what is the best puppy food you can buy
Best Wet Puppy Food
Wellness Just for Puppy is one of 8 canned recipes included in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.
Wellness Just for Puppy derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken and chicken liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 27% fat and 24% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
An exceptional wet puppy food. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Wellness Complete Health Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, salmon, ground barley Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"We adopted a baby Basset hound. We fed wellness puppy to our Cletus 8 years ago. He is thriving today because of it. We wanted the same for Darwin. He's 3 months old and loves this food. We mix it with the large breed wellness puppy. Highly recommend it and our vet recommended this food to us too. Darwin gives it 2 paws up!"
Nom Nom Beef Mash is one of 4 fresh recipes included in our review of the Nom Nom Dog Food product line.
This Nom Nom recipe derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 35% protein, 17% fat and 40% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
Ideal for those who want to feed a scientifically balanced, fresh-cooked meal thats designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
Not cheap. Enthusiastically recommended.
Read our review of the full Nom Nom Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients Ground beef, russet potatoes, eggs, carrots, peas Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 35% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at NomNomNow.com"Tula gets so excited when it's mealtime. She no longer has skin issues, her coat looks wonderful and her stools are the best they've ever been. I can't imagine ever feeding her anything but Nom Nom!"
Instinct Grain Free Real Chicken Recipe for Puppies is one of 6 wet recipes included in our review of the Instinct Original product line.
This specific Instinct Original recipe derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 46% protein, 27% fat and 19% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
An excellent formula by an established company.
Read our review of the full Instinct Original Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, beef liver, salmon, carrots Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 46% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Small and medium breed puppies Beef Recipe is one of 4 fresh formulas covered in our review of the The Farmers Dog product line.
This Farmers recipe acquires much of its animal protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 39% protein, 29% fat and 24% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 73%.
A fresh, human-grade recipe custom designed and packaged to fit the nutritional needs of all puppy breeds. As close to a homemade dog food as you can get. Not cheap. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full The Farmers Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients USDA Beef, sweet potato, lentils, carrot, USDA beef liver Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 39% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy is one of 10 canned recipes included in our review of the Chicken Soup for the Soul product line.
This Chicken Soup for the Soul product derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken, turkey and chicken liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 27% fat and 24% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
An impressive growth formula. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Chicken Soup for the Soul Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken liver, turkey, chicken broth, turkey broth Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Grain-inclusive Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I love the healthy ingredients of this moist food for puppies; the ingredients seem comparable to more expensive dog food brands, but at a better price. My puppy seems to enjoy it. He's pretty picky, so for the benefit of his health and my wallet, hopefully he will continue to enjoy it!"
Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate Chicken is one of 10 wet recipes included in our review of the Merrick Classic product line.
This Merrick Grain-Free canned food recipe derives the bulk of its animal protein from deboned chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 50% protein, 28% fat and 14% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
An exceptional grain-inclusive canned puppy food. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Merrick Grain Free Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken broth, deboned turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 50% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"This food is high quality and my 11 week old Shih Tzu loves it! So much comes in the can and it's such a great price. I bought can covers to keep it fresh and one can will last me about a week! Definitely recommend!"
Chicken and Rice Formula is one of 4 wet recipes included in our review of the Canidae All Life Stages product line.
This Canidae wet formula derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 29% fat and 44% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 75%.
A super-popular, fully-balanced grain-inclusive wet puppy food. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, dried egg product, brown rice Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog has never eaten new food with gusto until now. He really surprised us by eating without any coaxing. This is the first time, and we were thrilled. No more dry food. We've tried everything. Now, if I could get my husband to stop giving him too many treats!"
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey, Cod and Sweet Potato is one of 11 canned recipes included in our review of the Nulo Freestyle product line.
This Nulo Freestyle formula derives most of its animal protein from turkey. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 23% fat and 26% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Read our review of the full Nulo FreeStyle Grain Free Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Turkey, turkey broth, salmon broth, turkey liver, cod Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 43% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Small and medium breed puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I love the Nulo puppy food. My Chihuahuas puppies and my older chihuahuas really love this food. You can actually see the chunks of vegetables in this food. If the chunks are too big, they are easy to smash and blend in with the food."
Homestyle Puppy Chicken Dinner is one of 12 canned recipes included in our review of the Blue Buffalo product line.
This Blue Buffalo formula gets the bulk of its meat protein from fresh chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 27% fat and 24% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
We also note this above-average puppy food includes omega-rich DHA to support healthy eye and brain development.
A finely-chopped, pate-style formula containing no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives for optimal safety. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipes Dog Food (Wet) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, peas Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Oh my gosh..my gsd LOVES the taste of this! He literally would eat the entire pallet if I let him. I also feel good about it, because I do a lot of research on my dog's foods, and it's really one of the healthiest wet foods out there for dogs."
Healthy Grains Puppy is one of 13 wet recipes included in our review of the Whole Earth Farms canned product line.
This Whole Earth Farms canned recipe derives most of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 30% fat and 22% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 72%.
An excellent, budget-friendly option. And an ideal option for growing puppies, including large breeds. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Whole Earth Farms Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, salmon, brown rice Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Top off dry kibble with this tasty blend of wet food for fussy eater. It works! My puppy literally jumps like crazy every time I open the can! She even licks the empty bowl to get the last of it! I'm glad it's nutritious."
Chicken is one of 4 fresh recipes evaluated in our review of the Ollie product line.
This fresh-cooked recipe draws most of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 11% fat and 44% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 30%.
Ollie is an exceptional dog food. Its made with real, human-grade ingredients and its professionally designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN).
A top, grain-inclusive wet option for puppies worthy of its premium price. Recommended with confidence.
Read our review of the full Ollie Dog Food Chicken Recipe (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 37% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at MyOllie.com"Javi, my mini goldendoodle has been LOVING meal time. He licks his bowl clean at every meal. Before Ollie, we'd have to basically beg him to eat."
Puppy Savory Stew with Chicken and Vegetables is one of 4 wet recipes analyzed in our review of the Hills Science Diet product line.
This Science Diet recipe derives most of its animal protein from fresh chicken and pork liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 28% protein, 17% fat and 48% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Moderate meat content. Reasonably priced.
Read our review of the full Hills Science Diet Dog Food range here
Main Ingredients Chicken broth, chicken, pork liver, brown rice, wheat flour Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 28% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Small and medium breed puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My puppy had been eating Hills Science dry food. Got this to see if wet appealed to him. He absolutely loves it! I add some dry to it and its gone in a flash. Will be convenient for travel."
Best and worst dog food brands
There are hundreds of dog food options available, from dry to grain-free to raw, but which ones will have your furry friend licking the bowl clean?
We surveyed 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they buy to uncover the brands that customers (and their dogs) love and which offer the best value for money.
See how brands such as Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin are rated by customers, as well as supermarket options from the likes of Aldi and Lidl.
Eat well, live better, stay healthy sign up for our free monthly Food & Health newsletter for all the latest insights delivered straight to your inbox
Dog food brands rated
Our top-scoring dog food brand achieved an impressive customer score of 82%, and five-star ratings for how much pets liked it, as well as their wellbeing when eating it.
At the other end of the scale, two brands scored less than 60%, with just two stars out of five each for how healthy the dog seemed when eating food from that brand.
Which? members can log in now to unlock the full results. If you're not yet a member, join Which? today to get instant access to this and thousands of other reviews.
Table notes: Survey of 2,304 Which? Connect members who owned a dog in July 2023. Customer score is based on overall satisfaction with the dog food and how likely people are to recommend it to a friend. n/a means not enough responses to include a star rating.
Make sure your furry friend is covered see our guide to the best pet insurance for your dog
How to choose the best dog food for your pet
Deciphering all the pet nutrition information on the internet can seem like an impossible task. It can range from confusing to completely contradictory.
We spoke to real pet nutrition researchers to understand what actually matters. Good news: it isnt as complicated as it seems.
The most important part of choosing a food is actually monitoring your pet, said Dr Teresa Hollands, senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you're feeding your pet a particular brand of food, and they have plenty of energy and seem well in themselves, then you are on the right track.
Dr Nigel Kendall, lecturer in nutrition at the University of Nottingham, agreed: If your pet is on completely the wrong diet, then there will be physical signs.
Signs that your pet is eating a nutritious diet, and the right food for their needs, include:
- good overall health
- plenty of energy
- good sleeping habits
- regularly passing firm stools
- maintaining a healthy weight.
Also a cat owner? See our guide to thebest and worst cat food brands
How to feed your dog the best and healthiest diet
As well as choosing the right food, you can also maximise the nutritional value of your pets diet by feeding them in the right way.
We spoke with Dr David Gardner, professor of physiology at the University of Nottingham, to find out more:
Choosing a complete food
Start by making sure you are feeding your pet a complete food, he said. Thats really important, but it isnt always clearly labelled.
Complete foods are designed to give your pet all the nutrients they need, so you can feed them the same thing every day without causing a nutritional imbalance or deficit.
Weighing your pet food
David also highlighted the importance of weighing your pets food every time you feed them.
Remember, you may not notice that you're overfeeding your pet if you increase the size of their feed very slightly each day.
Varying your pet food
If you want to take additional steps to ensure your pet is getting the best nutrition, David also suggested varying the food you give them, provided that this doesnt upset their stomach.
These changes could be as small as varying the flavour of food that you give to your pet.
If you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month, try the chicken next time, David suggested.
If you do want to try changing the type or brand of your pet food, remember to do so gradually. Your pet's meal should be no more than 25% new food for the first couple of days, increasing over the course of a week.
Dogs can be fussy, so know that varying your pet food is not essential. The main thing is that they eat and enjoy their food and that it's nutritionally complete.
Best dog harnesses see our pick of the best and worst as tested by dog owners
Is wet or dry dog food better?
Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete, meaning that they should contain all the nutrients your pet needs. That means there is no significant advantage to either food type.
David recommended feeding your pet a mixture of wet and dry food.
Evidence suggests that there are slight differences in the nutritional composition of wet and dry food. That means you are going to cover more nutrients if you mix them together.
If you want to feed your dog exclusively one type of food, then wet food does tend to be more appealing. However, it is often more expensive and it can predispose pets to dental disease.
In contrast, dry food is beneficial to dogs teeth and gums, and it is usually easier and cheaper to use and store. Just make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water, as they will not be getting hydration from their food.
Best food and drinkwe've rated the tastiest food for humans too. Discover our top picks, from chicken soup to red wine
Can dogs be vegan?
Yes, provided you are careful about the type of food you give them.
There are commercial dog foods available that are vegetarian or vegan and nutritionally complete.
Some people may want to prepare homemade vegetarian or vegan meals for their dog, which is not typically recommended by experts.
This is because evidence suggests that homemade food (including meat-based diets) is typically not nutritionally complete even when people follow recipes labelled as such.
Is raw food good for dogs?
Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years, especially for dogs, but experts don't generally recommend it.
I would not recommend a raw food diet due to the risk to human health, says Dr Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.
Bacteria present in raw meat can include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E-coli. These cause significant illness in humans and animals, particularly young, old and immune-compromised individuals.
These can be spread around the house during food preparation and eating. They can also be passed from animals to humans if your pet kisses your face after eating.
All of these bacteria are destroyed when meat is correctly cooked.
How much should my dog weigh?
According to a 2022 survey by UK Pet Food, 50% of dogs (and 43% of cats) are overweight or obese.
Your pet being overweight can have a huge impact on its quality of life, including limiting their ability to exercise or sleep properly. According to the RSPCA, it also predisposes them to illness including:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- cancer.
How to if tell your dog is overweight
Dr Teresa Hollands recommends an easy method for checking your pets weight.
Create a fist with your hand, and feel your knuckles with your fingers, she said. If your pets ribs feel like that, they are underweight.
Then lay your hand flat, and feel your knuckles again. If their ribs feel like that, they are the perfect weight.
Finally, keep your hand flat, turn your hand over, and run your fingers over the pads on your palm at the base of your fingers. If their ribs feel like that, they are overweight.
Physical signs that your dog is overweight
- Very thin(more than 20% below ideal body weight) Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen (in short-haired pets), obvious loss of muscle bulk, no fat can be felt under the skin.
- Underweight (10-20% below ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen, obvious waist and abdominal tuck, very little fat can be felt under the skin.
- IdealRibs, spine and hip bones easily felt, visible waist and abdominal tuck, small amount of fat can be felt.
- Overweight(10-15% above ideal body weight): Ribs, spine and hip bones are hard to feel, waist barely visible, broad back, layer of fat on belly and at base of tail.
- Obese (more than 15% above ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones extremely difficult to feel under a thick layer of fat, no waist can be seen and belly may droop significantly, heavy fat pads on lower back and at base of the tail.
How we rated dog food brands
To uncover the best and worst dog food brands, in July 2023 we surveyed 2,304 Which? members who had bought dog food recently, and asked all about their experiences with their chosen brand.
We asked them to rate the brand on various attributes including value for money, how their dog responded to the food, and its perceived wellbeing on the food.
Overall customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall and whether or not they would recommend it.
Discover the best head torches for taking your dog for a walk in the dark
Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 and is an Introducer Appointed Representative of the following: 1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN 610689). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd. 2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN 656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts. LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386. 3.Optimise Media Limited (FRN 313408), for the introduction of HSBC Group, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide credit brokering activity. Optimise Media is registered in England and Wales to Exchange Street Buildings, 35-37 Exchange Street, Norwich, England, NR2 1DP and company number 04455319. We do not make, nor do we seek to make, any recommendations or personalised advice on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as were not regulated or authorised by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose to, you can buy a product from our commercial partners. If you go ahead and buy a product using our link, we will receive a commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for the UK consumer. Please note that a link alone does not constitute an endorsement by Which?.
