Looking for a new puppy shopping list? We've rounded up the must-have essentials for you. Preparing for the arrival of a new puppy is super exciting, but it can also be overwhelming trying to decide what supplies you need.

That's why we've put together this list with the help of expert vet, Dr Rebecca MacMillan. It includes everything from leashes to food bowls, and maybe a few things that you hadn't considered like equipment for keeping your pup safe on car journeys.

We've covered everything you need to get to help you and your new pup get started off on the right paw. Let's see what essentials you need to add to your shopping list.

New puppy shopping list

1. Bed

Having a cozy place to sleep is essential. Dr Rebecca MacMillan adds, "Sleep is essential for your puppy’s development, and they need to be able to rest in a comfortable environment."

A dog bed can also offer your pup a place to go if they're feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

Some pet owners also choose to crate train as a place to feel safe.

2. Food

This one goes without saying, but you will need to spend time deciding which food you want to feed your pup. The best puppy food will ensure your dog gets all the nutrients they need to support their growing bodies.

You may also want to stock up on puppy treats. Treats are great for training sessions and are an easy way to improve the relationship with your dog.

3. Bowls

Of course, you will need food and water bowls to serve your dog. Dr MacMillan advises that they should be "sturdy and easy to clean to keep them hygienic".

There are plenty of options to choose from and even smart pet bowls that can make feeding your pooch even easier. These bowls offer automatic feedings and can even weigh food to ensure your dog is getting the right amount.

4. Leash

A leash is a must-have. There are many types of dog leashes, and you'll have to decide on the best dog leash for your pup. It's important to get a solid leash as you'll be spending a lot of time on walks, especially if you have a high-energy breed.

If you want advice on how to train a puppy to walk on a leash, check out our step-by-step guide.

Dr MacMillan also adds, "You will also need to invest in a collar, ID tag, and leash for your new pet. While they won’t be going out for walks until they have completed their primary vaccinations, you can get your puppy used to the sensation of walking equipment in the safety of your home."

5. Grooming

Unless you have a dog that hardly sheds, you should expect to have weekly grooming sessions scheduled. These can be done at home, and all you'll need is a dog brush and something to trim their nails.

When it comes to nail clippers vs grinders, there are pros and cons to both. But with new pups, you may prefer to use grinders as it's easier to avoid cutting too close to the quick. Grinders are also easier for new pet parents to maneuver. But whichever you choose, it's worth checking out our round-ups of the best dog nail clippers and the best nail grinders for pets.

But most importantly, you'll want to be sure that your keeping your pup's teeth clean. with a dog toothbrush. We've got an expert vet approved guide on how to brush a dog's teeth to help.

6. Car safety equipment

"A doggy seatbelt, dog guard, or a secured dog crate will help you and your pet to stay safe on car journeys," says Dr MacMillan.

Dog harnesses are an excellent choice as well. They will ensure your dog doesn't get jostled around in the event of a car accident.

7. Toys

We've saved the best for last. Toys are arguably the most fun item to buy for your pup., but there are a few things to consider when purchasing new ones.

"Make sure to stock up on a few different types, with varying textures and functions. This will keep your puppy mentally stimulated and will help you to work out what their favourite type of play might be," says Dr. MacMillan.

You'll also want to make sure they are made from strong and durable materials that can withstand plenty of puppy chewing. If you're looking for inspiration, check out our guide to the best puppy toys, tried and tested.

Read next: Things I'd wish I'd known before getting a dog and puppy habits you should nip in the bud

Edited by Georgia Guerin and Megan Milstead.

So, you’ve picked up your fluffy new bundle of joy – but can puppies eat adult dog food rather than the special puppy food you find in the pet food aisle? You might be wondering whether separating puppy and adult dog food is just a marketing trick, but there are actually key nutritional differences between the two types. If your puppy is given adult dog food, it might not be getting all of the right nutrients that it needs. 

Ensuring that you meet all of your puppy’s nutritional requirements by choosing a good puppy food is one of the best ways to set it up to have a healthy, happy life (although it might not be quite as fun as picking out one of the best puppy toys!). Poor nutrition can lead to health issues for your puppy in the long run, such as poor weight gain, deformed bone growth, and even joint issues in later life. This is why it’s so important to ensure that you’re giving your puppy all the nutrients and calories it needs to grow. 

Whether you want to know when to stop feeding puppy food to your dog, or you’re simply curious as to what the differences are between puppy and adult dog food, we sat down with veterinarian Jo Woodnutt to find out why puppies should be kept on puppy food and whether it’s okay to feed adult dog food in a pinch. 

Can puppies eat adult dog food? 

In their day-to-day lives, we would recommend that a puppy should be given proper puppy food, as this will help them grow and develop in all of the ways that they need to. Veterinarian Jo Woodnutt says, “Puppies need specially formulated food because their rapid growth means they need a different combination of nutrients to an adult dog. In addition, they have small stomachs, meaning they need the nutrients to be available even in a small amount of food.”

However, if you’ve run out of puppy food and you only have adult dog food on hand, can your puppy eat it occasionally? Woodnutt says, “A puppy can eat an adult dog’s food in a pinch, but it’s not something you’d want to do for more than a day. Your puppy will cope with an unbalanced diet and a lack of certain nutrients for a couple of meals but they will quickly start to cause a problem if the adult diet is fed regularly or as more than a one-off.”

Most good breeders will usually send some of the puppy food they’ve been feeding your pup home with you, but you don’t necessarily have to stick to this if there’s a different brand that you’d prefer. 

If you want to switch your puppy to a new food, we would recommend ensuring that it’s compliant with the AAFCO and also follows the WSAVA guidelines. It’s also important to switch your puppy’s diet over slowly. Woodnutt says, “Remember, any sudden change in diet (like when you run out of food) risks causing an upset stomach.” 

The American Kennel Club recommends transitioning food over the period of at least a week (although puppies with more sensitive stomachs might need a longer and slower process), following the below schedule:

Day 1: 25% new diet and 75% old diet.

Day 3: 50% new diet and 50% old diet.

Day 5: 75% new diet and 25% old diet.

Day 7: 100% new diet.

What’s the difference between adult and puppy dog food?

If it’s important to feed your puppy food that’s specially formulated for it, what exactly makes it different from adult food? Unfortunately, there can be serious consequences to not feeding your puppy the right food. Woodnutt says, “Adult dog food doesn’t have the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio for bone growth. Therefore, puppies fed this diet may have deformed bone growth.”

Protein and calories can also have a big impact on a puppy’s growth. Woodnutt advises, “Adult dog food is generally lower in protein, so puppies fed this food may not grow to their full height and could be weak or uncoordinated. Puppy food is higher in calories – a puppy will have to eat a lot more dog food to get the same calories, leading to an upset stomach or insufficient calorie intake leading to weight loss or poor weight gain.”

While it might seem easier or cheaper to feed your puppy adult dog food, the potential consequences of this could be very harmful. Woodnutt says, “In all, a puppy regularly fed adult dog food is likely to be smaller, less energetic, weaker, and more likely to get ill, as well as more prone to arthritis and joint problems in later life.” Not only will these health problems cause your dog discomfort and pain, but they will also be likely to incur expensive vet bills. 

How much food should you give a puppy? 

We can’t give a definitive answer on how much food you should be giving your puppy, as it’s dependent on a variety of factors, including how old they are and their weight. However, on the back of your puppy food, you should find instructions on how much food you should give them. This information is usually presented in a table, which makes it easy to adjust your portions as your puppy gets older. Lots of pet stores have facilities where you can weigh your pet or your vet will be happy to help with this. 

If you’re wondering how you can balance a puppy’s normal food with the best puppy treats, the general rule of thumb is that treats should make up no more than 10% of their total diet. While treats can be a really useful tool for positive reinforcement, they can become too much of a good thing. If you go over the 10% rule, your puppy might not get all the right nutrients that they need and you might even find that they get an upset stomach from the rich treats. 

Want to learn more about your puppy? Here's how to stop puppy food aggression. 

‘When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food?’ This is a question that lots of new pet parents have, but the answer isn’t always so obvious. As your furry friend gets older, you might notice changes in their behavior and energy levels, which might make you think that it’s time to re-assess their diet.

At some point in time, your little one will need to make the switch from the best puppy food to the best dog food. But how do you know they’re ready? Unfortunately, this isn’t a straightforward answer as it depends on their breed.

You might have heard that dogs are mature by the age of one. However, large and giant breeds can actually take between 18 months and two years to reach full development, and small dog breeds can take just nine months. 

Before you start switching your dog’s diet up, you need to wait until they have reached musculoskeletal maturity (when they have stopped growing and the growth plates in their bones have closed). 

If you’re not sure when that is and want to learn how to transition into dog food safely, then you’re in good hands. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know - from when you should change their food, how much you should be feeding them, and everything in between:

Are there significant differences between puppy food and adult food?

Your puppy should eat a commercial diet that is specifically formulated for puppies.  Growing puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and puppy food is formulated to meet these needs. Puppy diets tend to be higher in calories to support growth, and have a different balance of vitamins and minerals to provide optimal nutrition for growing bones and muscles. Most vet nutritionists do not recommend homemade, raw, or adult dog food diets for puppies because these diets do not provide the right balance of nutrients to support rapid growth and may lead to developmental abnormalities.  

While feeding puppy food to an adult is less risky than feeding adult food to a puppy, there are still concerns with feeding an adult dog a diet that does not match his current life stage.  Puppy diets are often higher in calories than adult food, in order to support rapid growth. This can lead to rapid weight gain in adults, especially in spayed or neutered dogs.

When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food?

The exact timing of the transition from puppy food to adult food will depend on a few individual factors. Your puppy’s age, breed, expected adult size, and current health status should all be taken into account. In most cases, you should wait until your dog is fully grown before transitioning to an adult diet. Small and medium breed dogs typically finish growing at around eight months to one year of age, while large and giant breeds may not reach their full adult size until 18 months of age.  

If you’re uncertain when your dog will be fully grown, a good rule of thumb is to wait until your dog is one year of age before transitioning to an adult diet.  Some dogs may need to transition even earlier if they have medical problems that can be managed with diet, such as food allergies or digestive problems.  Your vet is a great resource to help you decide the best time to make the transition, and can also recommend adult dog foods to meet your dog’s individual needs.

If your dog has sensitivities, you might want to invest in the best dog food for allergies when making the switch. 

At what age is a dog considered an adult?

A dog is considered to have reached adulthood once their musculoskeletal growth is complete and the skeletal growth plates have closed. This can occur between eight and 18 months of age, depending on your dog’s breed and size. Small breed dogs tend to reach maturity sooner. Large and giant breed dogs take much longer to finish growing and may not reach adulthood until well over a year of age.

If you’re still not sure, your vet can help you determine whether your dog is likely to be fully grown or not. In some cases, he or she may even take X-rays to determine whether your dog’s growth plates have fully closed, indicating musculoskeletal maturity.

How should I transition my dog to adult food?

Transitioning to a new diet should be done gradually, to prevent digestive upset.  A diet transition should take at least seven days, but may need to be longer if your dog is prone to gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea.  

To help your dog get used to the new diet, start by mixing a very small amount of the new diet with their old puppy food. Every day, add a little bit more of the new food and a little bit less of your dog’s old food. By mid-week, aim to be feeding a 50:50 mixture of the new and old food. Continue this gradual transition in the following days, with the goal of having your dog fully transitioned to the new adult diet by day seven. 

If at any point your dog develops symptoms of an upset stomach such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, flatulence, or bloating, this is a sign that the diet transition may be happening too quickly.  

Slowing down your transition can usually resolve midl gastrointestinal issues associated with a diet change.  If gastrointestinal symptoms are severe, or if they persist for more than 24-48 hours, contact your vet for further guidance.

How much should I feed my dog?

Just like the answer to the question How much should I feed my puppy will differ from pup to pup, how much you feed your dog at each meal depends on many different factors, such as your dog’s current weight and body condition score, activity level, the calorie content of the diet, and any other food or treats your dog receives during a typical day. Every brand and variety of dog food has a different nutritional content, so it’s impossible to make a blanket recommendation without knowing the caloric content of a diet.  

Most dog food bags have a feeding guide on the back of the bag. This can be a helpful starting point, but isn’t always very detailed. For a more accurate assessment, ask your vet to calculate your dog’s daily calorie requirements. You can then use this number to determine how much to feed, based on the calorie content of your dog’s food.  

Don’t forget to include any treats, supplements, or table scraps in your dog’s daily allotment as well – these can be a significant source of extra calories! Remember that your adult dog is no longer growing and may have a slower metabolism after being spayed or neutered, so he may need fewer calories per day than he did previously.

How do I know if I’m feeding my puppy enough?

Your puppy should be eating enough to grow and gain weight at a steady, healthy rate. Puppies that grow too quickly or become overweight are more prone to develop orthopedic problems, so you do not want to overfeed your puppy. Ideally, your puppy should maintain a healthy lean body weight.  

To determine whether you are feeding your puppy enough, ask your vet to evaluate your puppy’s Body Condition Score, or learn how to evaluate the Body Condition Score at home. If your puppy’s Body Condition Score is too low, you may need to increase the amount of food you are feeding your puppy. If the Body Condition Score is too high, your puppy is overweight and you will need to decrease the amount of food you are feeding to reach an ideal score.   

Welcome to adulthood!

When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food? When he reaches adulthood. You might miss those adorable puppy antics, but there are tons of new adventures to discover in this phase of your dog’s life. With the right nutrition and a gradual transition to his new diet, your dog will be ready to take on any challenge his new adult life may bring! 

Enjoyed this piece and looking for more great content to help you in the first year of your little one's life? Then be sure to check out our guides to 'how to stop puppy food aggression' and 'Puppy not eating? Try this...

Feed your hungry hound with the best dog foods. We've put together a comprehensive list of the seven best dog food options out there, with tasty treats to suit dogs of all shapes and sizes, along with some specialised options for dogs with health issues.

With so many options to choose from, it can be tough to nail down which is the right product for you and your canine companion. Even more annoyingly, the truth is that there is no single right answer. The best dog food for a dog with diabetes won't be right for one with a sensitive stomach, and vice versa. Don't fret, though – we're here to help, and we spoke to expert vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan to make sure you're getting the best advice possible.

Whatever choice you make, you should look for high-quality ingredients when picking a dog food product – you want to see real meat as a primary ingredient. Beyond that, consider if any health or allergy conditions your dog suffers from need a specific diet. We've got recommendations below for a range of needs.

The Quick List

The best dog foods we recommend

Best dog food for allergies

To put Merrick Limited Ingredient through its paces, we enlisted the help of our tester, Sarah, and her canine companion, Duke. Duke suffers from mild digestive issues, but Sarah noted that this dog food helped keep his tummy settled while also helping her manage his weight.

Despite not usually being a huge fan of salmon foods, Duke “absolutely loved it”, according to Sarah. It's easy to see why, too, given the heavy focus on tasty ingredients and the lack of grain fillers.

Another of our expert vets, Dr Joanna Woodnutt, was also a fan of this food, noting that: "This range contains limited protein sources, reducing the chance of a food allergy. The inclusion of fish oils and flaxseed adds omega-3 and 6, which have anti-inflammatory properties in the skin.”

The only real downsides that Sarah noted during testing were in the packaging. If you buy the big 22lb bag, then it's very big and bulky, and the lack of any easy way to reseal the bag means that the fishy smell can waft its way into the rest of the room. We'd recommend transferring it into a resealable container to avoid this.

Best dog food for senior dogs

Older dogs can often benefit from a switch to wet foods, as they're softer on their teeth, can help with hydration, and are often better suited to their slower metabolisms.

Alongside being a wet food, Hill’s Science Diet Senior Adult 7+ ticks a lot of other boxes too. It's made with natural ingredients and key nutrients, and the recipe is specifically formulated to support older dogs' needs. This includes minerals that support good heart and kidney health, and plenty of protein to keep their muscles strong.

While we haven't done hands-on testing with this particular dog food, we have reviewed numerous other Hill's Science foods for both cats and dogs, and we've always been impressed with them. With a 4.6 out of five-star rating on Amazon from more than 3,300 reviews, it seems that you all share in that glowing assessment, too.

Best dog food for sensitive stomachs

If your pup has a fussy stomach, Blue Buffalo's Digestive Care is our top recommendation to help keep their tummy and gut health in top condition. It's made with made with real chicken as the primary ingredient, and doesn't contain any other poultry by-products like bone meal.

The rest of the ingredients list puts health and nutrition at the forefront, with an array of healthy garden vegetables to provide a fiber-rich diet that supports a healthy digestive system and should keep your pooch regular. On top of that, it contains what Blue Buffalo calls its "LifeSource Bits" – a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that have been "carefully selected by veterinarians and animal nutritionists" to help support immune system health.

It contains calcium and phosphorus for strong bones, glucosamine for joint health, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to promote a beautiful, shiny coat. It even packs in cranberries to help prevent urinary tract infections. We were impressed by the detailed breakdown of the ingredients and nutrients that Blue Buffalo provides for all their pet foods on their website.

From there, you can see that Blue Buffalo isn't completely grain-free – you'll find whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal in there, but it's completely free of corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, and preservatives. It's not the cheapest dry dog food out there, but it's made with high-quality ingredients and designed for dogs suffering from digestive distress.

Best dog food for diabetic dogs

If you've got a diabetic dog and you aren't sure what food is right for them, Royal Canin's Glycobalance formula could be the answer. You can't just buy this at a supermarket, though – you'll need a prescription from your vet, so book an appointment if you're concerned that your dog is diabetic and isn't getting the nutritional help they need.

The ingredient list might not look very appetizing at first glance – chicken by-product meal is the main ingredient after all – but it's all for a good reason. Meal contains three times more protein than fresh chicken to help your dog retain muscle mass.

Likewise, the reduced levels of starch in the formula are designed to support healthy blood glucose levels. This ensures they stay fit, healthy, and able to enjoy an active lifestyle, which in turn helps control your dog's diabetes.

Like most specialised dog foods, Royal Canin Glycobalance isn't cheap when compared to supermarket brands, but you get what you pay for here – a nutritionally balanced food that's tailor-made to help manage your dog's health condition.

Best dog food for puppies

Puppies have different nutritional needs from adult dogs, so they need a food that's designed with them in mind. Nulo's Freestyle kibble features a high-protein, low-carb recipe with real turkey (or salmon) as the primary ingredient to help your canine build up strong muscles. It's also packed with essential minerals like calcium & phosphorus to help build strong bones.

It contains 22 key nutrients that are usually found in their mother’s milk, including omega-3 DHA to support brain & eye development, and probiotics to support healthy digestion. To top it all off, there are no artificial preservatives, flavors, or grain fillers, which is great for pets with allergies or sensitive stomachs.

Overall, Nulo Freestyle has a 4.5 out of five-star rating on Amazon from 612 reviews, with most pet owners praising the product, saying their dogs loved it. Some negative reviews noted allergic reactions and a smelly aftermath, so maybe try a small bag as a tester to start out.

Best dog food for small breeds

It's not the size of the dog that matters, it's the size of the food in their bowl. Hill's Science Diet Small & Mini Dry Dog Food is made with smaller dog breeds in mind, which includes smaller pieces of kibble that are easier for pint-sized pooches to eat.

The recipe includes chicken as the primary ingredient, alongside whole grains, including brown rice. It's also packed with vitamins and minerals to support your dog's health, including omega-6 and vitamin E to give them a shiny coat and healthy skin, and fish oil-derived DHA, which supports healthy brain and eye development.

There are different versions of this kibble depending on your dog's age, with one to six, seven to 10, and 11+ formulas out there, so make sure you get the right one for your dog. Also note that the inclusion of grains in the recipe does mean that it's not suitable for dogs with allergies or food sensitivities, though.

Best dog food for large breeds

Big dogs need big meals to help keep their hefty frames in working order, and that's where Purina's Pro Plan comes in. It's made using high-quality ingredients, with real chicken as the primary protein source, and rice serving as a highly digestible source of energy, all served up in a delicious gravy.

It includes 23 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium and phosphorus to help promote strong bones, teeth, and joints – that last one is especially important in large breed dogs as their bulkier frames put a lot of stress on their joints. Finally, it's packed with omega-6 fatty acids to give them healthy skin and a silky soft coat.

As we mentioned, though, it does contain rice and other grains, including wheat gluten, which means it's not going to be suitable for dogs with allergies and other digestive issues.

How to choose the best dog food?

Before choosing the right dog food, there are several factors you need to consider. We spoke to expert vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan to find out more:

"First of all, there is not one perfect diet out there. Different foods may suit different dogs and their owners. You will have to select one that is not only suitable for your dog but meets your needs too, in terms of things like price and storage."

When it comes to wet food vs dry food, there is no right answer. Dr MacMillan explains that the pros of best wet dog foods are that it tends to be "more palatable and preferred by some dogs", but she also notes that it costs more than best dry dog foods on a per-meal basis.

"Wet food is less energy-dense than dry kibble, due to its high water content. This means a large dog fed solely on wet food could need several cans every day! Wet food can also be more of a pain to store in bulk, and some owners also don’t like the smell."

Foods with a high moisture content can also help prevent dehydration, and it's also much easier to eat, which is a bonus for dogs with dental issues.

While your affordability and convenience are important, Dr MacMillan is keen to stress that good quality food is essential to your pet’s health. In practice, this means ensuring that their food is specifically formulated for their life stage (puppy, adult, senior) and size.

"It should also have AAFCO approval, which you will see on the manufacturer’s label. This will give you confidence that the diet actually meets its nutritional claims," says Dr MacMillan.

Speaking of nutritional claims, you should always take a good look at the ingredients list to see what is in the food you're giving to your best friend. According to Dr MacMillan, a named meat source at or very near the top of that list is a good indicator of the diet’s quality.

“If your chosen food features its main protein source lower down the list with cheaper carbohydrates above it, then this could indicate a lower quality pet food."

Much like with you would be in a restaurant, be very suspicious of any protein source listed only as "meat" or "meat meal", as this indicates a low quality product.

If your dog suffers from allergies or stomach sensitivities, there are grain-free foods and other specialised recipes that can help alleviate the symptoms. Grain-free diets don’t necessarily mean better quality, though.

As Dr MacMillan points out, "Unless your pet has been diagnosed with an allergy through a proper dietary trial, there is no need for them to avoid grains."

Likewise, MacMillan warns that you should "beware of diets that feature ‘superfood’ ingredients. These can be a marketing gimmick, and some manufacturers often only feature their superfood in very tiny amounts, so scan that ingredients list to check".

Finally, Dr MacMillan cautions against raw feeding, too.

"Most health claims are only anecdotal, whereas the scientific evidence shows proven health risks, not only to dogs but to their owners too".

If you are Immunocompromised, you are at a greater risk of harmful bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella, if you handle raw pet food.

Read next: Dog food ingredients explained

Edited by Georgia Guerin.

The best puppy treats can play a crucial role in a young dog’s life. You’ll find they’re very useful in helping you form a bond with your pup since they’re a lovely way to show your affection (so long as you don’t overdo it). They’re also near-essential when training a dog. Very few owners have managed to crate, potty and leash train a puppy without having a bag of treats to hand as a reward.

But, much like the best dog treats, there are so many different types to choose from and the ones you select will often – but not exclusively – be dependent on what activities your carrying out. If you’re leash training your puppy for instance, then you’ll likely want treats that are small and quick to eat. If you’re crate training, it’s best to go for something more long-lasting because you’ll need your dog to remain alone for a good amount of time.

In this guide, we look at a variety of treats to suit multiple requirements and we enlist the help of expert vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan to help you make a suitable decision for your puppy. As the title suggests, we’re also looking for the best puppy treats and that means those that will as good as possible for your pooch.

“Choosing treats that are not overly processed, that are high in good-quality protein, with no artificial colors or flavorings is never a bad idea,” says Dr MacMillan. “And puppies find them tasty too!”

The best puppy treats we recommend in 2025

How we chose the best puppy treats

Since treats have the potential to cause obesity in puppies if they’re not properly controlled, we looked for treats that aren't too high in calories – particularly important because, when crate, potty and leash training, you’re sure to be handing out quite a few of them.

We also monitored the ingredients to ensure they were as natural as possible (unless they had a specific aim such as calming) and weighed up the different requirements between small and larger breeds.

When can I give my puppy treats?

“You can start giving soft age-appropriate treats from eight weeks of age onwards, moving towards slightly firmer teething treats from four months of age,” says expert vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan. “At all stages, avoid anything that is too hard and could fracture your puppy’s teeth, as well as any human foods toxic to dogs like grapes and chocolate.”

What ingredients should they contain?

Puppy treats should contain a mix of protein, nutrients and minerals. The European Pet Food Agency has a guide to dog food formulations. It suggests avoiding products that contain sugar and ingredients, such as wheat that could trigger an intolerance. Puppies have delicate tummies that can’t always digest wheat or dairy.

Do the best puppy treats need to be small?

In general, it’s best to look for smaller treats. That way, a puppy is going to be less likely to gain weight, especially if treats are going to be used excessively during training. Low calorie treats used in moderation alongside the best puppy food and coupled with regular exercise shouldn't be an issue but it’s always something to bear in mind.

“When choosing treats for your puppy, small bite-sized pieces tend to be best,” affirms Dr MacMillan. “Treats will be used a lot as part of your puppy’s training but it’s important not to give them too much in one day or it could lead to an unbalanced diet. So, choosing small training treats, or treats that you can break into smaller pieces tends to work best.”

How many treats should I give to my puppy?

According to Dr MacMillan, treats should not make up a huge part of your puppy’s daily diet, so their nutritional value is perhaps less crucial than the decisions you make around their complete pet food. But she has one golden rule: “Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet.”

Can I feed the best dog treats to my puppy?

Whether or not you can feel adult dog treats to puppies depends on the nature of those treats.

“Adult dog treats can work for puppies if they are soft and can be broken into puppy-sized pieces,” Dr MacMillan explains. The main issue is that a puppy’s teeth are not as well developed as an adult’s. “Some adult dog treats may be too hard for puppies to tackle or could be a choking hazard,” Dr MacMillan adds. “If you’re not sure whether your chosen adult treat is safe, you could run it past your vet team first.”

Why do I need to consider the size of my dog when buying treats?

A very small dog or young puppy won’t be able to manage chunky treats, so check the packaging for advice on what size and age of puppy the treat is suitable for. Many puppy treats are labelled for six months or older for this exact reason. If yours is a medium-sized breed, it’s probably fine to go by such age guidance, and larger dogs should have no issues.

If, however, your puppy is a small or toy breed, read the packaging carefully, as there may be more specific advice on if and when they’ll be big enough to manage the biscuit or chew. If the treat is too large it could stick in your puppy’s throat, which would be both distressing and dangerous.

Do I always have to buy different treats for different situations?

Not necessarily but it depends on the treats you’re buying.

“There’s no reason why you can’t use the same treats for your different types of training if your puppy finds them delicious!,” says Dr MacMillan. “Many owners will choose to keep back high-value treats for their recall training though. Using an exceptionally tasty treat for this will help to encourage your pup to come back to you when called, which could be important for their safety once you start exercising them off-leash.”

Help your adorable pup grow up big and strong with the best puppy food. Looking after a new puppy can be challenging, especially with so many brands claiming that they're the best choice. That's why we've consulted the experts to help you find the best puppy food for your little fluffball.

We spoke to expert vet Dr Lisa Coder to get her advice on which brands to choose, what ingredients to look for, and what to avoid. Wet food vs dry food is one of the big questions that we get asked, and there's no right answer. Dry puppy food is cheaper and easier to store, but wet food helps to keep your pup hydrated even when they're neglecting their water bowl.

You might think that puppies are just smaller dogs, so they should just be able to eat the best dog food, but it's not that simple. Young dogs need more calorie-dense meals than adult dogs — sometimes up to twice as much per meal – and they also need a different nutrient balance, with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) stating that puppies need a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat.

As a general rule, you should start your pup on a puppy formula at approximately six weeks and continue it until they reach about a year old, then switch them to an adult formula. Check out our picks of the best dry dog food or the best wet dog food if your dog is reaching adulthood.

The Quick List

Best puppy food overall

Purina Pro Plan Puppy is specifically formulated for puppies in their first year, offering all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they need, along with a healthy amount of protein to help them grow up.

Purina has a variety of different flavors and formulas targeted at different breeds, including large and toy breeds, but the Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula is a fantastic default choice.

This puppy food is packed with protein, with chicken listed as the primary ingredient. It also contains an impressive suite of nutrients, including DHA from omega-rich fish oil to aid brain and vision development, Calcium and phosphorus to help them develop strong bones and teeth, and Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A to give them silky smooth skin and coat. This one gets an emphatic thumbs up from our expert vet Dr. Coder.

Best puppy food for large breeds

Larger dog breeds need specially formulated diets to help support their hefty frames, and that's doubly true for large breed puppies. They need the right mix of nutrients and a lot of protein to realise their potential, and that's exactly what Iams Proactive Health Large Breed Puppy delivers.

It features farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient, and a total of 28% crude protein by weight. Alongside this meaty goodness, your pup will also find 22 key nutrients like those found in their mother’s milk, including calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3 DHA to promote healthy cognition, along with natural fiber and prebiotics for healthy digestion.

It's also great value for money, and available in a variety of bag sizes to suit your needs. As a dry food, it's easy to store and serve, too, making your life easier while helping your pooch to grow up big and strong.

Best puppy food for small breeds

Small dog breeds need special diets just as much as their larger cousins, and Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites is our top pick for meeting the needs of your diminutive little pup.

This kibble comes in smaller chunks, averaging between 4–6.5mm in size, which means small breed puppies like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians will be able to eat their food comfortably and safely. Beyond those tiny pieces, you're getting the same high-quality ingredients that we're recommending elsewhere in this list.

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites is made in the USA, with chicken as the number one ingredient, providing loads of protein for building lean muscles. It also contains DHA from fish oil for healthy brain & eye development, calcium for strong bones & teeth, and Vitamin E and Omega-6 to give them smooth skin and a glossy coat. Add in prebiotic fibers to help support your pup's gut microbiome and digestive system, and this ticks all the boxes for growing pups, all wrapped up in a delicious and pint-sized-pup-friendly package.

Best puppy food for picky eaters

There are lots of reasons that your pup might be turning their nose up at their food. If it's causing them digestive distress or flaring up their allergies, then we'd recommend you check out Hill's Prescription Diet or Natural Balance options below. But if they truly are just being fussy, then we'd recommend trying them out on a wet food diet like Purina Pro Plan.

Puppies have preferences just like us, and a lot of dogs prefer the taste and texture of wet foods. It's more expensive and more of a pain to store, but wet food does have its advantages, too. The added liquid helps to hydrate pups who neglect their water bowls, and it also bulks out the meal to help you control their calorie intake.

Purina Pro Plan is a fantastic wet food option made with high-quality ingredients, with the primary meat as the first ingredient (It's chicken here, but there are other flavors available if your pup prefers those). There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives either.

Best puppy food for sensitive stomach

If your young pooch is suffering from digestive distress, we'd highly recommend consulting with your vet because a prescription diet like Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care could be the solution.

This kibble is formulated to be highly digestible and easy on your pet's gastrointestinal system, helping to manage digestive upsets (and the messy aftermath they cause). It's made with high-quality ingredients, including chicken as the primary protein source, along with Hill’s proprietary blend of prebiotic fibers called ActivBiome+, which rapidly activates your pup's gut microbiome to "support digestive health and well-being".

As we alluded to earlier, this kibble cannot be purchased over the counter; you need to obtain your vet's approval first, so be sure to contact them immediately if you think your puppy requires this specialized diet.

Best puppy food for allergies

The kibble is free from the most common allergens out there, including corn, wheat, and soy. That doesn't mean this is a grain-free recipe, though, as it uses brown rice and brewers rice as key ingredients. Why does this matter? Well, as our expert vet Dr. Lisa Coder points out, grain-free diets have been associated with heart disease in young dogs.

This puppy food is packed with essential nutrients, including omega 3 & 6 to give your pooch soft skin and a shiny coat, and it's rich in fiber to help support your pup's digestive health.

On top of that, all Natural Balance Limited Ingredient kibbles use a single animal protein for their recipes, which is important for pooches with allergies to certain animal proteins. We've focused on the popular salmon option here, but there are chicken and lamb alternatives too if your pup has a specific animal protein allergy.

As is always the way with specialized products, you pay more for this puppy chow than you would for a standard alternative, but if your canine is suffering from food allergies, it's well worth the price.

Best puppy food for less poop

Everybody poops, and that includes your precious puppy, but if your canine is bankrupting you with poop bag expenses, then there might be something wrong with their diet. Stomach sensitivities and food allergies can be one of the key culprits here, which is why we're recommending Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach.

Developed specifically to help combat digestive troubles and sensitive skin, this kibble uses lamb as the primary ingredient and contains no artificial colors, flavors, corn, wheat, or soy — all common allergens that can cause digestive issues for sensitive pups. It also contains natural prebiotic fiber, which can help nourish friendly intestinal bacteria, improving the overall health of your dog's gut biome to help improve their stool quality.

While it's free from a lot of common allergens, it does still contain oats and barley, though, so it won't be suitable for dogs with an aversion to those ingredients. There is also a different version with Salmon as the primary ingredient, if your dog prefers that flavor.

How to choose the best puppy food?

When choosing the best puppy food for your capricious canine, there are several factors you need to consider. As Dr Rebecca MacMillan explained in our best dog food guide, "There is not one perfect diet out there. Different foods may suit different dogs and their owners. You will have to select one that is not only suitable for your dog but meets your needs too, in terms of things like price and storage."

Wet food vs dry food is a common debate. Some dogs definitely prefer wet food, but it's more expensive and harder to store than dry food. There are pros and cons to both, so check out our guide if you're unsure which is right for you.

Regardless of whether you're choosing a wet or dry puppy food, there are some things you should always look out for. The best puppy foods with be made with high-quality ingredients with meat as the primary ingredient. With that said, Dr Coder warns against moving too far in the opposite direction and going completely grain-filler free.

"Grain-free diets and diets high in peas/legumes/potatoes have been associated with heart disease [dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM] in young dogs without prior genetic predisposition," explains Dr Coder. "While the exact relationship has yet to be determined, currently I never recommend a grain-free diet or a diet high in peas/legumes/potatoes for any dog or puppy."

If your dog is suffering from food allergies, it's important to consult with your vet to try to identify the allergen that is causing the issue. Once you have identified the offender (or offenders), you can look for puppy foods that exclude those ingredients. If they are allergic to a specific grain like corn or wheat, you can look for foods that use other grains like rice.

Dr Coder also has a final word on Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statements. Many dog foods have an AAFCO standards statement that indicates that their foods have been made to AAFCO standards, but not all of them state that feeding trials have been performed.

"Feeding trials are done to observe if any health problems or nutritional deficiencies have occurred in puppies or dogs who are fed this food," explains Dr Coder. We've avoided recommending certain brands, including Orijen, Wellness Core, and Blue Buffalo – not because they're inferior, but because they state only that the diet is formulated to meet requirements, not that they have ever been evaluated with a feeding trial.

"A feeding trial using these foods would be exceptionally helpful in determining if the dramatic rise in DCM cases over the past 5–7 years is truly related to certain types of diets."

How we chose the best puppy foods

Experiencing a little déjà vu? Don't worry, we haven't accidentally copied and pasted the same thing in twice. While the above section explains how you should narrow down the options in our list, we wanted to explain how we chose those options in the first place.

We looked at a huge selection of puppy foods from all of the major brands, as well as some more niche choices that you may not have heard of. We looked at the ingredient lists, nutrient balance, and health benefits of each food and picked out several options for each category. We also looked at user review scores and testimonials, and if any of our staff have already tested a puppy food personally, then we took our own experience into account too.

From there, we consulted with our expert vet, Dr Coder, to make sure that all of our choices met with her approval. In this case, her concerns about the difference between meeting AAFCO requirements and actually having been tested against them led us to change several of our choices to ensure only the best puppy foods made it into our rankings.

Do puppies need puppy food?

Dog food might all look the same to us humans, but there are big differences between different dog food formulas, and it's important to make sure that your pup is getting the right stuff for their needs.

"Commercially available puppy food is always best. Puppies have specific growth requirements, including for energy, balance of minerals, and other nutrients that are generally not met by adult dog food," explains Dr Coder.

You should also make sure to consider your dog's breed, too. Chihuahuas and Great Danes are very different creatures, so if your puppy is a particularly large or small breed, make sure you get a kibble formula that's designed for their stature. As Dr Coder puts it, "The more growth a puppy has to accomplish, such as in a giant breed, the more important it is to get a puppy food formulated for that breed or size."

Here’s more information on when to stop feeding puppy food and move on to adult food.

How often to feed puppies

Like all dogs, puppies can be ravenous when there is food in the vicinity, but it's important to make sure they're getting the correct amount of food to support their growing bodies without overfeeding them.

"In general, puppies less than 12 weeks should be fed three or four times per day," explains Dr Coder. "After 12 weeks, twice per day is usually sufficient. Every puppy is different, and you should take into account your specific puppy and discuss their feeding schedule with your regular vet."

Read next: Best puppy treats

Edited by Georgia Guerin.

Knowing how to choose puppy food is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your puppy’s first year of life.  You want to give your puppy the very best, but with so many options available in the pet food aisle – and so much confusing and often contradicting misinformation circulating about pet food – it can be really difficult to know what’s best for your pup.  If you find yourself struggling to choose the best puppy diet, never fear – we’re here to help!  The truth is, there’s no one diet that’s “best” for all puppies, or even all puppies of the same breed.  The best diet for your puppy will depend on a number of individual factors.  Read on to learn more about how you can choose a diet for your own puppy’s needs.

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The importance of puppy food

Just like growing humans, growing puppies need an appropriate balance of nutrients to support their development.  Any nutrient deficiency or excess during this critical period of life can have long-lasting effects on your puppy’s health.  For this reason, veterinary nutritionists recommend feeding a diet specifically formulated for puppies until your dog is fully grown.  Commercially-prepared puppy foods are formulated with the correct balance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential to a puppy’s growth.  Most dogs should eat a puppy diet until around a year of age, at which point they can be transitioned to adult dog food.  

Large and giant breed dogs such as Great Danes, Rottweilers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are particularly prone to orthopedic problems if they do not eat an appropriate diet while they are growing.  In these breeds, it is especially important to provide a careful balance of protein, calcium, and phosphorous to support their growing bones and joints.  Calorie restriction is also important to prevent your puppy from growing too rapidly, which can also cause orthopedic problems.  Most veterinarians recommend feeding your large or giant breed puppy a commercially-prepared diet that is specifically formulated for large breeds.  Large and giant breeds also take longer to finish growing, so your veterinarian may recommend feeding this diet until your dog is 12-18 months of age.

Choosing a puppy food

Puppies come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s no one puppy food that is best for all puppies.  To figure out which puppy food is best for your puppy, you’ll need to consider several factors, such as:

• Your puppy’s age
• Your puppy’s breed and expected adult size
• Your puppy’s current weight and body condition
• Your puppy’s activity level
• Your puppy’s health and any genetic conditions to which he is predisposed

With these factors in mind, you’ll be able to choose a puppy food that will be best suited to your puppy’s individual needs. 

Before you head to the pet store, it is also helpful to learn how to read a pet food label.  There are a lot of misconceptions and tricky marketing tactics surrounding pet food, so be careful what you believe!  To combat this, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association has released some helpful guides, including how to evaluate nutrition information on the internet and how to choose a pet food.  These resources will help you make sure that you are choosing a reputable diet for your puppy.

When evaluating a puppy food, one of the first things you’ll want to check is that the diet is appropriate for your puppy’s species and life stage.  Look on the back of the bag for the AAFCO statement, which should be in the fine print somewhere near the nutritional information.  You want to choose a diet that is specifically made for growing puppies, so look for statements such as “formulated to meet the needs of growing puppies” or “meets AAFCO standards for growth”.  For large breed puppies, choose a diet that specifically mentions large breeds in the AAFCO statement.  Look for AAFCO statements such as “formulated for the growth and development of large breed puppies” or similar to ensure the diet you are feeding is appropriate for your pup.  This is especially important for large breeds, who have different protein and mineral requirements that must be met to ensure healthy growth and development.

Don’t forget to ask your veterinarian for advice and recommendations!  Your veterinarian can help you choose a puppy food that is best suited to your puppy’s individual needs.  Your veterinarian can also help you determine how much food to feed, and can even perform a basic calorie calculation to find out how many calories your pup should be eating in a day.  

Transitioning your puppy to a new diet

If you do decide to switch to a new puppy food, make sure you do so gradually.  Switching foods abruptly can lead to digestive upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.  You can help prevent this by transitioning to the new diet over the course of a week or two.  Start by mixing your puppy’s meal as 75% of the old diet and 25% of the new diet.  Feed this for a few days.  If your puppy tolerates it well, you can progress to 50% of the old diet and 50% of the new diet, again feeding this for a few days and monitoring your puppy for any signs of GI upset.  Finally, you can transition to 25% old diet and 75% new diet, and then to 100% of the new diet.  This slow transition will ensure your puppy stays healthy and happy during the change, and he’ll learn to love his new food!

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Don’t forget these important aspects of puppy nutrition!

Choosing a good puppy diet is extremely important, but there’s more to feeding your puppy than just what you put in his bowl.  A good nutrition plan should also include portion control, limiting the best puppy treats, and making sure your puppy gets regular exercise.

Although many puppies are natural grazers, it’s best to get into the habit of feeding your puppy regular, portioned meals early in life.  Leaving food out for your puppy to snack on all day may work well while your puppy is young, but when your puppy is older this type of free feeding can lead to a lot of weight gain!  Instead, offer your puppy measured portions at specific times of the day.  While your puppy is young, your veterinarian may recommend feeding multiple small meals throughout the day.  Once your puppy nears adulthood, you can transition to feeding 2-3 meals daily.  Your veterinarian can help you determine the best feeding schedule for your puppy and can even calculate your puppy’s daily calorie requirement so you can determine how much to feed at each meal.  Remember to take into account any treats, table scraps, or other food your puppy may be getting – these are a huge source of extra calories!  Veterinary nutritionists recommend that you limit treats to no more than 10% of your puppy’s daily calorie intake.

Exercise is also an extremely important aspect of your puppy’s overall health.  Not only is exercise a good way to vent all that puppy energy, but it’s also essential for your puppy’s growth and social development.  Regular exercise and mental stimulation will go a long way towards preventing obesity and behavior problems!  However, rapidly growing puppies are prone to orthopedic injuries, and too much exercise may cause problems.  A good rule of thumb is that puppies should not engage in any sustained exercise beyond what they would normally do when playing with other puppies of the same age.  So while it’s okay for your puppy to romp around in the park, a sustained run or hours of agility training should be avoided until your pup is fully grown.

• How much should I feed my puppy? A vet's guide

Ask your veterinarian to help you choose which puppy food is best

Ultimately, the puppy food that is best for your individual dog will depend on many different factors.  The best way to choose a diet for your puppy is to consult your veterinarian for product recommendations.  As your puppy grows and develops, your veterinarian can also help you adjust the diet to meet your puppy’s changing needs.

When you take home a new puppy, you want to make sure you’re doing everything right, and that includes choosing the best puppy food. Raw diets for puppies are becoming increasingly popular amongst dog owners and breeders. Also known as Bones and Raw Food (BARF) or Raw Meat-Based Diets (RMBD), these feeding strategies rely on feeding primarily raw meat. To try to make the diet nutritionally balanced, they may also incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and vitamin supplements. Unfortunately, raw diets carry significant health risks to your pet, as well as humans, and there is no scientific evidence that this type of diet is beneficial. 

Professional organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), have all released statements advising against the use of raw meat diets due to the risks posed to both pet and human health. Before deciding on a raw diet as the best puppy food for your new furbaby, make sure you understand the common pitfalls of this type of pet food.

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Contamination risks of raw diets for puppies

One of the biggest concerns with raw diets is the risk posed by bacterial and parasitic contamination in raw meat. Dozens of studies have found that raw diets are frequently contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. These bacteria are commonly associated with food poisoning in people. Contamination with parasites, such as Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis, has also been demonstrated in raw meat diets in further research. These contaminated diets can cause severe illness, and puppies are much more susceptible because they have immature immune systems. If your heart is set on feeding raw, it's best to wait until your puppy's intestines and immune system are fully mature. And as with any diet change, it's worth introducing the new diet gradually and consulting your veterinarian first.

Your puppy is not the only one at risk from a contaminated raw diet. You wouldn't want to rub a raw chicken breast across your face, but when your dog eats raw meat and gives you a slobbery kiss, you are exposed to the same bacteria. Several studies have shown that dogs eating raw diets contaminated with Salmonella will shed the bacteria in their saliva and feces, so there’s a risk of transmission to humans. This is especially concerning in a puppy fed a raw diet because puppies tend to explore their new homes with their mouths! Young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people are at the greatest risk of illness from these common contaminants. So, if you have vulnerable people in your household, you should avoid raw diets.

Many pet owners opt to use a freeze-dried diet, thinking it is a safer alternative to traditional raw diets. Unfortunately, the freeze-drying process doesn’t remove the risks altogether. Many bacteria can survive and even thrive after being freeze-dried. In fact, laboratories often use freeze-drying to preserve bacteria for research. So, it’s not surprising that this isn’t an effective method of dealing with bacterial contamination in your pet's food! Instead, opt for cooked diets, which destroy bacteria using high temperatures during the cooking process.

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Nutritional adequacy of raw diets for puppies

A balanced diet containing the right amounts of vitamins and minerals is essential to help your puppy grow and develop correctly. When puppies are growing, their nutritional demands are high, meaning they are very susceptible to dietary deficiencies and excesses. These nutritional imbalances can sadly lead to lifelong or even life-limiting health problems. Unfortunately, one study looking at both homemade and commercial raw diets found several nutritional inadequacies. This problem is even more prevalent in homemade raw food diets. One European study found that 60% of homemade raw diets had one or more serious nutritional imbalances that could lead to illness. Many raw food manufacturers don’t provide adequate labeling and nutritional adequacy data for their products. This makes it difficult for pet owners and veterinarians to know whether the diet is appropriate for a growing puppy.  

Long-term, feeding an unbalanced diet can have disastrous consequences and could lead to serious health problems like panosteitis, Vitamin D deficiency (Rickets), and hyperparathyroidism. If you plan to feed your dog a homemade diet, whether it’s raw or cooked, you should wait until your dog is fully grown and always use a recipe from a qualified veterinary nutritionist.

Benefits of raw diets for puppies

Studies show no evidence of any proven benefit to feeding a raw diet to your puppy. Some owners report a reduced fecal output and a glossier coat; however, this is likely explained by these diets' lower fiber and higher fat content. Of course, you could experiment with different commercial cooked diets to find one with lower fiber and higher fat to see if it benefits your dog. Other raw food advocates maintain that it leads to better overall health and a stronger immune system, but there is no evidence to support this. Therefore, with so many safe and effective cooked diets available on the market and veterinary nutritionists strongly advising against raw diets for dogs, it makes much more sense to avoid the risks of a raw diet.

Choosing an appropriate diet for your puppy

We have a few helpful tips if you're wondering how to choose puppy food for your furbaby. Firstly, be sure to choose a commercial diet specifically labeled for puppies. If your puppy is a large or giant breed, there are breed and size-specific diets that ensure your puppy receives an adequate balance of minerals to support their growth. Your puppy should continue to eat commercially cooked puppy food until they are fully grown, which is around one year of age for most breeds.  

To help you choose an appropriate product, you can learn how to read a pet food label and consult your veterinarian for product recommendations. You could also check to ensure the pet food manufacturer meets the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s standards for reputable pet food companies.

Raw diets: A risky choice for puppies!

The bottom line is that raw diets are not recommended nor proven beneficial for any dog. However, puppies are particularly susceptible to the risks of raw diets due to their immature immune systems and rapid growth rate. The diet you choose for your puppy has a significant impact on their growth and development. So, set your puppy up for success later in life by choosing a puppy food that is safe, nutritionally complete, and balanced. 

If you’re interested in giving homemade puppy food a go, then you’ve come to the right place. There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal, so it’s no wonder you want to give that same experience to your beloved furry friend. Not only can it work out cheaper for you, but it also gives you peace of mind knowing exactly what they’re eating.

Head to a store and you can easily buy the best puppy food, containing everything your pooch needs to thrive. However, if you’ve got some time on your hands and are keen to make it yourself, there are a few things you need to consider before getting started. 

As all pet parents will know, there’s lots to think about when getting a new puppy - like ensuring they have the best puppy toys for mental stimulation and giving them all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. But we’re here to help you along the way and make that journey a little bit easier for you.

Homemade puppy food requires more time and research than regular food, so you want to make sure that it’s worth the trouble. It's important to know that puppies have specific dietary requirements, like getting a sufficient amount of calories, vitamins, and minerals. Their diet needs to be complete and balanced, which is why it’s important to consult your vet first.

If you want to learn more about homemade puppy food and get some recipe inspiration, then keep on reading. We also asked vet Dr Joanna Woodnutt for her expertise and thoughts on this diet.

Do vets recommend homemade puppy food?

If you are thinking about putting your little one on a homemade puppy food diet, you really should consult your vet first. As Dr Joanna Woodnutt, a qualified vet said it's really not recommended to home-cook for a puppy. 

Nutrition is never more essential than when your puppy is still growing, as the balance of nutrients needs to be perfect for optimum growth. She provides scientific research as her evidence, "Unfortunately, home cooking is very unlikely to get these nutrients correctly balanced. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Association,95% of homemade dog food recipes didn’t provide the correct nutrients for adult dogs – and since puppies require more nutrients, it stands to reason that none of these recipes would be suitable for puppies either. According to the Journal of Nutritional Science ,every single diet they tested was deficient in nutrients."

Woodnutt shares that it’s not a good idea to make your own food for a puppy due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies, which can and do cause lasting clinical problems or even require euthanasia. Instead, feeding a food specially formulated for growth (i.e designed for puppies) is recommended – using a large-breed version if your dog is expected to be large is also important.

If you really want to cook food for your puppy at home, make sure it’s never more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie allowance to ensure you aren’t unbalancing their main diet. Don’t forget that 10% is for everything outside of your dog’s usual food – that means if you’re using training treats or dental sticks, they're also included in the 10% and reduce the amount of homecooked food you can feed your dog further.

She adds, "If pet parents REALLY REALLY want to feed homecooked food, they need to work one-on-one with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure their food is safe and correctly balanced."

If you’re thinking of making the transition, read our guide on how to change a puppy’s food. 

Is homemade puppy food healthy?

Homemade puppy food can absolutely be healthy, but it does require a great deal of thought to ensure it contains everything your fur baby needs to grow up big and strong, including plenty of calories to fuel their body’s development. 

One of the biggest mistakes new pet parents make is not understanding that a puppy’s dietary requirements are very different to an adult dog’s. Alongside ensuring they get the right amount of vitamins and minerals, the protein, fat, and carbohydrate content also needs to be correctly balanced.

To ensure your puppy is getting everything they need in the correct ratios, we recommend working with your vet, who will be able to design a healthy diet that will meet the needs of your growing fur baby. They’ll also be able to offer advice and guidance on when to start transitioning your pup over to homemade dog food recipes to meet their adult nutritional requirements.

How to prepare homemade puppy food

The team at PetCareRx advises that all pet parents follow these nutritional guidelines when preparing meals for their puppy:

When it comes to preparing food, we recommend you set aside a day every month (or a half day once a week if you prefer) and prepare your puppy’s meals in bulk. You can then portion out the meals into containers and freeze them, so that you’ve always got a good supply of pre-prepared meals on hand. 

Puppy food can last for several months in the freezer and for up to five days in the refrigerator. If you’re unsure about what an appropriate portion size is for your growing pup, speak to your vet who will be able to advise you. 

Homemade puppy food recipes

If you're looking for some delicious and nutritious homemade puppy food recipes to get you started, here's three of our favorites...

1. Healthy puppy food

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs ground turkey (or any protein)
• 1 cup uncooked millet (or any other whole grain: quinoa, rice, pasta)
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut oil
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• ½ cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
• 1 squash, shredded
• 1 apple, chopped
• A tbsp. of calcium powder

Directions:

1. Bring  1 cup of the whole grain to a boil in a pot of water. I overcook it so that it’s soft and easily digestible. Drain.
2. While that’s boiling, shred/chop the veggies.
3. Cook ground turkey with olive oil and drain excess juices.
4. Mix everything! No need to cook the veggies. The cooked turkey and whole grain will warm them up a bit.
5. Store in Tupperware or ziplock bags and freeze.

Recipe courtesy of patchpuppy.com

2. Chicken and brown rice puppy food

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1/2 cup UNCOOKED brown rice
• 2 peeled and chopped sweet potatoes
• 2 carrots (chopped)
• 8 ounces frozen peas
• 15 ounces diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup fish oil
• 1/2 teaspoon iodized salt
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1.5 cups water

Directions:

1. Set your slow cooker to low
2. Add all the ingredients
3. Cook for 5-6 hours

3. Banana carob oat cake

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 4 Tbsp. honey
• 1 egg
• ½ tbsp baking powder
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup carob chips
• 1 cup peanut butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a nonstick spray, coat an 8-inch cake pan and set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix the bananas, 3 tablespoons honey, egg, and water until combined.Then, stir in the flour, baking powder, and oats.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the carob chips on top. Use a fork to slightly mix in the carob chips in a marbling fashion; the chips should be slightly visible on the surface.
4. Bake the cake for 1 hour. Check and bake for an additional 15 minutes if you insert a toothpick and it does not come out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes before transferring it to a rack to cool completely.
5. As the cake is cooling on the rack, mix the peanut butter and remaining honey in a bowl until thoroughly incorporated to create the frosting. Using a spoon or spatula, spread the peanut butter frosting over the cake.

Recipe courtesy of Patch Puppy. 

Want to learn more? Check out our guide on the benefits of homemade dog food and what spices can dogs eat. 

If you’ve recently welcomed a new puppy into your life, then you might be questioning when to start feeding puppies wet food. There is lots to learn during this exciting period and we’re here to guide you through and answer any questions you may have.

At three to four weeks, your puppy will come off their mother's milk and move onto a solid food diet (a combination of dry puppy food and water). This looks a little bit like gruel and is soft on their still-developing teeth.

You must feed them the best puppy food (as opposed to the best dog food) because the latter doesn’t contain enough calories to support them during this stage of their development and growth. 

Want to learn more about weaning your puppy? Our expert vet Dr. Elizabeth Racine has written a helpful step-by-step guide below. She’s also explained how to choose the best food and whether wet or dry is better. 

How to wean a puppy

Weaning puppies begins around three weeks of age. Weaning should always be a gradual process and puppies should never be abruptly taken away from the mother. Instead puppies should be offered a semi-solid food.  

Feeding wet food to puppies at this stage is not recommended, because wet food does not contain enough calories to support a young puppy’s rapid rate of growth. Wet food is also very rich and may cause stomach upset in young puppies during weaning.  

Create a mush 

During the weaning stage, puppies should be fed mush. This can be made by mixing an appropriate dry puppy food with water and allowing it to sit overnight in the refrigerator, forming a soft mush. This mush can then be heated in a microwave (mix thoroughly and check carefully for hot spots!) and offered to the puppies.

Most puppies will start eating the mush right away, but some may need a day or two to get used to the idea. It’s also important to let the puppies see mom eating solid food during this time, because puppies will often mimic their mother’s behavior.

Provide fresh water

Be sure to also provide a shallow tray of fresh water for the puppies to drink from – and possibly play in! Once the puppies are eating the mush well, you can gradually decrease the water content to make the mush more solid. During this time, the mother should be naturally weaning the puppies by decreasing their access to her milk supply. This, combined with their newfound interest in solid foods, will naturally wean the puppies off of milk and onto puppy food.

When to start feeding puppies wet food

When the puppies are eating solid dry food consistently and are no longer nursing from their mother, wet food can be introduced into their diet. For most puppies, wet food can safely be introduced at around six to eight weeks of age.  Wet food may be too rich for some puppies, so introduce only small amounts at first and ensure there is no gastrointestinal upset – such as vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, or bloating – before you increase the amount of wet food you are offering to the puppies.  

Because wet food has a high moisture content, you may notice that the puppies drink slightly less water than they did when they were eating a solely dry food diet.  This is normal and is not cause for alarm as long as the puppies remain well-hydrated.

Is wet or dry food better for puppies?

For neonatal puppies, dry food soften with water is better than wet food.  This is because wet food has a very high moisture content and a lower calorie content, so the puppies feel full before they’re able to consume enough calories to meet their bodies’ needs. 

Because dry food has a higher calorie content than wet food, it is a better choice for puppies during the weaning process.  Once the puppies have been weaned and are eating solid food consistently, the choice to feed wet food or dry food is just a matter of preference.  As long as the diet you choose is complete and balanced and age-appropriate for your puppy, there’s no significant difference in health benefits between wet food and dry food.

Choosing a wet food for your puppy

If you do decide to feed your puppy wet food, it is important to make sure you choose a product that is healthy and balanced to support your puppy’s growth and development. Check the back of the can for the AAFCO Statement (US) or the Statutory Statement (UK) which should say something like “formulated for growth” or “for growing puppies”.   If your puppy is a large or giant breed, choose a wet food specifically formulated for large breed puppies.  The statement on the back of the can should say “for the growth of large breed puppies” or similar.

You’ll also want to ensure that the wet food you choose is from a reputable company, which you can do by utilizing the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s guidelines on selecting pet food or by asking your veterinarian for a product recommendation. 

For more information on how to select a pet food, you can learn how to read a pet food label or check out the recommendations from board certified veterinary nutritionists

How much to feed your puppy

Pet parents always ask “How much should I feed my puppy?”  This is a difficult question to answer, because the right amount to feed your puppy depends on many individual factors such as your puppy’s age, breed, current weight, and body condition, as well as the calorie content of the food you are currently feeding and the number of meals per day your puppy gets. 

As you can see, with so many factors involved there’s no answer that works for all puppies!  Instead, your veterinarian is your best resource to help you determine how much to feed your puppy to ensure he or she is getting the right amount of calories to support healthy growth and development.  

As long as your puppy is fully weaned and eating solid food, it’s okay to introduce some wet food into his or her diet.  Just start out with small amounts and watch out for any digestive upset, which can occur with diet changes.  If your puppy enjoys wet food and tolerates it well, it’s okay to make this type of food part or all of his or her meal – wet food is just as healthy for dogs and dry food!

Got more questions? Puppy not eating? Noticing puppy aggression? We've got all the answers here for you.

How to change a puppy’s food is a delicate business and many new pet parents find themselves wondering the best way to do it. You’ve likely already stocked up on the best puppy food, but if the formula doesn’t seem to be quite agreeing with your furbaby, it might be worth making a swap.

Right now is a crucial time in your puppy’s development, with their body going through a huge growth spurt and rapid development of their bones, muscles, immune system, and brain. Because of that, knowing when to abandon a particular food and switch your pup over to something else that’s more sustaining and nourishing, is as important as learning how to choose puppy food. 

With that in mind, we’ve pulled together some guidelines on how to change a puppy’s food safely as well as some reasons why you might need to mix things up, and what to look out for when you’re transitioning your pup onto their new diet.

• How much should I feed my puppy? A vets guide
• A vets view on when to stop feeding puppy food to your dog

Reasons for changing a puppy’s food

There are a couple of reasons why you might need to make adjustments to what your puppy’s eating. Just like human foods, each brand of puppy food is made up of varying proteins, fiber levels, nutrients, and bacteria. 

Lower quality brands, while more affordable, are more likely to use animal by-products and fillers in their meals and don’t always have the right fatty acid or vitamin and mineral balance. If you feel your puppy isn’t thriving the way you feel they should, it’s worth speaking to your vet to see if their diet may be the cause.

The other main reason for making a switch is allergies brought on by specific food sensitivities. These tend to develop before the age of six months and usually manifest in one or more of the following ways:

• Persistent scratching
• Ear infections
• Diarrhea or gas
• Constant licking or chewing
• Hair loss
• Bumps and rashes
• Coughing and wheezing
• Frequent sneezing

If you notice any of these symptoms in your pup, your vet can help you to execute an elimination diet to rule out the common suspects.

While failure to thrive and allergies are the two most common reasons to swap to different puppy food, there’s also another important factor - your furbaby may just a little fussier than most and not like the taste of the meal plan you currently have them on.

How to change a puppy's food

Whether you’re changing your pup’s food out of preference or because you’ve been advised to do so by their vet, we recommend transitioning them slowly over two weeks to avoid any problems.

Sudden changes that aren’t taking place under a vet’s guidance and observation can lead to more problems, particularly when it comes to stomach upsets and other digestive issues, so slow and steady is best to give their delicate systems time to adjust.

Days 1-3: For these first few days, put their regular food in one bowl and a few teaspoons of the new food in another bowl. Let them sniff it and get used to it and don’t worry too much about whether or not they eat it at this stage.

Days 4-6: Start mixing the two foods together, placing about three-quarters of their regular food and one-quarter of their new food in the same bowl.

Days 7-10: If the previous few days have gone well and they’re eating the new combination, give them equal portions of the old and new food.

Days 11-12: Swap the ratio’s now, giving your pup three-quarters worth of new food and one-quarter worth of their old food.

Days 13-14: Phase the old food out completely.

Once you’ve reached the end of the two-week period, your pup should be happily chowing down on their new food, but there are a few things worth watching out for while they’re making the transition.

Keep a watchful eye on your puppy

Minor tummy upsets aren’t uncommon when puppies get switched to a new kind of food, but you’ll want to chat to your vet if your furbaby starts vomiting, is feeling unwell, or stops eating.

When you first start introducing the new food, watch for diarrhea and hold back on increasing the portions until this has subsided. If runny stools happen further along in the transition, go back a few days and if need be, return to the old food for a week before trying again.

You’ll also want to avoid giving your pup any non-dog food during the transition as that will make it hard for you to identify whether the switch is proving successful or not.

Choosing the best puppy food for small breeds is easy. Simply choose food that has been specially created for your puppy. But you are probably thinking why does it matter. Why can’t I just choose any variety from the list of best puppy food and give them smaller portions? If you do, this won’t give your particular puppy the right nutrients and vitamins they need to grow properly.

Puppy food for small breeds is specially formulated to be easily digestible for smaller mouths and more palatable for delicate stomachs. But more importantly, it needs to contain the right amount of nutrients needed to help stimulate natural growth.

Smaller breed puppies have a higher metabolic rate and different energy requirements than large breed dogs, but they can’t eat as much as large breed puppies for obvious reasons, they have smaller stomachs. So this means their meals will need to be smaller in size. But this also means that every meal will need to be packed with the right amount of protein, and calories to help your growing pup transform into a happy and healthy adult.

Check out our top picks of the best puppy food for small breeds on the market to help you decide what is the best option for you and your puppy.

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PetsRadar’s pick of the best puppy food for small breeds

A growing puppy needs the right food to help it grow into a happy and healthy adult dog. This offering from Hill’s brings together the perfect blend of ingredients that will support your fur friend’s growth all the way through to adulthood.

To make sure that your dog stays smart and has a keen eye for catching a ball, DHA from fish oil is used to assist with healthy brain and eye development. A balanced diet of minerals and vitamins is added to the puppy food to help promote strong bone growth as your puppy grows. It will also ensure that your pet puppy will possess a powerful set of teeth to let them crunch and chew all of their favorite foods and flavors.

To build lean muscle and help keep your puppy fit and active throughout its first years and beyond, high-quality protein is a must on the ingredients list. To promote a strong immune system and help keep your pet pooch strong and sturdy, clinically proven anti-oxidants are combined with vitamin C and vitamin E.

On the flavor front, classic puppy food favorite chicken is combined with whole grain wheat, corn, pearl barley, and brown rice to produce a tasty treat that most puppies will love. Extra small kibble makes sure that it will be easy for your puppy to digest these succulent snacks. But if your fur friend is sensitive to grain, you will want to try a different grain-free puppy food.

Generic meat ingredients in puppy food are a no-no and are not a recommended ingredient for any small growing dog. But, you will have no such worries with this puppy food from Purina. Its main ingredient is real chicken, which is mixed with a host of other natural ingredients, including cornmeal, brewers rice, whole grain wheat, and a mix of essential vitamins. This helps provide the nutritional building blocks needed for the healthy growth and development of your fur friend.

The specially formulated puppy recipe uses live probiotics for improved digestion while anti-oxidants help towards stronger immune health. It also targets the right nutrition for small breeds to make sure that your pet pooch gets the food that is right for them. DHA, a derivative of fish oil is included in the recipe to help improve brain and vision development and improve heart health as well.

Like all good puppy foods, calcium is another added ingredient along with a selection of essential minerals that help build strong bones and teeth. The fatty acids found in Omega-6 and added vitamin A will nourish your puppy’s skin and help give a shiny coat that will undoubtedly impress other owners.

It is high in protein to meet the needs of highly active small dogs, and you can choose from 6lb or 15lb bags for small breeds. Buying bigger quantities helps save money, so if you have the room to store it, get yourself a big bag. Toy breed owners can take advantage of the Purina Pro formula with 5lb bags perfectly sized for even smaller stomachs.

To boost your puppy’s health and get an extra hit of vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo includes what it calls LifeSource Bits. These are antioxidant-rich kibble which is mixed in with the standard kibble to create a unique two-part puppy food. To make sure they preserve their potency, these nutrients are processed at a lower temperature than the rest of the ingredients.

Formulated to give your puppy the best possible start in life, this natural dog food eschews chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It is made with high-quality natural ingredients that are enhanced with vitamins and minerals. The recipe boasts protein-rich, deboned chicken. wholesome whole grains and an essential selection of garden veggies and fruit.

The chicken provides high-quality protein to help build and maintain healthy muscle tissue in your puppy while the grains, veg, and fruit provide essential nutrients to help your dog grow and keep them healthy. DHA and ARA provide important fatty acids – found naturally in mother’s milk – to support cognitive function and retinal health. Added calcium and phosphorus nurture strong teeth and healthy bones, while Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids provide healthy skin and a shiny coat.

The natural collection of ingredients make it an ideal choice for puppies with a sensitive stomach. But, be warned, even though this recipe doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or the more commonly used grains such as corn or wheat, it still isn’t completely grain-free. On the flip side, if you know your dog is only intolerant to wheat or corn, then the natural ingredients in this puppy food could be what you are looking for.

To enjoy a lifetime of health and happiness, your pup needs to avoid a poor diet. It needs a well-balanced diet with good-quality ingredients, and this dry food looks to provide that. It has a strong focus on natural ingredients that look to deliver a well-balanced solution that will help your dog thrive.

There are no meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives here. The recipe focuses on real deboned turkey and salmon as its main ingredients to support growth and development. It does also contain oatmeal, so it’s not completely grain-free. But, its supplementary ingredients are all targeted at ensuring the well-being of your growing pup to give them whole-body health.

The meat and fish provide high-quality protein, which is perfect for giving your dog plenty of energy to tear around your home. The salmon contains the essential oils needed to help improve the heart, eyes, and brain. Spinach and blueberries ensure that there are plenty of antioxidants in your pup’s diet to help them build a strong immune system to help fight off any unwanted diseases. Flaxseed combined with essential Omega fatty acids helps ensure that your dog will have healthy itch-free skin and a great-looking coat.

As you might expect the focus on high-quality ingredients provides the perfect recipe for a happy and healthy puppy, but you will have to pay a little extra for the pleasure. But if you want your pet pooch to get the best, we are sure you’ll be happy to pay.

We all know that dogs can’t talk, but if you could ask them whether they preferred wet or dry food, the answer would more than likely be wet food. It has a more intense flavor and a more natural texture than dry food. And when it says it has real meat in its recipe, it has real meat in its more natural form, something that your puppy will love.

Chicken and beef are the two mouthwatering flavors that your dog can choose from here. Both are grain-free recipes so you won’t find any wheat, rye, or rice on the ingredients list. But what you will find is a selection of fruit and veg including sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, and Granny Smith apples in a tasty gravy to enhance the feeding experience and add a little variety and excitement to dinner time.

Like dry food, wet food is tasty and nutritious but the ingredients alone cannot give a growing puppy everything they need to ensure they will be healthy and strong when they become fully grown. A carefully selected collection of vitamins, minerals, and supplements make sure your fur friend will get the essential nutrients that they need.

DHA from fish oil helps brain development, antioxidants support strong immune systems, while Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are included to ensure great looking, healthy skin and coat. Plus leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin promote healthy hips and joints. The perfect combination for an active and excitable puppy.

A lot of puppy food contains wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, and rice, which are all perfectly safe for a dog. However, not all dogs can tolerate grain in their diet, so if your puppy regularly has an upset stomach, you may want to think about trying your fur friend with grain-free puppy food.

A lack of grain doesn’t mean that your puppy’s food will be any less tasty it will simply have different ingredients that dogs will still love. Topping the list for this grain-free puppy food is turkey – a meaty dog favorite. But instead of grain making up the rest of the recipe, your pet pooch will be getting a tasty selection of fruit and veg instead. To get your dog drooling, peas, broccoli, carrots, parsley, apples, blueberries, kale, spinach and sweet potato all help complete the recipe.

These contain plenty of natural nutrients and vitamins to help boost your pet pooch’s growth and development. But they are not the perfect combination by themselves. To pep up the recipe for a growing dog optimal levels of protein, fats and carbohydrates are added to compensate for the lack of grains.

To promote whole-body health taurine and protein are included to improve heart health, prebiotics and probiotics for a healthy digestive system, and Omega fatty acids are included to encourage healthy skin and a shiny coat. The smaller-sized kibble is specifically made for small breed dogs to aid easier digestion and comes with added DHA for healthy brain and eye development. Everything a puppy with a sensitive stomach could need.

How to choose the best puppy for small breeds

When choosing dog food for a puppy there a few key factors that you need to consider. The two big questions are, should you feed your dog wet food or dry food? And, should you go grain-free or not?

Wet and dry food both have their pros and cons. Wet food has a more intense flavor and is easier for your dog to chew and swallow. It has a higher water content, which can be beneficial for certain dogs.

Dry food is not so easy for small breeds to chew, but then some dogs do love to crunch and it can help improve gum health. For owners, it has the distinct advantage of a longer shelf life and makes a lot less mess when feeding. The ideal scenario is to try both and see what your puppy likes most and what works best. You could give your pup a mix of both to keep them and you happy.

A lot of puppy foods contain grains such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, and rice which some dogs will be intolerant of. So, if your dog has a sensitive stomach and struggles with puppy food with a rice recipe then definitely switch to a grain-free option to help settle your pup’s stomach.

Finally, think about size and ingredients. Kibble needs to be small to make it easy for your pup to digest. Too big and they won’t want to or will struggle to eat it. And, if your puppy food contains meat by-products (check the label) think about switching to real meat as the main ingredient recipe to help your pup grow strong and healthy.