Best food for a Chow Chow puppy
A Chow Chow puppy grows into a solidly built, heavy-coated dog, so the two things worth checking on any food are that it is sized for large or medium-to-large breed growth, and that it supports a coat that will need real upkeep from early on. Beyond that, a complete puppy food from a reputable maker covers what a Chow Chow needs at this stage.
Why growth rate matters for this breed
Chow Chows are a solid, medium-to-large breed, and dogs in that size bracket are more prone to joint problems in later life if they grow too fast as puppies. A food formulated for large-breed or medium-to-large-breed puppies manages calcium and calorie density more carefully than a generic puppy food, aiming for steady growth rather than the fastest possible growth.
This matters most from around eight weeks to a year old, which is when most of a Chow Chow's skeletal growth happens. Checking the bag for a large-breed or all-life-stage puppy label, rather than assuming any puppy food will do, is the single most useful thing to get right early on.
That coat needs feeding too
The breed's famously dense double coat is one of the more demanding features to keep in good condition, and diet plays a real part in that alongside grooming. Foods with a decent proportion of named animal protein and added omega fatty acids tend to support a healthier coat and skin than a cheap filler-heavy formula.
Chow Chows can also be prone to skin fold and skin sensitivity issues, so a food that avoids unnecessary artificial additives is a reasonable thing to prioritise, alongside keeping an eye on how your puppy's skin and coat look as they grow rather than judging a food on the bag alone.
Wet, dry, or both
A quality large-breed dry puppy food as the everyday base is the simplest way to manage portions and cost, and it is what most complete diets for this breed are built around. Wet food alongside it can help with a fussier eater or a puppy who is not drinking enough on a hot day, without needing to become the whole diet.
Whatever you choose, introduce it gradually if you are changing from whatever your breeder or rescue had your puppy on, mixing the new food in over a week or so rather than swapping overnight, which gives a young digestive system time to adjust.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Common questions
- How long should a Chow Chow puppy stay on puppy food?
- Most large and medium-to-large breeds move onto an adult formula somewhere between twelve and eighteen months, once their main growth has finished. Your vet can advise on timing for your individual dog based on their size and condition rather than age alone.
- Do Chow Chow puppies need a grain-free diet?
- Not as a rule. Grain-free is a preference rather than a requirement for most dogs, and true grain allergies are uncommon. A genuine food sensitivity is more often to a specific protein, which is worth discussing with your vet rather than assuming grain is the cause.
- How much should I feed a Chow Chow puppy?
- Follow the guide on the bag for your puppy's current weight as a starting point, adjusting gradually if they are gaining too fast or too slowly. Your vet or the breeder who knows the litter is better placed than a generic online figure to help fine-tune it for your individual puppy.
- Is a large-breed puppy formula necessary for a Chow Chow?
- It is a sensible choice given the breed's size and known tendency toward joint issues in later life. A large-breed or medium-to-large-breed formula manages calcium and growth rate more carefully than a generic puppy food, which supports steadier skeletal development.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.