Best rated puppy food
There is no independent, official body that hands out star ratings to puppy food in the UK, so "best rated" is really shorthand for a food that reads well on the things that actually matter: protein and fat percentages suited to a growing puppy, a calorie content matched to breed size, and a genuine puppy-specific formulation rather than an adult recipe.
What the percentages actually tell you
Crude protein and crude fat percentages, shown on every complete pet food, tell you how energy-dense and protein-rich a food is, but higher is not automatically better for every puppy. A small-breed puppy with a fast metabolism generally needs a higher energy density than a giant-breed puppy, where overly rich food can actually encourage growth too quickly for developing joints.
Calorie content (usually shown as kcal per 100g or per kg) matters just as much as the percentages, since two foods with similar protein figures can differ significantly in how calorie-dense they are. Matching this to your puppy's expected adult size, rather than picking the richest option on the shelf, is the more useful approach.
Breed size changes what "best" means
Small and medium-breed puppy foods are generally formulated for faster growth over a shorter period, while large and giant-breed formulas deliberately moderate calcium and energy to support slower, more controlled bone growth, since rapid growth in big dogs is linked to joint problems later in life.
This is why a food that is genuinely excellent for a small-breed puppy is not automatically the best choice for a large-breed one, and vice versa — checking the breed-size guidance on the pack matters more than comparing headline protein numbers between two very differently formulated products.
Other things worth checking
A named, specific protein source high on the ingredients list, a clear puppy or growth life-stage statement, and feeding guidelines that match your puppy's current weight are all more informative than marketing language on the front of the pack, which is not independently regulated the way the nutritional panel is.
If you are moving between foods to find the right one, do it gradually over a week or so rather than switching abruptly, and judge success by your puppy's energy, coat condition and stools over a couple of weeks rather than a single meal.
Our picks, and why
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
- Is more protein always better for a puppy?
- No, a puppy needs an appropriate amount of protein for their breed size and growth rate, not the maximum available. Excessively high protein and calorie intake, particularly in large-breed puppies, can contribute to growing too fast for developing joints and bones.
- Do I need a different food for a large-breed puppy?
- Yes, ideally. Large and giant-breed puppy formulas are designed with moderated calcium and energy levels specifically to support slower, controlled growth, which matters more for a dog that will end up considerably heavier as an adult.
- How can I tell if a puppy food actually suits my puppy?
- Watch their energy levels, coat condition, and stool quality over a couple of weeks after a proper introduction period, rather than judging from a single feed. If anything seems off consistently, or you are unsure a food is right for your puppy's breed and size, ask your vet.
- Should I trust online star ratings for puppy food?
- Treat them as one small data point rather than a reliable measure, since ratings are often influenced by price, marketing and how recently a product launched rather than any independent nutritional assessment. Reading the actual label tells you more than a star average ever will.
- Does wet or dry food matter for a puppy's rating?
- Neither format is inherently better rated than the other for a puppy — both can be complete and well formulated when built correctly for the life stage. Choose based on your puppy's preference and your own practical needs rather than assuming one format outranks the other.
Related
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.