Best Puppy Food for Small Dogs 2024

If you’re a fan of feeding fresh, there are lots of good reasons why you and your small-breed pup will love Ollie. This fresh food delivery service dishes up delicious food for dogs, with recipes prepared in US facilities with minimal processing.

Once you’ve provided some details about your dog’s breed, age, activity levels, and nutritional needs, Ollie creates a customized meal plan designed to provide all the goodness your pup needs to stay happy and healthy. The food is then delivered to your door on a regular basis, with 5 fresh and 2 baked recipes to choose from. 

And because all recipes are formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, they’re the “pawfect” way to provide high-quality nutrition for your pup.

If you want to craft a diet to meet your pup’s unique nutritional needs, look no further than Spot & Tango. It offers a mix of fresh and UnKibble recipes that are cooked fresh, made with no artificial nasties, and are sure to disappear from your pup’s bowl quicker than you can say “dinner time.”

Spot & Tango is also recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants. “Spot & Tango offers customized human-grade meal plans for pups with the added benefit of being shelf-stable,” she explains.

“Nutrient profiles are preserved through low-temperature dehydration, products have guaranteed nutrient analysis, and all recipes are developed by certified veterinary nutritionists. If your pup turns their nose up, Spot & Tango also offers a ‘Happy Pup Guarantee’ and will give you 100% of your money back after your 2-week trial.”

Spot & Tango creates a personalized meal plan based on your fur-baby’s nutritional needs, and the food is then delivered right to your door. 

This puppy formula from Blue Buffalo is our top pick as the best puppy food for small dogs — for several reasons. 

Featuring deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this wholesome small-breed recipe provides everything your pup needs to put their best paw forward. It contains DHA for brain development, fruits and veggies for immune system-strengthening antioxidants, and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.

Blue Buffalo is also a brand that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah 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.”

So if you’re shopping for a small-breed puppy food, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is definitely worth a closer look.

If you’re searching for a wet food your pup will love, look no further than this Merrick Lil’ Plates recipe. Featuring deboned chicken, chicken broth, turkey broth, chicken liver, and deboned turkey as its first 5 ingredients, it’s sure to have your pup licking their lips.

“Merrick products are made with high-quality, whole food ingredients, and they use no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. 

This recipe features omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, glucosamine and chondroitin for strong joints, and comes in serving sizes designed with small-breed pups in mind. So if you’re shopping for the best wet food for a small-breed puppy, be sure to add this to your cart.

If you’re shopping for a small-breed puppy formula that won’t break the bank, this Diamond Naturals recipe has got you covered. 

It features chicken as a lean source of protein, and a host of “superfood” ingredients like kale, pumpkin, and blueberries to provide all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your growing puppy needs.

Salmon oil is included to provide the DHA pups need for brain and vision development, while coconut, chia seed, and flaxseed provide omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. With this recipe available in bag sizes of up to 40lb, and at a reasonable price, it’s well worth a look for pet parents on a budget.

Next on our list of the best puppy foods for small dogs is this chicken and salmon recipe from Open Farm. Featuring chicken, whitefish meal, oats, salmon, and millet as its first 5 ingredients, this ancient grains recipe is loaded full of goodness your fur-baby will love.

“Open Farm dog food is formulated with high-quality ingredients and does not contain any artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors,” says Dr. Jeremiah. “The company also prioritizes the use of ethically sourced and humanely raised ingredients.”

Available in 4lb and 22lb bags, this Open Farm puppy recipe has no artificial flavors or preservatives, and meets the AAFCO nutritional requirements for all life stages, including the growth of large-size dogs. And with the ability to trace each ingredient in the bag back to its source, you can feel good about what you’re feeding your pup.