It’s essential that you provide your puppy with food specifically made for its stage of life. By providing your puppy with puppy-specific food, it’s much more likely to grow healthily and happily. Of course, it’s critical to select puppy food that has the stamp of approval from veterinarians, dog owners, as well as puppies.
This article reviews the best types of puppy food to ensure you feed your puppy the best food on the market. These puppy foods are recommended due to their nutritious ingredients, tasty flavor, and puppy-specific formulas.
Keep reading to learn about these puppy foods.
A Quick Look at Our Favorite Picks in 2024
The 10 Best Puppy Foods
1. Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall
| Food Form: | Fresh |
| Life Stage: | All Life Stages |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | Grain Free |
Nom Nom’s board-certified veterinary nutritionists crafted this high-quality fresh food your puppy will absolutely love. Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine comes in at the very top for being the best overall puppy food. This brand makes food that is top-notch and compatible with all life stages.
Puppies need high-quality food that offers them the correct balance of nutrients that allow them to grow properly and thrive into adulthood. Getting them off on the right foot is key, and that’s where Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine comes in. This recipe is made from chicken, sweet potatoes, squash, and spinach.
Simply looking at the nutrition label and guaranteed analysis on Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine can put your mind at ease. You will quickly realize that you are giving your puppy the best quality available on the pet food market. There are no harmful chemicals, dyes, additives, or fillers in this food.
As is typical with high-quality fresh food, Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine is a bit on the pricey side. It does need to be stored properly in the refrigerator or freezer; it will go bad quickly if left out by accident.
Pros
- Formulated by veterinarians and board-certified veterinary nutritionists
- Free from any fillers, additives, and potentially harmful ingredients
- Made from simple, fresh ingredients
- Nutritionally balanced
Cons
- Expensive
- Must be stored in refrigerator or freezer
2. Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy with Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | None |
The best puppy food for the money is the Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy with Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food. Based on price alone, the Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy Food is the most affordable product on this list. As a result, it is a great choice if you are on a tight budget. Not to mention, you should be able to find this dog food at your local pet store.
This puppy food contains farm-raised chicken and fruits and vegetables for additional vitamins. There are as many as 23 essential vitamins and minerals in this formula. It also has a lot of protein since every cup contains 29 grams of protein.
One thing to note about the Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy Food is that it isn’t the outright best formula for dogs or puppies. Because it is a budget option, it contains grains, peas, and other ingredients you might not want to feed your puppy.
Regardless, the Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy Food is a highly affordable product that you can get at most stores. Even though it doesn’t have the cleanest recipe, it is still a great option due to its high protein and vitamin content.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Easy to find at local pet stores
- High protein and vitamins
3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | No corn, wheat, or soy |
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is another great choice. This puppy food is packed with healthy nutrition and ingredients to ensure your puppy grows healthy.
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula includes real meat, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and other antioxidant-rich ingredients. Together, this food gives your puppy the right amount of power to grow up strong.
Plus, you should find this food at most pet stores. Since Blue Buffalo is such a popular brand, it is not difficult to find. All the while, puppies go crazy over the taste and flavor of this food. The only downside of the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is its price.
If you are looking for a premium pick, its price should not be an issue. This puppy food does provide some of the most comprehensive ingredients and nutrition for your puppy.
Pros
- Great nutrition for puppies
- Easy to find at local pet stores
- Trusted brand
4. Purina Pro Plan Development Puppy Chicken & Rice Entree Canned Dog Food
| Food Form: | Wet |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | High-protein |
If you want your dog to grow up on wet food instead of dry, the Purina Pro Plan Development Puppy Chicken & Rice Entree Canned Dog Food is one of the best food types you can select. It is specifically crafted for your puppy’s first year in your home because it is crafted with tasty ingredients.
Like most other products on this list, the Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food includes meat, fruits, and vegetables to give your puppy the nutrients it needs. It contains 23 essential minerals and vitamins.
All the while, the Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food is one of the tastiest foods for puppies. Because of its classic wet dog food texture, dogs and puppies go crazy over it. You should even be able to find this dog food at local pet stores since the Purina Pro Plan is one of the most popular dog food lines.
The only downside of this product is that it is expensive. In general, wet dog food is more expensive than dry dog food. Plus, this smell can be a bit much for most humans. However, it has several fantastic flavors and plenty of nutrients for puppies!
Pros
- Wet food
- Specifically made for puppies
- High-protein food
- Easy to find at local pet stores
5. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | Grain Free |
Another great puppy food is the Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. It provides just the proper nutrition for your growing pup. At the heart of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula is roasted bison and venison. It has a 28% protein content to ensure your puppy gets bone, joint, and muscle support. The puppy formula also includes a variety of fruits, probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants to ensure that all aspects of the puppy’s health are accounted for.
At the same time, the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula is free from unnecessary ingredients. For example, the recipe is free from artificial flavors, colors, grains, wheat, or corn.
The only potential drawback of this puppy food is that it is a bit more expensive than most other options. Those on a budget should look elsewhere for a more affordable product. Nevertheless, the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula offers fantastic nutrients and flavors to keep your puppy happy and healthy.
Pros
- Made specifically for puppies
- High protein and vitamins
- Free from grains and other unwanted ingredients
6. Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | High-protein, natural |
The Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food is a natural alternative to the Purina Pro Plan line. It includes bites of tender chicken and crunchy kibble so that your puppy has a delicious and nutritious meal with every bite.
Real chicken is the top ingredient in this dried dog food. It even has 28% protein, which results in this brand being a veterinarian-recommended product. It does not contain fillers.
Pricewise, Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula is a bit expensive, but it is nowhere near as expensive as some of the other products we have looked at so far. You can also find it at local pet stores. In fact, this brand is a favorite among dog owners to the point that it is often sold out at stores. You might want to order this product online since it isn’t always guaranteed in the store.
Pros
- High protein
- Natural ingredients
- Vet recommended
- Easy to find at local pet stores
Cons
- Expensive
- Often sold out at stores
7. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | Small |
| Special Diet: | High-Protein |
Small breeds need different nutrients and care than large breeds. Unfortunately, most puppy foods are designed for medium to large breeds, not small ones. If you have a small breed that is a puppy, we recommend Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food.
The Hill’s Science food provides just the right amount of food and nutrients for your small-breed puppy. The kibble bites themselves are tiny, perfect for small breed puppies. The formula includes natural ingredients and is free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors.
Of course, Hill’s Science food is only suitable for small breeds. If you have a medium or large breed, you should opt for one of the other products instead. More so, this product is more expensive than other dry food varieties. If you have a small breed puppy, Hill’s Science is one of the best products, though.
Pros
- Made for small-breed puppies
- Small kibble bites
- Natural ingredients
- Free from artificial colors and flavors
Cons
- Expensive
- Only for small breeds
8. American Journey Puppy Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | High-Protein; No Corn, Wheat, Soy, or Grains |
The American Journey Puppy Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is made from all-natural ingredients, including lamb, vegetables, and fruits. Its various nutrients ensure your puppy gets all the vitamins it needs to grow big and strong.
At the same time, the recipe is free from any grains, corn, and soy. Since dogs don’t eat this in the wild, leaving it out of their dog food makes sense. Even though the dog food is free of grains, it still includes a lot of fiber from sweet potatoes and chickpeas.
Overall, the American Journey puppy food is good but isn’t right for all dogs. Several users note that even though the recipe seems healthy, their puppy specifically does not like the flavor. This complaint is noted often enough that we do not recommend this product for picky eaters. Another drawback is that it is expensive and cannot be found at most stores.
Pros
- A lot of protein
- Natural recipe
- Large bag
Cons
- Not suited for picky eaters
- Expensive
9. Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | Small |
| Special Diet: | None |
The Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food is another food made specifically for small-breed puppies. It is designed to release more energy per bite, which is exactly what small breeds need. As a result, the Royal Canin is another good small puppy pick.
There is a reason that we listed this dog food below the Hill’s Science variety, though. For starters, there are no special diet requirements for this dog food. In other words, it does not claim to be free from artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors. It isn’t made from natural ingredients, either.
All the while, the Royal Canin small puppy food is more expensive than the Hill’s Science food. For this reason, we would recommend the former product, but you might want to consider this one too. It is still a good product, but not as good as the last.
Pros
- Made for small-breed puppies
- Intensified energy content
Cons
- Highly expensive
- Not as good of a recipe as Hill’s Science
10. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
| Food Form: | Dry |
| Life Stage: | Puppy |
| Breed Size: | All |
| Special Diet: | High-Protein |
The next puppy food on our list is the Purina Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. It is packed full of protein since chicken is the first ingredient. It also includes other ingredients and additives to ensure your dog grows strong teeth, bones, and muscles.
Much like the other Purina Pro product, you should be able to find this puppy food very easily at any local pet store you go to. You are even likely to find it at large supermarkets that sell dog food.
There are some issues with this dog food to note. For example, multiple users note that the kibble bites are too large for small-breed puppies. So, it is certainly better for large-breed puppies. There are also complaints that the recipe changes a lot, which causes the puppies’ stomachs to get upset. On top of all of that, this product is expensive.
Pros
- Packed full of protein
- Easy to find at local pet stores
Cons
- Kibble too big for small varieties
- Expensive
- Recipe changes frequently
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Puppy Food
Why Does My Puppy Need Special Food?
You must buy specially made food whenever your puppy is under one year old. This is because puppies need more nutrition and vitamins to grow properly. Without certain nutrients, your puppy will not grow normally.
Standard dog food is fortified with many vitamins and minerals, but these vitamins and minerals are specifically designed for dogs that have already gone through their biggest growth spurt. As a result, regular dog food does not provide the nutrients that most puppies need.
What Ingredients Should I Look for in Puppy Food?
When selecting puppy food, make sure that it is high in protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. At the very minimum, make sure that your puppy food is at least 18% protein. After that, look for DHA or fish oil to ensure that your puppy’s brain grows properly.
What Should I Think About When Buying Puppy Food?
When you buy your puppy’s food, there are three factors you should consider: ingredients, convenience, and transition to adulthood.
Here’s a closer look at each one of these factors:
- Ingredients: A puppy’s food is only as good as its ingredients. Ensure the ingredients are suitable for puppies and are as natural and healthy as possible.
- Convenience: You will have to buy puppy food frequently. Make sure that the puppy food you select is available at a convenient location so that you can purchase it repeatedly.
- Transition to Adulthood: After your puppy grows, you will have to transition it to adult food. For best results, select a puppy food that has an adult food alternative so that there’s less of a chance of the adult food upsetting your dog’s stomach.
Conclusion
After considering these products, our favorite puppy food is the Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine because it has a superior recipe with fantastic reviews. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is another great choice but you might want to opt for Purina Beneful Healthy Puppy with Farm-Raised Chicken Dry Dog Food instead if you are on a budget.
Featured Image Credit: marketlan, Shutterstock
Credt: Source link