You’ve just brought home an adorable Maltipoo puppy from the breeder, and you’re excited to watch this little ball of fluff grow into an adult. Puppies of all breeds need well-balanced nutrition to grow up strong and healthy, but not all puppy foods are created equal.

There are many brands on the market, ranging from cheaper brands full of filler ingredients to more expensive brands that start with proteins as the first ingredient. It’s not easy to wade through all the puppy foods out there (trust us, we know), so we’ve provided reviews for the best dog foods for Maltipoo puppies below.

A Glance at Our Winners in 2024

The 10 Best Dog Foods for Maltipoo Puppies

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Chicken Subscription – Best Overall

Our choice for the #1 best overall dog food for Maltipoo puppies is The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Chicken Recipe. This food is packed with all the goodness you want for your Maltipoo pup and offers a great taste they will love. This recipe offers lots of protein thanks to chicken being the main ingredient and chicken liver not being far behind.

Those aren’t the only beneficial ingredients, however. Your pup will also get the benefits of tasty veggies that are rich in vitamins and minerals such as broccoli, Bok choy, and Brussels sprouts. You’ll also love that each The Farmer’s Dog recipe has fish oil to help promote healthier skin and coats.

The only downside we found with this food is the higher cost. This is a subscription food, and with such high-quality ingredients, a higher price is to be expected. All in all, we think The Farmer’s Dog is the best option for Maltipoo puppies.

---

2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Food – Budget Buy

Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Natural Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is a good budget option for a Maltipoo puppy. Chicken is the first ingredient in this small-bite dry food that will help puppies build muscle mass during their early formative months. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are added using chicken fat, sunflower oil, and Menhaden Fish Oil to support brain and vision development.

Essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A and calcium, are added to the formula to ensure puppies get proper nutrition from this tasty food. The food is formulated to be easily digestible, but some puppies might still develop loose stools if the food is too rich for their digestive systems.

---

3. ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food

ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food is another good choice dog food for Maltipoo puppies because it has a high protein content for rapidly growing puppies. The first five ingredients are chicken, turkey, turkey giblets (using the liver, heart, and gizzard), flounder, and whole mackerel. Additional protein sources are eggs, chicken liver, whole herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated mackerel, and dehydrated chicken liver.

This formula is a grain-free formula and includes several legumes, including lentils, pinto beans, navy beans, and more. Legumes are still being investigated by the FDA to determine if they are contributing to diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), so it’s best to check with your vet to see if your Maltipoo puppy needs to be on a grain-free diet.

ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food is high in protein, which may be difficult for some dogs to digest, resulting in loose stools. Some picky puppies may not like the richness of the formula or the scent because of the fishy smell it can produce.

---

4. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dry Puppy Food

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Puppy Food is another good choice for Maltipoo puppies. Puppies need protein to help them develop healthy muscles as they grow up, so quality protein must be the first item on the ingredient list when picking food. This Purina Pro formula has chicken as its main ingredient to ensure a high protein percentage for growing puppies.

Grains are also important for cardiovascular health, and this food has several grains in the first five ingredients, including rice, corn gluten meal, and whole-grain wheat. This puppy formula also contains DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid to help with developing strong vision and brains in growing puppies. The inclusion of omega-6 fatty acids, along with vitamin A, helps make the coat and skin healthy. Calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals help create strong bones and teeth. The addition of antioxidants supports a puppy’s immune system to keep it healthy.

The food is a small kibble and should be easy to chew for Maltipoos. If your puppy is having some trouble chewing these small bites, you can moisten the food to make it a bit easier on their teeth.

---

5. Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food is next on our list of dog foods for Maltipoo puppies. This small kibble is the perfect size for chewing for those small puppy mouths and jaws. It’s formulated to meet the energy needs of small breed puppies during their quick, intense first year of growth, and is recommended for the first 10 months of life.

Prebiotics and easily digestible proteins encourage healthy digestion and bowel movements. The formula is also packed full of vitamins and antioxidants to support a growing puppy’s immune system. The Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Food may have a smell that is too strong for some pups.

---

6. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food is another good dog food for a Maltipoo puppy. Chicken meal provides an easily digestible protein for small Maltipoos, while whole grains, such as wheat, sorghum, pearled barley, and corn help support heart health in growing puppies.

This food is loaded with antioxidants, as well as vitamins E and C to help support a developing immune system. Fish oil provides DHA to support eye and brain development in your growing Maltipoo. The small kibble size means it’s easy for tiny Maltipoo mouths to chew. The smell of the food may be a bit strong for pups with sensitive sniffers, but most Maltipoos should enjoy the food.

---

7. Adirondack 30% Protein Recipe Puppy & Performance Dogs

Adirondack 30% Protein Recipe Puppy & Performance Dogs Dry Dog Food has a high protein count for Maltipoo puppies in training for canine performance sports. Sustaining a high-protein diet while preparing for agility sports will help puppies develop the muscle mass they’ll gain rapidly during their first year of life.

Adirondack slowly cooks their food in small batches at low temperatures to ensure that the dry food retains the proper nutrients for increased energy and stamina for sports. It also contains 20% fats to support brain development, using menhaden fish oil and flaxseed, which contain omega-3s and omega-6s.

This food is rich in protein and other nutrients and may be too rich for dogs’ digestive systems. So, it’s best to only try this food if you’re training your Maltipoo for canine sports.

---

8. Merrick Lil’ Plates Chicken & Sweet Potato Dry Puppy Food

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Puppy Dry Dog Food is a good choice for Maltipoo puppies that have been recommended to switch to a grain-free diet by their vet. This tasty food contains deboned chicken, chicken meal, salmon meal, and dried egg to provide plenty of protein for growing puppies. It contains an array of fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, apples, sweet potatoes, and potatoes to provide a well-balanced dry food.

Merrick Lil’ Plates also contains omega-3s, omega-6s, glucosamine, and chondroitin for healthy muscles and ligaments. Essential vitamins and minerals are added for healthy immune system development, as well as probiotics to support digestion. The pellets may be a little hard for some smaller mouths, but they can be softened using water to help with chewability.

---

9. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Dry Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food starts with real meat as the first ingredient to ensure a high protein count for a growing puppy. This Blue Buffalo formula contains whole grains, such as brown rice, oatmeal, and barley to create a well-balanced diet. Blue Buffalo also added fruits and veggies to this dry food, as well as their LifeSource bits, which is their blend of nutrients that includes a Super 7 bundle of ingredients rich in antioxidants.

This food does contain pea protein and pea fiber, so if you’re worried about the previously mentioned FDA concern about legumes contributing to DCM in dogs, you might want to look at some of the other foods on our list.

---

10. Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Formula

Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food is formulated with the nutrition of smaller breeds in mind. Cage-free chicken is first on the ingredient list to provide a protein punch for a growing Maltipoo. The food is formulated to provide a well-balanced diet with whole grains including ground white rice, quinoa, and cracked pearl barley. Fruits and vegetables are also included in this food, such as kale, pumpkin, oranges, blueberries, spinach, carrots, and more. Salmon oil provides DHA for healthy brain development, and there are omega fatty acids added for healthy skin and a smooth coat.

Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food also contains a species-specific K-9 blend of propriety probiotics for digestive health. The brand also adds prebiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to ensure small breeds get all the nutrition they need from their food. This food may be a bit rich for some puppies, and they may have trouble with loose stools.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Your Maltipoo Puppy

Owners of small breed puppies, like Maltipoos, need to focus on adequate nutrition for their puppies to grow up healthy and strong. There are a few things to consider, though, when it comes to choosing the best food for a smaller pup like the Maltipoo. After reading our reviews on just some of the puppy foods out there, you might still be wondering which is the right brand for your pup. We’ve created this Buyer’s Guide to give you some additional thoughts to consider before making a puppy food purchase.

Bag Size

We’re going to warn you right off the bat—it might take you a couple of tries to find the right puppy food for your Maltipoo. Many people think that it’s as simple as just picking a bag and bringing it home, and voilà! Your angel puppy will gobble it right up. Puppies can be just as picky as young children when it comes to their food, and something they love one day may be completely disgusting to them the next.

We recommend purchasing the smallest bag available when purchasing a new type of puppy food. You don’t want to spend $50 on a bag of puppy food when it turns out that your puppy only eats it for three days. Give it a good couple of weeks, and if your puppy seems to be consistently eating their food, go ahead and purchase a larger bag. Be forewarned, though, that your puppy may suddenly decide it doesn’t like its food after eating it for a few months, and you might have to switch to a different food again.

Kibble Shape and Texture

It’s also important to keep in mind kibble size when purchasing your new puppy food. If the kibble is too large, your Maltipoo might have trouble chewing it, and your pup won’t eat it. Make sure to focus on puppy foods specifically formulated for small breeds, or at least check and make sure the kibble size is small enough for your puppy’s mouth. The crunchy texture of many dry puppy foods helps clean your puppy’s teeth as it chews, but if the food is too hard, try softening it up with some water to make it easier to chew.

Protein Percentages

In the list of brands we reviewed, you’re sure to notice all the different protein percentages of the different brands. Your puppy will need a high percentage of protein to help it grow up big and strong with healthy muscles, but protein also plays a huge part in your pup’s energy levels. Pups that are very active need more protein in their diet to give them energy and stamina for their daily adventures.

If your Maltipoo isn’t high-energy, you’ll need an average amount of protein, but many Maltipoos have a high energy level that makes them suitable for canine sports. If your pup is participating in agility or other performance sports, it will need food with a higher percentage of protein to maintain its energy, stamina, and muscles.

Grains vs Grain-free

The FDA is currently investigating if grain-free dog foods are contributing to higher incidences of diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious disease that can cause heart problems in your dog. While grain-free diets using legumes have gained in popularity in recent years, many dogs don’t need legumes as part of their diet to maintain healthy nutrition.

While some health issues could benefit from a grain-free diet for your pup, it’s best to check with your vet to see if your pup needs to be on a grain-free diet before you switch their food.

Final Verdict

So, there you have it—our recommendations of the best dog foods for Maltipoo puppies.

The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Chicken Recipe was our choice for the best overall dog food due to its great ingredient list and high protein content. Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Natural Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is our pick if you’re on a tight budget.

We hope these reviews help you make the correct food choice for your Maltipoo puppy.

---

Featured Image Credit: market plan, Shutterstock