The best dog food for growing puppies

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A lot of things come to mind when you get a new puppy : the kind of dog toys you should buy, how beneficial crate training actually is and if they really need their own bed , among other critical things. Perhaps the most important consideration, and certainly the most timely, is the best dog food to feed your new puppy — and what you should avoid.

I spoke to veterinarians about the differences between puppy food and adult dog food, and how to determine which food has the best nutritional value for different kinds of dogs. I also compiled a list of highly rated, expert-backed recommendations.

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The best dog food for puppies

Listed below are veterinarian-recommended dog food for puppies, as well as highly rated and NBC Selected staff favorites that align with expert guidance. Each option satisfies AAFCO nutritional requirements, include feeding guidelines on their packaging and are equipped with a staff of veterinary nutritionists to regulate the use of high-quality ingredients.

Best overall

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites Dry Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet is one of the top dog food brands among our experts for adult dogs and puppies. This puppy-specific formula from comes in small, easy-to-digest kibble, according to the brand. It has natural omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil that work to support healthy brain and eye development, and a blend of vitamin E and vitamin C to support a healthy immune system in puppies, according to Hill’s. The food comes in a 4.5-pound or 12.5-pound bag . You can also get the canned version of this puppy food, which you can mix into your dog’s kibble, experts say.

Best tasting

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food

Former NBC Selected social media editor Sadhana Daruvuri housed her sister’s now 1-year-old cavapoo Joey for two months when he was a puppy, and fed him this Blue Buffalo kibble because her own dog Bandit used to eat it and never had any stomach issues. “Joey absolutely loved the taste of the kibble — it would always be gone about 10 seconds after I put down his bowl — so much so that I would also use it as an occasional training treat,” she says. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, this formula helps support your puppy’s immune system health and comes in easy-to-eat puppy-sized kibble, according to the brand.

Best for large breeds

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Dry Puppy Food

Purina Pro Plan comes recommended by vets for its wide range of puppy-centered formulas that cater to specific needs, like those of toy breeds or dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs. The large breed formula, made for dogs that’ll reach over 50 pounds at maturity, helps maintain a healthy development rate, and contains fish oil for brain and visual development, according to the brand.

Best budget-friendly

IAMS Proactive Health Smart Puppy Dry Dog Food

If you’re on a budget, Iams’ dry puppy food is a highly rated option made with chicken and whole grain. This recipe is also rich in omega-3 to support mental and visual wellness in puppies, according to the brand.

Best wet food

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Puppy Food Pate

Purina Pro Plan is another one of our experts’ favorites, and this canned chicken and rice formula is great for puppies with an expected adult weight of up to 100 pounds, according to the brand. It has essential vitamins and minerals to help keep your puppy’s coat soft and immune system healthy. You can divide the can into three or more feedings for puppies up to 6 months and two feedings from 7-12 months, according to Purina.

Best for small breeds

Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food

Among the vets I spoke too, along with the NBC Selected staff, Royal Canin came out as a top favorite. I fed my now 6-year-old havanese and bichon frise mix, Bella, this formula when she was a puppy after it was recommended to me by her vet. I still feed her the adult small breed version of Royal Canin’s dog food — it’s the only kibble that she doesn’t get bored of, and it’s one I constantly come back to whenever I switch it up. Made for dogs up to 22 pounds, the crunchy kibble is bite-sized for small breed puppies and has omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E to support healthy growth and energy levels.

Best for giant breeds

Royal Canin Giant Puppy Dry Dog Food

Giant dog breeds, such as great danes or saint bernards, will have an adult weight of 100 pounds or over, according to our experts. They need a certain ratio of nutrients and minerals so they don’t grow too quickly (if they do, it could lead to an array of orthopedic problems later in life, according to the vets I spoke to). Royal Canin’s giant breed-specific puppy formula is made for extra-large breed puppies up to 8 months old — once they reach this age, you can switch to Royal Canin Giant Junior formula, which helps support your pup’s muscle development up to 24 months old, according to the brand.

Best subscription dog food

The Farmer’s Dog Subscription Dog Food

The Farmer’s Dog is a subscription dog food service that delivers food for both growing puppies and adult dogs right to your door. Each prepared meal delivery comes with the exact portions your pup needs based on their age, weight breed, activity level and build — you simply fill out a questionnaire before placing your order, and the brand calculates the plan that fits your dog’s calorie and nutritional needs.

Daruvuri has fed The Farmer’s Dog to her 2-year-old maltipoo Bandit since he was 6 months old. “My dog Bandit has been a picky eater since the day I brought him home — he would sometimes struggle with the kibble I fed him,” says Daruvuri. “As soon as we switched to Farmer’s Dog, I saw a huge change; Bandit would get excited for mealtime and finish all his food in less than a minute.”

All of The Farmer’s Dog’s ready-to-eat meals are developed and reviewed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to be complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards, according to the brand. You can store the food in the fridge or freezer, and serve it directly from the fridge (or add a touch of hot water if your pup prefers warm food). Plans start at about $2 per day (with free shipping), and you’ll get about one week to two months of food with each delivery.

Best fresh food

Just Food for Dogs Puppy Variety Pack

“ Fresh, gently cooked diets that are nutritionally balanced are just as they sound — they are whole food based and gently cooked,” says Dr. Nell Ostermeier , a veterinarian and veterinary advisor at Figo Pet Insurance. Just Food for Dogs comes recommended by her for growing puppies (as well as pregnant and lactating dogs, according to the brand). The meals are made for all life stages, and they include a feeding guide on the packaging so you know how much to feed your puppy or adult dog. They last up to 18 months in the freezer, and thawed meals stay fresh when sealed in the original package for up to seven days, according to the brand. Once you open the pouch, the brand recommends using it within five days.

Best no-frills

Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Dry Dog Food

Nutro Natural Choice is a favorite of former NBC Selected editor Jordan Bowman ’s 2-year-old mixed pointer Obi. “This is the food he always ate, and it’s helped him be more comfortable in a new home,” he says. The high-protein recipe helps support a healthy coat, skin and bones, and it helps puppies develop a healthy digestion and immune system, according to the brand.

Best high-protein

Open Farm Ancient Grains High-Protein Puppy Food

Open Farm comes recommended by Ostermeier for its fresh ingredients and high-protein formula. This option has a blend of fresh chicken, salmon and pork, which helps support healthy brain development, and ancient grains like steel-cut oats, millet, brown rice, quinoa and chia seeds, according to the brand. Open Farm’s dog food meets AAFCO’s nutritional standards and the brand has a team of veterinary nutritionists to formulate its dog food, according to Open Farm.

Best for sensitive stomachs

Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Dry Food

If your pup struggles with a sensitive stomach, this Hill’s prescription diet has a proprietary blend of ingredients, which the brand calls ActiveBiome+, to help regulate gut bacteria , as well as a prebiotic blend to help maintain regular bowel movements, according to Hill’s. It also has vitamin B and antioxidants to help replenish nutrients that were lost during their digestive issues, according to the brand. Keep in mind that you’ll need your veterinarian’s approval to purchase this food — you can request this prescription diet through Chewy’s site by providing your pet and vet clinic’s information.

How I picked the best puppy food

One of the most important things to do when you get a new puppy is creating a mealtime routine: “Choose a schedule that is convenient for you and your family so that you can stick to the routine — if you create a routine, the puppies will follow,” says Ostermeier.