Every pet parent does everything in their power to provide the best things in life to their little fur baby. Choosing the best puppy food for your pup is one of the most important choices you’ll make for their health and well being.
Best Dry puppy food brands
Wellness
Our review
Based on the ingredients listed on the food bag alone, the Wellness puppy food is an above average quality of dry food. Further more, it is supported by omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics and taurine for a healthy heart.
Customer rating: 4.5 Stars
Pros
- It contains a fat-to-protein ratio of about 51%, which is more than several brands
- Significant amount of animal protein and other healthy sources of protein without by products and fillers
- Boosts immunity and supports joint and bone health
Cons
- One of the ingredients is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient
- The carbohydrate levels may be a little too high for some puppies
- Chicken meal, the 2nd ingredient of the bag is not as top notch an ingredient as real chicken
Orijen
Our review
The brand claims that All nine varieties of the brand are biologically appropriate for all life stages, small breeds, puppies, large breed puppies, seniors, or for weight management. Apart from using whole food and animal ingredients, Orijen also contains Omega-3 and -6, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin and probiotics for digestive health
Customer Rating: 4.7 Stars
Pros
- The first 5 ingredients consist of pure animal protein and no meals
- No controversial ingredients used
- Grain free
Cons
- Pricey
- They don’t make specialized food for health conditions
Farmina N&D Low-grain puppy formula
Our review
This Farmina N&D Pumpkin recipe is a high-protein kibble brand. It is made with locally sourced ingredients and is an excellent option for pets prone to weight gain as this food won’t spike their blood sugar. Dog owners noted the tastiness of this product which attracts even the pickiest of eaters.
Customer rating: 4.3 Stars
Pros
Cons
Price: 94.95$ for 26.4 lbs
Instinct Raw Boost Puppy Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food
Our review
The real ingredients are inspired by raw. They do not use soy, corn, wheat, artificial flavors or preservatives or other filler ingredients in our recipes.
Customer rating: 4.5 Stars
Pros
- The raw coated kibbles strike a healthy balance between processed kibbles and raw food
- The bag contains 85% meat and organs & 15% non-GMO fruits and vegetables; vitamins & minerals
- An easy and safe way to introduce raw feeding
Cons
- Pricey, as compared to some other brands that offer similar ingredients
- Very limited grain-inclusive options
Taste of the Wild
Our review
Taste of the wild puppy food is packed with unique combination of fowl and wild game. The blend of multiple sources of animal protein ensure adequate amounts of the building blocks for a healthy body for a puppy.
Customer rating: 4.7 stars
Pros
- Offers both grain-free and grain inclusive options
- Good quality animal meat sources
- Includes natural and organic sources of vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Multiple recalls in the past
- Accessibility issue
Price: 56.04$ for 28lbs
- Acana
Our review
Acana uses ethically sourced ingredients and uses quality animal meat such as organs, cartilage, and bones. They have a range of several variations from limited ingredient to recipes for all life stages.
Customer rating: 4.6 Stars
Pros
- Acana is a sister brand to Origen, an already established premium pet food brand
- Offers biologically appropriate recipes
- Ingredient transparency
Cons
- Previous lawsuits
- No wet food options
- Accessibility issue
Open farm
Our review
Open farm puppy food uses ethically sourced ingredients. The brand also provides customers with the ability to trace the origin of every ingredient using the lot number on the bag. This ensures complete transparency.
Customer rating: 4.5 Stars
Pros
- The recipe and the ingredients are both ethically sourced and meet AAFCO standards
- Ingredients can be traced back to the original source
- Loaded with fresh meaty protein for muscle development, probiotic fiber for digestion, and vitamins essential for puppies
Cons
- On the pricier side
Best Raw/Freeze Dried Puppy Food
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Perfectly Puppy Dinner Patties Dog Food
Our review
These freeze-dried patties are made of 95% salmon, beef, organs and bone; formulated specifically for puppies with DHA. Each Stella’s and Chewie recipe is made in small batches from the finest ingredients.
Customer rating: 4.7 Stars
Pros
- Easy for canines of all life stages to digest
- No fillers
- Fortified with minerals, viramins, fibre and probiotics
Cons
- Pricey
- Accessibility issue
- Dinner patties can crumble easily
Darwin’s natural selection
Our review
Transitioning a dog from dry food to raw can be a challenging. Feeding the right organ meats, sourcing it from an ethical and credible buyer, ensuring quality and ensuring an easy transition for the pup, as not all dogs may be equipped to eat raw meat. Darwin’s makes this incredibly easy. Every shipment contains pamphlets on how to handle raw meat, how to slowly switch the pup from traditional food to raw, and tips and tricks if pet parents are having a hard time getting them to eat.
Customer rating: 4.5 Stars
Pros
- Specially crafted raw meals by nutritional experts
- 75% real meat and 25% vegetables make up for 100% organic ingredients
- Darwin’s provides feeding recommendations customized to your recurring shipments
Cons
- May be more expensive for larger dogs
- Requires high standards of handling safety
- Demands quite a lot of freezer space
Price: The prices vary as per the pound size, product line and the protein choice
More details: https://www.darwinspet.com/product/raw-dog-food-ns/
Spot and Tango- Unkibble
Our review
We rate the Unkibble from Spot and Tango very highly not only for their 100% human grade ingredients, but also for the fact that it doesn’t take up freezer space and can be easily stored on the shelf. It is a premium quality semi dry/moist product.
Customer rating: 4.8 Stars
Pros
- Contains above-average protein, below-average fat and above-average carbs when compared to a typical moist dog food
- 100% whole ingredients
- Cheaper as compared to several raw food options
- Has a high moisture content
- Meals customized for your dog’s weight, breed and activity level
Cons
- Pricy as compared to traditional kibbles
- May be difficult to source in several areas
Price: UnKibbleTM plans start at $7/week, and Fresh plans start at $15/week. However, exact cost will depend on a variety of factors including age, weight, activity level, and more
Primal freeze dried
Our review
The Primal Pet Food company uses fresh, human-grade meats that are antibiotic and steroid free. This ethical and credible brand believes that educating pet owners about the importance of quality ingredients in pet foods will help pet owners make better choices for their beloved pet.
Customer rating: 4.7 Stars
Pros
- Wide variety of options
- Their food contains fish oil. Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition as they contain healthy Omega 3 fatty acids
- Their ethically sourced organic ingredients comply with notably more stringent government standards
Cons
- Limited accessibility
- Expensive
Price: 33.88$ for 14 oz
What to look for while buying puppy food?
1. First 5 ingredients
Did you know, the 1st five ingredients of your dog’s bag of food is what makes up almost 80% of your dog’s food. The first five ingredients must ideally contain –
- Protein
- Healthy fats
- Essential vitamins and minerals
- Grains like quinoa, brown rice, barley and millet
If the bag contains any of the following ingredients in the top 5, it is highly recommended to avoid them –
- Ingredients that your dog is allergic to
- Meat by-products
- High starch grains like corn and wheat
- Preservatives like ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA
2. Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis on the bag of your puppy’s food displays the macronutrient levels in the food such as Crude Protein, Crude fat, Crude Fiber, moisture and additional information like calcium, omega 3, and sodium content.
- Protein-to-fat ratio
When it comes to protein to fat ratio, experts recommend 22.5% protein and 8.5% fat for puppies, compared to minimum 18% protein and 5.5% fat for adult dogs. Growing puppies require extra dietary protein while they grow and develop.
- Nutritional adequacy
The nutritional adequacy statement on a bag of dog food is something that indicates that the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as puppyhood, reproduction, adult or senior. It also indicates whether the food is intended for supplemental feeding or regular feeding.
- Your dog’s activity level, weight and allergies
Growing puppies, especially the active ones and working dogs require a diet that is high on protein as well as fat. However, overweight dogs may need to consume more protein and less fat to help shed the extra pounds.
Conclusion
Choosing the right food for our puppy is a journey in itself. If it wasn’t challenging enough already, every puppy has their certain set of likes, dislikes and preferences, not to mention, allergies and reactions. Hitting the right spot can be the most rewarding experience not only for the human, but also the dog.
Certain brands listed above may definitely create a dent in your wallet. But, buying a cheaper bag of food without research just to save a few bucks may just be a penny-wise pound-foolish decision as those saved bucks would just end up in the veterinarian’s cash register eventually.
