Merrick Dog Food Puppy
Which dry food should I choose for my new puppy?
Hello, I’m going to be picking up a medium breed puppy in about a month and I’ve started researching different dog foods so I’ll be ready when I bring her home.
I’m thinking I want something in the middle of the line. Nothing low-quality like Kibbles N Bits, ‘Ol Roy, etc. (or Eukanuba or Iams) but I’m not sure if the highest quality foods like Wellness or Merrick Before Grain are right either.
Would sticking to an average food be better?
I’m thinking along the lines of either Merrick’s normal line (with Grammy’s Pot Pie and Cowboy Cookout), Merrick’s new line (Whole Earth Farms), or Chicken Soup for the Lover’s Soul. Which of these three choices is best?
Do you think that choosing one of the above brands is okay? Or would it be more beneficial to go with something like Wellness? Also, is a grain-free diet necessary unless your dog is allergic to grains? Something like Taste of the Wild.
Thanks in advance.
Just wanted to say thanks for the answers so far everyone!
thanks for doing your research, you have a lucky puppy 
it looks like you know to stay away from the low quality foods, one thing i would also say is stay away from some of the puppy brands with over 35% protein unless its a heavy working dog. merrick is a great brand, the only thing i would keep in mind is allergies. my puppy is a really picky eater, so when i thought i was preparing by buying a big bag of nice quality food, i ended up just wasting my money, because she’s picky and she doesn’t do well on grains and/or chicken. it’s hard to tell since they are usually together, but i’m going to guess chicken is her problem. wellness foods are great, as is orijen. i found that my pup (6 months, 35 lbs) does best on taste of the wild. high prairie is her favorite by far. here are some other brands to look for:
- flint river ranch
- solid gold
- innova
- blue buffalo (though my dog was allergic)
- acana
- natural balance
- instinct/nature’s variety
- canidae
i would go with something without fillers, corn, wheat, etc. and from there just go by what your dog likes. i rotate every 15 lbs to keep her interested and well balanced. i also adding missing link powder and salmon oil to her coat, she was a rescue dog but she’s in great shape and sooo soft.
a grain free diet is always healthy and dogs can develop allergies over time, so if anything i just rotate between grains to provide a healthy diet
Chi Heaven