Are you struggling to figure out the best pet food for your new puppy? I know just how difficult that can be as I have had many puppies myself! You’ve spent a lot of time and money finding that perfect pup! Now, what will your new best friend eat everyday?
Everyone knows that nutrition is important for growing dogs – but how do you choose the best? That’s where we step in! Our food choices will give your puppy the nutrition he needs to grow and be healthy AND it will save you time from researching this yourself. When you choose the best nutrition possible, you will feel great about the life you are giving your new puppy. We’re glad you’re here – and glad to help you. Let’s get to it!
How We Choose Our Products
At Red Barn Reviews, we have spent a lot of time researching the best products for you. We have read through the ingredients, read through thousands of reviews and star ratings, plus we have personal experience with puppies and adult dogs and the food they need. This article is all about puppy foods. We give you the best choices that will fit your nutrition goals for your puppy, from affordable options to the premium-priced options, the best are listed here for you.
Why We Love it
This food is our favorite because of the limited ingredients in the food. When you take a look a the ingredients in this food, it is actually a pretty short list! and salmon is my favorite ingredient for dogs! It naturally has omega-6 and 3s in it which a great for their skin and coat. Plus, there are no other animal by-products (read: skin, bones) ground up in the food.
What You Should Know
This is a 10 pound bag which is a great size to test out with your dog, and salmon is the first ingredient! This food is also grain-free. Most dogs do not need grain in their diet. If you have a large breed puppy, this might be the one exception to that rule. There have been some studies done suggesting that grain-free foods for large breed puppies (Great Danes, Mastiffs, St. Bernards) may contribute to heart conditions. But remember - this is our favorite food for small breeds! Be sure to talk with your vet about this especially if you have a large breed puppy!
Many reviewers mentioned that their finicky eaters and allergy prone pups responded very well to this dog food. Can you blame them? It contains freeze-dried raw salmon! Imagine if you were a dog - don't you think a food that was primarily made from fish would be one of your favorites, too?
Another great thing about this food is the vitamins, minerals and other supplements that it contains. The AKC recommends puppy foods that are considered complete and balanced - and this food fits the bill!
This puppy food also contains probiotics in it! This means that the food itself is helping to make sure that your puppy's gut bacteria is strong and healthy! When the gut is happy - the whole puppy is going to get happier! This will also prevent your puppy's tummy from becoming overly sensitive!
Feeding amounts vary with every breed, so check with your veterinarian for details on how much your puppy should receive daily. NOTE: Package picture may vary
Why We Love it
Diamond Naturals makes our list as the best large breed puppy food for several reasons. The first thing we love about this dog food is the main protein is lamb. Remember - we really encourage you to avoid chicken-based puppy foods because, in our experience, dogs that develop allergy issues often consume chicken-based foods. This puppy food is specifically formulated for large breed puppies.
What You Should Know
Your large breed puppy has very specific nutritional needs. Their bones need to develop correctly to support their large size later in life. That means you need to select a food that is formulated as a large breed puppy food.
Diamond Naturals recipe contains DHA also known as fatty acids or the "healthy fats" needed for good brain and eye development.
Another great thing about this food is that it contains probiotics. This is included to support digestive health. Just like your tummy, your large breed puppies need good gut bacteria to digest their food. Thanks, Diamond, for including this ingredient, and taking care of our large breed puppies!
Feeding amounts vary with every breed, so check with your veterinarian for details on how much your puppy should receive daily. NOTE: Package picture may vary.
Why We Love It
Wellness Complete Health Dog food is designed specifically for your small breed puppies. This puppy food makes our "best" list because it uses turkey as it's primary protein source. There are also no meat by-products, fillers or artificial preservatives in it.
What You Should Know
How do you know if your pup is considered a "small breed"? Small breed puppies are pups that won't get over 30 pounds as an adult.
This puppy food is made in the USA. We think that is important! You can purchase this dry puppy food in 4 pound or 12 pound packages.
Pet parents who are looking for probiotics in their puppy food will be please with this product! It also contains Folic Acid for brain development as well as Salmon Oil to provide the fatty acids needed for superior growth.
Pet parents note that even picky eaters enjoy this food, and it even smells good to humans! This puppy food is consistently rated for high quality ingredients and complete nutrition.
Feeding amounts vary with every breed, so check with your veterinarian for details on how much your puppy should receive daily. NOTE: Package picture may vary.
Best Food for Adults and Puppies
Taste of the Wild Smoke Flavored Salmon High Protein Recipe
Why We Love it
This great dog food has salmon and other ocean fish meal as the primary ingredients. It is a high-protein source (27% protein per serving) which will develop strong muscles and bones. Plus, it’s loaded with Omega 3 and 6 (fatty acids) which is great for brain development in your growing pup! This puts it on our best puppy food list for sure!
What You Should Know
This product is available in three different sizes: 5, 14 and 28 pound bags. It also includes antioxidants and prebiotics to support heath digestion, a strong immune system and great overall health of your puppy.
This dog food makes our best puppy food list because it is rated for BOTH puppy and adult dog food. This is confusing to some pet parents - but remember, choosing a food is all about the nutrition it provides. It is possible to provide the nutrition needed for both your puppy and adult doggo!
Salmon is the first ingredient in this puppy food. This makes it rich in Omega-3s and 6s which promotes healthy skin and beautiful shiny hair for your fuzzy friend. It also is a high protein (30%) food which helps to support muscle growth.
Another great story with this puppy food is that many reviewers on Amazon comment about how their picky-eaters and dogs with sensitive tummies do GREAT with this dog food. I'm sure that is because of the probiotics included in this puppy food.
Feeding amounts vary with every breed, so check with your veterinarian for details on how much your puppy should receive daily. NOTE: Package picture may vary.
Why We Love it
This food is available for different sized breeds (small, medium and large breeds) and several different flavors (Salmon, Beef, Lamb, Chicken). It is also a more affordable premium brand of puppy food. This is the best puppy food overall in our research.
What You Should Know
This puppy food makes our best puppy food list for several reason: first, it is available in three different sizes: 6, 18 and 34 pound bags. So, if you're not sure your baby will love this food, you can start small and move up to the bigger bag when you decide which flavor will be his favorite puppy food.
Another reason this makes the best puppy food list is that includes probiotics that will help with great digestion, includes sunflower oil for omega-6 fatty acids to improve coat and skin qualities. Who doesn't love soft skin and a shiny coat!
Of course, we like the salmon flavor the best for this puppy food, but all of the flavors will include Omega-rich DHA to encourage strong brain and vision development in your puppy.
And finally, all of the best puppy foods we rated include probiotics to promote healthy digestion.
Feeding amounts vary with every breed, so check with your veterinarian for details on how much your puppy should receive daily. NOTE: Package picture may vary.
Dog Food FAQs
It can be very difficult to know what is the best puppy food for your new furry family member! With all the different brands and protein sources available in puppy foods, how do you choose the best one for your new fuzzy friend?
We’ve create a comprehensive buyers guide of frequently asked questions to help you choose the best puppy food for your new best friend. This guide will help you understand what to look for when choosing the best puppy food.
Which is the best food for puppies?
Purina Pro Plan based on our research which considered price, flavors available, and protein sources for best dry puppy food.
What are the top five brands of puppy food?
Canidae, Natural Balance, Taste of the Wild, Purina Pro Plan, Diamond Naturals
How do I know what food is best for my puppy?
You need to look a the protein and fat content of the dog food you are considering. Veterinarians recommend a minimum of 30% protein and 9% fat for developing puppies. These percentages in your puppy's food promote healthy skin, healthy joints and great overall growth.
What is the difference between puppy food and adult dog food?
The biggest difference is the amount of protein and fat in a puppy vs adult dog food. There are dog foods that are appropriate for both adult dogs and puppies! Just be sure to take a look at the percentages of protein and fat.
What is the safest food to feed my puppy?
The safest protein source in our research is salmon, beef, lamb or turkey. Avoid chicken-based foods. It’s ok if there are some chicken products in your puppy food, but don’t make it the primary protein source.
What foods should I avoid giving my puppy?
There are a few foods you should always avoid giving to your puppy (or dog, for that matter!) Here is a list for you:
- Chocolate
- Artificial sweeteners (xylitol)
- Alcohol
- Grapes or raisins
- Cooked bones (raw are generally ok!)
- Rawhide toys – although not poisonous, can be hazardous because of the manufacturing process. Also can cause intestinal blockage if swallowed.
- Avocado
- Corn on the cob – the corn is fine but if the cob is swallowed it can cause intestinal blockage.
What food is better: wet puppy food or dry?
Definitely dry food! It helps clean their teeth as they crunch on those kibbles. Wet puppy food can be fed as a treat, or for a senior dog that has lost all of their teeth. The same is true for adult food! Stick with dry food and only use wet food as a treat!
How do I know what is the best food for my puppy?
Looking at the ingredients in the food is important. You want to make sure there is a significant amount of protein (30% or more) and it includes healthy fats (Omega 3 and 6) for brain development and healthy skin. We also recommend avoiding chicken as the primary protein source. Remember, some adult food might fit these requirements, too!
Is it ok to give my puppy regular dog food?
Again, looking at the ingredients in the dog food is important. Your puppy is still developing and you need to provide the correct nutrition at this stage to give him a long healthy life. Some adult food is fine – but be sure to investigate the amount of protein and fat you are providing.
How Long do puppies need puppy food?
This will depend on the breed of your puppy. Small breeds mature more quickly while large breed dogs can take up to two years to come to maturity. Most dogs should remain on puppy food for 9-14 months of age. We recommend talking to your veterinarian to determine this for your puppy.
Are boiled eggs good for puppies?
Boiled eggs are a great protein source for puppies! Actually, they can have them cooked in a variety of ways so feel free to provide this as a treat to your growing pup!
Is yogurt good for dogs?
Yogurt provides a wonderful source of probiotics for your dog as long as your dog is not sensitive to dairy products. Also, be sure there are NO artificial sugars (xylitol) in the brand you choose as this is toxic to all dogs/puppies.
Conclusion
So what pet food should you choose for your puppy's healthy diet? There are a lot of great brands out there for your growing furry friend. It is important that you choose a food that contains the right amount of protein for growing strong bones and muscles, and healthy fats for good brain development, healthy skin and overall healthy growth. We tried to provide you with a selection of foods to choose from based on personal experience and from reading thousands of reviews.
We hope you found this information helpful.
All you need to do now is click the red button to check the price of your favorite choice to order your forever friend’s next meal! Thanks for stopping by Red Barn Reviews.
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