Top 10 Best Puppy Foods for 2021

Dog Spaying and Neutering

Introduction to Top 10 Best Puppy Foods for 2021

Just like human babies, dogs should be introduced to proper nutrition from a young age to ensure healthy development.

To help educate new puppy parents, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 puppy foods for 2021.

To make our list, food must provide puppies with a well-balanced diet with a wide variety of nutrients.

As any pet owner knows, puppies don’t need the best of everything. In fact, the best puppy food that you can give them is food that is good for them, whether it is the best puppy food brand or not.

As a new pet owner, you might feel overwhelmed by the number of puppy food brands available in the market today.

You might wonder which brand to choose from, how much to feed your puppy, and how to prepare the food, among others.

The amount and type of food you give your puppy will depend on their age, size, and activity level.

While it is true that dogs are omnivores, their digestive systems are very different from humans.

This is why they cannot digest grains very well. In fact, dogs are unable to digest fiber.

The best puppy foods for 2021 are made with real animal meat as the first ingredient.

This is the source of the protein and fat that dogs need to stay healthy and happy.

A lot of new puppy owners are overwhelmed by the number of canine food choices they have to choose from at the pet store.

The truth is, most dog owners are not tuned in to what type of food to feed their dog and what ingredients are harmful to their dog.

If you’re not sure what to feed your new puppy, take some time to find out which dog foods list these top ingredients.

Corgis Are The Most Friendly Dogs

Wellness Complete Health Puppy Food

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (oatmeal, ground barley)
  • Design: Growth
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds

Wellness Puppy gets the bulk of its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken meals.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 20% fat, and 40% estimated carbs which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.

An exceptional formula.

Contains just the right amount of calcium to make it safe for all puppy breeds. Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (brown rice, oatmeal, barley)
  • Design: Growth
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds

This Blue Buffalo puppy product derives the majority of its meat protein from fresh chicken and chicken meals.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 18% fat, and 44% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Blue Life Protection offers 4 puppy recipes.

All are nutrient-balanced, affordable, and easy to recommend.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, rice, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (rice, wheat)
  • Design: All life stages (via feeding trials)
  • Best for: Small and medium breed puppies

This Purina Pro Plan puppy product derives the bulk of its animal protein from poultry by-product meals.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 20% fat, and 40% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.

Pro Plan is one of the brands most often mentioned when we interview veterinary professionals.

Every Pro Plan product meets the strict guidelines recommended by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

A top choice. Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Puppy Food

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, whole brown rice, chicken meal, split peas, chicken fat
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (brown rice, barley, brewers rice, rice bran)
  • Design: Growth
  • Best for: Small and medium breed puppies

This Nutro puppy kibble gets nearly all its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken meals.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 18% fat, and 44% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Nutro Wholesome Essentials offers 5 different puppy foods, each optimized for a specific breed size.

A budget-friendly product from one of the most trusted brands in the industry. Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Victor Purpose Nutra Pro Dog and Puppy

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, blood meal, whole grain millet, chicken fat, yeast culture
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (millet, sorghum)
  • Design: All life stages
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds

Victor Purpose Nutra Pro gets the largest portion of its animal protein from a chicken meal and blood meal.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 42% protein, 20% fat, and 31% estimated carbs which produce a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.

An economical grain-inclusive option. Ideal for those feeding either puppies and adults in the same home.

Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken, ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, dried beet pulp
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (whole grain corn, sorghum)
  • Design: Growth
  • Best for: Small and medium breed puppies

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy takes the dominant share of its meat protein from fresh chicken and chicken by-product meals.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 19% fat, and 40% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.

A classic, grain-inclusive puppy option containing fish oil to help create a healthy coat and build strong joints.

It’s easy on the wallet, too.

Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food

  • First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, whole grain wheat, cracked pearled barley, whole grain sorghum, whole grain corn
  • Type: Grain-inclusive (wheat, barley, sorghum, corn, cornmeal)
  • Design: Growth
  • Best for: Small and medium breed puppies

This Science Diet Puppy formula sources nearly all its animal protein from chicken meals.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 19% fat, and 43% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.

Hill’s Puppy is a classic growth formula recommended by both breeders and veterinary professionals alike and its calcium content is safe for all puppy breeds.

Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate

  • First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken broth, duck, sweet potatoes, carrots
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Design: All life stages
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds

This Merrick formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh chicken.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 53% protein, 26% fat, and 13% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

This Merrick puppy recipe makes a great wet alternative to a dry diet and it makes a flavorful “topper” to help enhance the taste of almost any kibble.

Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy

  • First 5 ingredients: Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Design: All life stages
  • Best for: All puppies including large breeds

This Taste of the Wild puppy formula takes the majority of its animal protein from fresh salmon and ocean fish meal.

Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 30% protein, 17% fat, and 45% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.

Pacific Stream Puppy Food is not only rich in omega fatty acids, but it’s also nutrient-balanced to support optimal health during a puppy’s period of maximum growth.

Highly recommended.

Corgi Are Easy To Train

Orijen Puppy

First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, Atlantic flounder, cage-free eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
Type: Grain-free
Design: All life stages
Best for: All puppies including large breeds

This Orijen formula takes the dominant part of its animal protein from fresh poultry (chicken and turkey) and fish.

Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 23% fat, and 26% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.

Orijen is a 5-star, all-life stages recipe brimming with animal protein.

A superior option for your growing puppy.

Highly recommended.

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