To effectively aid your puppy's growth and development, it's important to get them on the right diet. One popular choice is dry dog food; however, puppies cannot eat the hard and crunchy texture of kibble straight away. It's knowing when to start, what to look for, and which dry puppy food option is right for your young pooch's needs.
Here, we will summarise everything you need to know about dry puppy food. We will explore expert advice and top dry food ranges to help your puppy's growth and development.
- When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?
- What Are the Benefits of Dry Puppy Food?
- How Can You Get Your Puppy to Eat Dry Food?
- The Best Dry Puppy Food: Top Brands at Fetch
Read when it is time to introduce a dry food diet to your puppy.
Discover the key advantages of kibble for your puppy.
Learn why your puppy may not be eating, and how to establish a feeding routine.
Browse our top dry puppy food options at Fetch, including the best brands.
When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?
As your puppy grows, they will need to be weaned off their mother's milk after six weeks; a process that involves removing them from their mother for a few hours at a time to encourage independence.
After eight to ten weeks of weaning, puppies can move onto specially formulated dry dog food. To make sure you choose the right option for your puppy, consult with a canine nutrition specialist for the best advice.
Also to remember, when puppies are very young and they begin to wean, their teeth are still growing and are therefore extremely fragile. Soaking hard, dry puppy food in lukewarm water for 15-30 minutes can help them chew and swallow their food without issues.
What Are the Benefits of Dry Puppy Food?
For adult dogs, there are many advantages to a dry food (kibble) diet, including the promotion of healthy skin and a shiny coat. But, in specially formulated puppy food, the benefits are more focused on your pup's growth and development.
Here are some of the benefits of dry puppy food:
- Supports Dental Health: helps reduce plaque and tartar build-up.
- Balanced Formula: specially formulated with helpful nutrients to aid a puppy's growth and development.
- Long Shelf Life: can be stored up to 18 months when unopened.
- Encourages Healthy Chewing: helps with teething and satisfying a puppy's natural chewing need.
- Convenience: incredibly easy to store, measure, and serve, allowing for great portion control.
- Enrichment: can be used in puzzle and enrichment toys for mental stimulation and an occasional treat.
To get the best formula for your puppy, make sure to check the dry food label for key ingredients. These include a high-quality protein for muscle development (chicken, turkey, or salmon), DHA and omega-4 fatty acids for brain and visual development (fish or algal oils), controlled calcium for bone development and added vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, E and E, zinc, and iron).
Make sure you avoid the risk of overfeeding your puppy by correctly portioning dry food based on their weight, growth rate, and activity level. Use our puppy food calculator below.
Puppy Feeding Calculator
How Can You Get Your Puppy to Eat Dry Food?
Although puppies can be playful, without the right routine and diet, they can become incredibly picky eaters. Sometimes, puppies have certain aversions to kibble, including stress factors, teething problems, not being fully weaned, dental and other health issues.
If your puppy isn't eating their food and you're unsure of the reason why, consider a consultation with a canine nutrition specialist to provide your pup with the best diet to help them thrive.
To get your puppy on a dry food diet, consider softening the hard kibble with lukewarm water, which can help if they're having dental or teething problems. Try to also stick to a regular schedule do that your puppy gets fed at the same time every day to regulate their appetite.
Mix feeding can be a helpful option for many puppies. Consider mixing a small amount of wet puppy food with kibble to make meals more appealing, and combining the benefits of both food options.
The Best Dry Puppy Food: Top Brands at Fetch
For the best results for your pup, consider reputable brands that prioritise quality and nutrition. Our top picks at Fetch include:
- Nourish Rite Grain Free: perfect for dogs with allergies or sensitivities to grain, Nourish Rite's puppy formula comes in various different flavours, such as salmon and chicken. Nourish Rite also split their puppy formulas into batches specialised for both small and large breeds.
Containing meat, fish and sweet potato, shop Nourish Rite Grain Free Puppy Food in the Chicken Flavour to give your pup a balanced and nutritious meal.
- Whistlers: ideal for working dogs and sporting breeds, Whistler's puppy food is packed full of natural ingredients including green lipped mussels for healthy joints.
- DARF Cold Pressed Puppy Food: an alternative to traditional dry dog food, DARF's Cold Pressed Puppy Food is softer and highly nutrient-dense, supporting your puppy's wellness and development.
- Innocent Hound: combines the benefits of a raw diet with the convenience of kibble, Innocent Hound's Dried Dog Food is gently air-dried to preserve nutrients from natural ingredients.
- Alpha Spirit Puppy Food: another cold pressed option, Alpha Spirit's Puppy Food is perfect for young pups who dislike the hard texture of kibble or those with dental problems.
- Ydolo: prioritises healthy digestion, joints, skin and liver.
Packed full of nutrient-rich ingredients for a balanced meal - shop Ydolo Semi Moist Cold Pressed Puppy Food.
If your puppy is ready for solid food, you can browse our collection of dry puppy food here.