- Home
- Best Products
- Dog Food
- Best Dry Puppy Food 2024
Best Dry Puppy Food 2024
Written by Wag! Staff
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 10/18/2023, edited: 03/22/2024
![Best Dry Puppy Food 2024 image](https://images.wagwalkingweb.com/media/affiliate_product_articles/hero1697599950.3129148/best-dry-puppy-food.png)
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Preparing to welcome a new puppy into your family? Congratulations! You’ve got many years of joy ahead with your new furry family member. But if you want to give your pup the best “pawsibble” start to life, you’ll need to work out what to feed them.
Puppies need to be fed a high-quality diet that meets their high energy needs, provides the protein they need for healthy growth, and contains all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants they need for strong overall health. But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which is the best puppy food for your pet?
To help make your decision easier, we’ve put together this list of the 5 best dry puppy foods. Keep reading to find high-quality nutrition for your fur-baby. And don't furget to check out our guide to the Best Wet Puppy Food too!
Overview
Open Farm Puppy Chicken, Salmon, & Ancient Grains Recipe
Vet recommended
If you care about where your pet’s food comes from, you’ll love this recipe from Open Farm.
Open Farm is committed to sourcing humanely raised and sustainable ingredients, so you can feel better about what you put in your dog’s bowl. You can also trace all the ingredients in your dog’s bag of food back to their source, which is a wonderful idea we’d like to see more dog food brands replicate.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah says there’s plenty to like about Open Farm. “Open Farm dog food is formulated with high-quality ingredients and does not contain any artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors,” she says. “The company also prioritizes the use of ethically sourced and humanely raised ingredients.”
This puppy recipe combines chicken, pork, and salmon with ancient grains like quinoa. It features pumpkin for healthy digestion, and doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or preservatives, so it’s full of goodness for your fur-baby.
![Open Farm Puppy Food](https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.wagwalkingweb.com/media/affiliate_product_articles/summary_body1697603243.4409142/open-farm-puppy-chicken-salmon-ancient-grains-dry-dog-food.png)
Open Farm Puppy Food
What pet parents say about Open Farm Puppy Chicken, Salmon, & Ancient Grains Recipe
“We recently learned about Open Farm pet food and I can honestly say we couldn't be happier! We have a very picky eater who also happens to be a large breed puppy, so getting a high-quality food that he enjoys that also meets the large-breed puppy food requirements has proven difficult. So far so good with this product! Time will tell how he truly feels about it long term, but in the meantime I enjoy all the different protein and grain options Open Farm has on their website. Gives a lot of variety options to consider moving forward if our little guy gets tired of a certain protein or grain.”
“Our new Golden puppy was having bowel issues from day 1 — 8 weeks. We finally realized it was our puppy food (high end!) and changed to rice, chicken, and vegetables. All was great! But we needed the nutrients puppy food supplies. Our neighbor recommended we try Open Farm Puppy Food. We slowly introduced Open Farm into our puppy's diet — perfect! Our puppy is happy and healthy!!! Thank you, Open Farm.”
Read more reviews on Amazon.
Product image sourced from the Open Farm website. Copyright Open Farm.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula
Vet recommended
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula is the best dry puppy food for several reasons.
This formula is available in 4 recipes — Chicken & Brown Rice, Lamb & Oatmeal, Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal, and Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice. Each recipe features a high-quality protein source as the first ingredient along with whole grains, fruit, and veggies to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your growing pup.
Blue Buffalo is also one of the foods that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends to her clients.
“Blue Buffalo dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs,” she explains. “They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”
If you’re searching for the best dry food for your new puppy, add Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula to your shopping list.
![Blue Buffalo Puppy Food](https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.wagwalkingweb.com/media/affiliate_product_articles/summary_body1697603146.1726596/blue-buffalo-life-protection-formula-puppy-chicken-brown-rice-recipe-dry-dog-food.png)
Blue Buffalo Puppy Food
Why Wag! loves it
- The product range includes small breed and large breed formulas.
- Features LifeSource Bits to provide important antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
- No artificial flavors or preservatives.
Considerations & concerns
- Some complaints about this food causing upset stomachs.
- Not fancied by some picky eaters.
- Some buyers complain about the smell of this food.
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
“We chose this for our puppies’ first kibble because it’s what our breeder uses and recommends. The puppies reached a nice healthy weight and have lots of energy to learn and play.”
“My sweet puppy loves this food. It is a great quality but still affordable. She has been on it now since she about 15 weeks old and she is now about to be 9 months tomorrow. Great option for your pups.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe
Vet recommended
This Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe from Merrick is designed to provide high-quality nutrition for your bundle of fur.
Featuring deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this recipe can help your pup develop and maintain muscle. It includes omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, DHA for brain development, and glucosamine and chondroitin to support strong joints.
The recipe also boasts ancient grains to promote healthy digestion, and it doesn’t contain any peas, lentils, or potatoes.
Best of all, Merrick dog food is recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “Merrick products are made with high-quality, whole food ingredients, and they use no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors,” she says.
Keep an eye out for this Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe wherever you get your dog food.
![Merrick Puppy Food](https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.wagwalkingweb.com/media/affiliate_product_articles/summary_body1697603171.294285/merrick-classic-healthy-grains-puppy-recipe-dry-dog-food.png)
Merrick Puppy Food
Why Wag! loves it
- No potato, corn, or soy.
- Made in the USA.
- High in protein.
Considerations & concerns
- There are plenty of cheaper options available.
- Largest bag size is 12lb.
- Some pets might prefer a beef formula instead.
What pet parents say about Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe
“I started my new rescue puppy on this before her first visit to the vet a week later. I asked the vet to confirm i made the right choice and she said that it is what she feeds her dogs as well — good ingredients and doesn't upset her stomach! I also feed her the Merrick treats as well for training and rewards.”
“I have 2 Pug puppies (16 weeks) and they've been on Merrick since I brought them home at 8 weeks. I've done a comparison of dry dog foods and settled on Merrick for the protein content. The pups love the food and I do supplement each meal with a little fruit/veggie in their bowls. My objective is to give these two pups a quality brand with good ingredients. Merrick fits the bill!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Merrick website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
Canidae All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, & Lamb Meals
Best vet recommended for all life stages
Searching for a high-quality food you can give to your puppy, but that you can also continue to feed them once they reach adulthood? Look no further than this multi-protein formula from Canidae.
Packed with protein from chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish meals, this handy formula is suitable for dogs at all life stages. It includes omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, added vitamins and minerals for optimal nutrition, and probiotics for gut health.
“Canidae dog food is made with high-quality animal protein sources, providing essential amino acids, and is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which can trigger allergies,“ says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah.
So, if you’re searching for convenient and high-quality nutrition for your fur-baby, there are plenty of good reasons why you should check out this Canidae recipe.
![Canidae Dog Food](https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.wagwalkingweb.com/media/affiliate_product_articles/summary_body1697603208.6738827/canidae-all-life-stages-multi-protein-formula-dry-dog-food.png)
Canidae Dog Food
Why Wag! loves it
- You can keep feeding it once your puppy matures.
- Large bag size available so you can buy in bulk.
- No corn, wheat, or soy.
Considerations & concerns
- Some complaints about the amount of food dust in bags.
- The use of multiple protein sources won’t suit all pets.
- Some buyers report that their dogs turn their noses up at this food.
What pet parents say about Canidae All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, & Lamb Meals
“My vet says that this is one of the better dog foods, and my two dogs love it. One just turned 15 years and the other just turned 4 years, and it is great for both of them!”
“We began feeding this food on the advice of our dog trainer when we got our Golden Retriever puppy in 2007. So convenient when we added a mixed breed puppy one year later, they could eat the same food! They both love this food, we’ve even used handfuls for training rewards. Our Golden passed away just 3 days shy of his 13th birthday and the mixed breed is still with us. She will be 14 next month. When we get a new bag she tries to get into it, pawing at it and biting the bag. I love that we don’t need to change foods ever, that it lasts their entire life and that there is no issue with leaving kibble in the bowl. My dog loves it!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Canidae.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Recipe
Vet recommended
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Recipe is another option well worth considering if you’re searching for the best dry puppy food. This grain-free recipe features roasted bison and venison to provide an easily digestible protein source for your fur-baby.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah notes, “Taste of the Wild offers both wet and dry dog and cat foods for all life stages incorporating species-specific probiotics, antioxidants from ancient grains, fruits and seeds, and omega fatty acids.”
Other highlights of this formula include a small kibble size for puppies, DHA for brain development, prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root for gut health, and plenty of antioxidants to help your pup grow up happy and healthy.
![Taste of the Wild Puppy Food](https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.wagwalkingweb.com/media/affiliate_product_articles/summary_body1697603225.3780506/taste-of-the-wild-high-prairie-puppy-formula-grain-free-dry-dog-food.png)
Taste of the Wild Puppy Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Unique protein sources.
- Features species-specific probiotics for gut health.
- DHA for brain and vision development.
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents won’t like the fact that it’s grain-free.
- Some buyers complain that this food makes their pup’s coat smell.
- Some complaints about this food causing an upset stomach.
What pet parents say about Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Recipe
“My Sheepadoodle has been eating this puppy food for about 6 weeks. She loves mealtime! Gets super excited when she sees me getting her bowl ready. Zero digestive or skin problems.”
“This family-owned company makes excellent dog and puppy food! My husband and I have done tons of research on puppy food and this one was at the top of our list. Our puppy eats it up quickly.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright SCHELL & KAMPETER, INC.
FAQ
Should I feed my puppy dry food or wet food?
When does my puppy need to transition to adult food?
How much dry food should my puppy eat?
How does Wag! determine paw ratings for dog food?