Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time for a family. While you’ll have a number of important considerations facing you — including training and adjusting to the wonderful changes that a puppy brings to the home — one of the most pressing questions you need to address is your choice of food. 

With the variety of different types of puppy food available on the market, you want to make sure you choose one that will help your dog grow healthy and strong, ready to live up to its full potential and become the active, fun-loving, mature dog they can be. Active dogs make excellent pets, but they need food that will work with their digestive system and nourish their bodies.

Bully Max can help you identify some important considerations as you evaluate puppy pet food. See if these ideas can help you select the option that will work best for your new dog.

Why Is Diet Important for Your Puppy?

You want to give your dog the best possible start at life, and a well-balanced diet helps them achieve just that. When you find a puppy food that addresses their nutritional needs and nourishes their body, you help your dog grow healthy and strong.

Your pitbull puppy has different nutritional requirements than a full-grown dog, which is why you want to find food uniquely suited for them. They need food specifically formulated to help them grow, whereas adult dogs require a diet to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. 

You may find brands of puppy food that target dogs at different stages of development or grow with your dog as they mature throughout the first few years of life and into adulthood.

By selecting the right food, you will give your pitbull puppy’s body the strength it needs to build muscle, gain weight, and grow while their brain also develops and matures. Your puppy’s food will need to have the proper balance of high-quality protein, fats, carbs, vitamins, and minerals — such as calcium — that will help every system in your dog’s body. 

What Options Are Available When It Comes to Finding the Best Dog Food?

As you begin your search for the best dog food for a pitbull’s diet, the food available comes in a few varieties. The most common is dry dog food or kibble. You can also find high-quality dog food in the form of wet food. 

Some people will also elect to make their own dog food with the guidance of their veterinarian to ensure their pooch receives a well-balanced diet with plenty of real meat. This option can help dogs who have health issues or food allergies, as it provides more control over the ingredients.

Some dog food available will also have different ingredients, such as grain-free options. They might also contain various omega fatty acids, probiotics, amino acids, and antioxidants.

5 Tips for Finding the Best Pitbull Puppy Food

Although the different brands of puppy food have been formulated to create a nutrient profile that best fits what growing dogs need, differences exist between the different brands and options. Here are some ideas to start differentiating between them.

Consult With Your Vet About Nutritional Options

The first place to begin your search lies with your vet. Your vet has been trained in animal health and has extensive experience working with puppies just like yours. This gives them great insight into the different types of puppy food.

The vet has also examined and worked with your dog. This means that if your puppy has any special dietary considerations, the vet can help you by offering food recommendations and let you know what you should look for with commercial food. They can advise you about certain ingredients, such as flaxseed, or if your dog should avoid lentils and focus on more meat meals. 

Begin by asking your vet about the nutrient profile they recommend you follow for your pitbull puppy. The vet should give you information regarding what you should look for in the puppy food you select. You may also want to ask for suggestions regarding the percent protein or types of veggies your puppy’s food should contain. 

Read Dog Food Labels

You should never buy dog food for your pitbull puppy blindly. Always make sure to read dog food labels and compare before making a decision.

Ingredients 

Now that you have spoken to your vet regarding the nutrient profile you want for your pitbull puppy, the next step will require some research from you. Start by examining the ingredient lists on a few types of dog food. See how well these options align with what your vet recommends you get for your growing puppy. Pay particular attention to the first ingredient — if it lists something undesirable, such as a filler instead of solid protein sources, this might not be the right food for you.

You can also use your research to better understand the different ingredients used in dog food. For example, dog food should balance high protein, fat, and carbohydrates, but the specific ingredients used to create this nutrient profile will vary. 

Some types of food might contain higher amounts of preservatives, fillers, artificial flavors, or undesirable by-products. You might find some that contain sweet potatoes or venison, while another primarily uses chicken meal (learn more about the benefits of chicken meal). Look for natural ingredients that you recognize for your dog’s diets and omega-3 fatty acid like DHA, such as fish oil, to promote healthy brain growth.

Designations 

Keep in mind that the balance of nutrients also changes depending on the type of dog. In other words, smaller breeds will require a different balance than a large-breed dog like your pitbull. Giving dogs the wrong balance of nutrients or the incorrect protein content can increase the risk of health issues, such as joint problems. 

Therefore, you want to look for dog food labels that not only include the ingredients you want to see but also show they’ve been created specifically for dogs of the same size as yours. 

Certification 

While you examine the dog food label, also verify this food has been reviewed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This body helps set the standards for dog food, ensuring you get what you expect to receive.

Ask Other Pitbull Owners About Which Dog Foods They Use

Another great source of information for your dog’s diet comes from other pitbull owners, particularly those who also got their dogs as puppies. Ask these fellow dog owners if their dogs appreciated any particular foods as puppies and if they have any recommendations.

They can also provide details, such as if something ever made them switch brands and why they selected a particular brand. This can help you better evaluate your priorities when selecting your puppy’s food.

Consider a Brand That Offers Food for Each of Your Dog’s Life Stages

As your puppy begins to mature, you need a brand that offers protein-rich food you can trust. Certain dog food brands specialize in creating food that will support your dog’s growth throughout all stages of life. 

Bully Max is a great example. Our High-Performance Dog Food has an all-life-stages formula designed for both puppies and adult dogs. And with 30% protein, 20% fat, and 100% natural ingredients, you’ll never have to worry about what’s in your dog’s food.

Don’t Forget About Exercise

Complementing your dog’s diet should also be plenty of exercise. As a pitbull, your puppy wants to run and play hard. They are bundles of muscles and energy and want to engage with you, which is an important part of their overall wellness. Make sure that as your puppy grows up, you take time each day to give them the exercise they need to keep their muscles strong, grow in a healthy way, and help them be on their best behavior.

As you select your puppy food, you can also use these times of engaging with your pet to learn more about how specific food influences their health. You can gauge your puppy’s energy levels and watch as they begin to grow and build muscles. 

However, watch for signs of a sensitive stomach, indicating that something in the food irritates them. Remain in regular communication with your vet, too, so that you can get their feedback regarding the overall health and growth of your dog.

Find the Best Dog Food for Pitbulls With Bully Max

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time for any family. Your new pitbull puppy needs a lot of love, attention, care, and training, but they also need the right food to help them grow into an adult pitbull and thrive.

When it comes to feeding your pitbull puppy, Bully Max offers the optimal balance of nutrition to help them grow into strong, healthy dogs. The right food can support their immune system, support healthy joints, and encourage your pitbull to reach their full potential. With food for all stages of your dog’s life, we make it easy to make excellent nutritional decisions for your new puppy. Discover more of our puppy food products today.