Guide to the Best Dog Food for Pitbull Puppies

Pet So Fun is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Have you fallen in love with a bully puppy?

These puppies have become indispensable members of many human families. They are sporty, energetic, and loveable to boot. 

As they are so energetic, they need the ideal diet to fuel their growth and development.

So if you have adopted one of these pups, read on for our review of 6 of the best dog food pitbull puppies can thrive on.

More...

Best Dog Food For Pitbull Puppies: Comparison Chart

As a responsible pet owner, you need to make your puppies health a priority. Their diet plays a significant role in this.

The table below summarises the top three best dog food pitbull puppies.

Editor's Picks

Product​​​​ Name

Price

Best Choices

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Dog Food

The Best Food for Puppies and Nursing Dogs

Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe

The Best Grain-free Food for Pitbull Puppies

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food

The Best High Protein Food for Pitbull Puppies

ORIJEN Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free

Best Grain Free Wet Dog Food

Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Wet Dog Food, 12.7 Oz, 12 Count Duck & Venison Stew

Best Puppy Chopped Ground Dinner

Pedigree Puppy Chopped Ground Dinner With Chicken & Beef Canned Wet Dog Food, (12) 13.2 Oz. Cans

6 of the Best Dog Food Pitbull Puppies

best dog food for bully pitbull puppies
Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Dry Dog Food - The Best Vegetarian Dog Food for Shedding

One of the best dog food pit bull puppies can eat the Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Dog Food. The specific one that we are looking at is the shredded blend chicken and rice formula.

This formula is unique because of its form. It's a mixture kibble with softer meaty shreds in. If you try them, most dogs would love these tender pieces.

Purina made the product for puppies of all ages up to one year old. Younger pups might find it hard to eat the kibble, but they would enjoy the meaty pieces. They recommend that it only be fed to dogs older than three weeks.

The main ingredients in the recipe are chicken and rice; thus it is also its flavor. A benefit is that it’s high in both protein and fat. Proteins make up 28 % and fat 18 % of the total formula.

The manufacturers have added fish oil to the product. So your pup can get a generous serving of DHA as well.

One great feature is that the product contains probiotics. This can help to optimize your pit bulls digestion to make sure that they get the most from their meals.

They made it for all breeds. And seeing that it contains all the necessary nutrients, it can be an excellent diet for your pitbull.

Pros
  • High in protein and fat
  • For puppies up to 1 year of age
  • Available in 6 lb, 18 lb, and 34 lb bags
  • A mix of kibble with softer meaty shreds
  • Contains DHA
  • Enriched with vitamins and minerals
  • Made with probiotics
  • For all breeds
Cons
  • Puppies younger than six weeks could struggle with the kibble.

Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe - The Best Food for Puppies and Nursing Dogs

Hill’s is one of the most well-known manufacturers of pet food. They also have products that will work well for a pitbull puppy. One of these is their Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food

One benefit is that it is suitable for puppies of all stages. It can also be given to dogs who are pregnant or nursing. Therefore, it is an excellent option for pit bull breeders.

But you need to note that puppies who are younger than six weeks often have difficulty with kibble. The size of the pellets is medium. It can be hard for them to chew and swallow.

Its flavor is chicken and barley. This is often a favorite among dogs. But it won't be suitable for pups who are allergic or sensitive to chicken.

Hill’s manufactured it for all breeds and dogs of all sizes. So it will be suitable for your pitbull.

The product is high in protein at 25%. Besides this, fats make up 15% of the formula. Therefore, it provides all the calories and protein that your new bully needs.

Hill’s added fish oil with DHA to the formula. This is necessary for healthy brain, eye and skeletal development. All of this is critical at this stage of development.

Pros
  • For all puppies up to one year
  • Available in 4.5 lb, 15.5 and 30 lb bags
  • Suitable for pregnant and nursing dogs
  • No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
  • All breeds
  • Enriched with vitamins and minerals
  • Contains DHA
  • High in protein
Cons
  • Puppies younger than six weeks could struggle with the kibble.
  • Only available in chicken

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food - The Best Grain-free Food for Pitbull Puppies

Another product on the list is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food. It is a two-part dry food made with their special Lifebits and regular kibble. The bits are meaty and tender which most dogs will adore.

Blue Buffalo is dedicated to producing foods that reflect canines natural and historical diets. To achieve this, they pack their meals full of real meat.

This specific product is made with chicken. It’s incredibly high in protein at 36%. Because pit bulls are so active and sporty, it can help them to build muscle and stay active. 

On top of this, it is high in fat as it makes up 16% of its contents. Much of this comes from the fish in the recipe. This will supply your pup with plenty of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well as DHA. These nutrients are crucial for brain development and keeping their skin and coat in excellent shape.

The kibble is grain-free. So it can work well for dogs with sensitive stomachs or who suffer from food sensitivities.

One downside is that the product is quite pricey. But at least you are going to get a lot of bang for your buck.

Pros
  • Suitable for 1 month to 1 year
  • No poultry by-product meal
  • Grain-free
  • Available in 4.5 lb, 11 lb, and 24 lb bags.
  • MAde with Blue Buffalo Lifebits
  • Contains omega 3, 6 and DHA
  • High in protein and fat
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Only available in chicken
  • Puppies younger than six weeks could struggle with the kibble.

Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Dry Dog Food - The Best Vegetarian Dog Food for Shedding

ORIJEN Dry Dog Food Puppy is a fantastic option to feed pitbull puppies. It is a kibble product.

The food is made specifically for puppies of all life stages. But dogs who are younger than six weeks could struggle with the kibble. That is why their feeding guidelines only give recommendations for puppies who weigh more than four pounds.

Orijen’s goal is to make biologically appropriate diets for dogs. They try to achieve this in each of their formulas. That is why 85% of the recipe is made up of animal products. The remaining 15% comes from vegetables, fruits, and botanicals.

Between these sources, they provide a full spectrum of nutrients.

The kibble contains up to 38% protein. It comes from a variety of meats mainly chicken, turkey, Atlantic flounder, and eggs.

You will also find that it is high in fat. This nutrient makes up an astonishing 20 % of the formula. Because of this, it has a significant calorie content. That’s why it is ideal for energetic breeds like pit bulls.

One of the best features of the food is that it contains omega 3 and 6 but also EPA and DHA.

The product is grain-free which can be beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Pros
  • Grain-free
  • Suitable for puppies of all life stages
  • For all breeds
  • Available in 2 oz, 4.5 lb, 13 lb, and 25 lb bags.
  • High in protein and fat
  • Contains omega 3, omega 6, DHA and EPA
  • Variety of minerals
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Puppies younger than six weeks could struggle with the kibble.

Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Wet Dog Food, 12.7 Oz, 12 Count Duck & Venison Stew

The next product on the list is a canned food which can work well for pitbull puppies. It is the Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Wet Dog Food

According to the manufacturers, it can be fed to dogs of all ages including puppies. Soft food is the easiest to eat. This makes it ideal for young and small puppies. It can work well for their first venture into solid foods. You can give it to dogs of all breeds including large breeds like pit bulls.

Its flavor is duck and venison. Most dogs enjoy eating canned food more than kibble. You should consider this product if your pup is a picky eater.

Merrick used a variety of meats and animal products to make this stew. This includes duck, turkey, venison as well as egg. All of this adds up to 7 % of protein.  You’ll notice that this is lower than the other products.

In terms of fat, the content is also lower at 5%. This fall within their daily dietary requirements.

Like many of the products in the review the list, it is grain-free. Therefore, it’s a good option for dogs with allergies or intolerances.

The product is fortified with multiple vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and D. It also contains calcium and potassium.

Pros
  • Suitable for dogs of all ages
  • Soft food
  • Grain-free
  • Highly palatable
  • Enriched with vitamins and minerals
Cons
  • Low in protein
  • Expensive

Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Dry Dog Food - The Best Vegetarian Dog Food for Shedding

The next product on the list is a canned food which can work well for pitbull puppies: Pedigree Puppy Chopped Ground Dinner.

According to the manufacturers, it was made especially for puppies. Soft food is the easiest to eat. This makes it ideal for young and small puppies. It can work well for their first venture into solid foods. You can give it to dogs of all breeds including large breeds like pit bulls.

One benefit is that you can also feed it to pregnant and lactating dogs. So it can be a fantastic idea if you are breeding with pit bulls.

Its flavor is chicken and beef. Most dogs enjoy eating canned food more than kibble. You should consider this product if your pup is a picky eater.

Pedigree used a variety of meats and animal products to make this stew. This includes chicken, beef, as well as egg. All of this adds up to 9% of protein.  You’ll notice that this is lower than the other products.

In terms of fat, the content is 7% which is more or less average. This fall within their daily dietary requirements.

The product is fortified with multiple vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and D. It also contains calcium and potassium. On top of this, it is made with fish oil which is an excellent source of DHA.

Pros
  • Suitable for puppies, pregnant, and lactating dogs
  • Soft food
  • Highly palatable
  • Enriched with vitamins and minerals
  • Contains DHA
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • Low in protein

Taking Caring of a Pit Bull Puppy

best dog food for pitbull puppies with allergies

About the Breed

Pitbull is another name for the American Staffordshire Terrier. This is the name by which the AKC recognize them. But they are also called American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit dog and American bulldog among other things.

They are characterized as smart, confident and good-natured. And these dogs loyalty makes them fantastic companions.

You can find these dogs with several different builds and coat colors. Some of the most popular shades are blue, fawn and bronze.  Their average life expectancy is 8 to 15 years. As adults, they weigh 30 to 85 pounds with males weighing much more. Therefore, they fall into the large breed category.

Unfortunately, pit bulls have gotten a bad rap for potential issues with aggression. But don’t let this put you off. It’s true that they were initially bred for fighting; this doesn’t necessarily determine their behavior.

Expert’s and organizations like the ASPCA’s stance is that you shouldn’t blame the breed for individual cases. Yes, genetics can have an effect on a dog’s temperament, but research has shown that a better predictor of how aggressive a dog will be is what their owner is like and how they are brought up.

Most of these dogs are affectionate and playful. To avoid potential issues, it is a great idea to take your puppy to puppy school for some essential training and socialization.

Development Stages

To take care of a puppy, you need to have some understanding of the development of dogs. This impacts how you will take care of them. They will need different things at different ages.

In this article, we are going to focus on their changing dietary needs. For more information on how their personality and behavior changes over time read this article.

Here are some critical stages of a dog’s age where their diet is concerned:

  • Day 1 to 4 weeks: From the day they are born puppies are dependent on their mother’s milk. This is where they will get everything that they need.
  • 4 to 6 weeks: At about 4 weeks you can start introducing solid foods to their diet. They will still drink from their mother, but they need additional calories. They will suckle less and less
  • 6 weeks to 1 year: Most dogs will be fully weaned by the time they are one and a half months old. They will now only eat solid food. Most puppy products are made for dogs in this age range.
  • 1 year to 7 years: Now your pet is considered an adult. You need to switch their diet that is suitable for this age.
  • + 7 years: Vets usually consider dogs older than seven years seniors. They will now need to eat food for mature animals. It will contain fewer calories and more supplements for bone and joint health.

Dietary Requirements

So what do puppies need precisely?

You need to provide them with the building blocks to grow into healthy and strong adults. Importantly, puppies need to consume more calories than at later stages in their life.

They need the following:

Calories: For every ten pounds a puppy needs 990 calories a day.

Fats: For every 12 pounds they need 21 grams a day.

Protein: For every 12 pounds a pup needs 56 grams of protein.

Besides this, their diet needs to contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

Depending on its contents each brand will provide guidelines for individual products and how much of it dog’s of various weights should eat.

Critical Aspects of Pit Bull Dog Food

Before you decide on a product, you need to consider all the essential features of it. The following are a few of these:

1. Age Range

best dog food for pitbull puppies to gain weight

The very first thing you need to check is whether the food is suitable for your puppies developmental age.

It needs to be comfortable for them to eat and it needs to contain the right balance of nutrients.


2. Nutrients

All commercial food products need to list their ingredients and nutritional content on the container or package.

You should read through this and ensure that it contains everything that your pup needs.



3. Quality

It’s more challenging to assess the quality of the product, but it’s just as essential. The ingredients need to be well sourced.

Besides this, the food should have been tested by the appropriate authorities like the FDA.


4. Form of the food

With puppies, it’s particularly vital that you pay attention to the type of food.

They need to learn to eat solid food. If they are not yet accustomed to dry food, you should instead give them canned products until they can chew kibble.

Only the Best

All of these products could become your pitbull puppies next favorite meal. They are packed full of the right nutrients for this critical developmental stage.

However, my overall winner for the best dog food pitbull puppies is the Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Dog Food

Pups enjoy the shredded meaty bits that are combined with the regular kibble. Many will also enjoy its chicken flavor.

The formula is packed with proteins and fats which your pitbull puppy needs to grow and play.

In addition to this, it contains a range of other beneficial nutrients like DHA. All of this comes at a reasonable price.

Leave a Comment

Popular Posts