Bringing home your new puppy may feel a bit like bringing home a new baby, and the comparison doesn’t end there.
Just like human babies, canine babies have different nutritional requirements from their adult counterparts because they’re growing and developing at such a rapid pace. It’s important for puppies to get the right combination of fat, protein, and fiber, as well as lots of calories to fuel their rambunctious energy, says Jason Wilton, D.V.M., associate veterinarian at Flatt Veterinary Clinic in Cookeville, Tenn.
Compared to an adult dog, a puppy’s diet needs a higher percentage of fat. With more than double the amount of calories per gram than either protein or carbohydrates, fat also helps growing puppies reach their overall calorie needs.
While corn, wheat, and soy can trigger allergies or sensitivities in some puppies—just like gluten can in some children (and adults!)—quinoa, rice, and barley tend to be healthier grains. Some owners of dogs with grain allergies or sensitivities may swear by grain-free food, but research shows that food containing the healthier grains are overall healthier for most puppies, vets report. That’s because they contribute fiber and other nutrients that help keep puppies healthy and full.
Finally, many puppy foods also contain vegetable and fruit ingredients, such as sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, pea, apple, pear, blueberry, or even chickpea. These ingredients provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients that the fat, protein, and grain macronutrients don’t.
A key indicator of your puppy’s nutritional health, Wilton says, is the appearance of its stool. It shouldn’t be too thin, nor should it be small, hard pellets. It should be firm and solid, with rich brown coloring, rather than too yellow or too dark. As long as the basic nutritional requirements are met for puppies who are generally healthy, owners may consider other important criteria, such as cost, convenience, or other specific factors.
Based on priorities important to us and that we think may be important to you too, here are some top-rated dry foods for your puppy:
For cost and convenience
Purina One +Plus for puppies costs an average of $43 per 30-pound bag and is available at all big box stores, such as Walmart and Target, and pet store franchises, such as Petco and PetSmart. It’s also available from a wide range of online markets, such as Chewy and Amazon, and can be ordered straight from Purina’s website.
Because of its wide availability, it’s been rated by literally thousands of consumers from across all of those platforms and gets an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5.
Pro: In addition to its high availability, its cost is the least expensive of the brands we looked at, giving it the best nutritional bang for the buck.
Con: Although rice is its primary carbohydrate, it also contains corn and soy ingredients, likely making it a no-go for puppies with grain allergies or intolerances or for pet parents who are concerned about that possibility.
For puppies in multi-dog homes
A generalized food for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds may be the most convenient and economical choice in homes with both puppies and adult dogs, and Canidae’s All Life Stages dry foods are formulated by veterinarians. The brand’s chicken meal and rice formula costs an average of $73.50 per 44-pound bag, and thousands of consumers from across the online platforms where it’s available rank it 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Pro: Changing food formulas or brands can upset some dogs’ sensitive digestive systems, so going with a generalized, all-purpose formula that minimizes or eliminates having to switch foods can help avoid that issue. It’s also good for aging dogs prone to losing muscle mass.
Con: It may not be the best choice for inactive (read: sedentary) adult dogs. To serve all stages, sizes, and breeds, it’s likely formulated with a higher-than-average fat and calorie content than a standard adult dog food, so inactive dogs may tend to put on a little extra weight.
For size- or breed-specific feeding
Whether you’re a lover of Yorkies or Rotties or any dog in between, you may prefer to feed your fur-baby a food formulated to help it achieve optimal nutrition specifically for its breed or size. Royal Canin specializes in just such size- and breed-specific formulas, and it’s available at pet store franchises, such as Petco and PetSmart, and online at Chewy. Its medium-sized puppy formula costs an average of $62 per 30-pound bag; in spite of its expense, however, more than 6,000 customers on each of the three platforms mentioned above rank it 5 out of 5 stars!
Pro: Some veterinary offices carry the brand, and Royal Canin’s website has a feature that allows potential customers to search both retail and veterinary availability.
Con: It contains significant carbohydrate sources from corn, to which some puppies may be sensitive.
For puppies with sensitive tummies
If you’ve noticed your puppy can be sensitive to some food ingredients, but it doesn’t have serious gastrointestinal issues that warrant a specially formulated food, then Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection formula may be a contender for your household. It contains no corn, wheat, or soy by-products, which are common triggers for puppies with food sensitivities or allergies. Its primary carbohydrate sources are brown rice, oatmeal, and barley. It costs an average of $63 per 30-pound bag, and rates 4.7 stars out of 5 from consumers.
Pro: It’s widely available at all major retailers, including Walmart and Target, pet stores, such as Petco and PetSmart, and online from Chewy, Amazon, its own website, and other sellers. Blue Buffalo’s most significant community programs focus on pet cancer awareness and research.
Con: It’s not as economical as the widely available Purina brand we evaluated.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness
High Protein Chicken Dry Dog Food for Puppies, Grain-Free, 4.5 lb. Bag
For vet-recommended feeding
According to its website, Hill’s is the No. 1 brand recommended by veterinarians, and it’s the brand carried at Flatt Veterinary Clinic. While Hill’s Science Diet has a healthy development formula for puppies, some of its other formulas are especially appropriate for puppies with special nutritional needs, vets say. And the brand has a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee to ensure consumers are pleased with its products, or they get a replacement product or their money back. It costs an average of $61 per 30-pound bag, and rates 4.7 out of 5 stars by consumers.
Pro: Not only does Hill’s put its money where its mouth is with a consumer guarantee; it does so with community programs too. Its Food, Shelter & Love programs provides food to more than 1,000 animal shelters across the country and has helped more than 11 million pets find homes since 2002, and its Disaster Relief Network is a first-of-its-kind program that has offered assistance to animal shelters affected by natural disasters since 2013.
Con: Packaging potentially can be mistaken for other formulas that offer kibble that is size-specific, so be sure you’re purchasing the right product.
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food
Puppy, Small Bites, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe, 15.5 lb. Bag
Conclusion
Many dry puppy foods make sure your growing canine’s nutritional needs are met, and that’s always the primary concern for devoted pet owners—but it’s likely not the only factor that contributes to the decision of what to feed your puppy. If you found this information helpful or if you already have a brand you’re “doggedly” loyal to, please share it in the comments section.