Best Puppy Food in NZ: What to Look For, Plus Our ACANA and ORIJEN Puppy Picks

The best puppy food is one built on quality animal ingredients, with fresh or raw meat leading the label, because your puppy is growing fast and every bite counts. If you've just welcomed a new furry family member home in New Zealand, you've probably noticed the pet food aisle can feel overwhelming. Every bag promises "premium", "natural" or "complete". We're here to cut through the noise, so below we walk through what to look for on the label, then introduce the ACANA™ Puppy recipes and ORIJEN™ Puppy diets we're proud to stand behind.

What should you look for in the best puppy food?

Puppies grow faster in their first year than at any other time in their lives, so the food in their bowl does a lot of heavy lifting. Whatever brand you're considering, here are five simple checks to run on the bag.

1. Check the first ingredient. Look for a named animal ingredient, like fresh chicken, rather than a vague "meat" or "poultry". It tells you a lot about what the recipe is built on.
2. See how much is animal-based. Growing puppies need plenty of protein and fat to build muscle, support brain development and fuel all that zoomy energy. Check how much of the recipe comes from quality animal ingredients.
3. Scan for what's not in there. Artificial colours, flavours and preservatives have no place in a puppy's bowl, and a short list of things you can't pronounce is a good sign.
4. Look for a complete and balanced statement. Puppy food should say it meets a recognised growth standard, such as AAFCO or FEDIAF. That's the baseline, so it's worth reading the rest of the label too.
5. Match the food to your puppy's size. Small breeds do best with smaller kibble, while large breed puppies have different growth needs and benefit from a recipe made for them.

Myth-buster: puppy food is just adult food in a smaller bag. Not quite. Puppies need more protein, fat and key nutrients for their size than adult dogs do, which is why a food made for growth matters. Once your dog is fully grown, you can switch them to an adult recipe.

ACANA™ Puppy: three recipes to suit every size of pup

ACANA™ Puppy recipes are made with 70% quality animal ingredients, balanced with 30% fruit, vegetables and botanicals, and they all start with fresh free-run chicken as the first ingredient. It's a recipe built to support growth, brain development and a healthy coat, without the fluff.

Across the range, you'll find:

• WholePrey ratios of animal ingredients, to deliver nutrients in a natural, balanced form
• Freeze-dried chicken and turkey liver for a flavour puppies love
• No grains, soy, corn, wheat, potatoes or tapioca
• No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives

ACANA™ Puppy Recipe (all breeds)

The all-rounder. Made with fresh free-run chicken and wild-caught fish, it's rich in protein and healthy fats to support your puppy's rapid growth and development. A great place to start for most puppies.

ACANA™ Small Breed Puppy

Same quality ingredients, with a smaller kibble size made for little mouths. It features fresh free-run chicken and raw fish to support healthy bones, brain development and a healthy coat in small breed pups.

ACANA™ Large Breed Puppy

Designed for puppies expected to be 25kg or more as adults. It has a larger kibble size and limited fat to help manage body weight and reduce stress on developing joints and bones. It's also packed with whole pumpkin, leafy greens, apples and pears.

ORIJEN™ Puppy: three diets to suit every size of pup

All ORIJEN™ Puppy diets are packed with 85% quality animal ingredients, making them our richest option for puppies who need serious fuel for growing. They're built around fresh or raw poultry and fish, like free-run chicken and turkey and wild-caught fish.

Here's what the range shares:

• Fresh or raw first. Two thirds of the meat is fresh (refrigerated) or raw (frozen at peak freshness) to help preserve nutrients. The remaining third is dried poultry and fish, a concentrated source of protein.
• WholePrey ingredients. Poultry, meat, fish, organs and bone, plus cage-free eggs, deliver nutrients in biologically appropriate ratios.
• Built for growth. The protein supports strong muscles, healthy cognitive development and a healthy immune system.
• Flavour they'll love. Freeze-dried chicken and turkey liver add a burst of raw flavour that puppies instinctively crave.

Choose the diet that matches your puppy's size:

ORIJEN™ Puppy (all breeds)

The all-rounder, with 38% protein and 85% quality animal ingredients. It's made with fresh or raw free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish and cage-free eggs, in WholePrey ratios. A great pick when you want the most animal ingredients in your puppy's bowl.

ORIJEN™ Small Breed Puppy

Made specifically for small puppies, with nourishing protein packed into a unique, smaller kibble shape that's easier for little mouths to eat. It's formulated with balanced nutrition to help maintain energy and a healthy weight, and it contains no grain ingredients.

ORIJEN™ Large Breed Puppy

Made for puppies expected to reach 27kg or more as adults. It has 38% protein and 85% quality animal ingredients, including fresh chicken, raw turkey and whole hake and herring. It provides protein and healthy fat for strong muscles, bones and joints, plus natural sources of glucosamine, chondroitin and omega fatty acids. Once they reach full size, at around 16 to 24 months, large breed pups can move to an adult recipe.

ACANA™ vs ORIJEN™ Puppy: which is right for your pup?

Both lead with fresh chicken and finish with freeze-dried liver for flavour. Both ranges offer all-breed, small breed and large breed recipes, so the main difference is how much animal ingredient is in the bowl.

Not sure which to pick? Chat to your local pet store or vet about your puppy's breed, size and energy levels.

How to switch your puppy's food and how much to feed

Switch your puppy's food gradually over 5 to 7 days, so their tummy has time to adjust to the richer nutrition. Here's a simple way to do it:

1. Days 1 and 2: 25% new food, 75% current food
2. Days 3 and 4: 50% new food, 50% current food
3. Days 5 and 6: 75% new food, 25% current food
4. Day 7: 100% new food

A few tips to help your puppy settle in:

• Follow the feeding guide on the bag. Amounts are based on your puppy's weight and expected adult weight, so weigh them regularly and adjust as they grow.
• Little and often. Very young puppies usually do best with three to four small meals a day, moving to two as they grow. Your vet can advise what's right for your pup.
• Keep treats in check. Treats count towards daily food, so keep them small and few.
• Know when to move on. Most puppies move to an adult recipe at around 12 months, and large breeds take longer. Check with your vet before you switch.

If your puppy has ongoing tummy troubles after a food change, pop in to see your vet.

Puppy food FAQs

What is the best puppy food in NZ?

The best puppy food suits your puppy's size and life stage and is built on quality animal ingredients, with fresh or raw meat leading the label. ACANA™ Puppy and ORIJEN™ Puppy are two excellent options available in New Zealand.

What is the difference between ACANA™ Puppy and ORIJEN™ Puppy?

ORIJEN™ Puppy diets contain 85% quality animal ingredients, while ACANA™ Puppy recipes contain 70%. Both ranges come in all-breed, small breed and large breed options.

What does "fresh or raw" mean on puppy food?

Fresh ingredients are kept refrigerated, and raw ingredients are frozen at their peak freshness. Both help preserve nutrients, without relying on preservatives.

What is the best food for a large breed puppy?

Large breed puppies, expected to be over 30kg as adults, do well on a recipe made for them. ACANA™ Large Breed Puppy has limited fat to help manage body weight and reduce stress on developing joints and bones, while ORIJEN™ Large Breed Puppy delivers 38% protein and healthy fat for strong muscles, bones and joints. Here's why large breed puppy food is different.

What is the best food for a small breed puppy?

Small breed puppies suit a smaller kibble size. ACANA™ Small Breed Puppy is made with fresh free-run chicken and raw fish in a kibble sized for small bites. ORIJEN™ Small Breed Puppy also has a smaller kibble shape that's easier for little mouths to eat.

How long should my puppy eat puppy food?

Small breeds can move to an adult recipe at around 9 to 10 months, medium breeds at 12 to 14 months and large breeds at 16 to 24 months. Read our guide on when to switch from puppy food to adult dog food.

How do I switch my puppy to a new food?

Mix the new food in gradually over 5 to 7 days, increasing the amount each day until you're feeding 100% new food. Sensitive pups may need longer, and our puppy guide has a slower schedule.

Where can I buy ACANA™ and ORIJEN™ puppy food in NZ?

Both brands are available at over 100 stores nationwide. Use our stockist finder to find the closest one to you.

Give your puppy the best start

The first year goes by in a flash, and the food you choose now helps shape the dog they grow into. Read the label, ask questions and pick a recipe that suits your puppy's size and stage, whether that's ACANA™ Puppy, ACANA™ Small Breed Puppy, ACANA™ Large Breed Puppy or ORIJEN™ Puppy.

Ready to find the right fit? Find your nearest ACANA™ and ORIJEN™ stockist, and if you have questions about your puppy's nutrition, our team is always happy to help.