If we asked you where your pup’s food is made or what some of the key ingredients are, would you know? We focus so much on what we put in our bodies that we sometimes forget how important it is to nourish our furry friends with the best food for puppies. This is why we wondered, “what is the best puppy food?” and we wanted to share our findings.
Puppy Food Requirements
The American Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) sets the nutritional requirements for puppies. Each day, puppies need 21% to 22.5% protein, 8% to 8.5% fat, and a maximum of 4% fiber. So the healthiest puppy food should have this mix.
Best Dog Food For Puppies
We chose the best puppy food according to type and dog size. We also pick the best for each category: canned, dry, and grain-free puppy dog food. And on top of that, ALL of these fit the “natural puppy food” classification, so you know you’re giving your pup a good meal.
Canned | Dry | Grain-Free
Best Canned Puppy Food: Wellness Complete Health Natural Wet Dog Food Review
Whether you want to treat your dog to a topping on her dry dog food or give her wet food only, Wellness puppy food is a great solution and one of the most popular puppy food brands. This Wellness dog food can be given to your dog when your dog is a pup, and you can transition her to adult, and later to senior dog food as they age.
It is available in different flavors too, so that you can add variety to your dog’s diet. The canned puppy food has 9% protein, 7% fat, and 1% fiber. This puppy pate’s main ingredients include chicken, salmon, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, pears, and more.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $33.00 ($3.52 / lb) for 12 – 12.5 Ounce Cans
Best Dry Puppy Food
Are you looking for some dry puppy food for your dog’s size? Check out our top picks for small, medium, and large breeds below.
Best Small Breed: Natural Balance L.I.D. Small Breed Bites Review
This Natural Balance dog food was made especially for smaller breeds for ages puppy to adult. Customers rave about how much their pups love this kibble. This limited ingredients chow is available in Beef, Chicken & Sweet Potato, Lamb Meal & Brown Rice, Potato & Duck and Sweet Potato & Fish.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $58.49 ($4.87 / lb) for 12-pound bag
Best Medium Breed: Taste Of The Wild Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food Review
This Taste of the Wild dog food is great for your medium-size breed puppy. This grain-free dog food has 28% protein, 17% fat, and up to 5% fiber. Some key ingredients include buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, beef, tomatoes, and blueberries. The combination of fruits, vegetables, and meats helps provide a well-rounded diet for your dog.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- Price: $52.99 ($1.89 / lb) for 28 pound bag
Best Large Breed: Holistic Select Natural Review
We sifted through some large breed puppy food reviews and found Holistic Select to have the best. This kibble includes probiotics, healthy fiber, digestive enzymes, and more to help your pup feel her best from the inside out. With 23% protein, 12% fat, and 3.5% fiber, this is a protein-packed option for your large breed puppy. Some key ingredients include apples, beef, blueberries, chicken, lamb, potatoes, pumpkin, and tomatoes.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- Price: $62.99 ($2.10 / lb) for 30-pound bag
Best Grain-Free: Orijen Grain-Free Puppy Food
If your pup needs a grain-free diet, this Orijen puppy food is what we recommend. Customers know that this is a higher-priced dog food but say it’s worth every penny. Pet parents are pleased with their dog’s bowels, lack of gas, and overall puppy health. Made up of 85% poultry, fish, and egg, and 15% fruits, vegetables, and botanicals, this kibble is 38% protein, 20% fat, and 6% fiber.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $56.99 ($4.38 / lb) for 13-pound bag
- $93.99 ($3.76 / lb) for 25-pound bag
Dog Food Is Confusing (Video)
Remember to be patient with your pup. Like anything, trying something new the first time is never easy. Your dog may make a mess or need to try it a couple of times to get the hang of eating kibble, but they’ll eventually pick it up.
If you have a new dog, be sure to check out additional reading in our puppy-related articles, including a new puppy checklist, how much exercise puppies need, how to puppy-proof your house, when to switch your puppy to adult dog food, our reviews of the best dog food overall, and more!
What’s your puppy’s go-to food?