Best-for · PetScored desk
Foods whose AAFCO adequacy statement explicitly covers growth. The legally meaningful version of “puppy formula.”
We do not credit “puppy” on the front of the bag - it is not a regulated word. The regulated version is the AAFCO adequacy statement on the back: it says either “growth” or “all life stages” (which covers growth).
Foods that explicitly carve out large-breed puppies are honest - those formulations are calibrated to small or medium puppies, and we keep them in the list but flag the carve-out in the per-product note.
Calorie density, calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and a protein floor all matter for growing dogs. Those inputs feed the Nutrition Fit sub-score; the rubric does not weigh them separately for puppies.
Our pick
Fromm
AAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
A grain-inclusive chicken recipe with named meat meals, menhaden fish meal, and a modest cheese and egg inclusion. Family-owned brand with a strong transparency record; value-priced for the tier.
Runners-up
AAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonAAFCO covers growth, including large-size puppies.
Buy on AmazonHow this list is built
We rank by composite score with a tie-breaker on Nutrition Fit. Growth is the life stage with the strictest nutrient floors; we put the nutrient-fit dimension in front when the score is otherwise tied.
Cuts
FAQ
We rank by composite score with a tie-breaker on Nutrition Fit. Growth is the life stage with the strictest nutrient floors; we put the nutrient-fit dimension in front when the score is otherwise tied.
34 picks cleared the rubric bar for this list. 142 other scored brands were considered and didn't make the cut. We surface both for transparency.
No. PetScored takes no manufacturer money. The list is computed deterministically from the rubric and the public product data. The same inputs produce the same ranking every time. See /trust for the full posture.
Yes - but in defined ways. Adding a new scored product can change the ranking. A rubric version bump (see /methodology/changelog) can change it. A source-confidence update on an existing product can change it. We publish every change.
