Choosing the right puppy food for your new bouncing ball of fur can be a minefield, with many soon-to-be puppy owners spending weeks or months researching, and talking to experts or breeders to try and find the best dry puppy food to give their pup the very best start in life.
There are two types to choose from when it comes to feeding: dry or wet puppy dog food, with many opting for dry food, also referred to as kibble, as the more cost-efficient and long-lasting option. Some dog owners even choose to mix the two together to give their pets the best of both worlds, as well as provide puppy milk for the essential vitamins and minerals.
The best dry puppy food at a glance:
• Popular dry puppy food: Bakers Puppy Dry Dog Food, 12.5kg - view on Amazon UK
• Best dry puppy food for sensitive stomachs: James Wellbeloved Dry Puppy Food, 2kg - view on James Wellbeloved
• Best dry puppy food for small breeds: Royal Canin Mini Breed Dry Puppy Food, 2kg - view on Pets At Home
• Best dry puppy food for large breeds: Hill's Science Plan Dry Dog Food, 12kg - view on VioVet
If you're confused about all the different brands on offer (there is a lot) we've rounded up the best dry puppy food, from those containing superfoods to the best dry food for large and small breeds. Plus we've included some helpful information below to keep you in the know.
Best dry puppy food
Popular dry puppy food
Bakers Puppy Dry Dog Food is made from small chunks that make it easier for your pup to chew and swallow. Contains DHA an essential fatty acid for brain and vision development in your puppy and is packed full of Vitamin D and minerals for healthy teeth and strong bones.
Customer review: "My Cockapoo puppy loves this food. The food had been fed to the puppy when I first bought the dog and continued with this great product."
Pros
- Smaller chunks for growing mouths
- Source of high quality protein for growth and muscle development
- Contains Vitamin D and minerals for healthy teeth and strong bones
Cons
- Fussy dogs may turn their nose up
Best vet recommended dry puppy food
Pets At Home www.petsathome.com
AVA Optimum Health Medium Breed Dry Puppy Food is Veterinary Approved and a perfect choice for those wanting to feed their dog quality natural food. As well as being easily digestible, the food contains all you need to promote overall well-being, including a gorgeous shiny coat and brain function development. Suitable for medium breed puppies aged six weeks to one year.
Customer review: "My dog did amazing on this food with basic daily walks she built lots of muscle she always had a shiny coat, bright eyes, and was attentive."
Pros
- Tailored to medium breeds
- Hypoallergenic recipe with no added grains
- A natural source of Omega 3 and 6
Cons
- Some reviewers had issues with the new reseal mechanism on the packaging
Best value dry puppy food
SainsburysIAMS Small to Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food contains fresh chicken for small and medium breed puppies and is a 100 per cent complete and balanced pet food that nourishes your puppy's start in life. The kibble is made using 85 per cent animal protein and is small enough to chew and digest easily.
Customer review: "My pup is nearly 4 months now and loves her Iams so much it's been a great training aid. I take a pocketful on walks and she can be let off lead because she comes storming back every time for a little handful of IAMS. She is growing like a weed and I like that I can use quality food as a treat."
Pros
- Contains loads of essential vitamins
- Small kibble size
- Supports brain development and healthy growth
Cons
- Not designed for larger breeds
Best dry puppy food for sensitive stomachs
James Wellbelovedwellbeloved.com
James Wellbeloved Complete Dry Puppy Food provides tasty meals for puppies that are free from added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. This recipe is made with lamb plus antioxidants and prebiotics to help support a strong immune system and healthy gut. Great food for puppies with sensitivities or allergies and can be a delicious complete meal or fed alongside our wet food.
Customer review: "Fab kibble for our Staffy pup, we have found any other brand makes his skin irritated. Thankfully he loves all of the flavours, and subscribe & save is a lifesaver!"
Pros
- Great for sensitive tummies
- Contains a natural protein source plus antioxidants and prebiotics to support a strong immune system and a healthy gut
- Fresh, natural ingredients
Cons
- Some reviewers felt the kibble could be smaller
Best dry puppy food to mix with wet
Forthglade forthglade.com
Suitable for puppies aged two months plus, Forthglade Grain Free Cold Pressed Natural Dry Dog Food is pressed together at a low temperature to create each bite-sized piece which has the natural aroma, flavour and goodness locked in. The brand is all about creating delicious food with the most natural ingredients.
Customer review: "Our Bella absolutely loves the cold pressed food, especially the turkey and sweet potato. We love how it’s so nutritional and made with natural ingredients with none of the nasties. Perfect for sensitive tummies. Plus Bella thinks it’s delicious."
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Grain-free
- Free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives
Cons
- Have to buy in bulk to save money
Best dry puppy food with high meat content
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Lily's Kitchen is a popular brand amongst dog owners for a reason. The Lily's Kitchen Chicken and Duck Dry Food is grain-free, delicious and complete recipe with fresh chicken and freshly prepared duck. Bursting with natural goodness, this food is made with meat as well as wholesome vegetables, fruits and botanical herbs.
Customer review: "The only biscuits my dog will eat and now it is the same with my sister's little dog. Must be tasty for them to both enjoy it."
Pros
- Packed full of natural ingredients
- High meat content
- Contains salmon oil to help keep your pup's coat, heart, brain and joints in good health
Cons
- Not specifically designed for puppies but is still packed with everything they need
Best dry puppy food for small breeds
www.petsathome.com
Little dogs have smaller appetites, but they also appreciate kibble which is easier to crunch and swallow and can have a hard time eating regular-sized dry food. Small breeds grow slowly, and some may not grow to over 10kg as an adult. Royal Canin has created the Royal Canin Size Health Mini Breed Dry Puppy Food, which is a breed and weight-specific dry puppy food that is formulated with all the nutritional needs of your mini puppy in mind. You can also buy Royal Canin wet dog food to work alongside your dry food.
Customer review: "The puppies just lapped it up. Just a bit expensive to purchase regularly."
Pros
- Breed-specific
- Small kibble size to suit the size of a mini breed's mouth
- Designed to support your puppy's natural defences as it grows
Cons
- Not designed for breeds bigger than a mini breed
Best dry puppy food for large breeds
PetsAtHomewww.viovet.co.uk
For large breed dogs under 18 months, healthy growth and development are important to make sure they get the best start in life and get everything they need to grow into adult dogs. This delicious Hill's Science Plan Large Puppy Dry Dog Food provides high-quality protein for building lean muscles, DHA from fish oil for healthy brain and eye development and balanced minerals for strong bones and teeth.
Customer review: "Puppy loves this food - Helped her gain weight at a healthy pace and keeps her feeling fuller for longer - Coat, Skin, Eyes & Teeth all looking healthy after being on this food - Brilliant value for money considering Pets at Home charge £45 (ish) for this size. - Our older dog has now gone onto the adult (small dog version food) and he is loving it too."
Pros
- High quality protein for building lean muscles
- Balanced minerals for strong teeth and bones
- Suitable for large breed puppies up to 18 months
Cons
- When bulk buying a large bag, you need to make sure you've got plenty of room to store it and the correct storage method to keep it fresh
Best superfood dry puppy food
Pooch & Mutt www.poochandmutt.co.uk
The grain-free and hypoallergenic Pooch and Mutt Puppy Complete is a dry superfood blend for puppies designed to get them off to the best start. Packed with lean protein and grain-free goodness from real ingredients that are gentle on the tummy, it's been boosted with natural superfoods including salmon oil, kale, spinach, and berries.
Customer review: "My 10-week-old Springer Spaniel is loving both the puppy dry and wet food. Likes a mix of the two for most feeds. One happy pup."
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Rich in antioxidants
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Could include a higher percentage of dried chicken
How we chose the best dry puppy food
All of these dry puppy foods have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered the ingredients and benefits, kibble size and customer feedback in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching dry puppy food to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.
Best dry puppy food FAQs
What are the benefits of dry puppy food?
Dry dog food is handy for dogs who don't wolf everything down at once, as it can be left out for longer periods of time. It is also much more economical, as it comes in bigger packaging and has a longer use-by date. You can also buy dry food (or kibble) in different sizes that suit your dog.
Here's a round-up of some other benefits:
• It has a long shelf life.
• Great for pups who love to graze instead of eating all their dinner in one go.
• Dry dog food is easier to buy in bulk, meaning that this is a less expensive option.
• Bags of kibble require less packaging than cans of food, leading to less rubbish being created.
• Specially formulated dry dog food is effective at reducing plaque accumulation and gingivitis in teeth.
And if your pup suffers from tummy troubles, you can find tasty food that won't upset their tiny belly in our article dedicated to puppy food for sensitive stomachs.
Can I feed my puppy just dry food?
Yes, dogs can eat an entirely dry dog food diet. These days, dry dog food is packed with better ingredients and more nutrients than ever before. They are also now formulated to contain a certain percentage of protein and fats that are necessary for dogs to be their healthiest.
Some dog owners choose to have the best of both worlds, combining both dry and wet puppy food will help bring balance to your dog's diet, offering up a complete and more rounded mealtime that covers a wider range of nutrients. This can benefit puppies who still have figured out which they prefer.
Dr Leigh from Your Vet Online explains that it is important to ensure your dog’s food is both complete and balanced for its stage of life, and if it has any medical issues. If any problems occur, such as sickness or refusal to eat should be taken up with your vet as soon as possible.
How to change your puppy's dog food
It is important that your puppy switches to a new food gradually from their current food to avoid digestive upset or tummy trouble. Puppies need to eat more often than adult dogs, so it is important to make the switch after you've exhausted all options (mixing food with kibble and water, for example).
To transition, mix your dog's everyday food with their new food and over a period of seven days, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new food.
Check out our ultimate checklist on what to buy your new puppy for general advice on welcoming a new pooch into the family.
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle, three cats and a tortoise called Bobby.