Many dog owners are startled when they realize that their puppy needs a different type of dog food than a normal, full-grown pupper.
Puppies are in a growth stage and need important ingredients to grow healthy and strong.
Here are the best puppy foods of 2021:
| Brand | Type | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taste of the Wild | High Prairie Puppy | $$$ | ||
| Now Fresh | Small Breed Puppy Food | $$$ | ||
| Orijen | Puppy Food | $$$ | ||
| Nulo Freestyle | Puppy Food | $$ | ||
| Blue Buffalo | Life Protection Small Breed Puppy Food | $$ | ||
| Merrick | Grain-Free Puppy Plate | $$ | ||
| Wellness Core | Small Breed Puppy | $$ | ||
| Hill’s Science Diet | Puppy Healthy Development | $$ | ||
| Purina Pro Plan | Shredded Blend Puppy Food | $$ | ||
| Iams | Proactive Health Puppy Food | $$ | ||
| Nutro | Wholesome Essentials Puppy Dog Food | $$ | ||
| Diamond Naturals | Small Breed Puppy | $$ | ||
| Wellness | Complete Health Small Breed Puppy | $$ | ||
| Instinct | Raw Boost Grain-Free Puppy | $$ |
Contents
- 1 Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy
- 2 Now Fresh Small Breed Puppy Food
- 3 Orijen Puppy Food
- 4 Nulo Freestyle Puppy Food
- 5 Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Puppy Food
- 6 Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate
- 7 Wellness Core Small Breed Puppy
- 8 Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development
- 9 Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Puppy Food
- 10 Iams Proactive Health Puppy Food
- 11 Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy Dog Food
- 12 Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy
- 13 Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy
- 14 Instinct Raw Boost Grain Free Puppy
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy
Taste of the Wild is the perfect food option for your puppy if you’re looking to feed them quality dry food that is completely free of grains. This leading brand of dog food is rich in nutrients, packed with antioxidants, and healthy fatty acids – providing the perfect mix of ingredients that help boost your puppy’s immune system and keep their digestive tract functioning healthily and properly.
Taste of the Wild is great for all puppies – including large breeds and has a well-balanced mix of real ingredients that promote a healthy coat and skin. This well-known brand prides itself on producing food for the modern dog while still considering the instinctive nutritional needs of their wild dog ancestors.
This high-protein, nutrient-dense food will keep your pup staying healthy and nourished all while using real, high-quality ingredients that you know and recognize. The Taste of the Wild brand is sure to keep your pup satisfied and please their taste buds.
Ingredients
- Buffalo
- Lamb
- Sweet potatoes
- Pea protein
Now Fresh Small Breed Puppy Food
you’re looking for a high-quality dog food created specifically for puppies of smaller breeds – Now Fresh is the brand you’ve been looking for. Now Fresh boasts 100% real ingredients without any meat by-products or artificial preservatives. It also has a smaller-than-average kibble size for easier chewing.
The Now Fresh Small Breed Puppy Recipe is made with turkey, salmon, and duck, as well as Omega 3 & 6 oils from coconuts and canola. The brand is perfect for sensitive pups with allergies because it doesn’t contain any grains, gluten, wheat, beef, corn, or soy.
Now Fresh Small Breed Puppy food supports healthy brain development, promotes skin and coat health, and is designed for ensuring optimal growth of your puppy. It’s a brand you can feel confident about feeding your furry friend.
Ingredients
- Turkey
- Whole dried egg
- Peas
- Potatoes
Orijen Puppy Food
Orijen Puppy Food is another wonderful option if pet owners are looking for a grain-free option for their growing puppy. The Orijen brand is widely considered to be one of the best on the market made from fresh, regional ingredients from western Canada.
This particular brand has a well-rounded list of real and whole-food ingredients including proteins, as well as a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for an extra vitamin boost. According to the company, Orijen uses cage-free poultry, nest-laid eggs, ranch-raised meats, and wild-caught fish. All of the ingredients were passed for human consumption and are completely free of preservatives.
Minerals have been added to the food that bond with the amino acids in proteins, making Orijen Puppy Food easy for dogs to digest. And although this particular brand is a bit more on the ‘pricey’ side, the fresh and easily recognizable ingredients are what you’re paying for and you can feel proud of.
Ingredients
- Deboned chicken
- Deboned turkey
- Atlantic flounder
- Whole eggs
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Food
Nulo is a great brand choice for giving your puppy a great nutritional start to life. The dry puppy kibble is very high-protein, with approximately 80% animal-based protein, and low-carb. Nulo is packed with other essential nutrients such as probiotics, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and plenty of minerals. Not only is Nulo grain-free, but it is also free of soy, corn, artificial preservatives, coloring, and flavoring – which is great for puppies with allergies or sensitive tummies.
Nulo isn’t just your average dog food company. In fact, the CEO, Michael Landa, was once a biomedical engineer who noticed that far too many pets were on medications – especially for diabetes. He wanted to design a food that was “high in animal-based proteins and low glycemic ingredients, all combined with a patented probiotic to help manage digestive health.”
This growing dog food brand is proudly made in the USA and is AAFCO-approved as a maintenance dog food. Nulo wants you to know your dog is in good hands.
Ingredients
- Deboned salmon
- Turkey meal
- Fish meal
- Whole peas
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Puppy Food
Do you ever wish that you could feed your puppy real food with real ingredients but just don’t have the time to make homemade dog food? Blue Buffalo Life Protection is a great solution for busy puppy owners that want to make sure their dog is eating highly nutritious food without any toxic fillers.
Every single bag of Blue Buffalo Life Protection food for smaller breed puppies is packed with high-quality proteins such as real fish, chicken, or lamb. Then, they add whole grains, fruit, garden veggies, and other essential nutrients for a well-rounded meal for your pup.
The kibble uses “LifeSource Bits” that are produced using a cold-formed method that does not detract from the nutritional value of the food – unlike many other brands that use high-processing temperatures. The small breed kibble size is great for smaller jaws and helps promote tartar removal as well. It’s no wonder Blue Buffalo is one of the most trusted dog food brands on the market.
Ingredients
- Deboned chicken
- Chicken meal
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate
If wet puppy food is what you’re looking for, whether as an alternative to kibble or just as an addition, the Merrick brand is worth trying. The grain-free Puppy Plate classic recipe has a significantly above-average protein and fat proportion and a significantly below-average carbohydrate proportion.
Nourish your puppy with this grain-free stew made with real turkey, real duck, and plenty of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables such as carrots, peas, and Granny Smith apples. Since this puppy food is high in fiber, your furry friend will stay full and satisfied for longer. Merrick makes their food in small batches to ensure wholesome and nutritious food on a consistent basis.
Cooked in the USA without the use of any artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors, Merrick buys all of their ingredients from trusted farmers, so you can feel good about feeding it to your puppy as a complete meal or as a topper on their kibble. Make sure your growing pooch is getting all their nutrients with Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate.
Ingredients
- Deboned chicken
- Chicken broth
- Turkey
- Turkey broth
Wellness Core Small Breed Puppy
The Wellness CORE brand is based on the nutritional philosophy that our pets, based on the wild and primal ancestry, thrive on a diet that consists mainly of meats and protein. The grain-free puppy food has a high concentration of animal protein without any harmful and nasty fillers such as corn, wheat, or soy.
Wellness CORE carefully controls the quality and quantity of their ingredients to ensure a consistent and enriching product every single time. The high-protein recipe is great for keeping up with the energy that small breed puppies need and is packed with Omega fatty acids that support a healthy coat and skin.
Wellness CORE also carefully considered the health of your dog’s bones and joints when creating their brand and made sure to include glucosamine and chondroitin to help support these functions. It’s a complete and well-balanced diet that delivers all the nutrition your dog needs. It’s perfect for owners that are conscientious about a holistic diet for their puppy.
Ingredients
- Deboned turkey
- Turkey meal
- Chicken meal
- Potatoes
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development
Hill’s Science Diet might possibly be one of the most well-known dog and puppy food brands on the market – and for good reason. The successful company works with over 200 vets, Ph. D nutritionists, food scientists, and technicians to create a dog food that is jam-packed with nutrients and meets strict quality standards.
Wholesome ingredients, such as chicken meal and barley, come together in a food that supports healthy brain, eye, and skeletal development for your puppy. The highly-digestible ingredients in the recipe are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, so you don’t have to worry about you’re feeding your dog – just nutrient-dense foods.
This trust-worthy brand produces their food in the U.S.A. and is a great choice for puppies of any breed up to 1 year of age. Plus, the small bite size pieces of kibble are designed just for their small jaws and mouths.
Ingredients
- Chicken meal
- Cracked pearled barley
- Pork meal
- Whole grain wheat
Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Puppy Food
Purina is one of the largest dog food companies in the world. Their Pro Plan Savor puppy food is one of the most well-developed products the brand has to offer. Unlike many other dog food brands, Purina is an advocate for grains in a dog’s diet. They claim grains promote healthy eyes, provide a high amount of energy, and assist with digestion. However, chicken is still the first ingredient – as protein is the most important nutrient for a growing dog.
The dual-texture formula contains hard bits of kibble combined with tender shredded pieces for a meal that your pup is sure to love. The Pro Plan product contains live probiotics to help your growing puppy’s digestive health as well as omega-rich fish oil to nourish your dog’s brain and eye development.
The American-made Purina Pro Plan provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for your developing dog. It’s an excellent nutritional foundation with a taste your puppy will love.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- Ground Rice
- Poultry by-product meal
- Corn gluten meal
Iams Proactive Health Puppy Food
IAMs has created a food specifically for puppies 1- to 12-months old. That’s because puppies during this age have a very specific set of nutritional needs. The complete and balanced kibble is designed to help puppies grow nice and strong – with a focus on their joint and muscle growth.
In addition to containing DHA, which supports brain health, the crunchy texture of the kibble will help keep your puppy’s teeth clean and tartar-free. Seven essential nutrients nourish the heart, and antioxidants promote a healthy, functioning immune system.
You can love the fact that IAMS does not add any wheat, soy, artificial dyes or preservatives in their recipes. Be proactive about your pup’s health by feeding them a brand that is simply real ingredients like chicken, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- Ground whole grain corn
- Ground whole grain sorghum
- Chicken by-product meal
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy Dog Food
Nutro Wholesome Essential’s name says it all. In fact, their motto is ‘Feed Clean’ – which is exactly what they do. Nutro’s Wholesome Essentials puppy food will cover all of the necessary bases when it comes to your dog’s health and growth.
This ‘clean’ dog food brand uses non-GMO chicken and lamb as their main sources of protein. They never use chicken by-product meal, wheat, corn, or soy protein in their foods. Other things you won’t find in Wholesome Essentials are preservatives, flavors, or colorings. In fact, all you’ll find are real proteins, fruits, veggies, and important amino acids.
For sensitive stomachs, Nutro has added oatmeal and brown rice for better nutrient absorption. To help build strong bones and teeth, calcium and phosphorus are minerals you’ll find as well. Nutro’s dedicated team of experts use only natural ingredients and tailor their recipes to the exact life stage of your dog.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- Whole brown rice
- Chicken meal
- Split peas
Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy
Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food is enhanced with guaranteed probiotics and superfoods that will keep your growing pup healthy, strong, and active. Using cage-free chicken, fruits, and vegetables such as kale, pumpkin, and blueberries, this dry food recipe is a complete, well-balanced diet.
The kibble provides your puppy with lots of protein, minerals, and omega fatty acids that will keep their coats shiny, and their brains sharp. Their nutrient-rich, highly digestible recipe supports digestive health and DHA assists with brain and vision health.
You won’t find any corn, wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives in Diamond Naturals puppy food and you can be proud to know it’s made in the USA by a family-owned company. Start your puppy’s life and health off right with a brand you can feel good about.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- Chicken meal
- Ground white rice
- Chicken fat
Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Puppy
Wellness is an excellent choice for a puppy because of its lack of additives, artificial ingredients, and by-products. All you’ll find in this puppy food are healthy proteins, vegetables, fruits, antioxidants, and vitamins. Keeping your puppy thriving from the get-go.
For small breed puppies, Complete Health is a great option because they’ve created the nutritious recipe based on their unique physical composition. The ingredients are designed to support their specific health needs with nutrient-rich, whole foods – like salmon, oatmeal, and barley.
The small pieces of kibble, made with delicious turkey, were created with your small breed’s stature in mind. Making it easy to chew, while helping remove tartar from their teeth. This corn-, wheat-, and soy-free product is the perfect option for dogs with stomach sensitivities. But, it’s full of easily digestible carbohdyrates to keep your pup happy and full of energy.
Ingredients
- Deboned turkey
- Chicken meal
- Oatmeal
- Salmon meal
Instinct Raw Boost Grain Free Puppy
Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free puppy food is another brand that bases its recipe around a dog’s instinctual diet. They offer a freeze-dried, raw puppy food full of nothing but real, healthy ingredients for your growing dog.
The first ingredient is cage-free chicken, so it’s chock-full of high-quality animal protein, and the ingredients that follow are all ones that you know and recognize. You will find fruits and vegetables in Instinct’s recipe, but what you won’t find are grains, potatoes, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors, or preservatives.
In addition to all the goodness mentioned above, Raw Boost contains probiotics that aid in digestive health, higher levels of omega for healthy skin, and extra antioxidants for a boosted immune system. Nature’s Variety is a US-based company that uses only the finest ingredients from around the globe. You can feel good about feeding your puppy Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free puppy food.
Ingredients
- Chicken
- Turkey meal
- Chicken meal
- Peas
