Best Food for Puppies: What to Look For and Avoid

A puppy does an enormous amount of growing in a short time, and the food that fuels it matters more than at any other stage of life. Too little of the right nutrients, or too much of the wrong ones, can affect bones, weight and health later on.

The good news is that you don’t need an exotic diet. You need a food that’s complete and balanced for growth, suits your puppy’s expected adult size, and is fed in sensible amounts. This guide explains what to look for on the label, how large and small breeds differ, how often to feed, when to switch to adult food, and the mistakes to avoid.

The short answer

Choose a food labelled “complete and balanced” for growth (or “all life stages”), and match it to your puppy’s expected adult size. Large-breed puppies need a food formulated for large-breed growth, not an ordinary puppy food and not an adult food. Feed measured portions, split into several meals, and ask your vet to check your puppy’s growth and body condition. Don’t add supplements unless your vet tells you to.

Why puppies need different food

Puppies need more energy and more of certain nutrients per kilogram than adult dogs, including protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus, to support rapid growth of bones, muscles and organs. An adult food usually isn’t balanced for this, and may fall short. At the same time, too much of some nutrients, particularly calcium in large breeds, can be harmful, which is why the type of puppy food matters.

What to look for on the label

1. A “complete and balanced” statement for growth.
Look for wording that says the food is formulated to meet nutritional standards for growth, or for all life stages. In the US this usually refers to AAFCO nutrient profiles, and other regions use similar standards. A food labelled for adult maintenance only isn’t suitable for a growing puppy. Our guide to reading a pet food label shows where to find the statement.

2. A food suited to your puppy’s adult size.
Brands often make separate puppy foods for small, medium and large or giant breeds. This matters, and more below.

3. Named protein sources.
Look for a specific animal protein (such as chicken, lamb or fish) near the top of the ingredient list, and be wary of vague terms.

4. Appropriate fat and calories.
Puppies need energy, but too many calories can lead to growing too fast, particularly in large breeds. Check the calories per cup or per kg on the label, and compare foods on actual numbers.

5. DHA.
Some puppy foods include DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that’s commonly added to support brain and eye development. Check whether the brand lists it, and what the source is.

6. Transparency.
Does the brand say who makes the food, how it’s tested, and who formulates it? Look for a qualified veterinary nutritionist involved in formulation, and a clear way to contact the company. Vague marketing claims are a flag in our scoring.

Small, medium and large breed puppies

Small and toy breeds

• Small breeds grow quickly and reach adult size sooner, often by around 9 to 12 months.
• They have small mouths, so look for small kibble.
• They burn calories quickly and have tiny stomachs, so they often do well on more frequent, small meals.
• Toy puppies can develop dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) if they go too long without eating. Signs include weakness, trembling, wobbliness, unusual sleepiness or collapse, and it’s an emergency, so contact a vet straight away. Ask your breeder and vet about meal frequency.

See also our guide to the best food for small dogs.

Medium breeds

Most standard puppy foods are designed with these dogs in mind. They typically reach adult size at around 12 months, though it varies.

Large and giant breeds

Large-breed puppies need extra care:

• They grow for longer, often 18 to 24 months, depending on the breed.
• Growing too fast, or getting too much calcium, is linked to developmental bone and joint problems. Foods labelled for large-breed puppies are formulated with controlled calcium and appropriate energy levels to support steadier growth.
• Don’t switch a large-breed puppy to an adult food early, and don’t feed an ordinary puppy food that isn’t designed for large breeds without asking your vet.
• Don’t let them get overweight. Extra weight puts extra strain on growing joints. Our guide on how to tell if your dog is overweight shows how to check body condition, which applies to puppies too.

If you’re unsure what size your puppy will be, particularly with a mixed breed, ask your vet.

Which food type?

All of these can work for puppies if the food is complete and balanced for growth:

• Dry food: convenient and affordable, easy to measure, and good for training treats. Look for a kibble size that suits your puppy.
• Fresh food: often high in quality and very palatable, but costs more. Check it’s complete and balanced for growth, since some recipes are for adults only.
• Raw food: carries food-safety risks, and it’s easy to get nutrient balance wrong for growing puppies, especially large breeds. Talk to your vet before choosing it.
• Air-dried food: shelf-stable and meat-dense. Again, check it’s complete and balanced for growth.

Wet and dry can also be mixed. Count the calories from both.

Homemade diets are very hard to balance for a growing puppy. If you want to go that route, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Grain-free for puppies?

There’s no proven need for grain-free food in most healthy puppies. Regulators have investigated a possible link between some grain-free diets and a heart condition called DCM, and the question isn’t fully settled. Talk to your vet before choosing one. Our guide to grain-free dog food explains more.

How much to feed

Puppies need more food relative to their size than adults, but amounts vary by breed, age, activity and the food’s calories.

• Start from the feeding guide on the package, which usually gives amounts by age and expected adult weight.
• Weigh the food on a kitchen scale instead of using scoops.
• Adjust to body condition. You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, with a visible waist from above. Puppies should look sturdy, but not round.
• Weigh your puppy regularly, and ask your vet to check growth at visits. They may suggest adjusting amounts.
• Count the treats. Training uses a lot of them. Keep treats to around 10% of daily calories or less, and take them from the daily total.
• Avoid free-feeding most puppies, since measured meals make it easier to control weight and house-train. Our guide on how to potty train a puppy covers how feeding times affect toilet habits.

How often to feed

These are general guidelines, and your vet or breeder may advise something different:

Age	Typical meals per day
Up to about 3 months	3 to 4
About 3 to 6 months	3
About 6 to 12 months	2 to 3
Adult	2 (or 1, as advised)

Toy and very small puppies often need more frequent meals, so ask your vet.

Feed at consistent times, in a quiet spot, and pick up food that isn’t eaten after 15 to 20 minutes.

What it costs

Puppies eat a lot for their size, and a big puppy becomes a big eater. Cost depends heavily on how much your dog eats and the food you choose. Compare on cost per day, not bag price, and plan for how amounts will rise as your puppy grows. Our guide to the real cost of feeding a dog explains the formula.

Buy bag sizes you’ll finish while the food is fresh, since big bags can go stale before a small puppy eats them.

Switching foods

• Keep the same food your puppy was eating at first, if possible. Ask the breeder or shelter what it was, and the amount.
• If you change, do it gradually over about a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old.
• Watch for loose stools, vomiting or itching, and tell your vet if they persist.
• Avoid frequent changes, which can upset the stomach and encourage fussiness.

When to switch to adult food

It depends on size:

• Small breeds: often around 9 to 12 months
• Medium breeds: often around 12 months
• Large and giant breeds: often 18 to 24 months

These are rough guides. Your vet can tell you when your puppy is ready, based on growth and body condition. Switch gradually, and adjust amounts, since adult dogs usually need fewer calories. Neutering can also reduce calorie needs, so ask your vet about portions.

What to avoid

• Adult-only food for a puppy, or puppy food not suited to a large breed
• Over-supplementing, particularly calcium, vitamins or minerals, which can harm growing bones
• Overfeeding to get a “big, healthy” puppy, since fast growth isn’t healthy growth
• Too many treats and table scraps
• Toxic foods. See our guide to foods toxic to dogs
• Bones and hard chews that can break teeth
• Frequent food changes
• Raw or homemade diets without veterinary guidance
• Milk. Many dogs are lactose intolerant, and cow’s milk can cause diarrhoea

Puppy health and vaccinations

Puppies are vulnerable to serious infectious diseases until their vaccinations are complete. Ask your vet about the schedule, when your puppy can safely go to public places, and parasite prevention. Our guide to how to choose a vet can help you find one before your puppy arrives.

Start dental care early. See our guides on how to brush a dog’s teeth and signs of dental disease.

When to call your vet

Contact your vet if your puppy:

• Refuses food for more than a meal or two, or seems lethargic
• Has vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if it persists or contains blood
• Is much thinner or heavier than expected, or is growing unusually fast or slowly
• Has trembling, weakness or collapse (especially toy breeds, which can have low blood sugar)
• Is limping or has a swollen joint
• Has itching, ear problems or skin changes
• Has a swollen, painful belly

Final thoughts

Feeding a puppy well comes down to a complete and balanced food for growth, in the right type for their expected size, in measured portions and regular meals. Skip the extras, keep your puppy lean, and check in with your vet as they grow. When our first reviews go live, you’ll see how each brand scores on our How we review method.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best food for a puppy?
A complete and balanced food for growth, suited to your puppy’s expected adult size, fed in measured portions. Large-breed puppies need a large-breed puppy formula.

Can I feed my puppy adult dog food?
Not usually. Adult food isn’t formulated for growth and may not meet a puppy’s needs. Some “all life stages” foods are suitable, so check the label.

How often should I feed a puppy?
Often three to four meals a day for young puppies, reducing as they grow. Toy breeds may need more. Ask your vet.

When should I switch my puppy to adult food?
It depends on size: often around 9 to 12 months for small breeds, 12 months for medium, and 18 to 24 months for large and giant breeds. Ask your vet.

Do large-breed puppies need special food?
Yes. Large-breed puppy foods have controlled calcium and calories to support steadier growth, and are generally recommended for large and giant breeds.

How much should I feed my puppy?
Start with the feeding guide for your puppy’s age and expected adult weight, weigh the food, and adjust with your vet’s advice based on body condition.

Is grain-free food good for puppies?
There’s no proven need in most puppies. Talk to your vet, given the ongoing investigation into grain-free diets and heart disease.

Can puppies eat raw food?
It carries food-safety risks, and balancing the nutrients for growth is difficult. Talk to your vet before choosing it.

Should I give my puppy supplements?
Usually not, if the food is complete and balanced. Extra calcium and other supplements can harm growing bones, so only use them if your vet recommends.