Last Updated: 28/09/2026
Best Puppy Food Australia 2026: Wet, Dry or Mixed?
Wet, dry, or mixed? Our vets break down how to choose the best puppy food for your pup's breed and life stage, plus links to our top picks.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
The best puppy food isn't one single product, it comes down to three things: whether you feed wet, dry, or a mix of both, your pup's expected adult size, and making sure whatever you choose is complete and balanced for growth. Whether you're a first time puppy parent or you've owned a dog furever, this guide walks you through how to choose, then points you to our vets' full product picks for each format. Don't forget, our Vet Squad are ready to help with any questions you have!
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Why does the right food matter for my puppy?
Puppies have different nutritional needs to adult dogs, with a specific balance of protein, calcium and phosphorus to support their rapid growth. Underfeeding can lead to malnourishment, while overfeeding for maximum growth, rather than optimal growth, can cause skeletal problems and obesity later in life. Keeping your puppy lean as they grow gives them the best long-term outcome. An excellent resource for tracking your puppy's growth rate can be found on the WALTHAM Centre For Pet Nutrition website, with individual growth charts available based on your puppy's size and sex.
See our age-appropriate nutrition guide for the bigger picture across your pet's life stages.
Should I feed my puppy wet or dry food, or a mix of both?
Both formats can be nutritionally excellent for your puppy, as long as the food is labelled complete and balanced for growth. The right pick usually comes down to convenience, palatability, and hydration, not one being medically superior to the others.
Dry food, or kibble, is often most convenient and cost effective option, and the chewing action can help to support dental health.
See our vets' full Best Dry Puppy Food picks by breed size.
Wet food has a higher moisture content, which helps with hydration and tends to be more palatable, handy for fussy eaters or a pup settling into a new home.
See our vets' full Best Wet Puppy Food picks.
Mixed feeding combines the benefits of kibble with the hydration and palatability of wet food. In our experience, mixed feeding is one of the easiest ways to keep a fussy puppy engaged with meals without switching brands every few weeks.
Whichever format you choose, check the food is labelled for the puppy or growth life stage, or 'all life stages,' and meets AAFCO or FEDIAF standards.
If you do mix wet and dry, keep the total daily calories from both within your puppy's needs. The easiest way to start is to halve the daily feeding amounts of the wet and dry foods.
Introduce any new food gradually over 7 to 10 days to avoid an upset tummy.
For more detailed portioning help, see our guide on how much to feed a puppy, and our tips on introducing a new food to your pet.
Does my puppy's breed size change what I should feed?
Yes, especially for large (adult weight over 25kg) and giant breed (adult weight over 45kg) puppies, like Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers.
Large and giant breed puppies
Large and giant breed puppy diets need lower energy density and a specific calcium-to-phosphorus ratio to support a slower, controlled growth rate, since carrying extra weight raises the risk of orthopaedic problems in growing joints. These breeds can also take 18 to 24 months to finish growing, so their formula needs to support a longer growth window, not just a bigger puppy.
Don't switch to an adult maintenance diet to limit calories, even though this is sometimes suggested. Adult diets, especially "high protein" or "grain-free" formulas, tend to be energy-dense and can exceed safe calcium levels for a growing puppy, and research shows too much calcium can cause joint problems even when the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is correct.
Instead, feed a diet specifically marketed for large or giant breed growth, ideally one that's undergone AAFCO feeding trials, in controlled amounts to keep your puppy at a lean body condition score of 4/9.
Medium breed puppies
Medium breed puppies, (adult weight between 11kg and 25kg) are often working and very active breeds, like Border Collies and Kelpies. Most standard puppy formulas suit them fine, though some brands offer a medium-breed specific option to match their energy needs.
Small breed puppies
Small breed puppies (with an adult weight less than 10kg) have special needs too! Breeds like Maltese Terriers, Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles and Jack Russell Terriers mature quickly and have higher energy needs.
Small breed puppy formulations are designed to meet these energy needs while ensuring the right balance of nutrients for growth and development. They also have smaller kibble sizes to make them easier for little mouths to chew.
For a full breakdown of dog food by size and breed, see our guide to how to choose the best food for your dog's breed and size, our breed-specific dog food guide, and our size-specific picks for small breed dogs and large breed dogs.
Are 'all life stages' diets suitable for puppies?
Generally, only for small and medium breed puppies, not large or giant breeds. An 'all life stages' diet meets AAFCO's minimum levels for both growth and adult maintenance, but large and giant breed puppies need a dedicated large breed formula instead, since their calcium and phosphorus needs are more specific.
When should my puppy switch to adult food?
The general rule of thumb is to transition puppies onto an adult maintenance diet when they have reached 80-100% of their adult body weight.
The general rule of thumb is to transition puppies onto an adult maintenance diet once they've reached 80-100% of their adult body weight, though the exact timing varies quite a bit by breed size.
See our guide on switching from puppy to adult dog food for exact timing and the full step-by-step.
Choosing the right food starts with picking a format that suits your household and your pup's appetite, then narrowing down by breed size and life stage. For our vets' full product picks, see Best Wet Puppy Food and Best Dry Puppy Food, and for the bigger picture on feeding your dog through every life stage, see our Dog Food Guide. If you're ever unsure, our Vet Squad are available to help.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue 29 Sep 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
