Puppies make the world a better place. Yes, they pee everywhere but they’re so small and cute, so we forgive them. If you have a puppy, then you know giving them the right nutrition is the number one concern of most owners. A full tummy is important but what they eat is important for many more reasons.
Related: The best dry dog food
No need to stress, we have tips and tricks, plus great options for puppy food, so you can give your little guy or girl exactly what they need.
What food is best for my puppy?
Puppies need different food from older dogs because their digestive systems aren’t fully developed and they’re growing at a quicker rate in the first few months of their lives. They also don’t know what they like yet, so bold flavours might put them off their food. You also have to consider their breed and size because that contributes to what they need and how much they’re eating.
Our list of the best puppy food is a great place to start but there might be some trial and error to discover the best for your puppy. Every dog is different so don’t feel too bad if it doesn’t go to plan straight away. If you’re really not sure, it’s best to ask your vet for advice.
How much should you feed your puppy?
Again, it varies on size and breed, plus your vet’s recommendations on controlling healthy weight gain as they grow up. When you first get your puppy, ask the breeder what they’ve been having and start from there. Also, make sure you check the food packaging for recommended portioning. In the first two months, your puppy will need its portions increased more frequently, so never be afraid to ask advice from those in the know.
Related: The best wet dog food UK
How to change your puppy’s food?
You might want or have to change your puppy’s food and it’s not as simple as just switching from one to another. They have sensitives tums and might get poorly with a drastic change. An easy way to switch it up is to add a small amount of the new food to the old food, and up the amount each day until they’re fully on the new food. Just keep an eye on how they react to the new food.
Best dog food for puppies:
1 of 8Eukanuba Puppy Dog Food
Best puppy food for larger breeds: This fresh chicken flavoured kibble will have your larger breed puppy licking their lips in no time. It will support their digestion, improve their dental health and help them maintain a healthy weight. The kibble is also specially shaped to make it more enjoyable for your pup to munch on. Did you know you can Subscribe & Save on Amazon? Get your puppy food delivered exactly when you need it, and save money in the process.
2 of 8Royal Canin MINI
Best puppy food for smaller breeds: If you have a smaller breed, then this puppy food will be ideal for their tiny tummy. It's suitable for puppies up to 10kg, aged 2-10 months and will support their digestive and immune systems. It's yummy and nutritional, so everybody wins.
£29.00Â
3 of 8AVA Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Dry Puppy Food
Best puppy food for medium breeds: This hypoallergenic recipe is easy to digest for young tummies and full of yummy protein. It supports good overall health and immunity with great nutritional value. Through the Pets at Home website, you can get easy repeat deliveries so you don't have to give it a second thought - you'll always be stocked up.
4 of 8James Wellbeloved Dry Puppy Food
Best all-round puppy food: Using natural, wholesome ingredients to make this yummy turkey and rice recipe, any puppy will be excited to have this in their bowl. The kibble is small enough for puppy's mouths but also super crunchy so they'll enjoy eating it. Every ingredient has been carefully selected to support a healthy inside and outside for your puppy. This food will help your pooch have a balanced diet, which is what all owners want.
5 of 8Tails.com Tailored Dog Food
Best puppy food for sensitive tummies: Tails.com makes it very easy to have food that works specifically for your dog. Just fill out a bio about your puppy and they'll create a recipe that will work for their health and taste needs. This will be perfect for pups with sensitive tums because you can put the information in their bios. Tails.com offers dry and wet food so your puppy can have everything they want and you'll know they're eating the right stuff.
6 of 8Pooch & Mutt Complete Puppy Dry Dog Food
Best puppy food for hyper puppies: Puppies are full of beans and it really is part of their charm, but sometimes we do need them to calm down, especially during training. This food is grain-free and 100% natural, but what makes it special is the inclusion of chamomile and l-tryptophan, known for their naturally calming qualities. It also contains multiple superfoods, so it's very nutritional, too.
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7 of 8Butcher's Puppy Perfect Dog Food Trays
Best all-round wet puppy food: Puppies can have wet food and it's good to introduce it into their diet earlier in life so they get used to it. This yummy blend contains nourishing ingredients like omega 3 and 6, plus it has no nasties. Wet food help to keep pups hydrated, so this food might help if they're having so much fun, they forget to visit the water bowl often.
8 of 8Lily's Kitchen Puppy Recipe Dog Food
Best wet puppy food for a health kick: Turkey, duck and kale may sound gross to us, but to your puppy, it's the best health food ever. They'll eat it up and you'll know they're getting a really healthy, nutritious, natural meal. It's suitable for puppies over 8 weeks and will be a guaranteed hit.
If you're getting a new puppy (so exciting!) then you might need to get a bowl for their food. Here are some of our favourites:
2 of 4Small Ceramic Dog Bowl
3 of 4Sainsbury's Home Small Dog Bowl
4 of 4Personalised Enamel Dog Bowl
Need more stuff for your dog? Read on:
Eve Miller is a Storytelling Executive for WhatsTheBest with a love for writing, film, her dog and beauty. She also writes for Yours.co.uk.