9 Best Dry Food For Puppies – Reviews & Top Picks
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One of the most important decisions we have as new puppy owners is making sure we are feeding our dogs the best possible food to meet their lifestyle and unique needs.
But isn’t it all the same?
No! Especially for some breeds, feeding your puppy the incorrect food can significantly increase the RISK of your puppy developing many different health issues.
But have no fear, because we’ve looked at the hundreds of puppy food formulas. We’ve examined, broken down, looked at the labels, read the reviews and have came up with our top 9 best dry food for puppies in 2023.
We’ve done all the hard work for you. We will explain it all and we hope that our reviews will provide you with the details you need to decide which option is best for you and your newest furry friend.!
PS: It’s crucial to select a dry food that is SAFE for your puppy’s breed size because the nutritional requirements of small and large breed puppies are so different.
The Best Wet Food For Puppies
- Wellness Complete Puppy Chicken Mix – Best Overall
- Go! Carnivore Dry Puppy Food
- Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Large-Breed Formula Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
- Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food Puppy Recipe
- Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food
- Wellness Core Dry Puppy Food
- Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Smoke-Flavored Salmon Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
What’s The Difference Between Puppy Food and Adult Dog Food?
Comparing puppy food to the majority of adult dog foods, the calcium and phosphorus levels are slightly higher in puppy food. Puppy food will also contain more fat and protein than adult versions of the same brand of food, so it has more calories per serving. These are all things your growing puppy needs. Since they’re growing, they need more protein and calories and since they will be very active as a puppy they need more fat (which provides energy for them.)
But Can Puppy’s Eat Adult Dog Food?
No, puppies can not eat adult food. Puppies are still growing, and they burn a lot of calories through the day. There food requires a special formula that is crafted with a lot of protein, fat, calories, and minerals in order to stay healthy. Adult dog food simply cannot meet all of a puppy’s nutritional requirements. This is because adult food lacks the essential nutrients for a growing puppy.
Should Different Puppy Breeds Eat Different Foods?
All puppy breeds have specific nutritional needs, which are addressed by puppy foods. Large-breed puppies like Labrador Retrievers or German Shepard’s will need more food and calories as opposed to a corgi or chihuahua. If you’re unsure of the best food for your puppy, you can always ask your veterinarian on advice or even ask about one of the formulas we have below for there feedback.
Best Dry Dog Food For Puppies In 2023
Wellness Complete Puppy Chicken Mix – Best Overall
Wellness Complete Puppy Food is a great option for the best dry puppy food overall. Deboned chicken is the primary protein source and ingredient in this dry dog food.
This formula includes salmon meal and oil to give your puppy the natural sources of omega 3 fatty acids, like flaxseeds, needed to encourage a shinier, softer coat. With tomatoes added, not only flavor is added here but also essential antioxidants and vitamin C for your puppy.
The formula is outstanding. It has the right amount of calcium is present, making it safe for all puppy breeds.
GMOs, meat byproducts, fillers, or artificial preservatives were not used in the development process. It is specially formulated to give your growing puppy whole-body nutritional support. It has wholesome grains and premium proteins and has additional nutritional beneficial ingredients like probiotics, essential vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, and omega fatty acids like DHA.
Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas, Chicken Fat, Salmon Meal, Tomato Pomace
Guaranteed Analysis: 29% Crude Protein, 18% Crude Fat, 4.5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 450 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Best
Go! Carnivore Dry Puppy Food
The majority of the animal protein in this Go! Carnivore product comes from deboned chicken, salmon meal, and poultry meal. Our analysis of the dry matter label for this recipe shows that it contains 32% estimated carbs, 40% protein, and 20% fat. resulting in a roughly 50% fat to protein ratio.
The recipe does not have any grains and the first six ingredients include, top quality meat and fish. Animal proteins are a good source of essential amino acids and help puppies grow naturally.
DHA and EPA, two types of omega-3 fatty acids, help puppies’ brain and eye development which are additional nutrients in this formula. Additional digestive enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root, this supplement supports healthy digestion, good gut bacteria, and overall wellness are also found here making the Go! formula top notch.
Created by a group of pet nutritionists to address the particular dietary requirements and taste preferences of your pet.
Main Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, De-Boned Chicken, De-Boned Turkey, De-Boned Trout
Guaranteed Analysis: 36% crude protein, 18% crude fat, 3% crude fiber, and 10% moisture.
Caloric Content: 451
Type of Product: Active
Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Large-Breed Formula Dry Dog Food
Your large breed puppy’s development and growth are supported by Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Large-Breed Formula. It is made with DHA and EPA, which are crucial for the growth of the brain and the eyes, and calcium for healthy bones and teeth.
This food is enriched with vitamins and minerals to support your puppy’s overall health and has a high protein content to aid in your puppy’s development of lean muscle mass.
It is designed to support large breed puppies’ proper growth rates, has glucosamine helps cartilage and growing joints and is made with high-protein ingredients, with real chicken listed first. To aid in the development of strong bones and teeth, calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals are added.
Also available in normal size breed, so if your dog is not large breed but like the formula, you can get that specific formula which is very similar but geared to dogs that are not large breed.
Main Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (Min.) 28%, Crude Fat (Min.) 13%, Crude Fiber (Max.) 4.75%, Moisture (Max.) 12.0%.
Caloric Content: 419 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Large Breed
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
One of the industry pioneers in pet nutrition for a very long time is Blue Buffalo. Puppies of all breed sizes will receive the nutrition they need from this formula to develop into healthily and strong dogs.
This dish includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and essential fatty acids like DHA and ARA, which are found in mother’s milk and are crucial for the development of the brain and the retina. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
The formula also includes a suite of benefits form various ingredients such as, strong bones and teeth from calcium, phosphorus, and essential vitamins. For the development of a healthy brain and eyes, DHA and ARA, as well as high-quality protein, are required and are present. Healthy skin and coat thanks to omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, immune system health from vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants and no by-product meals made with corn, wheat, soy, or chicken (or poultry).
Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Fish Meal
Guaranteed Analysis: 27% Crude Protein, 16% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 400 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Active
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food Puppy Recipe
Merrick’s Puppy Recipe, which does not have any peas, lentils, and potatoes, starts with deboned chicken and also contains a combination of whole and ancient grains for complete puppy nutrition.
This formula is free of the ingredients you don’t want in your puppy’s food, including gluten, preservatives, wheat, and soy, and is packed with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids.
It is loaded with high concentrations of DHA, glucosamine, and chondroitin as well as omega fatty acids.
contains vital vitamins, minerals, and ancient grains that can help with digestion, like quinoa.
Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat
Guaranteed Analysis: 28% Crude Protein, 16% Crude Fat, 3.5% Crude Fiber, 11% Moisture
Caloric Content: 406 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Active
Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food
First on our list of small dog breed-specific dry dog foods is Royal Canin Small Puppy. This puppy food provides the nutrition that small dogs need to maintain their high energy levels during their growing months for breeds that can weigh up to 22 pounds as adults. The probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in this food also support stronger immune and digestive systems. The kibble size is also quite small, which makes it easy for smaller dogs to eat it.
Additionally, this food is loaded with protein to help your puppy develop lean muscle mass. It is also made with high-quality, easily-digestible ingredients.
For your small-breed puppy, Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a high-quality food. It is enriched with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and is made with premium proteins and nutrients.
Main Ingredients: Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat, Wheat Gluten, Corn Gluten Meal
Guaranteed Analysis: 29% Crude Protein, 18% Crude Fat, 3.3% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 354 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Small Breed
Wellness Core Dry Puppy Food
The majority of the animal protein in this Wellness Core growth formula comes from chicken and poultry meal.
It is designed with a smaller kibble size for simple consumption and prepared with fruit and vegetable juices, chicken, turkey, and salmon oil. It features cutting-edge nutrition to offer a well-rounded diet, supports healthy growth and development as well as lean body mass and muscle tone.
The formula also includes fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, glucosamine, taurine and omega fatty acids including DHA.
Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lentils, Peas, Chicken Fat
Guaranteed Analysis: 36% Crude Protein, 18% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 491 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Dry Food
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
The primary ingredient in Nutro’s formula is farm-raised chicken that is combined with healthy grains like brown rice and sweet potatoes. It includes great nutrients for puppies like omega-3 fatty acids and DHA.
GMOs, byproducts, artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, as well as fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, are all absent from this recipe as well.
DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, aids in the development of the brain and eyes and calcium helps maintain healthy bones and joints, and important antioxidants help maintain a strong immune system.
Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Barley, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Brown Rice
Guaranteed Analysis: 28% Crude Protein, 16% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 390 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Puppy
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Smoke-Flavored Salmon Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
For puppies who enjoy the taste of fish, the formula from Taste of the Wild is a good option. This formula is egg-free for canines with allergies and features salmon and ocean fish meal as its main ingredients. The immune and digestive systems of puppies are kept strong by antioxidants and probiotics in the formula.
The puppy food is made with real fish as the first ingredient which supports lean, strong muscles in puppies. It is designed with vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and nutrients for the energy your furry friend needs to thrive.
It contains K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics that are species-specific, along with antioxidants and prebiotics to support healthy digestion, immune system function, and general health and wellness. It also does not have any grains.
Main Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Canola Oil
Guaranteed Analysis: 27% Crude Protein, 15% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 408 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Active
What If I Want To Switch To One Of These Formulas Without Getting My Puppy Sick
The best way to introduce a new food to your puppy is gradually—you never want to start something new abruptly.
Start by blending 80% “old” food and 20% “new” food together.
Within about 10 days, prepare it like a mix and gradually work your way up to 100% new food.
For instance, we would do the following:
| Transition Schedule | Old Food | New Food |
| Days 1 and 2 | 80% | 20% |
| Days 3 and 4 | 70% | 30% |
| Days 5 and 6 | 50% | 50% |
| Days 7 and 8 | 30% | 70% |
| Day 9 | 10% | 90% |
| Day 10 | 0% | 100% |
Your puppy will be able to switch from his current food to his new food safely and effectively by adhering to a transition plan like this one.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dry Puppy Food
There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting puppy food. We’ll look at a few of the criteria we used to evaluate dog food brands and select the ones we believed belonged on the list in this buyer’s guide. We’ll also provide you with some crucial information on puppy nutrition and explain why it’s crucial to pick foods designed for your dog’s particular life stage.
What To Look For In Dry Puppy Food
The ingredients that each brand of dog food uses in its products should always be known and understood by you. While having the right combination of vitamins and minerals is crucial, you should try to select dog foods that have high protein, such as chicken or fish, as the first ingredient if you want the best results for your puppy. These ingredients are high quality and very lean protein sources. This makes sure that your puppy is eating a diet that is high in protein and low in fillers and by-products. Additionally, keep an eye out for omega 3s and 6s. This will encourage better digestion and growth for your puppy.
Ingredients:
Real meat: Meat of the highest caliber is the most crucial nutrient for growing puppies. It also has the highest protein content of any animal part and is the easiest to digest. Make certain that the puppy food you select has meat listed as one of the first few ingredients and accounts for the majority of the protein content.
Complete grains: A puppy needs whole grains in their diet to stay active and maintain a healthy digestive system. Great examples of fibrous whole grains that support healthy stools and keep puppies’ energy levels up are oatmeal, barley, and brown rice.
Fruits and vegetables: Puppies need a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for healthy growth. Nothing compares to fresh fruits and vegetables when it comes to micronutrient content. Compared to synthetic supplements, they taste better, have a wider variety of nutrients, and are simpler to digest. Some of our favorites for puppies are blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, apples, carrots, and beets.
Ingredients to avoid in puppy food
Meat byproducts and rendered fats: Some food manufacturers use rendered fats and meat byproducts to reduce the cost of their goods. Due to the fact that they are both made from diseased or dead animals, they are toxic and lacking in nutrients. We advise staying away from foods that list generic fats like “animal fat” and meat byproducts.
Fillers: Wheat and corn for example are both used as fillers in puppy foods to increase the calorie content.
These filler ingredients do not provide much nutrition and are difficult for your puppy to digest.
Tips To Keep My Puppy At A Healthy Weight?
To grow and develop, puppies require a lot of food and nutrients. It is very important to make sure they are getting enough proteins, fat and vitamins.
You’ll want to make sure they’re exercising daily and moving around. Additionally, you can discuss with your veterinarian how much food your puppy requires based on their age, breed, and level of activity.
Puppies require a healthy diet in addition to a lot of exercise. You can keep them active by playing with them outside, taking them on walks or runs, playing games with them, teach them to swim and enrolling them in puppy classes.
Most puppies do not have many issues
When and how often should I feed my puppy?
Up until the age of six months, puppies need to be fed three times per day. After that, you can switch them to two meals per day. The quantity of food you should give your puppy will vary depending on their age, level of activity, and breed. For more detailed advice, speak to your veterinarian.
Puppies of toy breeds require four to six meals a day for the first three months of their lives. Large-breed puppies typically need three to four meals per day.
When can I safely switch my puppy to adult food?
It’s crucial not to rush this. This is because it’s possible that adult dog food has too much calcium, which could increase a puppy’s risk of canine hip dysplasia. especially for certain breeds
Because different breeds age at different rates, the table below can help you decide when it’s SAFE to switch your puppy to adult dog food.
| Breed Size | Weight* | Switch |
| Small breed | < 20 lbs | 9-12 mos |
| Medium breed | 20-50 lbs | 12-14 mos |
| Large breed | 50-100 lbs | 15-18 mos |
| Big breed | 100+ lbs | 18-24 mos |
Recommend:
Before choosing any new food for your dog, consult your veterinarian.
For your puppy, we’ve chosen some excellent dry food options. But we advise speaking with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into your dog’s diet. Your puppy may experience health problems, and your veterinarian can explain these to you and suggest dog foods that will best support his individual needs.
Conclusion
Dry food has tons of benefits over other types of foods for your puppy. The harder kibble is good for your dogs teeth and helps strengthen there jaw bones. By following our guide, you can be confident you are looking at some of the best dry food for puppies.
Now there are also some other options when it comes to feeding your dog puppy food that we did not talk about here, Wet food. Wet food has a taste that most dogs truly enjoy. You can view our guide of the best wet puppy food as well.
This list provided here will help you narrow down the best puppy food options on the market today.
As always, at Jacktra we are dedicated to helping dogs, cats and animals all over the world. By simply using our services, you’re contributing to our mission.
