Adopting a new puppy is very overwhelming, especially if it's your first puppy ever. Many new pet parents ask the breeder or shelter what their recommendation would be for the best dry food for puppies. The truth is, you need to do your own research and consult your vet to find the diet that will meet your puppies unique nutritional needs.
Most puppies start eating solid food when they’re around 8 weeks old, which is one of the reasons why they should not be separated from their mother until that time. This isn't to say that they shouldn't begin gradually trying kibble until 8 weeks. Actually, their diet should be supplemented with kibble much earlier than this. By 8 weeks, your puppy should strictly be eating a solid food diet.
It's advisable to start with appropriately formulated best dry food for puppies to help the newest member of your family transition to his new diet. The puppy food that you choose must be high in protein, calories, vitamins and minerals to ensure that it can adequately support the developmental needs of your pup.
Puppies grow at a surprisingly fast rate. Because they grow so quickly, they need additional nutrients to help their bones, muscles and organs develop and stay strong and healthy. Before choosing the best dry food for puppies, it's necessary to discuss your choice with your veterinarian. They'll help you decide on the diet that will meet your fur baby's needs based on his breed and overall health condition.
After a significant amount of research, we've found a few high quality best dry puppy food brands. Later in this article, we'll give you more information about these diets, but for now, here's a quick look at the best dry food for puppies that we'll be recommending:
| Dry Puppy Food Brands | Price | Value | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nulo Puppy Dry Dog Food | $$$$ | $3/lb |  |
| Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Puppy Formula | $$$ | $2.3/lb | |
| Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage | $$ | $1.71/lb | |
| Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food | $$$ | $2.11/lb |  |
| Merrick Grain Free Puppy Recipe Dry Food | $$$ | $2.28/lb | |
| Orijen Puppy Formula | $$$$$ | $4.07/lb | |
| Wellness Complete Health Natural Large Breed | $$ | $1.93/lb |  |
* Click on the best dry puppy food brand for more information, prices, and details. Or below to read reviews.
How to feed a puppy
A lot of pet parents who just adopted a new puppy believe that wet food is a better choice than dry kibble. Honestly, puppies have strong teeth and jaws, and they are perfectly capable of eating dry food. But, it's important to buy puppy food that comes in a small kibble size.
The most important thing that you can do is ask the breeder or shelter where our dog came from about the food he was eating while in their care. You're going to need to buy at least one bag of his old food and gradually transition him to whichever best dry food for puppies that you've chosen to feed him.
The transition should be done over a period of 7-10 days. Start with 80% old food and add 20% new food. Keep this ratio for 2-3 days. Then try a 50/50 mix. Keep this for 2 or 3 more days and then switch to a blend of 75% new food and 25% old food. After a few days of this diet, your dog should be ready to eat 100% new food.
If at any time during this transition, your dog has an upset stomach or diarrhea, slow the transition or cut the ratio of new food down. In most cases, the majority of veterinarians recommend starting off your puppy on dry kibble rather than wet puppy food. This is mostly because dry kibble's nutrition is easier to calculate and it's cheaper for the pet owner.
The general rule of thumb for feeding puppies is:
- Puppies under 6 months of age – 3-4 times daily
- Puppies over 6 months of age – 2 times daily
This sets a routine for the dog and is especially beneficial for young puppies. This routine will also make it easier for you to predict when your dog will need to go potty on a regular basis.
What Is the Best Dry Food for Puppies?
top 7 best dry puppy food brands
1Puppy Dry Dog Food
by Nulo
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 30.0% min
CRUDE FAT 17.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 4.0% max
MOISTURE 10.0% max
CALCIUM 1.0% min
PHOSPHORUS 0.9% min
CALORIES 428 kcal/cup
Proper nourishment and care during the puppy stage is the key to a dog’s hale and hearty adulthood. Nulo Puppy Dry Dog Food is proudly formulated and prepared in the USA. It comes in variants of salmon and turkey, and both of these recipes contain high-quality protein sources, probiotics, essential fatty acids, DHA, vitamins, and minerals. These are optimally proportioned to aid in building bones and muscles, strengthening the immune system, developing cognitive functions, boosting all bodily functions and metabolism, and enhancing healthy skin and coat. This is grain-free and contains no artificial colors or preservatives.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whole Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Sweet Potato, Chickpeas, Deboned Turkey, Lentils, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Yeast Culture, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Tomatoes, Dried Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dried Apples, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Iron Proteinate, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract
This first best dry puppy food from Nulo has become a hit among puppies and their owners. According to many pet owners, even picky pups take easily to these baked chewy pieces. Dog owners are naturally partial towards their furkids’ favorite brands, and they’re happy to note that Nulo Puppy Dry Dog Food is reasonably priced and packed with 80% meat protein with only 20% carbs. They appreciate its low glycemic index considering that pups need to start it right with their diet.
The pack has a Zip-lock, and this makes for easy storage and longer-lasting freshness. Pet owners also find the high-calorie formulation of this best dry food for puppies to be very ideal for their working and highly-active dogs. The patented BC30 probiotic content helps toughen up puppies’ guts and dog owners observed that, indeed, tummy issues were significantly reduced.
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2Natural Grain-Free Dry Puppy Formula
by Wellness Core
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 36.0% min
CRUDE FAT 18.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 5.0% max
MOISTURE 10.0% max
CALCIUM 1.5% max
PHOSPHORUS 1.0% max
CALORIES 417 kcal/cup
Wellness Pet Food is one of the most popular dog food companies today, spending large sums on formulating canine-appropriate recipes. This second best dry puppy food formula from Wellness Core is formulated for pups using only the best all-natural, grain-free, and protein-rich ingredients to help them through their fast-growth and high-development years. This complete and balanced meal is prepared in a tasty and appealing recipe that puppies love. One good indicator of a product’s efficacy and worth is the number of its satisfied patrons, and this best dry food for puppies has quite a few.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Potato Protein, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Ground Potatoes, Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Oil, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyroxidine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin, Folic Acid], Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Kale, Broccoli, Spinach, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Bananas, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Taurine, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract
A great number of pet owners, not to mention actual canine users, agree that this is one amazing product. A quick run-through of the ingredients in Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Puppy Formula shows premium animal-based protein sources, like chicken, turkey, and salmon. It has carefully selected fruits, vegetables, fish oil, and probiotic blend that provide vitamins and minerals, DHA, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and beneficial microorganisms. That’s impressively complete.
At a time when pet food shelves in the market are filled with junk, dog owners are happy that Wellness offers an option that’s free from grains, meat by-products, artificial coloring, and preservatives. This formula has done wonders to transition pups to solid food, most users say. They added that its effectiveness extends to healing watery eyes or eye stains, improving digestion, enhancing mobility, and maintaining healthy skin and coats in puppies.
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3Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage
by Wells Pet Food
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 28.0% min
CRUDE FAT 20.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 4.0% max
MOISTURE 10.0% max
CALCIUM 1.3.0% min
PHOSPHORUS 1.1% min
CALORIES 445 kcal/cup
In the third place of best dry food for puppies comes another popular option among pet owners from Wells Pet Food – their Earthborn brand with their holistic approach to nutrition. Unlike their ancestors that needed to hunt for food to survive in the wild, present-day dogs are a pampered lot. Dogs simply wait for their humans to feed them – most likely with some inappropriate dog food or junk. This kind of setup eventually leads to serious physical and mental conditions in dogs. What dogs need is a diet that consists mainly of animal protein, like this best dry food for puppies from Earthborn. They get the other nutrients they need from fruits, green plants, and vegetables.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rye Flour, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product
A puppy needs this diet all the more because it has a lot of growing up to do. Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage is a convenient way to feed on the primitive nutritional needs of a puppy. Its protein-rich formula derived from chicken meal and whitefish meal aids in the development of stronger bones and leaner muscles. The DHA component works to develop pups’ brains and eyes and keeps them functioning sharply.
Pups with unstable digestive systems and skin problems have greatly benefited from this third best dry puppy food, as confirmed by many pet owners of new pups. After giving their pups this pet food for only a few weeks, pet owners and pet caregivers observed a significant decrease in cases of upset stomach, problematic stool, itchy skin, and obesity in the pups. Continued use has proven to be tremendously favorable both for pets and their owners – puppies are evidently growing to be happy and healthy young adult dogs, and their owners couldn’t be any happier.
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4Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food Canine Recipe
by Taste of the Wild
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 28.0% min
CRUDE FAT 17.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 5.0% max
MOISTURE 10.0% max
CALORIES 370 kcal/cup
Dogs by design have a primitive digestive system, although it has changed slightly over the period of domestication. Nevertheless, canines are better able to digest and metabolize foods that are rich in animal-derived protein, and Taste of the Wild recognizes that, with many vets placing their formulas as the best dry food for puppies and adult dogs. We know that dogs do need some fruits and vegetables, such as those they would have available in the wild, and natural probiotic sources to keep their gut healthy and strong. The kind and amount of carbs and other non-protein ingredients, however, must be kept at levels not more than what puppies need. This is what Taste of the Wild offers in this best dry food for puppies.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product, pea protein, peas, potatoes, canola oil, tomato pomace, roasted bison, roasted venison, beef, flaxseed, potato fiber, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, salmon oil (a source of DHA), salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, yucca schidigera extract, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin(vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food is formulated to keep it as close as possible to this ancient canine diet using ingredients that are available today. This formula contains buffalo meat, beef, roasted bison, and venison, to name a few of its ingredients, and puppies get excited whenever they realize that it’s mealtime. To say the least, it’s one dog food that’s easy to introduce to puppies.
Responsible dog owners always check the ingredients list of any food item they buy for their dogs, especially young puppies. They say that the TOTW package label impressed them so much with the kind of meat that it contained that they simply had to try it, which is why it's often ranked as one of the best dry puppy food brands around. They were not wrong in their decision. Their dogs liked their new food at once, and their humans say that TOTW did not disappoint them – it’s everything that it said it was. According to pet owners, their dogs are healthier and happier too, and that more than pays it off.
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5Grain Free Puppy Recipe Dry Food
by Merrick
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 28.0% min
CRUDE FAT 12.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 4.5% max
MOISTURE 11.0% max
CALCIUM 1.7% max
PHOSPHORUS 1.1% max
CALORIES 381 kcal/cup
Currently one of the top dog food brands overall, Merrick has found a sweet spot between proper nutrition and palatability, and providing grain-free best dry food for puppies and adult dogs. We know that your puppy’s digestive system should not be unnecessarily burdened by food that they’re not designed to normally digest and metabolize. Examples of these are grains and other carbohydrates which are commonly used as fillers in commercially-produced dog food. As a consequence, dogs suffer from various tummy aches and ills, obesity, sensitivities and allergies, and other health issues with food origin. If you want to feed the best dry food for puppies that is formulated specifically for a canine's unique needs, try this recipe from Merrick.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Natural Pork Flavor, Potato Protein, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Deboned Salmon, Apples, Blueberries, Yeast Culture, Organic Alfalfa, Flaxseed Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salmon Oil, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate), Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product
The fifth best dry puppy food brand from Merrick lists real deboned chicken as its first ingredient. It’s made in Merrick kitchens that are certified organic by authorized agencies in the USA. Merrick Grain Free Puppy Recipe Dry Food does not contain any ingredients from China, and pet owners find that very reassuring. This best dry food for puppies is 55% poultry and fish protein and fats, and 45% fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and probiotic sources.
Puppies that had been on other dog food had some issues with this particular recipe, especially those that were not gradually transitioned. Since this best dry food for puppies is a high-protein preparation, the puppies’ digestive system would need to adjust to it if it had been so used to carb-rich diets. After only a few weeks of Merrick grain-free puppy food, vets were amazed at how the dogs have improved. Needless to say, pets and humans go home with the vet’s high marks.
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6Dry Puppy Formula
by Orijen
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 38.0% min
CRUDE FAT 20.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 6.0% max
MOISTURE 12.0% max
CALCIUM 1.2% min
PHOSPHORUS 0.9% min
CALORIES 451 kcal/cup
The main issue with many Orijen and Acana formulas is that not all dogs take well to this brand's taste, but its nutrition is usually spot on, often placing Orijen as one of the best dry food for puppies brands. This Orijen Puppy Formula is a very feasible compromise between what puppies need and what their humans can do considering their time constraints. This is grain-free, and it is made from real whole-prey meat, whole fish and eggs, real fruits and vegetables, and probiotics blend to closely simulate the diet of the dog’s earliest descendant’s diet in the wild.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, yellowtail flounder, whole eggs, whole atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, whole atlantic herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated mackerel, dehydrated chicken liver, dehydrated turkey liver, whole green peas, whole navy beans, red lentils, chicken necks, chicken kidney, chicken fat, pinto beans, chickpeas, green lentils, natural chicken flavor, lentil fiber, herring oil, ground chicken bone, chicken cartilage, turkey cartilage, dried kelp, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, whole carrots, apples, pears, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product
The dog’s structure and digestive system are designed to process meat protein from whole animals, not high levels of bleached and treated carbs and starches. Puppies, especially, need high levels of protein because they have a lot of growing to do, and choosing the best dry puppy food that's nutritionally appropriate is necessary. Orijen company is aware of this and they also realize that any food that does not match a dog’s biological makeup may actually cause them harm in the long run. Pet owners are happy to know that Orijen Puppy Formula has 85% animal protein and only 15% plant nutrients.
Young dogs seem to enjoy this best dry food for puppies right away, so weaning them off their mother’s milk becomes a lot easier. Their condition is what can be described as “good health that you can see” – lots of vitality, shiny coat, great weight, nice behavior, good appetite, and beautiful stool. Their humans are totally pleased with Orijen even at its price, which is not cheap. They believe it’s all worth it and so much cheaper than the bill they pay at the vet’s office.
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7Complete Health Natural Dry Large Puppy Food
by Wellness Natural Pet Food
Guaranteed Analysis
CRUDE PROTEIN 29.0% min
CRUDE FAT 13.0% min
CRUDE FIBER 5.0% max
MOISTURE 10.0% max
CALCIUM 1.3% min
PHOSPHORUS 0.9% min
CALORIES 366 kcal/cup
There are subtle, yet very important, differences between the nutritional needs of large-breed and small-breed puppies. Large breed dogs need lesser calorie-dense food than small breeds do and a more balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorous. Ranking at the last but by no means least place as best dry food for puppies is Wellness Complete recipe that was formulated for a puppy's growing needs. Complete and balanced food ensures regulated calorie intake for an appropriate growth rate.
- Dry puppy food reviews: Read opinions of other pet owners
Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Whitefish, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Peas, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Salmon Meal (a source of DHA – Docosahexaenoic Acid), Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Tomatoes, Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil (a source of DHA – Docosahexaenoic Acid), Carrots, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Salt, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products.This is a naturally preserved product
This best dry food for puppies contains a good amount of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, for optimal brain development in growing dogs. The calcium and phosphorous contents of Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Large Breed Puppy Food – Chicken, Salmon & Rice are carefully balanced for the necessary bone and muscle formation while also lowering the chance of developing orthopedic diseases in their later years which large dogs are prone to. Pet owners are aware of this and feel that they’re doing their puppy a favor by making sure it grows into a healthy and happy senior dog someday.
The last best dry puppy food brand from Wellness is made in the USA, as all of their other formulas are, with ingredients carefully selected to contain only healthful and all-natural food sources. Dog owners say that they have relied on it for their large breed dog’s nutrition because it contains no grains, meat by-products, artificial components, or ingredients from China.
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