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Best Dry Puppy Foods

Little Girl with Puppy and Waiting for the Best Dry Puppy Food

Puppy owners love to ask…

What’s the Best
Dry Food for Puppies?

But how could a one-size-fits-all dry dog food be “best” for every puppy?

After all…

There are 2 different TYPES of dry puppy food.

One designed for large breed puppies.

And another for smaller breeds.

Unfortunately…

Choosing the wrong food (one that contains too much calcium) could cause permanent bone damage to your pup.1 2 3

Including a crippling form of hip dysplasia.

Especially for larger breeds.

Which is why we urge you to choose a food that’s designed to be safe for YOUR dog’s breed size.

What’s Your Puppy’s
Breed Size?

Large breed puppies are those whose adult weight is expected to be more than 50 pounds.

Now…

Because larger breeds are at greater risk for hip dysplasia

And since small and medium breeds can safely eat a wider selection of dry dog food

The Dog Food Advisor has created a special list of foods that are best for EACH breed size.

On the list below, we’ve included both grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes to satisfy your personal feeding preferences.

Top 20 Best Dry Puppy Foods
March 2024

Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s top 20 best dry puppy foods for March 2024.



Redbarn Sky Dry Dog Food

Redbarn Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Rating:

Redbarn Grain-Free Sky is one of 3 dry recipes studied in our review of the Redbarn dry product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Turkey, chicken, chicken meal, duck meal, turkey meal
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: All Life Stages
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 3 available recipes

Redbarn Sky derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh turkey and chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 31% protein, 17% fat and 7% estimated carbs… with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 10%.

A wholesome grain-free product. Recommended with confidence.

Read Our Full Brand Review



Jinx Salmon and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

Jinx Dry Dog Food

Rating:

Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe is one of 4 dry recipes included in our review of the Jinx product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Salmon, pearled barley, ground peas, turkey meal, brown rice
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (pearled barley, brown rice)
  • Profile: All Life Stages
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 4 available recipes

This Jinx recipe derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh salmon. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 16% fat and 46% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.

A fully-balanced, grain-inclusive dog food. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer review… “I’ve had my pup on jinx for a year now and his tummy issues are no longer an issue. I’ve gone through so many brands before I found jinx and I’m so thankful I found them when I did.”

Read more buyer reviews at ThinkJinx.com

Read Our Full Brand Review


Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice

Rating:

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy is one of 21 recipes included in our review of the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley,
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 21 available recipes

This Blue Buffalo Life Protection formula derives the majority of its animal protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 18% fat and 44% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

A superior growth formula.

Read Our Full Brand Review



Farmina N and D Ancestral Grain Puppy Medium and Maxi Dog Food

Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Dry Puppy Formula

Rating:

Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, dehydrated chicken, whole spelt, whole oats, chicken fat
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 15 available recipes

This Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain formula derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 22% fat and 32% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Highly recommended.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Wellness Complete Health Puppy Dry Dog Food

Wellness Complete Health Dry Puppy Food

Rating:

Wellness Complete Health Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 13 available recipes

This Wellness Complete Health formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from deboned chicken and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 20% fat and 40% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.

A top pick for controlled growth.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Go Carnivore Dog Food for Puppies

Go! Carnivore Dry Puppy Food

Rating:

Go! Carnivore Puppy is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Go! Carnivore product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, de-boned chicken, de-boned turkey
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
  • See all 5 available recipes

This Go! Carnivore product derives the bulk of its animal protein from poultry meal, salmon meal and deboned poultry. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 40% protein, 20% fat and 32% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

An above-average growth recipe.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Orijen Puppy Dry Dog Food

Orijen Dry Puppy Food

Rating:

Orijen Puppy is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Orijen product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, turkey, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), flounder, whole mackerel
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 9 available recipes

This Orijen all life stages product derives most of its meat protein from deboned poultry and fish. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 23% fat and 26% estimated carbs… which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Chicken Soup for the Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy Chicken, Turkey and Brown Rice

Rating:

Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy Chicken, Turkey and Brown Rice is one of 11 recipes included in our review of the Chicken Soup for the Soul product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, cracked pearled barley
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
  • See all 9 available recipes

This Chicken Soup for the Soul all life stages food derives the majority of its animal protein from poultry and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 20% fat and 39% estimated carbs… resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.

A quality growth recipe.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Instinct Raw Boost Puppy

Instinct Raw Boost Dry Puppy Food

Rating:

Instinct Raw Boost Puppy is one of 12 recipes included in our review of the Instinct Raw Boost product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, peas, egg product
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
  • See all 12 available recipes

This Instinct Raw Boost growth formula derives the majority of its animal protein from chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 24% fat and 31% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

An exceptional growth formula.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Blackwood Puppy

Blackwood Puppy Food Growth Diet

Rating:

Blackwood Puppy Food Growth Diet is one of 5 recipes included in our review of the Blackwood Everyday Recipes product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, millet, chicken fat, ground grain sorghum
  • Type: Grain-inclusive
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 5 available recipes

This Blackwood growth formula derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 19% fat and 43% estimated carbs… which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

A superior all life stages recipe.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Fromm Gold Dry Puppy

Rating:

Gold Puppy is one of 9 dry formulas included in our review of the Fromm Gold product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, chicken broth, oat groats, pearled barley
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 9 available recipes

Fromm Gold Puppy nets most of its meat protein from fresh chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a dry kibble recipe containing 30% protein, 20% fat and 42% estimated carbs… and resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.

This fully balanced design is high in nutrient digestibility. The company uses third party pathogenic bacteria testing to verify the safety on every batch. We also note the inclusion of Fromm’s proprietary blend of probiotics for healthy digestion.

Highly recommended.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Wellness Core for Puppies

Wellness Core Dry Puppy Food

Rating:

Wellness Core Puppy is one of 12 recipes included in our review of the Wellness Core product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes, peas
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 12 available recipes

This Wellness Core growth formula derives most of its animal protein from chicken and poultry meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 40% protein, 19% fat and 33% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.

An excellent choice.

Read Our Full Brand Review


AvoDerm Puppy Chicken Dry Dog Food

AvoDerm Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Puppy

Rating:

AvoDerm Puppy is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the AvoDerm product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, chicken fat, oatmeal,
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 9 available recipes

This AvoDerm Natural growth formula derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs… which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Nulo Freestyle Puppy

Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey and Sweet Potato

Rating:

Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey and Sweet Potato is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Nulo Freestyle product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, chicken fat
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: Growth
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 9 available recipes

This Nulo Freestyle growth formulation derives the majority of its meat protein from turkey, turkey meal and salmon meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 20% fat and 35% estimated carbs… which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.

An exceptional food.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Nutro Ultra Puppy

Nutro Ultra Dry Puppy Food

Rating:

Nutro Ultra Puppy is one of 9 recipes included in our review of the Nutro Ultra product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain barley, whole grain oats, whole grain brown rice
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: All Life Stages
  • Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
  • See all 9 available recipes

This Nutro Ultra growth product derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken and chicken meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 19% fat and 42% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.

An excellent growth formula.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Dry Dog Food

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy

Rating:

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy is one of 13 recipes included in our review of the Merrick Classic product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (contains grain)
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 13 available recipes

This Merrick Classic product derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 18% fat and 43% estimated carbs… yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Highly recommended.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Annamaet Ohana Grain Free

Annamaet Grain-Free Ohana Puppy Food

Rating:

Annamaet Ohana is one of 7 recipes included in our review of the Annamaet Grain-Free product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Cod head, whitefish meal, coconut flour, lentils, whole dry eggs
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: All puppies including large breeds
  • See all 7 available recipes

Annamaet Ohana derives most of its meat protein from fish and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 18% fat and 41% estimated carbs… producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.

A top recipe for growing dogs.

Read Our Full Brand Review


Holistic Select Grain Free Adult and Puppy Health

Holistic Select Grain Free Adult and Puppy Health

Rating:

Holistic Select Grain Free Adult and Puppy Health is one of 11 recipes included in our review of the Holistic Select Grain Free product line.

  • First 5 ingredients: Salmon, anchovy and sardine meal, potatoes, peas, menhaden fish meal
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Profile: All life stages
  • Best For: Small and medium breed puppies
  • See all 11 available recipes

This Holistic Select Grain Free all life stages product derives most of its meat protein from salmon and fish meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 16% fat and 44% estimated carbs… creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%.

A superior all life stages recipe.

Read Our Full Brand Review



A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

References

  1. Lauten SD, Nutritional Risks to Large Breed Dogs: From Weaning to the Geriatric Years, Vet Clin Small Anim 36 (2006) 1345–1359.
  2. Richardson, Skeletal diseases of the growing dog: Nutritional influences and the role of diet, Canine Hip Dysplasia: A Symposium Held at Western Veterinary Conference, 1995
  3. Hazewinkel HAW. Nutrition in relation to skeletal growth deformities. J Sm Anim Practice. 1989; 30:525-630
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