Puppies of all breeds have specific nutritional requirements that differ from adult dogs. Some manufacturers provide all life stages dog food while others offer dog food specifically balanced for the nutritional needs of puppies.
Puppy foods are usually included within the lines of other foods for adult dogs. We’ve pulled out the top 10 puppy foods for 2023 to make it easy for you to choose the best dog food for your puppy.
RELATED: How to choose the best food for small dogs …
REVIEW CRITERIA
Each food in this list has been evaluated based on the ingredient quality and ingredient safety by DogFoodReviews.com. The amount of protein, fat and other nutrients is important. But at the end of the day, your dog’s food needs to be safe to eat (and many foods contain ingredients that are quite unsafe), with high quality ingredients. Each food score below is an average of the ingredient quality and the ingredient safety.
Here are some of the criteria we look for in raw foods:
DOG FOOD INGREDIENT QUALITY
- Does the food contain too much carbohydrate?
- Are plant sources used to boost protein content?
- Does it contain unnamed animal protein?
- Are there excessive vitamins and minerals added?
- Are free amino acids added to balance poor quality proteins?
- Does it contain processed or seed oils?
DOG FOOD INGREDIENT SAFETY
- How much processing is involved in making the food?
- Does the food contain rice?
- Does the food contain known genetically modified foods?
- Does the food contain foods known to be high in pesticides?
- Does the food contain natural flavor?
Each food is objectively evaluated using these criteria. You can view the full Evaluation Criteria used to review the dog foods.
This is NOT a paid list and there are no affiliate links. We’ve partnered with DogFoodReviews.com to make sure dog owners have unbiased, objective criteria to help them choose the best puppy food on the market.
Now that you know how we evaluate the foods, let’s find the best puppy foods for 2023.
#1 Stewart Freeze Dried Puppy Food
Score: 9.5/10
Ingredient List For Freeze Dried Puppy Food Recipe: Chicken, ground chicken bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, cantaloupe, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, egg, ground flaxseed, inulin, salmon oil, apple cider vinegar, blueberry, cranberry, dried kelp, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, dried ginger, dried parsley, dried garlic, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, mixed tocopherols (as preservative), vitamin D supplement.
Stewart’s Freeze Dried Puppy Food tops this list for light processing and for having high protein and low carbohydrates. This puppy food recipe has 46% protein and 10% carbohydrate as calculated. Fat content is also low and within an acceptable range for puppies.
Stewart Raw Naturals ranks at the top of the scale for quality and safety. There aren’t any high pesticide ingredients or GMO foods. The only quality concern is that there are added minerals. While only a few were added, when 5 or more minerals are added, it can indicate a lower quality food that lacks naturally occurring minerals from whole food sources. On the plus side, all vitamins and amino acids are obtained from the ingredients in the food.
This recipe is gluten-free, but unlike other gluten-free foods we’ve seen, Stewart doesn’t substitute starches or legumes for grains. The carbohydrate content is derived from fruit and vegetable ingredients, as we like to see.
This is a freeze dried food so there’s minimal processing that would destroy nutrients. The company explains that its ingredients are chopped and individually quick-frozen at -30 degrees to preserve nutritional value, then the ingredients are freeze-dried. However, the company uses high-pressure pasteurization (HPP) as a kill step in its processing. HPP doesn’t affect the score but is worth noting.
Stewart is based in Dayton, Ohio, where the company has been producing dog food for 45 years. Stewart is a brand that falls under the Miracle Pet umbrella of pet products, which produces and distributes its own foods.
Stewart For Dogs Recalls
The company has had no recalls to date.
Stewart Freeze Dried Puppy Food Benefits
- Lightly processed
- Low carbohydrate from low starch plant ingredients
- No GMOs
- Made in-house
Stewart Freeze Dried Puppy Food Concerns
- Some added minerals
- Doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#2 AllProvide Raw Puppy Recipe
Score: 9/10
Allprovide Raw Puppy Recipe: Chicken with bone, beef heart, beef, beef liver, spinach, carrot, butternut squash, broccoli, coconut oil, wild Alaskan salmon oil, milled flaxseed, himalayan salt, wheatgrass, cod liver oil, turmeric ground, oregano leaf, turmeric powder, dried kelp
All Provide Raw Puppy Recipe scores very well with 9/10. It has 50% protein and 2% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis, which is what is expected in a raw dog food.
The recipe loses no points for ingredient quality. There are no added grains, legumes or starches. This recipe is free of added vitamins and minerals, which means the nutrition comes from whole foods. However, this recipe contains coconut oil, which has been implicated in increased gut permeability and inflammation … but no points are deducted for this.
On the ingredient safety side, the recipe advertises non-GMO ingredients, which is certainly desirable. However, the recipe features spinach in the top 5 ingredients. This is a known high pesticide/herbicide ingredient and is a safety concern and causes the score to drop.
Allprovide is a small brand manufactured in Georgia. They appear to manufacture their own foods in their own facility. Allprovide currently offers raw foods, cooked foods, bones and bone broth.
Allprovide Dog Food Recalls
To date, Allprovide has not had any recalls or voluntary withdrawals.
All Provide Raw Puppy Recipe Benefits
- No added vitamins and minerals
- Low carbohydrate
- High protein
- Wild-caught fish
All Provide Raw Puppy Recipe Concerns
- High pesticide/herbicide ingredient
- Contains coconut oil
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#3 Instinct Raw Freeze Dried Chicken Recipe For Puppies
Score: 9/10
Ingredient List For Raw Meals Freeze-dried Cage-free Chicken Recipe For Puppies: Chicken (including ground chicken bone), beef liver, beef spleen, beef kidney, cod, carrots, apples, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, montmorillonite clay, ground miscanthus grass, ground flaxseed, salmon oil, pumpkinseed, chicory root, tricalcium phosphate, salt, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement), potassium chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), mixed tocopherols (for freshness), blueberries, spinach, rosemary extract …
Instinct Raw Freeze Dried Chicken Recipe For Puppies has a score of 9/10. It comes in as the #3 food for puppies with a slightly lower protein level and a slightly higher carbohydrate level than the higher ranked foods.
This recipe has 38% protein and 14% carbohydrate which is a little higher than expected in a freeze dried food. Fat content is low and within an acceptable range for puppies.
As a freeze-dried recipe, it’s lightly processed with minimal loss of nutrients. There aren’t any grains or starches in this recipe so carbohydrates are obtained from fruits and vegetables like apples, sweet potatoes and squash. There’s a minimal amount of added vitamins however this food loses a point for having added minerals in the recipe.
There is a single concern regarding ingredient safety, and that’s for using apples which are a high pesticide food.
Instinct was founded in 2002, and has its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s owned by Nature’s Variety, an independent pet food company, which has manufacturing facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nature’s Variety owns and manages the Instinct and Prairie brands. Instinct is a full line of grain-free and gluten-free foods for dogs and cats.
Instinct Recalls
To date there have been no recalls of Instinct dog foods
Freeze Dried Chicken Recipe For Puppies Benefits
- Lightly processed
- Low carbohydrate
- No GMOs
- Made in-house
Freeze Dried Chicken Recipe For Puppies Concerns
- One high pesticide ingredient
- Added minerals
- Doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#4 Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw – Perfectly Puppy Chicken And Salmon Recipe
Score: 8.5/10
Ingredient List For Chicken & Salmon Puppy Patties Recipe: Chicken, salmon with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, chia seed, New Zealand green mussel, chicken cartilage, potassium chloride, dried kelp, sodium phosphate, tocopherols (preservative), choline chloride, L-Carnitine, turmeric, sea salt, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, taurine, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Chicken & Salmon recipe scores 8.5/10. This puppy recipe has 48% protein and 8% carbohydrate as calculated which are good levels for a freeze-dried food and contribute to this placement on the list. It’s 1 of 2 puppy foods from Stella & Chewy’s to make this list.
This recipe has added vitamins, minerals and amino acids which lowers the score. It’s always preferred that nutrients come from whole food sources. They have a low level of carbohydrates obtained from fruits and vegetables rather than grains and starches.
This recipe loses no points for ingredient safety. One reason is because it’s a freeze dried food that’s minimally processed so there’s a minimal loss of nutrients. The other reason is because fruits and vegetables in all Stella and Chewy’s lines are organic. Organic ingredients are non-GMO and have much lower pesticide/herbicide risk than conventionally grown crops.
It’s worth noting that Stella & Chewy’s uses high-pressure pasteurization (HPP) as a kill step in its processing. The company states that it sends out all batches for testing and posts test results on its website. HPP doesn’t affect the score but is worth noting.
It’s good to see that the company guarantees the CFU of probiotics in this recipe.
Stella & Chewy’s was founded in 2003 by Wisconsin native Marie Moody in her New York City apartment. The company has its own manufacturing plants in Oak Creek, WI. In 2013, a private equity group that initially provided funding, acquired the brand.
Stella & Chewy’s Dog Food Recalls
12/11/2015 – Chicken Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties for Dogs. Listeria contamination.
Freeze Dried Perfectly Puppy Chicken & Salmon Benefits
- Minimal Processing
- Low carbohydrate
- Organic fruits and vegetables
- Guaranteed probiotics
- No GMOs
- Made in-house
Freeze Dried Perfectly Puppy Chicken & Salmon Concerns
- Excessive vitamins and minerals
- Added amino acids
- Doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#5 Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Perfectly Puppy Beef And Salmon Patties
Score: 8.0/10
Beef & Salmon Puppy Patties Recipe: Beef, salmon with ground bone, beef liver, beef kidney, beef tripe, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, sunflower oil, chia seed, New Zealand green mussel, potassium chloride, dried kelp, sodium phosphate, tocopherols (preservative), choline chloride, L-Carnitine, turmeric, sea salt, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, taurine, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Beef & Salmon recipe scores 8/10. This puppy recipe has 48% protein and 8% carbohydrate as calculated which are good levels for a freeze-dried food. It’s the second food from Stella & Chewy’s to be included on this list.
The recipe loses ingredient quality points because it has added vitamins and minerals and amino acids rather than relying on whole food ingredients. It also includes sunflower oil which is a highly processed seed oil that raises quality concerns. The carbohydrates in this recipe are obtained from fruits and vegetables rather than grains and starches, which is always preferable. This also boosts the antioxidant level in the food.
This puppy food recipe loses no points for ingredient safety. One reason is because it’s a freeze dried food that’s minimally processed so there’s a minimal loss of nutrients. The other reason is because fruits and vegetables in all Stella & Chewy’s lines are organic. Organic ingredients are non-GMO and have much lower pesticide/herbicide risk than conventionally grown crops.
It’s worth noting that Stella & Chewy’s uses high-pressure pasteurization (HPP) as a kill step in its processing. The company states that it sends out all batches for testing and posts test results on its website. HPP doesn’t affect the score but is worth noting.
Stella & Chewy’s was founded in 2003 by Wisconsin native Marie Moody in her New York City apartment. The company has its own manufacturing plants in Oak Creek, WI. In 2013, a private equity group that initially provided funding, acquired the brand.
Stella & Chewy’s Dog Food Recalls
12/11/2015 – Chicken Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties for Dogs. Listeria contamination.
Freeze Dried – Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Benefits
- Lightly processed
- Low carbohydrate
- Certified organic produce
- Contains guaranteed probiotics
- No GMOs
- Made in-house
Freeze Dried – Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Concerns
- Excessive vitamins and minerals
- Added amino acids
- Contains seed oil
- Doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#6 Farmina Ocean Cod & Pumpkin Puppy Mini
Score: 8.0/10
Farmina N&D Ocean Cod & Pumpkin Puppy Mini Wet Dog Food Recipe: Cod, herring, salmon, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, herring oil, shrimp, fructooligosaccharide, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine.
Farmina Ocean Cod & Pumpkin Puppy Mini is one of 3 Farmina puppy recipes on this list and all have a score of 8/10. This recipe has protein of 53% and exceptionally low carbohydrates of 2% as calculated.
High processing and the addition of minerals and a few amino acids prevent this line from having a higher score. Canned dog foods have several stages of heating that can cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. As a result, minerals and amino acids have been added to balance these dog foods.
Because this recipe is fish-based, it holds this position on the list ahead of its Farmina counterparts. Farmina doesn’t state whether the fish in this recipe is farmed or wild caught, which would be more nutritious. Nevertheless, fish is less inflammatory than factory farmed meats used in most dog foods. Although this isn’t part of the score, it’s worth knowing and gives this puppy food the edge over its sister recipes.
Farmina Pet Foods began in 1965 as Russo Mangimi, a family company in Naples, Italy, that specialized in animal nutrition. In 1999, they collaborated with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation. Farmina Pet Foods has its headquarters in Italy and operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Brazil and Serbia. In 2021, Farmina added a location in Reidsville, NC that includes manufacturing, research and development, and warehousing operations.
Farmina Dog Food Recalls
To date, Farmina has not had any recalls or voluntary withdrawals in the United States or Europe.
Cod & Pumpkin Puppy Mini Benefits
- Made in-house
- No GMOs
- Low carbohydrates
- High protein
Cod & Pumpkin Puppy Mini Concerns
- Added minerals
- Added amino acids
- Highly processed
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#7 Farmina Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Mini
Score: 8.0/10
Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Mini Wet Dog Food Recipe: Chicken, herring, eggs, herring oil, sweet potatoes, pomegranate, fructooligosaccharide, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine
Farmina Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Mini individual puppy recipe scores 8/10. It has an exceptionally high protein level of 57% and minimal carbohydrates of 5%, which are ideal for a canned dog food
Even with all these accolades, Farmina holds this position further down on the list because it’s a highly processed canned dog food and that leads to a lower score. Canned foods undergo several stages of heating that can cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. As a result, this recipe has added minerals and amino acids to balance it, and that drops the score further.
Farmina Pet Foods began in 1965 as Russo Mangimi, a family company in Naples, Italy, that specialized in animal nutrition. In 1999, they collaborated with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation. Farmina Pet Foods has its headquarters in Italy and operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Brazil and Serbia. In 2021, Farmina added a location in Reidsville, NC that includes manufacturing, research and development, and warehousing operations.
Farmina Dog Food Recalls
To date, Farmina has not had any recalls or voluntary withdrawals in the United States or Europe.
Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Mini Benefits
- Made in-house
- No GMOs
- Low carbohydrates
- High protein
Chicken & Pomegranate Puppy Mini Concerns
- Added minerals
- Added amino acids
- Highly processed
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#8 Farmina Pet Foods N&D Pumpkin Chicken, Pumpkin & Pomegranate Puppy Wet Dog Food
Score: 8.0/10
Farmina N&D Pumpkin, Chicken, Pumpkin & Pomegranate Puppy Mini Wet Dog Food Recipe: Chicken, herrings, pumpkin, boiled chicken eggs, herring oil, sweet potato, pomegranate, fructooligosacccharides, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine complex, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate,selenium yeast, DL-methionine, taurine, L-Carnitine
This puppy recipe scores 8.0/10. It has a high protein level of 55% and low carbohydrates of 6.8% as calculated on a dry matter basis, which are ideal for a canned dog food
Even so, Farmina holds this position lower on the list because it’s a highly processed canned dog food compared to other raw or freeze-dried puppy foods, and that leads to a lower score. Canned foods undergo several stages of heating that can cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. As a result, this recipe has added minerals and amino acids to balance the food and that drops the score further.
Farmina Pet Foods began in 1965 as Russo Mangimi, a family company in Naples, Italy, that specialized in animal nutrition. In 1999, they collaborated with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation. Farmina Pet Foods has its headquarters in Italy and operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Brazil and Serbia. In 2021, Farmina added a location in Reidsville, NC that includes manufacturing, research and development, and warehousing operations.
Chicken, Pumpkin & Pomegranate Puppy Benefits
- Made in-house
- No GMOs
- Low carbohydrates
- High protein
Chicken, Pumpkin & Pomegranate Puppy Concerns
- Added minerals
- Added amino acids
- Highly processed
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#9 Instinct Raw Longevity Freeze Dried Raw 100%
Score: 8.0/10
Ingredient List For Raw Longevity 100% Freeze-dried Chicken Recipe For Puppies: Chicken (including ground chicken bone), chicken liver, chicken heart, yellow squash, apples, carrots, ground flaxseed, dried pumpkin, blueberries, montmorillonite clay, ground miscanthus grass, fish oil, beets, spinach, dried chicory root, vitamins (vitamin e supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement), salt, potassium chloride, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, tricalcium phosphate, yeast culture, taurine, minerals (zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), choline chloride, ascorbic acid, mixed tocopherols (for freshness), rosemary extract
Instinct Raw Longevity Freeze Dried Raw 100% is a minimally processed freeze dried food that has 36% protein and 13% carbohydrate as calculated.
The carb content is higher than expected for a freeze dried food. However, there are no starches or grains so the carbs are obtained from fruits and vegetables. This puppy recipe has a minimal amount of added vitamins but loses a point for excessive added minerals.
The company guarantees the probiotics in the food, which is good to see.
This recipe contains an unnamed animal ingredient of fish oil, which may be from any type of fish. Unnamed animal ingredients are often a less expensive, low quality ingredient.
The last reason for a lower score is the inclusion of apples ((in the top 5 ingredients) and spinach which are foods known for high pesticide or herbicide residues.
Instinct was founded in 2002, and has its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s owned by Nature’s Variety, an independent pet food company, which has manufacturing facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nature’s Variety owns and manages the Instinct and Prairie brands. Nature’s Variety was acquired by Agrolimen S.A. in 2016 but planned to continue as a stand-alone company at that time. Instinct is a full line of grain-free and gluten-free foods for dogs and cats.
Instinct Recalls
To date there have been no recalls of Instinct dog foods
Freeze Dried Raw 100% Benefits
- Lightly processed
- Guaranteed probiotics
- Low carbohydrate
- Made in-house
Freeze Dried Raw 100% Concerns
- Contains high pesticide/herbicide ingredients
- Excessive added minerals
- Unnamed animal protein
- Omega-6:omega-3 ratio not provided
View The Entire Review on DogFoodReviews.com
#10 Instinct Raw Frozen Bites Chicken Recipe For Puppies
Score: 8.0/10
Ingredient List For Raw Frozen Bites Cage-Free Chicken Recipe For Puppies: chicken (including ground chicken bone), beef liver, beef spleen, beef kidney, cod, carrots, apples, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, montmorillonite clay, ground miscanthus grass, ground flaxseed, salmon oil, pumpkinseeds, chicory root, tricalcium phosphate, salt, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement), potassium chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), blueberries, spinach
Like most other puppy foods on this list, Instinct Raw Frozen Bites Chicken Recipe For Puppies is lightly processed with minimal loss of nutrients. It has a protein content of 43%. While this recipe has the same ingredients as the company’s Raw Freeze Dried Chicken recipe that ranks #3, the carbohydrates are slightly higher at 15% as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is higher than expected for a frozen raw food and it causes a point loss and lower position on the list.
The carbohydrates are obtained from fruits and vegetables rather than grains and starches. There’s a minimal amount of added vitamins but the recipe loses a point for excessive added minerals. Apples are used, which are a high pesticide food that drops the score as well.
Instinct was founded in 2002, and has its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s owned by Nature’s Variety, an independent pet food company, which has manufacturing facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nature’s Variety owns and manages the Instinct and Prairie brands. Nature’s Variety was acquired by Agrolimen S.A. in 2016 but planned to continue as a stand-alone company at that time. Instinct is a full line of grain-free and gluten-free foods for dogs and cats.
Instinct Recalls
To date there have been no recalls of Instinct dog foods
Raw Frozen Bites Chicken Recipe For Puppies Benefits
- Made in-house
- Lightly processed
Raw Frozen Bites Chicken Recipe For Puppies Concerns
- Moderate carbohydrates
- Excessive added minerals
- High pesticide/herbicide foods
- Does not provide omega-6:omega-3 ratio
