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Puppy Recipe
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Veterinarian-formulated, holistic dry dog food tailored to support the healthy development of growing puppies – made with USA-sourced chicken meal, EPA and DHA for brain and vision development, and balanced calcium and phosphorus for strong bone growth.
- Brain, Eye & Nervous System Development: EPA and DHA from menhaden fish oil nourish healthy brain, vision, and nervous system development in growing puppies – critical nutrients for cognitive and sensory development.
- Strong Bone Growth: Balanced calcium and phosphorus levels support strong bone development – formulated for both small and large breed puppies including breeds 70 lbs or more as an adult.
- EU-Approved Protein: Premium, highly digestible protein from low-ash chicken meal, egg, and menhaden fish meal fuels healthy muscle development and youthful energy in growing puppies.
- Skin, Coat & Heart Health: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids including DHA, EPA, and linoleic acid from menhaden fish oil and flaxseed to support healthy skin and coat, heart health, and cognitive function – alongside antioxidant-rich vegetables to support a healthy immune system.
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Joint, Heart & Vision Health: New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels and natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin support joint and mobility health, enriched with taurine for heart, vision, and reproductive health.
Sincerely,
Guaranteed Analysis
| Crude Protein (Minimum) | 28.0% |
| Crude Fat (Minimum) | 13.0% |
| Crude Fiber (Maximum) | 3.0% |
| Moisture (Maximum) | 10.0% |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Minimum) | 4.3% |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Minimum) | 0.9% |
Typical Nutritional Analysis
This data is composed of calculated values using ingredient nutritional analysis and actual lab analysis of our foods. It is not intended to represent absolute values and therefore not guaranteed as in the above table. The information should be used as a helpful guide when determining if a specific formula is suitable for a known dietary requirement. Should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
| Calcium | 1.34% |
| Phosphorus | .95% |
| Ash | 6.5% |
| Potassium | 0.72% |
| Sodium | 0.34% |
| Magnesium | 0.1% |
| Zinc | 238 mg/kg |
| Manganese | 80 mg/kg |
| Iron | 290 mg/kg |
It is important to remember that your dog’s nutritional needs are unique and will vary with his environment, age and activity level. We recommend feeding to condition, this means using the following guide as a starting point, monitoring his weight and adjusting amounts accordingly. Feeding at least twice a day is optimal. Make sure fresh, clean water is available always.
FOR SMALL BREEDS (Cups Per Day)**
| Body Weight (lbs.) | 6 to 11 Weeks | 3 to 4 Months | 5 to 7 Months | 8 to 12 Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 | 1 to 1-3/4 | 3/4 to 1-1/3 | 2/3 to 1-1/4 | 1/4 to 1 |
| 11 to 20 | 1-3/4 to 2-2/3 | 1-1/3 to 2-1/3 | 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 | 1 to 1-1/3 |
| 21 to 30 | 2-2/3 to 3-2/3 | 2-1/3 to 3 | 1-3/4 to 2-3/4 | 1-1/3 to 1-3/4 |
| 31 to 40 | 3-2/3 to 4-1/2 | 3 to 3-2/3 | 2/1/4 to 2-3/4 | 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 |
| 41 to 50 | 4-1/2 to 5-1/4 | 3-2/3 to 4-1/4 | 2-3/4 to 3-1/2 | 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 |
FOR LARGE BREEDS (Cups Per Day)**
| Body Weight (lbs.) | 6 to 11 Weeks | 3 to 4 Months | 5 to 7 Months | 8 to 12 Months | 12 to 24 Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 20 | 1 to 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 21 to 40 | 3 to 4-1/2 | 1-1/2 to 4-1/4 | 1-3/4 to 3 | - | - |
| 41 to 60 | 4-1/2 to 5 | 4-1/4 to 5-1/3 | 3 to 4 | 2 to 3-1/4 | 2 to 3 |
| 61 to 80 | - | 5-1/3 to 7 | 4 to 4-3/4 | 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 | 3 to 3-1/2 |
| 81 to 100 | - | - | 4-3/4 to 5-1/2 | 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 | 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 |
| 101 to 120 | - | - | 5-1/2 to 6 | 4-1/2 to 5-1/4 | 4-1/2 to 5 |
| 121 to 140 | - | - | 6 to 7 | 5-1/4 to 6 | 5 to 6 |
** 1 cup equals approximately 121 grams of food.
Note: This is only a guide. Optimal feeding amounts my vary based on your puppy's activity level, age, breed and environment.
Best Breed Puppy Diet is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth, including growth of large size dogs (70lbs. or more as an adult).
Puppies: May feed up to 33% more than suggested adult levels to maintain optimum body weight.
Contains 466 Kcal per cup ME (metabolizable energy) and 4.3 oz. of food per standard 8 oz. measuring cup.
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Brain & Eye Development
Strong Bone Growth
Beet Pulp Fiber
Skin & Coat Vitality
Joint & Mobility Support
THE BEST BREED DIFFERENCE
Purpose-built nutrition backed by decades of veterinary expertise and crafted with uncompromising ingredient standards.
- Veterinarian Developed
- Small Batch Made in Ohio, USA
- Purpose-Built Formulas
- Never On a Recall List
- Low & Slow Cooked
- EU-Approved Ingredients
Better Ingredients. Better Nutrition.
Every ingredient fulfills a purpose – from premium proteins and functional fibers to healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Chicken
Menhaden Fish Oil
Brown Rice
Eggs
Puppy Recipe FAQs
Is your puppy food appropriate for large breed puppies?
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Yes. Best Breed Puppy Recipe is formulated for both small and large breed puppies, including dogs expected to weigh 70 pounds or more as adults. Calcium balance is especially important during large-breed growth – too much or too little can interfere with healthy skeletal development. Our Puppy Recipe maintains a dry matter calcium level of approximately 1.22% and a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of about 1.3:1, formulated to support healthy large-breed growth. Just as important is maintaining a lean body condition throughout development rather than encouraging overly rapid growth.
When should I switch my puppy to adult dog food?
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Small and medium breeds typically reach maturity around 9–12 months, while large and giant breeds may continue growing until roughly 15–18 months or longer. In general, puppies should stay on a diet formulated for growth until they reach skeletal maturity – when their bones have finished developing. AAHA notes that small and medium dogs typically reach skeletal maturity around 1 year, while some large and giant breeds may not until around 15–16 months. Many of Best Breed’s recipes are formulated for all life stages, so puppies can transition to an appropriate all-life-stages recipe before full maturity while still receiving nutrition designed to support growth.
Why are DHA and EPA important for puppies?
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DHA and EPA are Omega-3 fatty acids that play important roles during puppy development. DHA is especially important for healthy brain, vision, and nervous system development, while EPA supports overall cellular and inflammatory function. Best Breed Puppy Recipe provides DHA and EPA from menhaden fish oil to help support healthy cognitive and sensory development during this critical growth period.
Why are calcium and phosphorus important for growing puppies?
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Calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals for healthy bone and skeletal development, and growing puppies need more of both than adult dogs. Just as important as the individual amounts is keeping them properly balanced – especially for large and giant breed puppies, where excessive or imbalanced mineral intake can interfere with healthy skeletal development. Best Breed Puppy Recipe is formulated with balanced calcium and phosphorus to support strong, controlled bone growth throughout puppy development.
Why do puppies need more calories and fat than adult dogs?
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Puppies need additional energy to fuel rapid growth, development, and everyday activity. Fat is a concentrated source of calories, helping provide the energy growing puppies need without requiring excessive amounts of food. Best Breed Puppy Recipe contains higher fat levels to support healthy growth and youthful energy while providing complete and balanced nutrition for development.
How much food should I feed my puppy?
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Feeding recommendations are a good starting point, but every puppy grows at a different rate. The goal is to feed to body condition – adjusting portions based on your puppy’s age, activity level, growth rate, and whether they are maintaining a healthy, lean body condition. You should be able to feel your puppy’s ribs without excessive fat covering, while still seeing a healthy shape through the waist. This is especially important for large-breed puppies, where controlled, steady growth is preferable to rapid weight gain.
What is chicken meal, and why does Best Breed use it?
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Chicken meal is a concentrated source of animal protein made by cooking chicken and removing most of its water. Because fresh chicken is roughly 70% water, chicken meal provides a much more concentrated and consistent source of protein by weight. Best Breed uses premium, low-ash chicken meal – meaning it contains less bone and a higher proportion of animal meat. Our chicken meal typically provides around 70% protein along with a complete amino acid profile. Using high-quality meat meals helps us ensure that the majority of protein in our recipes comes from animal sources, rather than relying heavily on plant proteins such as pea protein or corn gluten meal to increase the total protein percentage.
What are New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels, and why are they in Best Breed recipes?
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New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels are a nutrient-dense ingredient naturally rich in minerals, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, and a unique combination of Omega-3 fatty acids. Nearly every Best Breed recipe includes New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels as part of our approach to purposeful nutrition. Our recipes also contain natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joint and mobility health. Green-Lipped Mussels aren’t a recent ingredient trend for Best Breed – they’ve been part of our formulas since the beginning.
What does “EU-approved ingredients” mean, and why does it matter?
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Because some Best Breed formulas are exported to the European Union, we use EU-approved ingredients where applicable – one of the strictest sourcing standards in the world. In practice, this means ingredients used in our food must come from sources approved for the human-consumption supply chain before processing. For example, if a fish is rejected for human consumption, it cannot be used to make Best Breed’s EU-approved fish meal – it is diverted to the animal-grade supply chain instead. This does not mean Best Breed kibble is human grade. But it does mean the source ingredients meet a higher standard before processing.
What are the benefits of slow-cooked, low-temperature dog kibble?
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Best Breed kibble is made using a slower, lower-temperature cooking process than conventional high-temperature, high-speed production. Cooking more slowly helps maintain the nutritional integrity of proteins, vitamins, and minerals while properly conditioning carbohydrates for easier digestion and nutrient absorption. We also produce our food in small batches so quality and consistency can be closely monitored throughout the process. The result is highly digestible, nutrient-dense food designed to help your pet absorb and utilize more from every meal.
