis," which is the nutrient content of food when the moisture content is removed. You can determine the dry matter basis by following the instructions provided by the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, contacting the food manufacturer directly, or seeking assistance from your veterinarian.
Chicken and salmon are the main protein sources in this food. Salmon provides omega fatty acids for proper brain development. Other healthy ingredients include sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas. The nutritional breakdown is 39% protein, 27% fat, 2% fiber, and 434 kcal per 12.5-ounce can, or about 35 calories per ounce.
Chicken is the main protein source in this puppy food. Standout carbohydrates include carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and barley. This food also contains healthy extras like fish oil for omega fatty acids. It consists of 38.8% protein, 30% fat, and 2.6% fiber, with 422 kcal per 12.5-ounce can, or about 34 calories per ounce.
This puppy food has chicken as its main protein source. Whole grain corn, cracked pearled barley, and soybean meal provide carbohydrates. Other healthy ingredients include fish oil for omega fatty acids. It consists of 28% protein, 21.6% fat, and 1.7% fiber, with 482 kcal per 13-ounce can, or about 37 calories per ounce.
As omnivores, puppies can eat both plant and animal protein-based foods, Welborn says. She explains that plant-based ingredients, such as soy, quinoa, chickpeas, barley, rice, and oats, help make puppy food nutritious and affordable.
Therefore, when it comes to the best dry dog food, grain-free recipes aren't necessarily healthier for dogs or puppies. In fact, there is ongoing concern surrounding grain-free dog foods and their potential link to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Luisana advises pet parents to discuss their puppy's diet with their veterinarian if they're feeding a grain-free diet or want to switch to a grain-free option.
Opting for kibble from a reputable manufacturer that meets the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) criteria and adheres to stringent quality control standards can give you the assurance that the recipe fulfills all your pup's nutritional requirements, says Dr. Julie Churchill, a veterinary nutritionist and professor of nutrition at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our kibble recommendations for the best puppy food are from trusted brands with exceptional quality control standards, including recipe oversight by on-staff veterinary nutritionists.
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, and salmon meal are the main proteins in this food. The list of carbohydrates includes oatmeal, barley, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, apples, and flaxseed. It also contains probiotics and omega fatty acids from salmon meal and salmon oil. The nutritional breakdown is 29% protein, 18% fat, 4.5% fiber, and 450 kcal per cup.
Chicken, poultry byproduct meal, and fish meal are the main protein source in this dry food. Standout carbohydrates include rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn and wheat, and corn germ meal. Healthy extras consist of omega fatty acids from fish oil and soybean oil. The food contains 28% protein, 18% fat, 3% fiber, and 456 kcal per cup.
Chicken and chicken meal are the main protein sources in this recipe. Carbohydrates include brown rice, barley, oatmeal, apples, and carrots, and there are healthy extras including omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin. It consists of 28% protein, 16% fat, 3.5% fiber, and 406 kcal per cup.
Welborn says it's crucial to feed large breed puppies a diet specifically formulated for their needs. "There are certain orthopedic diseases that can occur with rapid growth, so large breed diets have a very specific ratio of calcium to phosphorus to help prevent these diseases from occurring," she says.
Additionally, large breed puppy food tends to be lower in caloric density to prevent puppies from becoming overweight. "The goal is appropriate and ideal growth, not maximum growth," Luisana says. That's why in addition to feeding your gentle giant large breed puppy food, she recommends monitoring your puppy's growth alongside a breed-specific growth chart like these ones by Waltham Petcare Science Institute.
Our picks meet a large breed puppy's needs with healthy additions like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
Chicken and chicken, lamb, and fish meals provide protein in this recipe. Carbohydrates include barley, brown rice, oats, kale, pumpkin, apples, carrots, blueberries, and spinach. Healthy extras include glucosamine, chondroitin from chicken meals, and omega fatty acids. The food contains 26% protein, 14% fat, 4% fiber, and 350 kcal per cup.
Chicken is the main protein source in this food for large breed puppies. Standout carbohydrates include rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, and whole grain wheat. Healthy extras consist of omega fatty acids from fish oil plus glucosamine. The food contains 30% protein, 18% fat, 4.75% fiber, and 430 kcal per cup.
This puppy recipe includes chicken, pork byproducts, chicken liver, and pork plasma as meat protein sources. Carbohydrates include brewers rice flour and wheat gluten. Other healthy ingredients include omega fatty acids from fish oil. This food contains 43.01% protein, 12.03% fat, 4.69% fiber, and 320 kcal per 13-ounce can.
When it comes to the best dog food for small dogs, kibble size matters. "Very small dogs may have issues chewing large kibbles, whereas large breed dogs may have issues with very small kibbles," says Welborn. She adds that most puppies should eat at least three to four times daily, transitioning down to about twice a day as they reach adulthood.
Small breed puppies typically have a higher metabolism than large breed puppies, Welborn says, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should feed them more. Instead, talk to your veterinarian about their ideal body size and lifestyle. "Dogs typically sleep 70% of the day," says Welborn. "If they're sleeping that much, they don't need a ton of calories."
Our recommendations for the best puppy food for small breeds meet the energy needs of small dogs, and our dry options include kibbles that are small enough for your tiny puppy to manage.
Deboned turkey, chicken meal, and salmon meal are the main proteins in this food that has undergone feeding trials. The list of carbohydrates includes oatmeal, barley, brown rice, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples. This puppy food also contains probiotics and omega fatty acids from salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, and salmon oil. The nutritional breakdown is 28% protein, 19% fat, 4.25% fiber, and 489 kcal per cup.
Deboned chicken and chicken meal are the main protein sources in this food for puppies. Carbohydrates include oatmeal, barley, peas, brown rice, carrots, and sweet potato. Healthy additions include probiotics and omega fatty acids from fish meal and fish oil. The food contains 29% protein, 17% fat, 5% fiber, and 415 kcal per cup.
Chicken, pork liver, and pork plasma are the main protein sources in this puppy food. Brown rice, wheat flour, carrots, potatoes, and peas provide carbohydrates. Essential and beneficial additions include l-lysine for immune support and omega fatty acids for healthy development. The food contains 30.7% protein, 18.1% fat, 1.8% fiber, and 88 kcal per 3.5-ounce tray.
Puppies can be born with sensitivities to ingredients or allergies to specific proteins, Luisana says. However, she adds that sensitivities and true food allergies aren't as prevalent as pet parents might believe. If you suspect your puppy is suffering from a food-related reaction or experiencing any gastrointestinal upset, it's crucial to work with your veterinarian to identify the root cause. Your veterinarian may recommend an elimination trial or a prescription diet, such as our pick from Royal Canin.
It's important to feed your pet high-quality puppy food that makes up 90% to 95% of their daily calorie needs, Churchill says. This ensures your pup gets all the necessary nutrients and minimizes the risk of gastrointestinal upset. The remaining 5% to 10% of daily calories can be from the best dog treats. Ideally, they serve as rewards during puppy training.
Veterinary nutritionists who ensure each recipe meets growing puppies' needs formulated our recommendations. Our gut-healthy picks also include soluble and insoluble fiber sources and probiotics that aid digestion.
The main protein sources in this food are chicken, poultry, and pork byproducts; chicken; and pork plasma. Brewers rice flour is the standout carbohydrate source. Healthy additions include antioxidants from carotene and omega fatty acids. The food contains 48.85% protein, 29.8% fat, 7.84% fiber, and 140 kcal per 5.1-ounce can.
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal are the main protein sources in this food. Brown rice, barley, oats, flaxseed, pumpkin, cranberries, apples, pomegranates, and blueberries provide carbohydrates. Essential and beneficial additions to this food include probiotics and omega fatty acids from marine microalgae oil. The food contains 31% protein, 15.5% fat, 4% fiber, and 398 kcal per cup.
Deboned turkey and turkey meal make up the single animal-protein type in this sensitive stomach puppy formula. Oatmeal, peas, brown rice, potatoes, peas, pumpkin, and dried kelp are standout carbohydrate sources. Essential and beneficial additions to this food include probiotics and omega fatty acids. The food contains 26% protein, 15% fat, 5% fiber, and 394 kcal per cup.
Fresh food options are a relatively recent addition to the pet food market, and they provide pet parents with gently cooked recipe alternatives to processed food. You can order them through convenient subscription plans or as needed. Our fresh food recommendations for puppies meet AAFCO standards for all life stages, and brands ship them right to your doorstep.
Because the food is delivered fresh, it tends to have a heftier price tag. It's also preservative-free, so you'll need to read the storage and serving instructions carefully.
best dog food for dogs When your puppy eats a high-quality diet, Luisana says you'll notice healthy skin, fur, and nails; normal bowel movements without vomiting or diarrhea; an ideal body condition score; and healthy muscle mass. The following picks for the best puppy food include fresh ingredients such as USDA pork, chicken thighs, and whole rice. For more details, read our full reviews of The Farmer's Dog, Just Food for Dogs, and Ollie.