You finally decided to give in to the kids and brought home a puppy. You want the best for your new family member, so what food should you buy? Do expensive foods really make a difference? Surely namebrand foods can’t be bad… right?
Dog food isn’t created equally, and you may be stunned to discover some of the horrible ingredients in top named dog foods, such as high salt contents, high gluten, extreme preservatives or even leftover foods.
So, we’ve done the research for you. Here are the top 20 foods for your pup that they’ll benefit from on their way to becoming an adult dog.
We’ve listed these top dog foods from most affordable to most expensive (judged by price per pound), for your convenience.
Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Puppy Dog Food
About Purina One puppy food for all breeds
Purina One is a smart blend dog food with DHA, which promotes brain and vision development. It comes readily available for both small and large breed pups.
Purina One brings a lot to the table, at a very affordable price. The main ingredient is chicken, delicously coated in rice and outmeal. And on top, it includes defense antioxidant blend which promotes a strong immune system.
Top 3 ingredients in Purina One puppy food
- Chicken
- Rice flour (finely milled rice, easily digestible)
- Corn Gluten Meal (finelly milled corn, great source of protein)
Iams Proactive Health Puppy Dry Dog Food – Chicken
About Iams puppy food for all breeds
Iams is conveniently available in both small and large breed food, in various sizes ranging from 3lbs to 30lbs.
Iams proactive puppy food is made from high-quality animal protein and real, wholesome ingredients. Farm-raised chicken is the #1 ingredient, and it includes 22 nutrients that are found in mother’s milk.
Like Hill’s Science puppy food, it contains DHA which promotes brain and vision development.
Top 3 ingredients in IAMS puppy food
- Chicken
- Ground Whole Grain Corn
- Chicken By-Product Meal (a high protein substance made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs)
Wag Dry Dog Food, by Amazon
About Wag’s all-breed puppy food by Amazon
If you’re not new to Amazon, you’ll notice they often launch their own product in popular categories. And when they do, they do it well.
Wag is Amazon’s pet food brand, and it’s one of the most affordable grain-free puppy foods available. No need to look for small or large breed editions, Wag’s puppy food is an all-breed solution.
Chicken is the #1 ingredient and boasts an impressive 36% of protein per serving. Other ingredients include nutritious vegetables like lentils and peas provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, including long-chain DHA.
While not ingredients are sourced from the USA, the puppy food is made in California by a family-owned facility.
Top 3 ingredients in Wag’s puppy food
- Chicken
- Chicken Meal (finelly milled chicken)
- Lentils (a great source of iron, fiber, and plant-based protein)
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Small Paws for Small Breeds, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
About Hill’s Science puppy food for small breeds
Hill’s Science dry dog food is often the #1 recommended dog food brand by veterinarians. It has clinically-proven antioxidants, which have been shown to help dogs that suffer from allergy or coat and skin problems, among other things.
With only natural, great-tasting ingredients, there are no artificial flavors, like most dog foods. You can rest assured that your pup is eating dog food made from real food.
This dog food is specially formulated for a puppy’s developmental needs while they grow into mature, small breed dogs.
Another nice-to-know fact: with every purchase for Hill’s Science dog food, you’ll help feed over 100,000 homeless pets. After all, not every pup is as lucky as yours.
Top 3 ingredients in Hill’s Science small breed puppy food
- Chicken Meal
- Cracked Pearled Barley (barley adds additional protein, complex carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals to the diet)
- Pork Meal
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Large Breeds, Chicken Meal & Oats Recipe
About Hill’s Science puppy food for large breeds
Hill’s Science puppy food for large breeds contains an optimal calcium level, to ensure proper bone growth large breeds require.
Furthermore, both large and small breed Hill’s Science dog food contains DHA. This omega-3 fatty acid contains beneficial components for your pup’s vision and brain development.
Science Hill’s dog food is proudly made in the USA, with ingredients you can trust.
Top 3 ingredients in Hill’s Science large breed puppy food
- Chicken Meal
- Whole Grain Wheat (excellent sources of protein, fiber and vitamins)
- Whole Grain Oats (excellent sources of protein, fiber and vitamins)
NUTRO Wholesome Essentials Puppy Dry Dog Food, All Breed Sizes
About Nutro puppy food for all breed sizes
Nutro is another top-rated puppy food, made from a lamb and rice recipe. It includes many additional nutrients, such as calcium for healthy bones, vitamins, minerals, as well as DHA for healthy brain and vision development.
Nutro’s protein, be it lamb or chicken (both available on Amazon), is sourced from trusted farmers. All of their ingredients are non-GMO. Free from artificial colors, colors, and preservatives.
If you’re looking for a step above great puppy food, Nutro is an affordable solution.
Top 3 ingredients in Nutro puppy food
- Deboned Lamb
- Chicken Meal
- Brewers Rice (a common carbohydrate source found in dog foods)
Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food
About Purina Pro Plan for all breed sizes
At this stage, we’re entering the more premium of puppy foods. Pro Plan by Purina is meant for all breeds, which is great if you have more than one pup.
It’s important to note that on Amazon, there are different kinds of this puppy food available. While this all-breed puppy food does contain grain, the large-breed puppy food is available without grain.
That being said, the all-breed puppy food is available with both chicken or lamb as the main ingredient. Furthermore, Purina’s Pro Plan puppy food is packed with antioxidants to help support your puppy’s developing immune system.
And lastly, like most of the top puppy foods that made it on this list, Purina’s pro plan contains DHA from rich fish oils, to promote brain and vision development.
If you’re looking for a better than good puppy food, Purina’s Pro Plan is a good bet.
Top 3 ingredients in Purina Pro Plan puppy food
- Chicken
- Brewers Rice (a common carbohydrate source found in dog foods)
- Poultry By-Product Meal (a high protein substance made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs)
Merrick Grain Free Puppy Dry Dog Food Recipe
About Merrick’s all-breed grain-free puppy food
Merrick is the first premium puppy food that is for both small and large breeds, as well as grain-free. While grain-free puppy food isn’t beneficial to all pups, it certainly is for those sensitive or allergic to grain.
So if Merrick’s puppy food doesn’t contain grain, what does it contain? The #1 ingredient in Merrick’s puppy food is chicken, but it’s also available in beef for an additional $6 for a 12lb bag.
Furthermore, Merrick’s grain-free puppy food recipes include real, whole foods like sweet potatoes, peas, apples, blueberries.
Lastly, it’s free of preservatives, fillers, corn, wheat, soy or gluten.
Merrick stands behind their product, if for whatever reason you are not 100%, absolutely, totally, completely satisfied, return it and get a full refund.
Top 3 ingredients in Purina Pro Plan puppy food
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Potatoes (very easily tolerated and digestible for most dogs and cats. They are a great source of Vitamin C, potassium, b vitamins and are relatively low calorie.)
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food
About Blue Wilderness puppy food
Blue Buffalo puppy food is an all-breed food, meaning it’s both for small and large breeds. Blue Buffalo is packed with protein, mainly from real chicken to help encourage strong muscle growth.
While most of the top puppy foods in this list contain DHA, Blue Buffalo also contains ARA (arachidonic acid). Both of these nutrients are fatty acids found in mother’s milk. This ensures healthy development as if your pup was nurtured by its mother throughout the entire puppy stage.
It never contains chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives. It’s also grain-free, which is great news for those pups sensitive to grain.
Top 3 ingredients in Blue Buffalo puppy food
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Pea Protein (pea protein is a plant-based protein. While not great as a main protein source, it’s a great additive the main protein source, which is chicken)
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Puppy Food
About Natural Balance Grain-free puppy food
Natural Balance provides us with an all-breed puppy food. In other words, it’s good for both small and large breeds.
This limited ingredient diet is more costly than the majority of puppy dog foods, at around $3/pound depending on the size. Is it worth it? Let’s find out.
First of all, this puppy food is grain-free. Grain isn’t necessarily bad for your pup, however, some pups are sensitive or even allergic to grain. The main protein source is duck, not commonly found in dog foods, again, a great win for pups that are sensitive or allergic to chicken.
Additionally, like other top dog foods on this list, it contains DHA which is great for brain and vision development. And lastly, this puppy food does not contain any preservatives, colors or artificial flavors.
Top 3 ingredients in Blue Buffalo puppy food
- Potatoes
- Duck Meal
- Duck (both duck and duck meal are an excellent, high fat, protein source)
Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food Puppy
Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food Puppy
Wellness Core is another premium puppy food. Free from grain, by-products, fillers, artificial preservatives and flavors. All that “free” comes at a cost though. Wellness Core is the most expensive product on this list. But, premium breed pups deserve premium puppy food, and Wellness Core is exactly that.
Wellness isn’t shy about listing their ingredients, which is exactly what they did. You can view their ingredients on their ingredient dictionary.
Their puppy formula consists of the following: Naturally Grain-Free, Protein-Rich, Made With Premium Chicken, Turkey & Salmon With The Calories And Dha Needed For Healthy Development In Puppies
Wellness Core is proudly made in the USA and is Backed By The Wellness Guarantee.
Top 3 ingredients in Wellness Core puppy food
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Turkey Meal
Is buying more expensive dog food actually worth it?
The global pet care market is big. And the largest chunk of the pet market revenue goes to pet food. According to Jared Koerten, head of Euromonitor International, people spent $91.1 billion globally on pet food.
While our list of pet foods isn’t exactly cheap, they still don’t even scratch the surface of top-of-the-line raw pet foods, costing upwards of $12 per pound. But, considering that’s about the cost of a New York Strip steak, most individuals can’t just fork over that money to feed our pups.
So, are pet foods in the $1.50 to $3 per pound worth it? In short, yes.
Let’s take a look at a brand most of us pet owners have heard of, Ol’ Roy. At $0.60 per pound, it’s one of the most affordable name-brand dog foods.
So what’s in Ol’ Roy? Let’s take a look at the top 3 ingredients:
Ingredients of Ol’ Roy dog food
- The first, and main ingredient, is ground corn. Corn is very poorly digested compared to carbs like potatoes or rice.
- The second ingredient is meat and bone meal. The fact they list it as “meat” is in itself pretty concerning. What meat? If it was beef or chicken, surely they would list it this way.
- And lastly, soybean meal. Soybean is a cheap way to boost protein levels, however, protein from soybean can not be digested.
Now let’s compare the first 3 ingredients to the most affordable puppy food on our list, Purina One SmartBlend, at $0.86 per pound:
- The first and main ingredient for Purina is chicken.
- The second ingredient is rice flour. This is basically rice ground up to a very small and easy to digest substance.
- And lastly, the third ingredient is corn gluten meal. While that may not sound great, corn gluten meal is simply an excellent source of protein and amino acids for your dog.
If your budget is tight, stocking up on dog food may be a painful expense. But hopefully, after reading this, you’ll better understand the big difference just $0.26 per pound can make.
What is DHA in dog food?
If you compared some of the top products listed on this page, you’ll notice that most of them contain DHA. In short, DHA promotes brain and vision development in your pup.
DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a natural omega-3 fatty acid found and used throughout your dog’s body. It’s concentrated most heavily in the brain and retina where it makes up around 90% of the omega-3 fats. It’s also a key component in the muscles of the heart.
Photo shows common sources of omega 3
Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in foods, such as fish and flaxseed, and in dietary supplements, such as fish oil. Fish oil is the most common source of DHA for dog food.
The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conducted a study on 48 Beagle puppies. The puppies were assigned to three groups, low-DHA foods, moderate-DHA foods and high-DHA foods until age 1.
The study concluded that DHA implicated better neurocognitive development for improved:
- cognitive
- memory
- psychomotor
- immunologic
- retinal functions in growing dogs
The high-DHA group had significantly better results for reversal task learning, visual contrast discrimination, and early psychomotor performance in side-to-side navigation through an obstacle-containing maze than did the moderate-DHA and low-DHA groups. The high-DHA group had significantly higher anti-rabies antibody titers 1 and 2 weeks after vaccination than did other groups.
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