Best Puppy Food for Small Breeds: High-calorie Meals for Energetic Pups in 2023

Getting a new puppy is very exciting. One of the fun parts of getting a new pup is the preparation, which involves getting everything from puppy pads, toys, tiny little collars, to treats and food.

Small breed puppies mature much faster than medium and large breed puppies. As such, they also have different nutritional needs. We have reviewed the best puppy food for small breeds available on the market today.

What to Look for in the Best Puppy Food for Small Breeds

Small breed dogs mature within 6 months to a year. They stop growing within 6-8 months, which is considerably faster than medium-sized dogs who typically reach their full size at around 12 months of age, and large breed dogs who take up to two years of growth.

High Quality, Natural Ingredients

The best small breed puppy foods are made of natural, high-quality ingredients. They should have high-quality real meat such as cage-free chicken, lamb, salmon; or named meat meals as the first ingredient. Examples of named meat meals are chicken meal, lamb meal, or salmon meal. These should be picked over food made with poultry by-product meal, chicken by-product meal, or meat by-products.

Avoid dog food with additives and artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. A lot of budget commercially-available pet foods contain such additives. However, there are many brands of dog foods that are not so expensive, yet are made of all-natural ingredients.

If your small breed puppy prefers a grain-inclusive meal, avoid dog foods that are full of corn or wheat unless otherwise prescribed by your vet. Pick a puppy food that has wholesome grains such as oats, brown rice, sorghum, millet, brewers rice, etc. These grains are typically less processed and are full of essential nutrients and fiber that aids digestion.

The inclusion of nutrient-dense superfoods like kelp, pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, and others in a dog’s diet helps aid pups’ healthy development and strengthen their immune systems. 

High in Calories

The best food for small breed puppies are those that are high in calories. Because they have tiny stomachs, small puppies are not able to store enough food to sustain their high energy levels if fed only 2x per day. They need to be fed 3-4 small meals a day to help ensure their caloric requirements are met.

This also means that their food should have a high caloric content from quality protein and fat sources, instead of having empty calories from cheap fillers like corn, wheat, or soy.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR BEST PUPPY FOOD FOR SMALL BREEDS

High in Healthy Fats

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are vital in keeping all dogs healthy, especially growing puppies. They need food enriched with omega 3s from fish oil, salmon oil, flaxseed oil; and omega 6s from chicken fat, pork fat, or sunflower oil.

Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA is a type of omega 3 fatty acid that plays an important role in puppies’ brain development. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help with heart, kidney, skin, and joint health. 

Eicosapentaenoic Acid or EPA is another type of omega 3 fatty acid that helps develop brain and eye function in puppies.

Pups also need omega 6s to support healthy growth, hormone function, immune function, and cellular health. 

While both are beneficial to dogs, the right ratio is key to helping your small breed puppy be at its healthiest. Too much omega 6 fatty acids in their diets can cause chronic inflammatory issues.

The National Research Council’s (NRC) recommended ratio is 2.6:1 to 26:1 omega 6 to omega 3. The Association of American Feed Control Officials dog and cat nutrient profiles include a maximum omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of 30:1.

Complete and Balanced Diet

To ensure that your little puppy gets all of the nutrients she needs from her daily meals, feed her puppy food that is formulated for her life stage. As a general rule, it is advised that you keep your small puppy on small breed puppy foods for about 10-12 months. 

Depending on the brand, some small breed puppy foods are designed to be fed until 10 months of age before transitioning to the same brand’s adult dog food.

Puppy food or those formulated for all life stages have the appropriate balance of nutrients that developing puppies and adult dogs need. It helps ensure they develop strong muscles, organs, and healthy bones. 

All life stages can be given to your small breed puppy until she is in her senior years. It is also convenient for households with multiple dogs of different ages.

The Right Kibble Size

Your tiny little puppy also has tiny baby teeth. Feeding dry dog food with kibbles made for large breeds may be hard for your small breed puppy to chew. They can also choke on the kibbles if they are too big and they are not able to chew them well. 

Pick a puppy food that is specially formulated for small breed puppies to ensure that your pup gets the optimum size. Depending on your dog, you can also give standard-sized kibbles, especially if you have a small pup who tends to inhale small pieces of food.

Best Puppy Food for Small Breeds

No matter what size, every puppy is different. Whether you prefer to give your small breed puppy dry grain-free diets, grain-inclusive wet food, or even fresh food, we have rounded up the best puppy food for small breed dogs.

1. Nom Nom Turkey Fare
2. Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy
3. Hill's Science Diet Puppy Small Paws
4. Merrick Lil' Plates Real Chicken & Sweet Potato
5. Canidae Pure Petite Puppy Small Breed
6. Solid Gold Wee Bit Bison & Brown Rice Recipe
7. Nulo Freestyle Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe
8. Tiki Dog Aloha Petites Puppy Mousse Chicken & Pumpkin
9. Stella & Chewy's Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Dinner Patties
10. Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Lamb & Salmon Recipe

 

1. Nom Nom Turkey Fare

First 5 ingredients: Ground Turkey, Brown rice, Eggs, Carrots, Spinach

Nom Nom Turkey Fare is a fresh-cooked dog food that is made with only the highest quality, organic ingredients. Out of all of Nom Nom’s recipes, Turkey Fare has the highest calorie count and also has the highest protein content.

This makes this fresh meal ideal for small breed dogs and puppies who need a good amount of calories in their daily meals to sustain their energy levels and rapidly developing bodies.

Each of the ingredients in this recipe is cooked separately for maximum nutrient retention. The meals are formulated by pet nutrition experts according to your puppy’s age, breed, weight, and activity levels. 

This particular recipe has fresh ground turkey as its only animal protein source. Turkey is highly digestible and is a great alternative for pups with chicken allergies. Its lean meat is high in riboflavin which supports the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates in dogs. 

Eggs are also added to the recipe for a more bioavailable source of protein. They also give the meal a richness that dogs love.

Brown rice is the main carb source in this recipe. It is high in fiber that helps improve puppies’ digestion. Carrots and spinach are the only veggies included in this recipe. Both superfoods are high in antioxidants that help fight free radicals and strengthen the immune system of young puppies.

Nom Nom offers discerning pet owners a convenient way to feed young puppies high-quality food that is the closest to a home-cooked meal. Furthermore, the nutrients in the meal are precisely appropriate for your small breed puppy’s life stage and activity levels. 

This takes out the guesswork that is the challenge with homemade dog food. Unless you are a pet nutritionist, it is quite a challenge to ensure that the right balance of nutrients is present in every meal.

The fresh dog food is also pre-portioned. This ensures that your small breed puppy is served just the right amount for every meal. Large breeds will have bigger portions sent to them.

This limited ingredient puppy food is ideal for sensitive dogs. A lot of the buyers of this product have dogs with various food sensitivities. According to their dog food reviews, their pups’ overall health significantly improved after switching to this fresh-cooked dog food. 

Their skin health improved, their coats are glossy, they have bright eyes, and higher activity levels. For subscribers, Nom Nom is the best dog food they have ever given to their pups.

The brand has recently come out with a new offering: The Nom Nom Variety Pack, which contains 200g of each of Nom Nom's pet cuisines, including Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Turkey Fare, and Pork Potluck. With this pack, you can easily find out which recipe your pup loves without committing to a meal plan first. 

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2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe 

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Fish Meal

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food is a grain-inclusive food formulated for the nutritional needs of small breed puppies. The size of the kibbles is designed to be easily chewed by little puppies’ small jaws and teeth.

Made of real deboned chicken and chicken meal, this puppy chow offers a high-protein meal for young puppies at 29% protein. It contains no chicken by-product meal. This helps puppies develop strong and lean muscles. It also provides the calories that small puppies need to sustain them till their next meal. 

Because of their tiny tummies, a meal that has mostly empty calories or is low in protein may not be enough to sustain the small dogs’ energy needs as they can only take in a small amount of food at a time. 

Chicken is a high-quality protein source that is highly palatable and easy to digest. This is why it is the most commonly used protein source in food for puppies. The addition of fish meal makes it even more appealing to young pups, helping them develop a healthy appetite. Fish is packed with flavor and is naturally rich in omega 3s that are essential for puppies' healthy development.

The carb sources in this small breed puppy recipe are wholesome grains like oatmeal and brown rice. They are high in fiber which benefits small dogs’ gut health. The fat sources are excellent with fish oil, chicken fat, and flaxseed providing the omega 3s and 6s.

Blue Buffalo dog food is famous for its unique LifeSource Bits. According to the brand, these tiny morsels are packed with a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and nutritionists to help promote immune system health, fulfill life stage requirements and support a healthy oxidative balance.

Pet parents of tiny puppies are raving about this Blue Buffalo dog food for small breed pups. Even picky little pups love the small kibbles. However, some dogs don’t like the LifeSource Bits and leave them in their bowl.

Overall, the pet parents love the shiny coats, healthy skin, and high energy levels of their tiny puppies, which they credit to this Blue Buffalo puppy formula.

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3. Hill's Science Diet Puppy Small Paws Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat, Whole Grain Corn

Hill's Science Diet Puppy Small Paws Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice is a grain-inclusive recipe formulated for small breed puppies.

The kibble size is specially designed to be easily picked up by puppies’ small mouths. It is designed to be much smaller than the average kibble to enable the young little pups to chew them easily.

As a general rule, most puppies would do very well on a high protein diet. However, some puppies' little tummies are quite sensitive and have trouble digesting dog foods that are very meat-rich. Small Paws has a moderate amount of protein at 24.5%, which makes it ideal for puppies who need a lower protein intake.

Its main protein source is chicken meal. Chicken meal is chicken meat that has been rendered to remove most of its moisture content.

The process creates a concentrated protein source. Corn gluten meal is also included as an additional source of protein. This recipe contains no chicken by-product meal.

The carb and fiber sources in this Hill’s Science Diet puppy food are whole grain wheat, whole grain sorghum, and whole grain corn. It also has cracked pearled barley and brown rice.

Chicken fat and fish oil are the main sources of essential fats in this recipe. While chicken liver flavor and pork flavor are added to further enhance the food’s palatability.

According to buyers, their little puppies love Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Paws. Some of them purchased this dog food from HIll’s upon their vets’ recommendation.

Others tried this food after their dogs had loose stools from another brand. According to the owners, the pups’ stools firmed up and improved with this grain-inclusive formula.

The kibble size is just right for the little puppies. They have no trouble chewing the small kibbles, making it a great choice as the first kibble for very young pups.

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4. Merrick Lil' Plates Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy 

Merrick Lil' Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato is the brand’s recipe that is specially formulated for small breed puppies.

This grain-free recipe ticks all the boxes for puppies’ healthy development. It has highly digestible proteins, healthy carb sources, joint health support, and even probiotics for good gut health.

Like most dry puppy foods, this recipe has chicken as its main protein source. It has real deboned chicken as the first ingredient, followed by chicken meal – a concentrated protein source.

While it is called a chicken and sweet potato puppy dry dog food, it actually has salmon meal and dried egg product as additional sources of highly digestible proteins.

Its fat sources are sunflower oil and salmon oil. Both are high-quality sources of omega fatty acids.

Instead of grains, the main carb sources in this small breed puppy food are sweet potatoes and potatoes. It also has peas, apples, and blueberries which are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals for good overall health. 

This recipe’s high protein and nutrient content ensure that small breed puppies’ energy requirements are met. To improve nutrient absorption and digestive health, prebiotics and probiotics are added. It also has glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.

According to pet parents, not only do their pups love it, the small kibble sizes make this puppy dry dog food easy to chew and digest for their teeny little pups.

The savory flavors of chicken and salmon make the puppies scarf down their meals. Most of the buyers are also quite impressed with the ingredient quality of this grain-free puppy food.

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5. CANIDAE PURE Petite Puppy Small Breed

First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Lentils, Peas, Tapioca

CANIDAE PURE Petite Puppy Small Breed Grain-Free with Salmon is a limited-ingredient recipe formulated for sensitive small breed puppies. If you have a puppy who is sensitive to chicken, this salmon recipe may be the one for her.

This tasty small breed puppy food is made with real salmon and salmon meal. Naturally rich in omega 3 fatty acids, salmon is not only tasty and easy to digest, but also promotes healthy skin. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3s help reduce itching and other allergic reactions in dogs.

This single-source protein puppy formula does not have any type of grain to further limit the risk of triggering allergies. The main carb/ fiber sources are lentils, peas, and tapioca. It is a potato-free formula.

To provide the essential omega 6 fatty acids, canola oil is included in this small breed puppy food. Flaxseed provides additional essential fatty acids to help the growth and development of young little pups. 

Unlike other premium dog foods, this Canidae PURE food for small breed puppies does not have a lot of fruits and vegetables in its ingredient list. Despite this, this limited ingredient recipe has all of the nutrients that puppies need to sustain their energy levels and support their overall growth.

Coated with freeze-dried raw salmon, the extra tasty kibbles of this high-quality puppy food are also enriched with probiotics to support a healthy intestinal flora. The kibbles are also designed to be quite small to ensure that even toy breeds won’t have trouble chewing the kibbles.

Most of the buyers of this puppy food are owners of dogs with food sensitivities or skin issues. According to them, the pups who love the raw-coated kibbles are doing quite well on this dry food. They have healthy skin and glossy coats.

However, despite the flavor-packed kibbles, a few finicky pooches still turned their noses up at this recipe.

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6. Solid Gold Wee Bit Bison & Brown Rice Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Bison, Ocean Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)

Solid Gold Wee Bit Bison & Brown Rice Recipe with Pearled Barley Small Breed is a grain-inclusive food formulated for small breed dogs of all ages including puppies.

Solid Gold is one of the brands that offer multiple variants of food for small breed and toy dogs. This Wee Bit dry dog food is great for sensitive dogs as it has novel protein sources.

This dry food for little pups has bison as the most plentiful ingredient, followed by ocean fish meal. Bison is naturally low in saturated fat. It is also high in B vitamins which aid in converting nutrients into energy. These vitamins also support multiple metabolic functions and overall brain development.

Ocean fish meal and salmon meal are highly digestible proteins that are included in this recipe for more flavor and amino acids. This recipe also has excellent sources of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, namely salmon oil and chicken fat.

To improve digestion and stool quality, wholesome grains like oatmeal and brown rice are used as carb sources in this potato-free formula. They are high in fiber and essential nutrients beneficial to the overall health of dogs.

Pumpkin is also added as it is high in soluble and insoluble fibers that help food move through the digestive tract. It also has probiotics and prebiotic fibers to help improve the intestinal gut flora and promote the growth of good bacteria. A healthy gut helps young puppies absorb more nutrients and strengthen their immune system.

Based on dog food reviews from buyers, tiny pups of all ages seem to love the taste of these Solid Gold kibbles. They enjoy the real meat flavors of bison and fish.

The pet parents are quite pleased with the many health benefits that their pups have reaped since being switched to this food. Not only are allergic reactions not triggered, but they have grown shiny coats and have shown renewed energy.

Those who previously had digestive issues reportedly improved bowel movements and stool quality. The gut health-focused dog food seems to be doing wonders for small dogs’ sensitive tummies.

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7. Nulo Freestyle Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Small Breed & Puppy 

First 5 ingredients: Lamb, Turkey, Lamb Broth, Turkey Broth, Lamb Liver

Nulo Freestyle Lamb & Sweet Potato canned recipe is a protein-packed pate suitable for small breed dogs of all life stages.

It is soft and easy to chew for both tiny young pups and senior dogs. This grain-free recipe is a dual-protein dog food as it has lamb and turkey as its protein sources.

With lamb as the first ingredient, this wet dog food is packed with a lot of flavor and amino acids that will help puppies grow lean and strong muscles.

Turkey meat provides a lean source of protein that is easy to digest, while lamb liver gives this meal even more nutrients and a rich flavor and texture that dogs love.

Ground flaxseed not only provides fiber, but is also high in essential fatty acids that help puppies’ brain and vision development, immune function, and anti-inflammatory response. 

This canned food has fiber and vitamin-rich sweet potatoes and carrots as its main carb and fiber sources. L-carnitine is added to help pups efficiently turn fats into energy.

Puppies and adult dogs love this rich lamb and turkey canned food. Meanwhile, the small breeds’ owners love that each can has perfectly-sized portions for small breed dogs, making it a convenient food on the go or at home.

Some owners of sensitive small breeds buy this wet food as it has done wonders for their little pups. Their dogs seem to be thriving on this grain-free adult dog food/ puppy food.

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8. Tiki Dog Aloha Petites Puppy Mousse Chicken & Pumpkin 

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Mung Bean, Chicken Liver, Pumpkin

Tiki Dog Aloha Petites Puppy Mousse Chicken & Pumpkin in Broth is a very soft and smooth pate/ mousse specially formulated for toy and small breed puppies.

It is a great way to transition your small breed puppy from milk to solid food. The highly palatable mousse is packed with flavor and protein from natural ingredients.

With chicken and chicken liver as the main protein sources, this limited-ingredient small breed puppy food will stimulate the appetites of young puppies. The highly digestible protein that chicken provides will help the pups grow stronger every day.

Chicken broth makes it a hydrating meal that is soft and full of savory chicken flavors. Mung bean, kale, and pumpkin are the only plant-based food ingredients in this wet puppy food. They are packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that will help your puppy grow into a healthy adult dog.

To ensure that the young puppies get all the nutrients they require for healthy development, this Tiki Dog mousse is fortified with the appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals with every serving.

Based on dog food reviews from puppy owners, many of the very young puppies were successfully transitioned to solid food using this very tasty chicken mousse.

They just love its rich flavor and find it easy to chew and digest the soft mousse. This mousse is much softer than the typical pate type of wet food.

Some buyers also use the small breed puppy food as a kibble topper for their puppies. Overall, this mousse is the best dog food for very young puppies regardless of size.

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9. Stella & Chewy's Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Dinner Patties

First 5 ingredients: Beef, Salmon With Ground Bone, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Tripe

Stella & Chewy's Perfectly Puppy Beef & Salmon Dinner Patties freeze-dried raw dog food is nutrient-dense puppy food that allows you to give your small breed puppy the many benefits of a raw diet without the cumbersome preparation of homemade raw dog food.

The beef and salmon patties are frozen raw and then freeze-dried to remove moisture and eliminate the harmful bacteria without cooking off the food’s rich nutritional value. The result is a shelf-stable puppy food that is packed to the brim with meaty flavor, vitamins, and minerals. 

Made with raw beef, salmon, beef liver, beef kidney, and beef tripe, these little patties in this small breed puppy food are 46% protein.

Tripe is a great ingredient as it has numerous benefits for gut health. Not to mention, this smelly ingredient is something that many dogs find irresistible.

Aside from the highly nutritious beef and salmon ingredients, this freeze-dried raw recipe also has New Zealand Green Mussels as a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.

Superfoods such as pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, spinach, carrots, squash, and blueberries are included in this recipe for their high vitamin and antioxidant content. They help fight free radicals and give puppies’ immune systems a boost.

To prepare your small breed puppy’s meal, you can serve the bite-sized patties as is or rehydrated with some warm water. The amount of food to serve will depend on your dog’s weight.

The meat-rich beef and salmon patties are quite popular among puppies of all breeds and sizes. Some prefer it rehydrated, while others happily munch on the freeze-dried patties straight out of the bag.

Because of its very high caloric content, it is no surprise that the puppies have more energy after being switched to this recipe.

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10. Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Lamb & Salmon Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Lamb, Salmon, Chickpeas, Ground Potatoes, Vegetable Glycerin

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Lamb & Salmon Recipe are the ideal treats for tiny little puppies. They are grain-free, soft, chewy, and easy to munch on even for small breed puppies’ baby teeth. Puppies should not be given hard treats like bones or dental treats until they are about 6 months of age or already have their adult teeth.

The bite-sized pieces are perfect for training your small breed puppy. If you need smaller pieces, the morsels are easy to break into smaller bites and are still able to hold their shape. 

The tasty treats are packed with so much flavor from real lamb and salmon, which make it a great motivator to get your small breed puppy to do tricks and tasks. The grain-free treats are free from corn, wheat, soy, or chicken, making it ideal for sensitive pups.

To further aid the cognitive development of young dogs, these soft treats are enriched with DHA – a type of omega fatty acid that promotes healthy brain function.

These soft and meaty treats are a hit among pups of all sizes. Even some adult dogs prefer this over other training treats. The puppies get excited about training or treat times when their owners open the bag. Buyers love that the size is just right even for small breed puppies.

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The Takeaway

There is no one-size-fits-all best dog food for small breed puppies. Every toy or small breed of dog is different, just like every puppy is different.

However, all toy and small breed dogs share the trait of reaching maturity within 12 months or less. While it still depends on the puppy’s activity levels, as a general rule, small breed puppies require a high-calorie diet.

Just like any healthy dog, small breed puppies benefit from a good quality dog food that is not full of empty calories from cheap fillers. They need one that is high in good quality animal protein, healthy fats, nutritious carb and fiber sources. 

Whether your small breed puppy is fussy or requires a limited-ingredient diet, the products we have selected are some of the best in their respective categories of puppy food. All of them are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for small breed puppies. 

We hope that our review helps narrow down the search for the food that will bring out the absolute best in your small breed puppy.