Puppy
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6 min
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Congratulations - you’ve just acquired a fuzzy bundle of puppy joy! Now onto the pressing questions, such as ‘What should I give my puppy to eat?’
As you may have guessed, puppies need specialist nutrition in these early stages; food that will fuel their development and growth as well as soothe their sensitive baby tummies. In this article, we’ll go into the different types of puppy food and outline the factors you should consider when choosing a food for your cuddly pup.
When you get your puppy either from a rescue centre or breeder, they should be at least 8 weeks old, and therefore already weaned onto eating puppy food from their mama’s milk. Ask the puppy provider what kind of food they’ve been eating - if you’re lucky, they may even give you a supply of this food to continue this diet at home until you buy your own.
You should keep your pup on their current food for at least a few days after getting them, but there are many types of puppy food, and you might choose to change their diet. Remember that switching food will need to be slow and gradual to avoid your pup getting a tummy upset. Mix the new food with the old food for around 7-10 days, with more of the new food each day until the old food is completely phased out.
At this point, you’ll have some questions to ask yourself. Will you be raising a wet food or dry food dog? Perhaps you want to try a homemade or raw food diet for your pup? Whichever you decide, be sure you’re well informed of the pros and cons and whether your specific pooch will benefit. As well as doing your own research, chat it over with your vet to get their expert advice regarding your particular pup.
Here are some breakdowns of the main types of food to help you decide:
You can read our article on Dry Food vs Wet Food for a more in-depth rundown of which food might suit you and your dog best.
As well as choosing whether to go for dry, wet, homemade or raw food, there are other factors to take into consideration - such as what ingredients are in the food, and what food would most benefit your puppy’s breed. You’ll need to think about…
A nutritious dog meal is the sum of its parts, so study the ingredients of whatever puppy food you choose. The healthiest, most beneficial puppy food will be made of whole, high-quality ingredients and natural goodness without any nasty preservatives, sugars or junk.
Nutrition is so important for a pup’s growth and development, so in order to get the goods from their food, they have to love the taste! If your puppy doesn’t seem keen on eating, it might help to choose a wet food due to its stronger smell and palatability. Pay attention to the ingredients, too - maybe if your pup isn’t keen on a fish-based recipe, they’d prefer the meaty flavour of chicken or beef.
Many dog owners try to be frugal with feeding - after all, puppies are expensive! However, choosing a cheap, low-quality puppy food will end up costing you more in the long run. Over time, the lack of adequate nutrition could make your pup more susceptible to illnesses, they could develop digestive issues or they could gain weight. If keeping costs down is a priority for you, you might consider a high-quality dry puppy food due to the fact that it’s more easily portioned and lasts longer in storage, therefore proves more economical.
Finally, have a think about your puppy’s breed, size and potential dietary requirements. As well as doing your own research, chat with your vet over which type of food your particular pup would most benefit from.
Small pooches such as Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus, Maltese or Toy Poodles have higher metabolic rates than larger dogs, therefore usually function better eating smaller meals, more often. Be sure to choose food that’s suitable for small mouths, like teeny kibble pieces or well mashed meat chunks, for maximum munchability. As is the case with most dogs, high-quality proteins should be the most prominent food group in their meals.
Large breeds such as Labradors, German Shepherds and Saint Bernards require food with a measured amount of calcium and phosphorus; this is because these nutrients contribute to skeletal maintenance, and support of their large bones is vital. Food for large breeds also tends to contain glucosamine and chondroitin for protecting their joints. As your large-breed pup grows into a big dog, their joints will need extra support to carry their larger form.
If your pup often has loose stools or suffers tummy pain, they might have a sensitive stomach and can’t handle regular food. Puppy food for sensitive stomachs may suit them better. This usually includes ingredients that are gentle for the body to process (lean chicken or white fish, for example), while omitting common food allergens that could worsen digestion or cause poop issues - such as grain, dairy or soy. You might consider grain-free puppy food for sensitive pups.
If your teeny puppy needs help to put on weight, you might consider a calorie-dense puppy food to help that along. Puppy food for weight gain is specially formulated to promote weight gain in a healthy way, using high-protein ingredients and nutrient-rich fats, such as the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon or salmon oil.
Puppy Complete Dry Superfood “My puppies adore this food and started seeing improvements in their digestion and fur very fast! Amazing quality food and it really shows.” - Trusted Customer, March 2024
Puppy Wet Food “Ace product! My dog is so happy on this food and I’ve seen a clear improvement in his energy levels. Previous foods have given him short energy boosts, but this wet food is considerably better in that he now has a sustained but significantly calmer energy level throughout the day. He is also getting nice and stocky :)” - Katie, September 2023
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