It is quite difficult to choose a dog food these days with all of the options that manufacturers put in front of us. Whether you own a Pitbull pup or a Yorkie, the struggle is real!
Grain-free? High protein? Low fat? Limited Ingredient? Orijen, Merrick, Canidae or Taste of the Wild?
To make your search for the best dog food for Pitbull puppies easier, we want to provide you with some sensible suggestions in our guide.
We won’t pretend that we are expert dog nutritionists nor claim that our tips are better than your vet’s, but as lovers of the breed, we know a thing or two about feeding Pits and have some great tips for you in this detailed guide.
Top 14 Dog Food for Pitbull Puppies Comparison Table
*While this food is designed for adult dogs, read about it in our “Review” section to see why we included it in the list of puppy foods.
Understand the Nutritional Values
There isn’t just one solid answer to the question, “What is the best dog food for Pitbull puppies?” Each dog is unique, and both the age and activity level should dictate the type of diet you provide for them.
With that being said, there are a few things you need to look for on the ingredient label when it comes to choosing an appropriate food for your Pit pup, and we will go over them in this section.
- Formulas – Start by making sure that you choose the right puppy formula for your Pit. Generally, the large and maxi breed formulas are intended for dogs that will be an average of 50 pounds and up. The average adult Pitbull can weigh between 25-35 pounds, which means that a large breed formula is probably not the right choice for many of you.
If you have a mixed breed bit and you know they’ll weight 50 pounds or more at adulthood, then a large breed formula would be acceptable.
Regular puppy formulas (not small breed) are fine for purebred Pitbull puppies. It is nutritionally fit for them and won’t overdose them with too much of protein, fat and other ingredients.
- Protein – We’ve seen a variety of protein percentages recommended for Pitbulls, but since it is hard to agree on a set standard and also better if we don’t give veterinary advice since we aren’t veterinarians, we will say that the quality of the protein source is important.
We prefer foods that are made with whole meat rather than meat meals and by-products, but finding them is difficult: especially when you’re on a budget.
One of our favorite options on the list is from The Honest Kitchen since it allows you to control what kind of protein to add.
Keep reading, and we’ll tell you more about it in the review section (number 7).
- Fat – Again, the percentage recommendations vary for dogs of this size, so we suggest you check the label to see what kinds of fats are in the food.
It’s good to see omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils (especially salmon and herring). You’ll also see them from canola oil and flaxseed oil.
Omega-6 fatty acids that come from pork fat, poultry fat, sunflower oil and safflower oil are also great.
Pup Allergies – Ingredients That Might Be the Culprit
Pinpointing allergies is a tricky task, and when you’re dealing with a puppy who hasn’t yet fully developed and who can’t exactly tell you which food bothers them, it’s up to you to watch puppy closely.
Some of the most common food allergies in dogs are caused by,
- Grains such as wheat, corn or oatmeal
- Soy (this is a legume and not a grain)
- Beef
- Dairy
- Egg
- Chicken
- Pork
- Fish
Many assume that allergies are only caused by grains, but as you can see, even meat, fish and dairy can all cause allergic reactions. Most likely, your puppy isn’t going to show immediate signs of an allergy after eating a food one time, but if they’ve been eating the same kibble for an extended period and you start noticing allergy symptoms, then there is probably an ingredient in their food that doesn’t agree with them.
Signs of a food allergy include excessive scratching (on the body and the behind), gas and diarrhea, ear inflammation or excessive licking of the feet to name a few.
What About Raw Meat?
We know that many Pit owners like to try raw meat with their dogs, and since it is a controversial topic, we didn’t want to focus too much on it.
Some of you may swear by a raw diet while others feel it is too risky.
What we can say is that you can’t just throw together some meat and veggies and give it to your dog. You have to understand a bit about nutritional value to make sure that you aren’t giving too much (or too little) of a certain nutrient to your puppy.
When in doubt, talk with a dog nutrition specialist who can help you set up a special meal plan for your little Pits.
14 Best Dog Food for Pitbull Puppies Reviewed
We all have different views on dog food and our pooch budgets vary, so with that in mind, we will provide you with detailed reviews of each product in our table.
Only you can decide which is the best dog food for Pitbull puppies running around your home, so if the nutritional value and price tag of one product doesn’t work, keep reading until you find one that does!
1. ZiwiPeak Air-Dried Dog Cuisine
- Quantity – 8.8 pounds
- Life Stage – All
We see ZiwiPeak come up on Pitbull forums and after taking a look at the ingredients and the quality of the product, we can see why.
As an “all life stages” dry food, you can use it from puppyhood through to the adult years. Just follow the feeding guidelines on the back for quantities, and you’ll find the recommended puppy serving size.
As a single-protein food (lamb), this is great for older pups who have already started to show signs of allergies with other meats, poultry or fish. The quality of the lamb they use is excellent (free range and grass fed), and with the higher protein content (min. 36%), we can see this being a great match for an active puppy who has plenty of room to run and gets lots of exercise.
While it is a bit on the expensive side, you get what you pay for; this is a quality dog food made with quality ingredients that are worth it for a growing Pit!
2. Fromm Family Foods Gold Nutritionals Dog Food
- Quantity – 33 pounds
- Life Stage – Puppy
For a puppy of average activity levels and maybe a delicate stomach, Fromm’s Puppy Gold formula just might be a great match.
It contains a mixture of proteins, including those from duck, chicken meal, chicken, and lamb. There is also a bit of rice in there, which can help puppies who have a sensitive stomach.
Their adult formula is actually preferred by small dog breed owners, but this puppy formula works good for a variety of breeds, Pits included. Picky eaters seem to appreciate the taste of the kibble, so if you have a hard time getting an older pup to take to food, this one might do the trick.
This food gets good reviews on dog food analysis websites and is suitable for Pit puppies that you don’t expect to exceed 50 pounds.
3. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Dog Food
- Quantity – 4.5 pounds
- Life Stage – Puppy
We wanted to be sure and include an option for Pits with an allergy problem, and in addition to the ZiwiPeak formula we looked at earlier, this is the type of food you want.
The ingredients are similar to those of ZiwiPeak since you have lamb as the main protein source, but this does have brown rice and rice bran in the mix. The formula is designed to help you pinpoint certain allergens by limiting a number of ingredients, so if your pup doesn’t have any issues with the lamb or the rice, then you can keep feeding it and keep tabs on their stool.
We recommend getting a smaller bag of this. If you’re trying to pinpoint an allergen and purchase a larger quantity of something they can’t end up eating, you’ll have a huge waste on your hands.
If the lamb and rice formula doesn’t work, try their Duck and Potato formula instead.
4. Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
- Quantity – 15
- Life Stage – Puppy
If you are on a budget and can’t spring for some of the top-of-the-line options on our list, Holistic Select is a great compromise.
We would compare it to Fromm in terms of use: it’s great for pups with average activity levels and doesn’t contain any animal by-products.
The formula does contain an interesting mixture of proteins sources including sardines, anchovies, chicken meal and pork meal. We even saw a bit of pumpkin and quinoa on the label, which are good alternatives to potatoes.
The feeding guidelines were a bit different since rather than measuring quantities by expected adult weight, you feed based on the actual weight of the puppy. We like that this gives you more control as they grow, but you will need to have a scale at home to weigh them to you increase to the proper amount as they grow.
5. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food
- Quantity – 30
- Life Stage – Puppy
Taste of the Wild is a popular brand for dog owners who want to a mixed protein diet, so if you have an active Pitbull puppy and you want to give them a grain-free formula, you’ll like what you see on this label.
Grain-free formulas are great for puppies that tend to get itchy with the rice and grain-based formulas. Keep in mind, however, that it eliminating grains doesn’t always solve the issue. We see that it has eggs, buffalo meat, lamb meal and fish meal, all of which are known allergens to some dogs.
If your pup doesn’t show any signs of allergies after eating it, then it’s a great kibble to grow up on.
Since the kibble size is a little small, you may want to use a slow feed bowl with this. We suggest the one from Outward Hound in the large size.
6. Victor Select Hi-Pro Plus Formula
- Quantity – 50
- Life Stage – Active Dogs & Puppies
Victor’s Formula is ideal for active Pitbull puppies and adults thanks to the higher protein content.
It has a 30% min. of crude protein, which is higher than the other foods we’ve looked at so far. The formula contains a mixture of proteins, including beef meal, chicken meal, pork meal, and menhaden fish meal.
Again, this is only appropriate for puppies with a high activity level – we’re talking runs through the park, walks and plenty of playtime. Pit puppies that stay most of the day indoors or hangs out in the yard without moving around much would be better off with a lighter formula.
7. Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Base Mix Dog Food
- Quantity – 3 pounds (makes 12 pounds of food)
- Life Stage – Adult
Yes, that’s right, we included an adult formula on our list of the best Pitbull puppy food. Why?
Because some of you have older Pit puppies, who are getting ready to transition to adult food.
We find this to be a great compromise to the raw diet. As a dry base mixture, you add water to re-hydrate it and add your preferred source of protein to the bowl to give your dog a complete meal.
It is one of the most unique dog foods out there right now and doesn’t contain any grains, fruits or even potatoes. Instead, your dog will get a healthy dose of carrots, chard, peas, celery, pumpkins, and coconuts. Again, you get to choose what type of meat, poultry or fish to add.
If you have an older Pitbull puppy that will soon be ready for an adult formula, you might get this now for when you’re ready to start the transition phase from old formula to this new one.
8. Merrick Classi Grain Free Puppy Plate Recipe
- Quantity – 24 3.2-ounce cans
- Life Stage – Puppy
Now that we’ve had a look at plenty of dry food options, it’s time to check out a wet food for the puppy.
Merrick is an affordable brand of wet food that Pit owners praise thanks to the grain-free formula that has plenty of tasty and healthy ingredients that dogs love. The first five ingredients include deboned turkey, chicken broth, chicken, duck, and peas, so it’s nice to see plenty of healthy protein in there rather than meal and by-products.
You need to make sure that you follow the feeding guidelines closely since the ratios of protein and fat are much different from that of dry food.
If you’re using this as a tasty topping on your puppies dry food, then be careful not to give too much so you avoid overfeeding them.
9. CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food
- Quantity – 44 pounds
- Life Stage – All Life Stages
This formula – like ZiwiPeak – is designed for dogs of all life stages, from puppy to senior.
We noticed that the protein content was much lower than some of the other foods we recommended, so this would probably be a great match for inactive Pitbull puppies who don’t get much exercise.
It has a mixture of proteins and doesn’t contain any corn or soy, but the quality of the meat isn’t as good since they used a lot of meal rather than whole meat – an average food, but not the best on our list.
As with many puppy foods, the kibble is a bit on the small side, so if your Pit is a bit of a porker and tends to inhale food at the speed of a vacuum cleaner, you might need that slow feeder bowl we mentioned earlier.
10. Chicken Soup Lover’s Soul Canned Food
- Quantity – 24 13-ounce cans
- Life Stage – Puppy
An alternative to the Merrick wet food we looked at earlier is this one from Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover’s Soul.
While this isn’t a grain-free formula, it still has plenty of quality meat chunks, some brown rice, plenty of vegetables some fruit to name a few. We didn’t like seeing salt on the ingredient label and because of it, wouldn’t give this to Pits on a regular basis. Added sodium is never a good thing to see on the label!
It’s great for tempting the picky eater to indulge and would probably work best for older puppies since the cans are larger (they go further).
11. Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Dog Food
- Quantity – 4 pounds
- Life Stage – Puppy
We’ll start off by mentioning the protein content of this one because it was high for a puppy food! 33% crude protein min.
It would be a great match for highly active puppies that burn a lot of calories throughout the day and puppies tend to gobble it down without a fuss.
The kibble mixture is unique since you have the standard brown kibble and lighter colored bits of freeze dried chicken. The latter has been minimally processed to give puppies an extra boost of natural protein, almost like eating real bites of freshly cooked chicken!
Is this the right match for every Pit puppy? Of course not, but overall we still felt it was a great candidate and one worth considering if nothing on this list thus far has appealed to you.
12. Blue Buffalo Rocky Mountain Recipe Puppy Food
- Quantity – 22 pounds
- Life Stage – Puppy
Blue Buffalo’s formula is rich in protein (32% crude protein minimum), which makes it suitable for active puppies.
We must admit that their red meat label had us thinking that the formula contained only red meat, but we noticed that it does contain chicken meal and turkey meal in the mix, too. That is why we encourage you to check labels!
It does have plenty of red meat, too, including bison, venison, lamb, and beef, plus plenty of other ingredients like sweet potatoes, dried egg, tapioca starch (questionable ingredient if you ask us) and salt (another one we don’t like).
The food is good if you understand what you’re feeding to your dog. Some people aren’t a fan of Blue Buffalo (they had a lawsuit against them for false advertising), but others continue to use the product and find that it agrees with their pooch very well.
It’s an affordable grain-free food with higher protein levels, and if you’re not convinced by it, we still have two more to review!
13. Orijen Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
- Quantity – 28.6 pounds
- Life Stage – Puppy
Orijen is known for its quality and its higher price tag, but for most Pitbull owners, it’s worth the extra costs.
We like that they take the time to explain how their food is made and that they tell you what parts of the meat is being used. It has tons of whole meat pieces along with liver and heart to give your pooch a close-to-nature protein source.
The protein levels, however a through the roof on this with a whopping 38% crude protein minimum, so this is probably the best dog food for Pitbull puppies that are nearing adulthood and almost ready for adult food. Obviously, with this much protein, higher activity levels are best.
The quality is outstanding, and if you can factor it into your monthly budget, you’re investing in a healthier future for your puppy.
14. Newman’s Own Grain-Free for Dogs
- Quantity – 12 12-ounce cans
- Life Stage – All Life Stages
Our final suggestion is a wet food that you can give to both adults and puppies. The feeding guidelines state that you should give ¾ to 1 ¼ cans of food per 20-25 pounds of weight, and twice the adult amount to puppies. That seems rather hefty for a pup, so we weren’t really impressed with the lack of details in their feeding guide.
It seems to be a hit and miss formula with dogs. Some love it, and some won’t touch it.
One thing we can say is that we love the fact that it is an organic formula (USDA certified organic) and that is rare in the dog food world.
If you’re in need of a grain free wet food that won’t break the bank, give this a try.
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