Best Dog Food for Puppies: Top Picks of 2024

Since your puppy is a one-of-a-kind sweetheart, it’s up to you as a caring pet parent to find the best puppy food for their unique nutritional needs at this critical time in their development.

Puppies need a complete and balanced diet with quality protein, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals so they can grow up healthy and strong. But with so many flavors, sizes, diets, and types of food on the market, it can be difficult to select the optimum meal without doing some research beforehand. Each puppy is special, and because you may be shopping for a puppy with digestion problems, food allergies, or a picky attitude, we took the time to research, compare, and test multiple recipes to find the top 14 puppy foods available:

Our top picks for the best dog food for puppies

What to look for when buying dog food for puppies

Quality puppy nutrition

A puppy’s nutritional needs are far different than their adult counterparts, as a puppy’s diet should include more fat, protein, and a specific range of other vitamins and minerals to support a healthy growing body. Always look for dog food brands specifically formulated for puppies above all else.

It’s a good idea to read the ingredient list but keep in mind that ingredients are listed by weight. That means a food with meat meal as the first ingredient can actually have more meat in it than one where the first ingredient is fresh beef, chicken, or lamb. That’s because fresh meat contains a high percentage of water whereas meat meal does not. But seeing premium ingredients in the first three or four ingredients is often a good sign that you are looking at a quality option.

Dr. Michael Greenberg, a practicing veterinarian in New Orleans and co-founder of The Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, adds that you should make sure that any food you are feeding your puppy is labeled as complete and balanced for puppies according to the requirements of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, not all puppy foods are labeled for large breed puppies, so if you have a large breed pup, read the fine print on the package to make sure it specifically states the food meets the requirements for the growth of large size dogs who will be 70 pounds or larger as an adult.

Breed appropriate food

A golden retriever puppy and a pug puppy are completely different breeds, each with unique dietary needs. This ranges from the obvious need for tiny puppies to easily chew little kibble pieces instead of huge chunks, to the specific, narrower range of calcium needed for big puppies to develop strong bones and joints as they grow up. Giving large pups too much or too little calcium can cause bone deformities.

Personal needs

There is no all-around best puppy food. Some dogs may experience food allergies when exposed to certain ingredients, while others may have difficulty digesting specific formulas.

Although finding a specialized diet for your puppy may feel daunting, rest assured that with so many brands and recipes on the market, it’s easier than you’d think to put your puppy on the best diet possible. Talking with your veterinarian about diet is also a great idea.

Taste

Although your puppy’s preferences aren’t the most important consideration, a picky puppy may refuse to eat unless you provide them with something they prefer. As long as the food suits their dietary needs, feel free to try a few different protein sources until you learn which makes your puppy excited for dinnertime.

As you’re trying different foods, Dr. Greenburg says, “The transition to a new food should be gradual. Start by mixing a small amount (about 25%) of the new food with your puppy's current food (75%). Over the course of about a week, gradually increase the proportion of the new food while decreasing the old food. Monitor your puppy for any signs of digestive upset, such as diarrhea or vomiting.”

If you’re having a tough time convincing a puppy to eat, keep in mind that there are many healthy food toppers available. Whether you place a few wet, meaty pieces on top or stir the topper into their meal, a healthy dog food topper may be the best way to encourage a choosey puppy to chow down.

How we selected the best dog food for puppies

Between researching countless dog food recipes from both well-known and niche brands, having our own adorable puppies sample the most promising options, and prior experience with buying premium puppy food, I hand-picked the best dog food for puppies available today.

A few of the most important aspects we considered throughout our research included ingredient quality, formulas nutritionally balanced for puppies, the ability to purchase multiple sizes and flavors, and how appetizing the food was for the taste-testing puppies.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is better for puppies, wet or dry food?

Both wet and dry puppy food have perks and negatives, and neither is inherently better or worse than the other. It’s up to you and your veterinarian to consider which is the best option for you and your puppy:

Wet food makes it easier to keep your puppy hydrated, is often more delectable than dry food—especially for picky eaters—and the extra water content in wet food helps puppies to feel full more quickly, which is great for weight control and preventing overeating.

On the other hand, dry food is generally more affordable, actively scrubs plague and tartar from a puppy’s teeth as they chew, and kibble lasts considerably longer when opened as opposed to wet food.

If you can’t decide between the two, you can mix dry and wet food. “This combination can be a good balance for nutrition and hydration,” says Dr. Greenberg. Plus, mixing can also add variety to your puppy's diet.

What dog food do vets not recommend?

Preferences for dog food vary by veterinarian. For example, some prefer to avoid foods with any by-products, while others explain that they have nutritional value. Whatever you serve your pup, the ingredient list for it should be clear and easy to understand. If you're unsure about an ingredient, research it or consult your veterinarian, recommends Greenberg.

Avoid diets where fillers such as wheat and corn are the first ingredient. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of foods with artificial flavors and colors. Although quality dog foods can be high-priced, they are an excellent investment for your puppy’s long-term health.

How many times a day should a puppy eat?

That varies from puppy to puppy based on their body weight, the breed, and the food they eat. In addition to reading the product label for the food your pet is eating, it’s also ideal to consult with your veterinarian to determine the best dietary plan for your little dog.

Generally, weaned puppies under 12 weeks should be fed four times a day, while those between three and six months old should be fed three times a day, and after the six-month mark, a growing puppy needs two meals a day.

However you feed your puppy, it is a good rule of thumb to pick up any wet food they do not eat after 10 minutes to keep leftovers from spoiling or attracting bugs to their food bowl.

What is the healthiest dog food in the world?

There is no all-time healthiest food for your puppy, and because every dog is unique, there is only the best food for each one’s specific nutritional needs. Some of the most important considerations to keep in mind when selecting the right meal for your best friend include finding a recipe that lists a high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient, such as chicken, beef, fish, or pork. Ignore options that utilize unnecessary ingredients and potential allergens like corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors and artificial colors.

Pick foods that are complete and balanced, meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO, and are appropriate for your pup’s breed. (It’s also the same advice for finding the best senior dog food.) Not all puppy food has a nutritional profile that’s appropriate for large breed puppies. In addition to researching which formulas contain the nutritional balance of protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your growing puppy’s ongoing health, talk with your veterinarian.

If your puppy shows an intolerance or allergic reaction to a food, talk with your veterinarian about doing a diet trial, such as with a limited ingredient diet. This can help confirm which ingredients are indeed problematic for your pup while pivoting to a safe alternate option.