Best Puppy Foods for 2022

Dry food is a popular choice for many puppy owners as it is easy to measure out portions and can be moistened if preferred, which is great if you gradually want to wean them on to dried food in their adult life.

This Harringtons blend is suitable for dogs from 3 weeks of age and is wholesome with no added artificial colours or flavouring. There is also no added dairy, soya or wheat which can all play havoc with such sensitive tums.

Turkey is a brilliant source of protein to help your puppy grow to their full potential, and rice helps with easier digestion. Harringtons is a very popular brand of dog food which offers tons of variety, so you can easily stick with them well into adult life to prevent too much change.

Suitable for large breed puppies from 1-12 months, this dried food has up to 85% of animal protein, and no artificial additions or fillers.

It is a wheat-free recipe for easier digestion and less chance of reacting to the food, and a boost of Omega 3 & 6 will give their coat and skin a shine – dogs who are good on the inside have to look the part on the outside, after all.

All of the ingredients and the hardness of the biscuits will improve teeth strength, muscle quality and boost their immune system. Many reviewers have said that it has helped pups with previously sensitive stomachs, and any with skin irritation too.

Royal Canin knows very well that one food does not suit all, especially when it is with something so valuable as your pup’s nutrition.

So they split their foods into small, medium and large breed groups. Smaller dogs can struggle with immune system issues and digestive problems, so the ingredients have been specially formulated to support these, including a boost of Vitamin E.

They can also be a lot more active than their larger cousins, which again this food takes into account. This food meets their energy demands, without them putting on too much weight.

Each pouch is one serving as a complete meal, or it can be mixed in with dry food to dampen that down. The gravy sauce is tasty and the chunks of meat give them the natural human-quality food feel, so they are sure to eat it all up.

It is slightly on the pricier side, but users have said that their hounds have lapped it up after going off other foods because of fussiness, and every chunk is the same so they won’t just pick out their favourite bits.

When you have a litter of newborns on your hands, there is also the matter of the mother who needs a change in nutrition too.

This Maxi Start Complex is a combination of nutritional elements present in mother’s milk, along with nutrients which actively contribute to supporting a puppy’s digestive health and natural defences.

It offers the mother gestation and lactation support as well, to reinforce her higher energy needs. Easy to rehydrate for you so you don’t have to plan too far ahead when you already have your hands full, it goes into a porridge-like consistency.

This is easier for mum to consume when she is low on energy and movement and is also the perfect stepping stone for the youngsters when transitioning from milk to solids over the period of a few weeks.

It is best for larger breed puppies and mums between 26 and 44kg and can be given during gestation and lactation, and for puppies until two months old.

Exclusive to Pets at Home, this food avoids any ingredients known to cause allergies to dogs and puppies, such as wheat or mixed meat proteins.

Instead, you get a nutritious, easily digestible and balanced dry food with everything your puppy needs.

The turkey gives the natural protein goodness of poultry, and beet pulp is high in dietary fibre. Then you have the alfalfa which anyone familiar with rabbits will know contains beta carotene for good vision development. Yucca may also control stool odour for a better overall digestive system (and more pleasant job for you).

Calcium and phosphorus are also balanced for better growth, and it can be given to puppies between 2-18 months old.

AVA offers veterinary-approved foods, which are perfect for the next step in your young dog’s nutrition.

You can feed this food to puppies of any size and expected end weight as you just adjust the amount you give to them, making it a simple adaptable option.

They know that healthy digestion and a shiny coat with healthy skin are three big factors in your dog’s health, which is why they use hypoallergenic ingredients which are natural and free of wheat.

There is also no pork, dairy or soya. Prebiotics aid digestion and +Imuvita immune-boosting ingredients should ensure they aren’t faced with a nasty illness now or in adult life. Full of other vitamins and Omega 3, it has all that young brains, bones and immune systems need to thrive.

It is good for puppies from six months up until 18 months, and there is a really efficient informative feeding amount guide on the packaging so you can get it just right.

Arden Grange are a family-run firm whose knowledge of dog food has come from experience. Their aim is to provide nutrition without compromise, so their foods are naturally hypoallergenic, meaning they do not include wheat gluten, soya, beef, dairy products, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

This helps with any sensitive tums, and should also prevent your dog from developing any irritation. The puppy/junior food is good for small and medium breed puppies and adolescent dogs, giving the right balance of protein, fat, fibre, calcium and phosphorus for puppies.

A huge 15kg bag of food which is sure to keep you going for quite a while. James Wellbeloved uses only natural ingredients which you can understand and they’re kept basic, too.

This means the bulk is pure lamb and rice, with the addition of natural protein. There is a simple feeding guide to follow, and it is suitable for all weights of dog over the expected 10kg and between 6 and 12 months.

Each biscuit is crunchy which should improve teeth growth and strength, and they contain the perfectly balanced amount of calcium and phosphorus to encourage bone growth too.

Step Up uses clean, natural ingredients in order to give doggy youngsters the best possible start in life.

There are added vitamins, fruit and vegetables, Omega 3 and whole grains which all contribute towards building up an efficient immune system, developing a healthy coat and easing digestion. It can be given to pups between the ages of 2 months and 1 year.

You get 24 tins in one purchase which is great if you have a few mouths to feed and need to stock up. Half is chicken-based and the other half is beef so there is some variety from day to day, or they can have their favourites. It is also available on an Easy Repeat delivery service.

With easily digestible rice and high-quality protein, this food is from one of the biggest manufacturers in dog food and unsurprisingly is very popular.

The kibble size has been produced to perfectly fit in the mouth of most medium-sized youngsters, and it can last up until they are 15 months old so will be good for larger dogs who reach their full-grown status a bit later than at one year old.

It is available to purchase in a 10kg bag, or as six 2.2kg bags if you would rather keep everything as fresh as possible or are struggling with storage.

A few people have commented that their pup loved the taste but it was a bit too rich for their stomachs and caused some upset and loose stools, so it could be worth bearing this in mind and keeping an eye for the first few days.