Best Dog Foods for Adult & Puppy Puggle – Nutrition Guide

A Puggle is a cross between a Pug and a Beagle. They can weigh between 15 and 40 pounds and stand from 8 to 15 inches tall. They are commonly tan, fawn, or black, but you do see other colors and patterns. Puggles can have either a short face or a long nose.

Puggles have a generally good nature. They are usually active, curious, and make good companions. They like to cuddle and don’t require as much exercise as a Beagle. Puggles make good family dogs but they are not a good choice if you live in an apartment since their parent breeds are known for barking and howling. Some Puggles can have food allergies so this is something to consider when choosing the best dog food for your Puggle.

What to look for in a good Puggle food

Some, but not all, Puggles have food allergies. If your Puggle doesn’t have a food allergy, you should be able to feed him most good quality dog foods. If he does have a food allergy, you will need to try to identify the ingredients that bother him and avoid them. Food allergies and food sensitivities can range from something minor such as a problem with one uncommon ingredient to something major – for example, your dog can’t eat common meat proteins. If switching food and trying a different meat protein doesn’t help your dog when you notice an allergic reaction, you should definitely take your dog to see your veterinarian. Not all allergic reactions are due to food allergies. Your dog might be allergic to something in his environment, for example, so changing foods repeatedly would be useless. It’s best to work with your veterinarian to identify what triggers your dog’s allergies or sensitivities.

Thanks to their relatively small size, you have a lot of food options with Puggles. You can feed a kibble, wet/canned food, or fresh and freeze-dried foods. Some of these foods can be very expensive to feed if you have a very large dog but they are often more affordable if you are feeding a small dog.

Here are some things to look for in a good dog food for your Puggle:

Protein

Protein is one of the most important nutrients in your dog’s diet. It builds and repairs tissue, makes enzymes, hormones, and other chemicals the body needs. And it’s an important component of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. Your Puggle needs good sources of animal protein such as fish, meat, and eggs. Check dog food labels to see what kind of protein is in the food. Avoid animal “digests.” Good foods will have two or three animal proteins in the first several ingredients.

Fat

Dogs get energy from fat in their food. It’s also necessary as a way for the body to use fat-soluble vitamins. Try to avoid foods with generic fats such as “animal fat.” Instead, look for foods that use named fat sources such as “chicken fat” and “salmon oil.”

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates (starches) also supply energy but there is a lot of debate about them in dog food today. Dogs can digest starches but they shouldn’t be a large part of your dog’s diet. Small to moderate amounts of carbs can be healthy for your dog. They will help your dog feel full after eating so he doesn’t demand more food between meals. Fiber is a carbohydrate that is good for your dog. Dietary fibers such as chicory, oats, barley, and beet pulp help your dog’s digestion in small amounts. However, lots of carbs are not good for your dog. Some dog foods today are made up of 40 percent carbs or more. These foods can have filler ingredients and empty calories. They may have less protein than some other foods. If you are interested in very low carb dog foods, check out wet/canned foods. These foods often have low percentages of carbohydrates or even no carbs.

Grains or grain-free?

If your Puggle has food allergies or food sensitivities, you may want to avoid dog foods with grains. There are many good grain free dog foods today. We do recommend that you choose grain free dog foods carefully since some of them have lots of peas, lentils, and other legumes that can be used to boost the protein percentage of the food. These ingredients, in large amounts, can have similar effects on dogs as soybeans (also a legume). In smaller amounts, grain free foods with some peas and lentils should be fine. Or, you may want to consider dog foods that use uncommon grains/cereals such as quinoa. These grains are not common so a dog that is allergic to corn may be unlikely to have an allergic reaction to it.

Artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, sweeteners

In general, you need to avoid all of these ingredients. Many of them have been linked to cancer in human studies. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are preservatives to be avoided. As for artificial colors, your dog isn’t interested in the color of his food anyway. Colors are only added to appeal to the buyer – you.

Best Value Food to Feed a Puggle

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain Free

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes
Key Features :

• High in protein
• Omega-3 for skin and coat health
• No corn, wheat, soy
• No glutens or artificial colors

We recommend American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain Free as a great value dog food. This is Chewy.com’s private label house brand and this formula is American Journey’s bestselling recipe. It’s high in protein with no corn, wheat, or soy. The first three ingredients are salmon, chicken meal, and turkey meal so it has lots of meat protein. Salmon and salmon oil are great sources of Omega-3 to keep your Puggle’s skin and coat healthy. No glutens, artificial colors, or preservatives. This food has 430 kcal/cup. The 24-pound size is priced at $39.99; $35.99 with autoship. Chewy offers 30 percent off your first bag. American Journey has several other recipes your dog might like such as beef, chicken, lamb, large breed, and limited ingredient diets (LID). If your Puggle has food allergies, the limited ingredient diets could be of particular interest.

Best Food to Feed a Puggle Puppy

Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Turkey breast, turkey liver, kale, carrots, lentils
Key Features :

• Delivery schedule chosen by you
• Human-grade
• Portioned Individually for your dog
• Auto-ships direct to your door

If you are looking for a high quality food for your pet, considering a fresh food option is a great place to start. Ollie dog food is considered human-grade and is delivered fresh to your doorstep based on a delivery schedule chosen by you. Although it can be a bit pricey compared to regular dog food, it has a lot of great benefits for keeping your dog healthy and active. They have a few different recipes to choose from. The particular recipe shown in the table above includes carrots (which are full of phytonutrients for eye health), blueberries (which are high in antioxidants), and chia seeds which are a source of copper, zinc, and manganese. The foods are cooked slowly to preserve nutrients and they don’t use any preservatives or fillers. They also include super foods such as chia to help support your pet’s active lifestyle. You can rest-assured, when feeding your dog Ollie, that you are choosing a premium food.

Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage Natural Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Starch, Chicken Fat
Key Features :

• Calcium and phosphorus for growing bones
• DHA for brain development
• Omega 3 and 6 for skin and coat health
• High in protein

Earthborn Holistic has several great dog food product lines. We like Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage Natural Dry Dog Food. It has more protein than many puppy foods with chicken meal and whitefish meal as the first two ingredients. It has DHA for healthy brain development. It uses sweet potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, and barley instead of common grains. Omega-3 and Omega-6 keep your puppy’s skin and coat healthy. The fish is wild-caught. No corn or soy. Correct levels of calcium and phosphorus support your puppy’s growing bones. This food has 445 kcal/cup. Chewy has the 28-pound bag for $47.99. No autoship currently available.

Victor Active Dog & Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Beef Meal, Peas, Sweet Potato, Chicken Fat
Key Features :

• DHA for brain development
• Gluten free
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Good for puppies with sensitive digestion

Victor Active Dog & Puppy Formula Grain Free Dry Dog Food is an all lifestage formula so it can be fed to both puppies and adult dogs. It’s good for dogs with sensitive digestion. It’s gluten-free with no corn, wheat, or soy. This food is higher in protein and uses beef, chicken, pork, and fish meals as sources of meat protein. Sweet potatoes are high in dietary fiber and a good source of antioxidants. They help your puppy’s digestive health. The food also has DHA from Menhaden fish meal for healthy brain development. This food has 397 kcal/cup. Chewy has this formula for $56.84 for a 30-pound bag; or $54.00 with autoship. Victor has several other formulas suitable for puppies.

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Chicken & Turkey Recipe Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Peas
Key Features :

• Human-Grade
• Cooked to Order Weekly
• Portioned Individually for your dog
• Auto-ships direct to your door

This Wellness CORE Grain Free Puppy formula is extremely popular with puppy owners. Featuring deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal as the first three ingredients, it’s high in protein. It’s grain free and gluten-free with no corn, wheat, or soy. DHA from salmon oil supports healthy brain development; while Omega-3 from the same salmon oil keeps your puppy’s skin and coat healthy. Wellness guarantees the calcium and phosphorus levels in the food. The kibble is coated with probiotics to support your dog’s digestive health. No meat by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. This food has 417 kcal/cup. Chewy has it for $59.99 for a 26-pound bag; or $56.99 with autoship.

Best Food to Feed an Adult Puggle

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas
Key Features :

• Probiotics for digestion
• Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
• Grain-free
• Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health

Wellness CORE makes lots of good foods. We like Wellness CORE Grain Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food because it’s specially formulated for small dogs. It’s high in protein with the first three ingredients deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. It’s grain free and gluten-free with no corn, wheat, or soy. It’s formulated to meet the higher energy needs of active small dogs. It has glucosamine and chondroitin which can be good for adult dogs, especially dogs that might be prone to arthritis and hip dysplasia. It also has probiotics to help with your dog’s digestion. Omega fatty acids from salmon oil keep your Puggle’s skin and coat healthy. This food has 396 kcal/cup. Chewy has this food for $37.99 for a 12-pound bag; or $36.09 with autoship.

Zignature Trout & Salmon Meal Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Trout, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil
Key Features :

• Good for dogs with allergies
• No corn, wheat, soy, dairy, or chicken
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Antioxidants and fiber

If your Puggle has food allergies, we can’t think of a better dog food than Zignature. Their foods are limited ingredient diets that use only one source of meat protein in each recipe (unless otherwise noted). They are also good dog foods even if your Puggle doesn’t have a food allergy or sensitivity. Zignature Trout & Salmon Meal Limited Ingredient Formula Grain Free Dry Dog Food has trout and salmon meal as the first two ingredients. They come from the Northwestern U.S. They are great sources of fish protein with Omega-3 fatty acids. No corn, wheat, soy, dairy,  or chicken. This formula also has powerful antioxidants and fiber-rich, low-glycemic carbohydrates. This food has 418 kcal/cup. Available in several other LID formulas. Chewy has this formula for $64.99 for a 27-pound bag. Autoship not currently offered.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry

Healthy Ingredients : Venison, Lamb Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Lentils
Key Features :

• No grain, corn, wheat, or fillers
• Uses novel proteins
• Pro and prebiotics for digestive health
• Omega-3 to support skin and coat health

Taste of the Wild is always enormously popular with both dogs and their owners. They are good grain free dog foods at a moderate price. Taste of the Wild Appalachian Small Breed Grain Free Dry Dog Food is made especially for small dogs. This formula uses novel meat proteins such as venison and duck, along with lamb, egg, and ocean fish meal, to provide lots of protein for your Puggle. Probiotics and prebiotic fiber help your dog’s digestion. Omega-3 supports your dog’s skin and coat. No grain, corn, wheat, filler, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. This food has 370 kcal/cup. Chewy has the 28-pound bag for $49.99; or $47.49 with autoship.

Puggle Feeding Guide

An adult Puggle that weighs 30 pounds needs about 900 calories per day. The exact amount will depend on how active he is, his age, and his metabolism. Even if you have two Puggles and they get the same amount of exercise, they may need different amounts of food and calories. Dogs that are spayed or neutered usually need slightly fewer calories. If your dog is older (over 7 years of age), you may need to adjust his calorie intake. Most older dogs start to slow down and put on extra pounds, at least until they reach an advanced age. At that time they may need more calories and more protein again to help them maintain a healthy weight.

Puggle puppies grow fast during their first few months. For example, a Puggle puppy that weighs 15 pounds (4-12 months) needs about 600 calories per day. Puppy foods are specially formulated to provide more calories during this first year. Small breed puppy foods, in particular, will provide plenty of calories for small puppies. They also have tiny kibble pieces to make it easy for small puppies to eat the food.

It’s usually a good idea to feed a small puppy like a Puggle about four small meals per day for the first few months after weaning. You can gradually change to three meals. By the time your puppy is nearly a year old or an adult dog, you can start feeding him two meals per day. Adult Puggles usually get two meals per day.

Use the feeding guidelines on dog food labels as a starting point for how much to feed your Puggle. However, these guidelines are only suggested amounts. Pugs and Beagles are two breeds that really tend to like their food which means that the Puggle usually enjoys his meals – sometimes a little too much. You will need to watch how much you feed your Puggle. Measure your dog’s portions so your dog doesn’t become porky. That can happen very easily with Puggles. Being overweight or obese can lead to serious health problems later in life for a Puggle.

4 Best Foods to Feed a Puppy Puggles

Puggle puppies, like all puppies, need more calories while they are growing. They also need more protein. Look for puppy foods that have DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) since this compound has been shown to help with a puppy’s brain development. Good puppy foods will also have the right calcium and phosphorus ratio (1.2 parts of calcium for each 1 part of phosphorous – 1.2:1).

Puggle Puppy Foods Comparison Table
Rank	Product	Price	Rating
Human Grade	Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Save 50% Here	Varies	A+
#1	Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage Natural Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.73/lb	A+
#2	Victor Active Dog & Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.89/lb	A
#3	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Chicken & Turkey Recipe Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.63/lb	A

3 Best Foods to Feed an Adult Puggle

Since adult Puggles can weigh anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds, you can choose a small breed dog food or a food for medium dogs. Most foods for medium-sized dogs don’t have a size label. They are the standard food for a brand.

Adult Puggle Food Comparison Table
Rank	Product	Price	Rating
#1	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.16/lb	A+
#2	Zignature Trout & Salmon Meal Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$2.40/lb	A
#3	Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.63/lb	A

Conclusion

Puggles have lots of fans. Whether your Puggle is 15 pounds or 40; whether he has a short face or a long nose, feeding him right is important. We hope the suggestions here help you choose the best food for your Puggle. Remember that if you think your Puggle has a food allergy or sensitivity, don’t spend a lot of time changing foods. It’s usually quicker and less trouble for you and your dog to visit your veterinarian so you can determine what kind of allergy or sensitivity your dog has. That will make it a lot easier to choose the best food later.