Based on your quiz results… your dog’s ideal feeding type is Type 1.
Which means…
You need a dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition for a small or medium breed puppy.
What’s the best food for a small or medium breed puppy?
As a rule…
Any dog or puppy food that meets AAFCO guidelines for either Growth or All Life Stages is suitable for feeding small and medium breed puppies.
Recipes made solely for Adult Maintenance should be avoided.
What if you don’t know your dog’s feeding type?
If you don’t know your dog’s feeding type, be sure to take our Feeding Type Quiz.
Best Food for Small
and Medium Breed Puppies
The pages below include some of The Advisor’s most recommended brands for small and medium breed puppies. Look for recipes rated 4 to 5 stars that meet AAFCO profiles for Growth or All Life Stages.
- Best Puppy Foods
- Best Dry Puppy Foods
- Best Wet Puppy Foods
- Best Small Breed Puppy Food
- Best Large Breed Puppy Foods
- Best Dry Dog Foods
- Best Wet Dog Foods
- Best Fresh-Made Dog Foods
- Best Dog Food for Specific Breeds
- Best Dog Foods by Category
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most frequently asked questions we get about Feeding Type 1 (small and medium breed puppies):
What’s a small breed puppy?
A small breed puppy is one whose adult weight is expected to be under 20 pounds. Small breeds reach adulthood at about 9 to 12 months of age.
What’s a medium breed puppy?
A medium breed puppy is one whose adult weight is expected to be 20 to 50 pounds. Medium breeds reach adulthood at about 12 to 15 months of age.
How do puppy breeds differ?
| Breed | Adult Wt | Adulthood | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | < 20 lbs | 9 – 12 mos | 10 yrs |
| Med | 20 – 50 lbs | 12 – 15 mos | 9 yrs |
| Large | 50 – 100 lbs | 15 – 18 mos | 8 yrs |
| Giant | 100+ lbs | 18 – 24 mos | 7 yrs |
Can a small or medium breed puppy eat large breed puppy food?
Yes. A small or medium breed puppy can eat any dog food that meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for either Growth or All Life Stages. But to lower the risk of hip dysplasia, a large or giant breed puppy must be fed a food that’s safe for large breed puppies.
View The Advisor’s Best Large Breed Puppy Food page here.
What if I don’t know my dog’s breed size?
Many times, a dog’s breed size may not be known. And breeds can sometimes be mixed. In cases where the breed size or age is not known, it’s better to estimate these variables. When you’re not sure, it’s safer to feed a large breed puppy food than to feed a small breed puppy food to an adult.
