Finding the best puppy food for Dachshunds can seem like an overwhelming task, especially as there are so many puppy food options on the market to choose from. From wet food, dry kibble, fresh food, and even grain-free - the options are endless. Dachshunds are known for their small stature, but their appetites couldn't be more different, and you'll often find them sniffing out any type of food with their noses.
Finding the right puppy food for your Dachshund is a really important part of any pup's lifestyle and will not only help them grow but will also shape future eating habits. If you've got a fussier little puppy that is hesitant when it comes to food, finding this can be down to the texture or smell, and you'll probably end up trialling a lot of different foods before you find one that suits you.
The best puppy food for Dachshunds at a glance:
• Best breed-specific puppy nutrition: ROYAL CANIN® Dachshund Puppy Dry Dog Food - View on VioVet
• Best vet-approved puppy food: AVA Veterinary Approved Small Breed Dry Puppy Food - View on Pets at Home
• Best grain-free puppy food for Dachshunds: Pooch and Mutt Puppy Complete Superfood - View on Pooch & Mutt
• Best wet Dachshund puppy food: Royal Canin Mini Puppy / Junior Wet Dog Food 24 Pack - View on Amazon UK
Your Dachshund needs a high-quality diet that provides ample protein, moderate fat, and limited carb content in addition to meeting their needs for micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). We've hand-picked the best puppy food for Dachshunds that will provide your pup with everything they need for their development during puppyhood, from dry food to wet food.
Best puppy food for Dachshunds
Best for breed-specific nutrition
www.viovet.co.uk
Royal Canin Breed Health Dachshund Dry Puppy Food has been tailored to the developmental and growth needs of Dachshund puppies. Suitable for pups up to 10 months old contains a patented complex of antioxidants - such as vitamin E - that help to support your puppy's natural defenses - and is made of high-quality protein, picked due to its high digestibility. We love the size of the kibble, perfect for small mouths.
Customer review: "This is our first time trying dog food that has been specifically made for Dachshund puppies and it's just great. Our dog loves the taste and he's in great health."
Pros
- Great taste
- Full of high-quality protein
- Small kibble size
Cons
- Suitable for up to 10 months only
Best vet-approved puppy food
www.petsathome.com
AVA Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Small Breed Dry Puppy Food contains a hypo-allergenic wheat-free recipe with chicken and calcium to promote oral health. As well as being developed by nutritionists and approved by vets, this food is full of everything your little pup needs to develop, and all boxes have been ticked. Add boiled water and then leave to cool to soften the kibble if your puppy refuses to eat.
Customer review: "Put my westie puppy on this food when she was 12 weeks old and she loves it she was on a well known puppy food from her breeder which gave her upset tummy never had a problem since putting her on AVA would definitely recommend it."
Pros
- Great for fussy eaters and pups with sensitive tummies
- Ideal for small mouths
Cons
- Not available to buy in large bags
Best tailored food
butternutbox.com
Butternut Box is the UK's home for fresh dog food delivery. It is easy to think that Butternut Box provides a raw diet for your dog, but the recipes are actually fresh meals made from human-quality meat and vegetables, gently cooked to create**.** They are created with the right balance of vitamins and minerals for your dog. Yep, as part of the service, you have to give them information about your dog's breed, calorie needs, age and lifestyle. Butternut Box dog food is classed as 'All Life Stages', which means it's appropriate food to feed your puppy as they develop. Just let them know their age and weight as they grow.
Customer review: "I signed up to Butternut Box when my miniature dachshund Waffle, who was about 9 months old at the time, started to turn her nose up at the dry Royal Canin kibble that I had been feeding her since she was a little puppy. Even though she did graze on her kibble, I knew she needed more and she was a little underweight so I knew she needed something different, especially as she would gulp down every single type of human food we gave her. With that in mind, I tried a few wet foods, but she didn't touch them either. My friend then recommended Butternut Box (they tend to offer codes to new customers) so I got a discount on her first order. Getting the delivery was honestly so exciting, she even got a little bandana and welcome pack! The pack then suggested warming her new food up a little in the microwave to make it smell exciting and she gulped it down and has done ever since. I've never seen her wag her tail so much and her coat is so smooth and shiny, there is no doubt in my mind that she isn't getting everything she needs in her food. It is pricey, though, and if I owned a larger dog, I would struggle to afford it. It currently costs me about £44 a month."
Pros
- No nasties whatsoever
- Can be personalised to your dog
- Customer service is great
- Tailored to your puppy and their needs
Cons
- Need freezer space
Best grain-free puppy food for Dachshunds
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
Pooch & Mutt's Puppy Complete Superfood has been designed to get your pup off to the best start in life. It is specially crafted for little tummies that are sensitive to cereals, which means no wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, sorghum, millet, triticale, or rice. That doesn't have any effect on the taste of the food, though, and it is also packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Customer review: "My puppy loves it much more than her previous dry food. She gets excited for meal times again."
Pros
- Great for skin and coat
- Grain-free and hypoallergenic
- Antioxidant-rich
Cons
- Only one flavour
Best meat and rice puppy food for Dachshunds
Dachshund puppies can be prone to sensitive tummies and vomiting, so this Harringtons Complete Dry Puppy Food Turkey and Rice are great for settling digestion and getting appetites back. As well as the simple ingredients, the dry food is packed full of vitamins and minerals to support a healthy immune system.
Customer review: "When we got our puppy five months ago she was very underweight and unwell and since being fed on Harringtons has developed a brilliant coat and general condition, all thanks to your dogfood, thank you!"
Pros
- Great to buy in bulk
- Small kibble
- Good value
Cons
- Make sure to keep the bag well sealed to prevent the kibble from drying out
Best for small kibble
www.petsathome.com
Little dogs often prefer to eat smaller kibble as it is easier to chew and digest. Hill's Science Plan Dry Small and Miniature Breed Puppy Food is perfect for Dachshund puppies and has been applauded by customers for the size of the dry chicken kibble. Hill's Science Plan has been created by the combined expertise of over 220 vets, scientists and pet nutritionists - so your little one will grow to their full potential.
Customer review: "My puppy Loves this food and I'm really happy with the progress she is making with her weight, skin etc! No faults with science plan."
Pros
- Small kibble
- Created by vets and nutritionists
Cons
- Only one flavour
Best wet Dachshund puppy food
You can feed your pup wet food, dry food or a bit of both, it is completely up to you. Wet food has many benefits, including a high water content to make sure they are not getting dehydrated. Wet food is also easier to wolf down than dry food and can still be packed with all the essential minerals and vitamins. Royal Canin Mini Puppy Food has been made with little dogs in mind, so it is a great choice for your Dachshund.
Customer review: "My breeder has been feeding the pups this and recommended I continue with it. It arrived quickly."
Pros
- Size-specific
- Great for weaning puppies off mum
Cons
- Hard to get hold of
FAQs
How much does a Dachshund puppy need to eat?
Dachshunds come in all shapes and sizes, including miniature and standard, but the breed does come under the mini, small or medium category (when fully grown). A simple rule of thumb is to feed your puppy 20g per 1kg of body weight per day. So, if you have a puppy weighing 5kg, they will need 100g per day.
Every type of food will have its own feeding guidelines, so you can use these to figure out how much food they should have compared to how much they weigh. We've also created a guide to the best dog food for adult Dachshunds too.
Can Dachshund puppies have allergies?
Yes, Dachshund puppies are prone to allergies, most commonly those that affect their skin and ears. Different foods and various environmental allergies can occur in any dog, but there are some specific dog breeds that are more susceptible. Genetics, environmental factors, and food allergies can appear as hair loss, dandruff and scaliness, flakiness, hot spots, rashes, and other skin irritations.
Allergy-friendly ingredients can include deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas, ground brown rice, chicken fat, tomato pomace, ground flaxseed, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, vitamin E supplement, sweet potatoes, apples, blueberries, rosemary extract, and green tea extract.
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands including John Lewis, Daily Mirror and Grazia. 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.