best FOOD for Puppies
Updated November 2020
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
Why Trust MyDogWantsThat?
Here at MDWT, you can trust that you’re getting the best information for your dog, because we’re dog owners ourselves. We carefully assess the best (and worst) dog products on the market, giving you a full breakdown of what’s out there so you as an owner can make informed choices when it comes to your dog.
- As Good As It Gets
- Best On A Budget
Bottom Line
A subscription-based delivery service of fresh, human-grade dog food. One of the best options for wet and fresh dog food.
Another subscription dog food made from fresh ingredients. It offers vet-developed plans fit for your dog’s nutritional needs.
A dry dog food that uses natural ingredients and is specially formulated for puppies.
Chicken flavored dry dog food with no artificial ingredients made for the wellness and development of puppies.
A balanced dry dog food made for growing puppies and nursing or pregnant dogs.
Pros
Uses fresh ingredients.
Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
Above-average protein content.
Provides some benefits that can’t be had with kibbles.
Allows you to create your food plan.
Uses human-grade ingredients.
Offers customizable food plans.
Food isn’t deep-frozen.
Environment-friendly packaging.
Pre-portioned to avoid overeating.
Contains DHA from fish oil that aids in brain and eye development.
Affordable price.
Farm-raised chicken is the main source of protein.
Contains Omega 3 DHA.
Includes ingredients found in a dog mother’s milk.
A well-balanced food.
Provides the right amount of vitamins and minerals for puppy growth. Low price.
Cons
Expensive.
Some recipes include carbohydrates in the form of grains which are not essential to a dog’s diet. Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Expensive.
Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Hard to bring fresh food on trips/vacation.
Contains wheat and corn.
Average overall quality.
Corn-based product.
Uses low-quality chicken by-products.
Average overall quality.
Doesn’t contain flavorful ingredients which can be unappealing to some dogs.
- As Good As It Gets
Nom Nom Dog Food
Bottom Line
A subscription-based delivery service of fresh, human-grade dog food. One of the best options for wet and fresh dog food.
Pros
Uses fresh ingredients.
Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
Above-average protein content.
Provides some benefits that can’t be had with kibbles.
Allows you to create your food plan.
Cons
Expensive.
Some recipes include carbohydrates in the form of grains which are not essential to a dog’s diet. Fresh food can’t be used for training.
- Best On A Budget
The Farmer's Dog Food
Bottom Line
Another subscription dog food made from fresh ingredients. It offers vet-developed plans fit for your dog’s nutritional needs.
Pros
Uses human-grade ingredients.
Offers customizable food plans.
Food isn’t deep-frozen.
Environment-friendly packaging.
Pre-portioned to avoid overeating.
Cons
Expensive.
Fresh food can’t be used for training.
Hard to bring fresh food on trips/vacation.
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Small Bites
Bottom Line
A dry dog food that uses natural ingredients and is specially formulated for puppies.
Pros
Contains DHA from fish oil that aids in brain and eye development.
Affordable price.
Cons
Contains wheat and corn.
Average overall quality.
Iams Proactive Health Puppy Dry Dog Food, Chicken, All Breed Sizes
Bottom Line
Chicken flavored dry dog food with no artificial ingredients made for the wellness and development of puppies.
Pros
Farm-raised chicken is the main source of protein.
Contains Omega 3 DHA.
Includes ingredients found in a dog mother’s milk.
Cons
Corn-based product.
Uses low-quality chicken by-products.
Average overall quality.
Diamond Premium Puppy Complete and Balanced Dry Dog Food Formula with Protein
Bottom Line
A balanced dry dog food made for growing puppies and nursing or pregnant dogs.
Pros
A well-balanced food.
Provides the right amount of vitamins and minerals for puppy growth. Low price.
Cons
Doesn’t contain flavorful ingredients which can be unappealing to some dogs.
How We Decided
Aside from looking for online reviews, our team of puppy-testers got down to business and sampled these products to determine which one is the best dog food for small dogs.
23
Models Considered
8
Hours Researched
1
Experts Interviewed
5
Consumer Consulted
Buying Guide For Best Dog Food For Puppies
Food is the most important factor that affects your dog’s health and well being. So it’s no surprise that every pet parent wants the best quality dog food for their fur babies.
Just like in human food, there’s a lot of science put into dog food research and development, regardless if it’s a mass-produced dry kibble, fresh dog food, or raw diet dog food.
And like babies, puppies are in a critical stage in their lives wherein they have a different set of nutritional needs to develop and grow properly. With all the available options, it can be confusing to determine which one to get for your breed.
For first-time puppy owners, meeting with your vet to discuss your pup’s nutritional and health requirements is a must.
Buying Guide For Best Dog Food for Puppies
Food is the most important factor that affects your dog’s health and well being. So it’s no surprise that every pet parent wants the best quality dog food for their fur babies.
Just like in human food, there’s a lot of science put into dog food research and development, regardless if it’s a mass-produced dry kibble, fresh dog food, or raw diet dog food.
And like babies, puppies are in a critical stage in their lives wherein they have a different set of nutritional needs to develop and grow properly. With all the available options, it can be confusing to determine which one to get for your breed.
For first-time puppy owners, meeting with your vet to discuss your pup’s nutritional and health requirements is a must.
Key Considerations
Caution
Puppies can transition to fresh food or raw food after being weaned, which is usually around 6 weeks. However, it should be done gradually, starting with small pieces only. Giving large pieces of real food can be a choking hazard.
Dog Food For Puppies Features
Compared to adult food, puppy food contains a higher amount of protein and provides more calories as well. Aside from their physical development, this is critical for the development of a strong immune system.
Choosing the best ingredients for your pup is the way to go, but with all the ingredients listed on the packaging, it can get confusing to determine what to look for. The most important is to look for the “named” animal protein used in the ingredients list. This is usually beef, chicken, lamb, salmon, and others. This assures you that top-quality protein has been used in making the puppy food.
Expert Tip
Always follow the feeding advice of your vet and the entire household needs to stick to the plan as well. Feeding your pup too much or giving out unnecessary treats can lead to excess weight. This problem at the early stage of bone development can have a big impact on their bodies and health as they grow older.
Dog Food For Puppies Prices
Dog food prices are usually driven by the quality of the ingredients used. For our picks, the fresh food options are the most expensive because aside from fresh ingredients, you pay for the meal plan, the preparation, and delivery.
Commercial kibbles cost less than fresh or raw food because of the production process. However, high-quality kibbles are not cheap either.
Whether it’s fresh, raw, or dry commercial kibble, the safest rule to follow is to never go for the cheapest option. These usually contain preservatives and fillers and don’t provide the nutritional value your dog needs, no matter what their age is.
Tips
Puppies, like babies, need as much nutrition as they need to develop properly. So whether you have a small, medium, or large breed puppy, these tips can help you find the right dog food for your pup.
- Consult your vet first. Because of the different requirements of puppies, it’s a wise move to consult with your vet first before picking any kind of dog food in the market. Your breed might have other unique needs that you may not have been aware of.
- Your puppy can get separation anxiety when you feed your pup the moment you get home. You can avoid this by playing or grooming first as a way to to greet your pup before feeding them.
- Stick to your budget. Like any responsible pet-parent, proper budgeting for your expenses should include dog food. While we want the best for our fur babies, going beyond your budget will have short and long term financial consequences. With proper consultation and research, find the best value dog food that fits your budget and provides the nutritional requirements of your dog as well.
- Exercise extreme caution when feeding bones. There are certain bones to avoid at all costs like poultry, pork, or cooked bones because these splinter easily and can cause choking or damage to your pup’s digestive tract.
other products we Considered
There really is no single best dog food for all puppies. Your dog’s preference plays a big factor too. Outside of our top five, here are other options you may want to consider.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Puppy Formula: A dry kibble made from an exotic protein source. It doesn’t contain any fillers or preservatives and is safe for puppies with nutritional sensitivities and allergies.
FAQ's
How much dog food should I give my puppy?
Dog food makers always put the recommended serving on the package label. Following this ensures that you don’t overfeed your dog and prevents them from becoming overweight.
However, you should also monitor how your puppy responds to the food. The amount they eat or leave behind can give you another indication of the proper serving size.
Can I feed adult food to my puppy?
No, puppy food is specifically formulated to meet the needs of puppies. Feeding adult dog food to puppies deprives them of the needed nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.
Is it safe to give dog food that has imported ingredients?
Some dog food brands disclose where their ingredients are sourced and where the food is produced. It’s common that some ingredients are sourced from other countries but the food was produced in the USA. However, not all brands disclose the sources of ingredients.
There have been concerns about dog food made in other countries so to avoid health problems, proper research and advice from your vet are necessary before purchasing dog food.
The Team That WOrked on This Review
Nitin Gupta
Chief Content Officer
JJ Resnick
Director of Growth
Erik Adler
Editorial Director