Doesn't it just melt your heart when you see a happy and playful puppy running around? From 4 weeks old, puppies can be introduced to nutrient-dense solid food to help them grow. Whether it's dry or wet food, these protein-heavy meals are full of flavourful smells and excellent tastes that your puppy will happily finish off each mealtime.
With flavours like chicken, duck, beef, or even salmon, there are just so many options to choose from. So, we've compiled a list of our favourite puppy food to spare you wondering and deciding. We've included brands like Pedigree, Pooch & Mutt, and more, which can be delivered to your doorstep from ASDA, Tesco, and Amazon. Your puppy might actually be the one signing for these food deliveries.
Quick List - Top Dog Foods for Puppies
Pooch & Mutt
100% Natural Puppy Food From an Ethical and Award-Wining Company
Scrumbles
Made From Just Four Ingredients With 70% British Salmon
Wellness Core
Specially-Formulated Puppy Food From Century-Old Experts
James Wellbeloved
Lamb Feast for Puppies (With Natural Antioxidants Too!)
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The first thing we can tell you about wet food is that any dog will always prefer this over dry food. Since wet food contains more moisture than dry food, it has more flavour and a stronger, more pleasant scent that dogs won't be able to resist. We guarantee any picky eater will finish every last scrap from the bowl!
Owing to its higher water content, wet food is also ideal to feed to a dehydrated puppy, especially if you suspect they're not consuming enough water. On the other hand, wet food is usually more expensive and could only last for 2-3 days once opened.
While dry food may seem less appetising, it does have many other properties that make it a great choice for puppies. Dry food is more calorie-dense than wet food, hence you won't have to feed as much of it to them – just remember to always keep your puppy properly hydrated.
With a lower water content, you won't have to worry about dry food spoiling as easily as wet food. Biscuits and kibble are also more budget-friendly which is great news for those who can't afford to feed wet food to their dog for every meal.
Another benefit of feeding your puppy dry food is that thanks to the hard texture, it's more effective than wet food at preventing the build-up of plaque and tartar on your puppy's teeth and gums. Don't forget you can always mix both dry and wet food for the best of both worlds!
It must be so exciting for puppies to go from drinking milk to tasting all the different and delicious flavours. For wet food, dogs can be eating large chunks of chicken, beef, turkey, lamb or even salmon, all of which are very appealing. Though less flavoursome than wet food, dry food also offers plenty of equally-delicious flavour options in many combinations.
Try introducing different flavours to your puppy and see which are their favourite! Some brands contain a variety pack so your puppy can enjoy sampling various flavours while also consuming a range of nutrients.
Don't forget to keep your puppy's coat healthy with dog shampoo!
Protein is necessary for a dog's diet, but it is especially important for young puppies as it promotes healthy growth. As the owner of your puppy, it's always good to know what source of protein your puppy is consuming, and if you like, you can introduce a variety of proteins into their diet.
Puppies require the most protein once they start weaning, so the content will be higher than in adult dog food. Generally speaking, puppy food should contain 22-32% of protein on a dry matter basis, which supports optimum growth.
Wet food may seem to have a lower percentage of protein, but in fact, this numerical value is affected by the moisture in the food and doesn't fully demonstrate the true value of protein content. We've helped you calculate the protein in dry matter for the wet foods on our list so you won't have to worry about the maths!
Keep your pup hydrated on the go with a dog water bottle!
Some people believe that grains are bad for your puppy as they will cause stomach problems or a reaction, but the truth is, it's very rare for dogs in general to have food allergies. While you can still choose to feed your puppy grain-free food, or importantly, if your vet has recommended it, those with grains aren't necessarily bad as your puppy will be consuming only a relatively small amount.
Grains such as rice are mostly found in puppy food as they can be easily digested, and you won't have to worry about them having an upset stomach. Barley is high in fibre and it will help to control cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
Wheat, corn or cereal, however, can be rather difficult for puppies to digest and aren't required in the diet. Even though your puppy's food only contains a small percentage of these grains, be sure to keep an eye on them in case they have an upset stomach.
Once your puppy reaches the right age, usually between 4 and 8 weeks old, they should start weaning, gradually shifting from consuming milk to eating solid food. Depending on the brand, some puppy food is suitable from 4+ weeks, while others are only for puppies of 8+ weeks old.
If you want to start introducing solid food to your puppy early in its life, make sure they have reached the recommended feeding age. To feed your puppy with solid food, start by either mashing the wet food or crushing the solid food and mixing it in with some puppy milk before gradually decreasing the amount of milk used.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pooch & Mutt Complete Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Superfood Blend|Pack of 3 | ![]() | 100% Natural Puppy Food From an Ethical and Award-Wining Company | |
2 | Scrumbles Natural Wet Dog Food with Salmon|Pack of 10 | ![]() | Made From Just Four Ingredients With 70% British Salmon | |
3 | Wellness Core Dry Puppy Food - Turkey & Chicken | ![]() | Specially-Formulated Puppy Food From Century-Old Experts | |
4 | James Wellbeloved Complete Dry Puppy Food - Lamb and Rice | ![]() | Lamb Feast for Puppies (With Natural Antioxidants Too!) | |
5 | Butcher's Puppy Wet Dog Food Tins|Pack of 24 | ![]() | Contains Meat Only Sourced From Trusted Farmers | |
6 | Forthglade Natural Puppy Wet Dog Food - Duck|Pack of 18 | ![]() | A High-Meat, Grain-Free Food Perfect for Sensitive Stomachs | |
7 | Burgess Supadog Finest Puppy Complete | ![]() | Beneficial Nutrients From Both Meat and Fish | |
8 | Pedigree Wet Puppy Food in Jelly | ![]() | Every Meal Can Be a Fun and Exciting Experience | |
9 | Tesco Mixed Selection in Jelly|Pack of 12 | ![]() | Cost Saving Cans Make This Perfect for Multiple Puppies | |
10 | Wagg Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken With Yucca extract | ![]() | Help Puppy Grow up With a Shiny and Beautiful Coat |
This product has all the qualities to make it the best puppy food out there. Besides being made from 100% natural ingredients, the unique design of a small hole in each kibble allows liquid to be soaked in easily – perfect for your puppy to wean and to save you time having to crush the food.
Suitable for puppies of all diets, this food is free from grains, cereals and gluten, and artificial additives too. Pooch & Mutt is a small and multi-award-winning British company that is also accredited by PETA and The Ethical Companies Organisation. By purchasing this product, you're providing the best to your puppy from the start and also supporting small businesses!
Let's be honest – the packaging of this product is so adorable that you'll want your puppy to try this brand immediately! However, more importantly, the wet food inside is made with 70% British salmon along with only sweet potato, peas and slippery elm, nothing more and nothing less.
While salmon contains plenty of protein and amino acids, it's also gentle for your puppy to digest. Slippery elm is a natural stomach soother too, so along with the grain-free recipe, you'll never have to worry about your puppy having an upset stomach again. This food is suitable for dogs of all ages, so you can continue to feed it to your pet as they grow.
As a company that has over 100 years of experience in making pet food, you can tell Wellness Core care about your puppy just as much as you do. This particular product is specially formulated for your growing puppy and contains higher protein and fewer carbohydrates to ensure optimum growth and well-being.
Wellness Core has also added extra omega 3 extracted from salmon oil which promotes the healthy development of the brain and eyes. Only packed with the most important nutrients and quality ingredients, your puppy is sure to grow into a healthy and beautiful adult dog with this food in its bowl.
This might be a dry food, but besides lamb meal it also contains lamb fat and gravy, both essential for taste and your puppy's diet. While grains are used, white and brown rice and barley can be easily digested, so even if your puppy has an upset stomach from one thing or another, it'll still be able to consume nutrients with this product.
With pomegranate, green tea and rosemary added to this complete food, it will support your puppy's immune system giving you the peace of mind they'll fight off any signs of illness. It's also one of the more budget-friendly options on our list!
We know all dogs love wet food, so why not start from the moment they're weaning? As the only wet food suitable for 4+ weeks, you can spoil your puppy from a very young age. We're sure they won't complain about it!
If you're keen to know where the meat you're feeding your pets is sourced, we can tell you that with Butcher's food, it's all from trusted British and Irish farmers. As well as supporting a local company, you can guarantee the quality of your puppy's food is excellent.
Made here in the UK in Devon, this product contains 75% duck meat which will provide sufficient protein for your puppy's growth. It also has the highest meat content on this list and probably one of the highest on the market too!
As well as being suitable for sensitive stomachs, there are natural herbs added too; chamomile will help to calm your puppy down, and rosemary aids better absorption of nutrients. Depending on the size of the expected adult dog weight, you'll need to portion this product accordingly and make sure you don't underfeed or overfeed your puppy.
It's rather rare that puppy food contains both poultry meat and fish meal, so choosing this food means your puppy will be consuming a great mix of nutrients and protein! You'll see your puppy growing with strong bones and teeth and with great skin health, and that's the best any owner can ask for.
As it contains wheat and maize, some puppy's stomachs might not be able to handle this food too well, while others may love the flavour and see no reaction at all. So, you might want to keep an eye on your pup and see how they get on with this food.
It's always good news for owners when you find a great bulk-buy at an affordable price, let alone one from a trusted brand with various flavours for your puppy to choose from. With this multi-pack, it'll be an exciting experience for your puppy too!
Developed with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Pedigree ensures your puppy's food contains all the essentials. Some owners have expressed that the feeding guide can be confusing, so it might take some time to work out the best portion sizes for your puppy.
With 4 flavours to choose from each with all the essential vitamins and minerals needed, your puppy will surely enjoy having a different variety each mealtime. As these are packaged in 400 g cans, it is a perfect way to feed multiple pups at once whilst saving money!
If you only have one puppy, however, you'll have to manually portion out each meal and store the open can somewhere where it won't spoil. It may not be the most convenient, but if you're looking to cut costs this can't be beaten.
Who doesn't love petting a growing puppy with a beautiful shiny coat? Not to mention, a healthy coat is a sign of a healthy dog. Many customers report that this product helps their puppy to achieve just that! Start feeding your puppy with this product at an early age to waste no time on providing the right nutrients for healthy skin and fur.
Though there is a good amount of protein, it's not specified what kind of grains are used in this product. While cereal isn't particularly harmful to your puppy's health, it has no particular nutrition value for canines either.
You should continue to feed your dog puppy food until they reach maturity, which can be from around 9 months old depending on the breed and size of your dog - but feeding them puppy food for longer won't do any harm. Puppies require much more nutrition for a normal and healthy development.
This will depend on the age and size of your puppy; however, according to some sources, for every 1kg of weight, you should feed 20g of food. But if you want to ensure you’re giving the optimum amount for your dog, then you’ll be able to find various feeding charts and calculators online.
You can absolutely make your own puppy food! You just have to make sure that they are getting all the nutrients they need for healthy development. Consider sources of protein, vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, vegetables and fats. Also, remember to be careful with seasoning as some can be dangerous for dogs.
No. 1: Pooch & Mutt|Complete Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Superfood Blend|Pack of 3
No. 2: Scrumbles|Natural Wet Dog Food with Salmon|Pack of 10
No. 3: Wellness Core|Dry Puppy Food - Turkey & Chicken
No. 4: James Wellbeloved |Complete Dry Puppy Food - Lamb and Rice
No. 5: Butcher's|Puppy Wet Dog Food Tins|Pack of 24
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