The Best Dog Food for Beagles — (Senior, Puppy, Adult)

As per the American Kennel Club (AKC), beagles are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the country. There’s a good reason for this. It is difficult to resist the cute factor of these little hounds, with their brown or hazel eyes and long floppy ears. As loving as they are loveable, they make great pets for children because of their docile nature. Despite their friendly nature, these dogs are still hunting dogs at heart. You’ll have to give them plenty of exercise if you can’t take them rabbit hunting. To nourish their quick minds and their athletic bodies, be sure to feed them the best dog food for beagles.

Beagles were developed centuries ago to hunt prey. No matter whether they need the calories or not, they can sniff out food with that same nose. Dogs that chase prey have very different caloric requirements from those that chase a ball in the yard. For this reason, you’ll need to keep a close eye on your beagle’s food intake and activity level. To save you time and money, we’ve researched, ranked, and rated the best dog food for beagles so that you can spend more time playing with your dog. 

Top Picks: The Best Dog Food for Beagles Today

#1. Best Overall: Stella & Chewy’s Classic Kibble

Our choice for the best overall dog food for beagles is Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Classic Wholesome Grains. Beagles need lots of protein to support their active lifestyle, whether they’re hunting, participating in canine sports, or just romping with your kids. This protein-rich kibble is filled with “whole prey” ingredients, including muscle meat, organ meats, and cartilage from beef, pork, and lamb sources. In fact, 81% of the protein in this formula comes from animal sources.

Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Classic Wholesome Grains support your beagle’s overall health with a blend of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, including Taurine for heart health. It contains no fillers, legumes, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It is important to note, however, that this recipe is high in carbohydrates. So if your beagle is overweight, then this might not be the best option. 

Stella & Chewy’s founder was inspired by how quickly her dog recovered from an illness after being on a raw diet. She launched the company from her small Brooklyn apartment 16 years ago. Today, this low-carbohydrate recipe is crafted in small batches in Oak Creek, WI to ensure product quality and safety.

Pros and Cons of Stella & Chewy’s Classic Kibble

Best Overall

Stella & Chewy's Classic Kibble

• Packed full of protein with beef, pork, and lamb
• Crafted without legumes or poultry
• 81% of protein is from actual animal sources
• "Whole prey” ingredients including muscle meat, organ meat, and cartilage
• No fillers, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

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2. Best for Puppies: Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food

The Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food is sure to delight your beagle puppy.

Veterinarian-recommended Hill’s Science Diet Puppy dry food is formulated to provide puppies under a year old with the precise nutrition they need to grow and reach their full potential. It includes quality protein, vitamins, and minerals to support lean muscle growth, strong bones, and healthy teeth. A blend of antioxidants, including vitamins E and C, support a healthy immune system. Omega-3 fatty acids and DHA from fish oil support eye and brain development so your young beagle can get the best possible start in life.

Hill’s Science puppy dry food is made with natural ingredients in the U.S.A. from quality ingredients sourced from around the world. These delicious ingredients make this recipe tasty and easy for little puppy tummies to digest. They’re made without any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Aside from meat meal as the first ingredient, grains are the second, third, and fourth ingredients in Hill’s Science Diet puppy food. They don’t necessarily add fiber to your pup’s diet, though. Whole grains are good, like whole grain wheat, but there are also grains like corn gluten meal and sorghum. Dogs don’t get sick from these, but they’re not that healthy either.

Because puppies are growing and playing, they tend to eat more calories more frequently than adult dogs do. Monitor your new little friend carefully and adjust how much you feed her to be sure that she’s getting adequate calories and maintaining her optimal weight. Your veterinarian can guide you if you’re unsure.

Pros and Cons of the Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food

Best for Puppies

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

• Quality protein, vitamins, and minerals
• DHA from fish oil support eye and brain development
• Easily digestible
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

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3. Best for Seniors: Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity 7+

In the Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity 7+ formula, your older beagle will get all of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Every serving of the Purina ONE SmartBlend gives your mature beagle the special nutritional support she needs. The first ingredient in this high-protein dog food is chicken to support her muscles. And because the formula contains no fillers so you can be sure that every ingredient will help your friend thrive.

This veterinarian-recommend recipe includes enhanced botanical oils to promote your dog’s mental sharpness and energy. It contains natural sources of glucosamine for healthy joints. Its protein-rich, crunchy, meaty morsels will entice your beagle with its texture and taste.  

Purina has manufactured high-quality pet food for over 90 years guided by the belief that “pets and people are better together.” That’s why they focus on innovation, sustainability, and quality.  In fact, they craft over 99% of their pet products in the U.S. so they can carefully monitor the quality of each batch. Over the past few years, there have been a number of recalls associated with the brand. Nevertheless, as of today, there has not been a recall of this specific formula.

Pros and Cons of the Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity 7+

Best for Seniors

Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity 7+

• High-protein
• Contains no fillers
• Veterinarian-recommend
• Includes enhanced botanical oils 

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4. Best Dry Food: Iams Adult Minichunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food

Look no further than Iams Adult Minichunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food if you are looking for the best dry dog food for your beagle.

Iams Adult Minichunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken contains real farm-raised chicken as its first ingredient to develop and maintain the muscles of active breeds like Beagles. It contains a specially formulated blend of fibers and prebiotics that promote healthy digestion. It also includes antioxidants to keep your pal’s immune system strong.

This delicious recipe features small-sized kibble that many dogs enjoy because it’s easier for them to pick up. Each tasty bag is made in the U.S.A. from the world’s finest ingredients for 100% complete and balanced nutrition that doesn’t contain artificial preservatives, flavors, or fillers. However, the low moisture content of the food does not encourage hydration.

IAMS is named after its founder, Paul Iams, who manufactured his first bag of premium dog food in 1950. He created a higher-protein, higher-fat dog food than was commercially available at the time. Today, IAMS distributes its high-quality pet food in over 70 countries. And the company continues to develop cutting-edge recipes for pets in their research center in Lewisburg, OH.

Pros and Cons of the Iams Minichunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food

Best Dry Food

Iams Adult MiniChunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food

• Contains real farm-raised chicken
• Fibers and prebiotics for healthy digestion
• No artificial preservatives, flavors, or fillers
• Made in the U.S.A.

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5. Best Wet Food: Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Chicken & Beef

Whether you have a chicken or beef-loving beagle, Nature’s Recipe Prime Blend Chicken & Beef is the right wet food for them.

Real chicken isn’t just the first ingredient in this high-quality wet dog food. It’s the main ingredient. Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Chicken & Beef Recipe’s high-protein formula also features real beef and bone broth, sweet potatoes, and green beans for a savory flavor your Beagle will love. This grain-free recipe includes added vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, such as active antioxidants to support your best buddy’s general health.

Nature’s Recipe selects each ingredient in all of its dog foods to serve a specific purpose. Chicken, for example, maintains healthy muscle and organs, while sweet potatoes provide dietary fiber to support your dog’s healthy digestion. And they’re just as careful to exclude ingredients that don’t contribute to your dog’s well-being like artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, corn, wheat, or poultry by-product meal. However, it is worth noting that the recipe does contain guar gum & carrageenan. While these aren’t outright harmful ingredients, they are controversial in the dog food world. 

Nature’s Recipe has been crafting healthy, natural pet food for 35 years. They’re owned by Big Heart Pet Brands, which is a division of J.M. Smucker Company in Orville, OH. They manufacture their dry foods in the U.S. and their wet recipes in Thailand.

Pros and Cons of the Nature’s Recipe Prime Blends Chicken & Beef

Best Wet Food

Nature's Recipe Prime Blends Chicken & Beef

• Real chicken is the main ingredient
• Savory flavor
• Added vitamins and minerals
• No corn or wheat

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What to Look For in the Best Dog Food for Beagles

As active dogs, beagles need high-quality food to stay healthy. If you happen to be the owner of a beagle, then you know how much they love to eat. Since they possess powerful noses, they can sniff out a good meal based on their strong sense of smell. As a result of this, and because you love them, you’re going to want to provide the very best food for your beagle. But, what is the best food for them? This can be the most challenging part.

Choosing the best dog food for your beagle requires consideration of three main factors:

• Price 
• Quality 
• Wet or dry food

In the following sections, we will examine each factor in greater detail:

Price

It’s not always a good idea to buy cheap dog food just because it’s a bargain. In most cases, it contains cheap ingredients called “fillers” that provide no nutritional value. On the other hand, premium dog food is made with high-quality ingredients that keep your beagle healthy for a lifetime.

Quality

Inexpensive dog foods include fillers like artificial flavors, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, corn, wheat, and poultry by-product meal. Premium-quality dog foods, on the other hand, include real ingredients you’d feed to the human members of your family, such as meat, vegetables, and fruits. They also include supplements like essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to support your pet’s health.

Wet or Dry Food Options

The dog food discussed in this review is available in dry (kibble) and wet (canned) recipes. The decision to choose one over the other depends on your dog’s health and nutritional needs. Older dogs tend to do well with wet food as it has a higher moisture content and can help keep them hydrated. Younger dogs often enjoy the texture of dry food.

The 2 Different Types of Dog Food for Beagles

In the world of dog food, there are many different types of food available. In fact, there are two different types of dog food that you can choose from if you want to provide your beagle with the best diet. It is important that you understand the differences between dry food (kibble) and wet food (canned food) when choosing the best dog food for your beagle.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each type:

• Dry dog food — This option is less expensive than canned food. Unopened bags have a shelf life of up to 18 months from the date of manufacture. Removes plaque and tartar. Opened food must be stored in a moisture-proof container. Can be difficult for older dogs to chew when their gums get more sensitive. 
• Wet canned food — Most dogs prefer canned food because it tastes more like real meat. Great for senior and ill dogs that don’t have a good appetite. More expensive. Must refrigerate after opening.

Up Next

• Choosing the Best Dog Food: Everything You Need to Know — Check out our complete guide to dog food here. Whether you need food for large dogs, small dogs, puppies, or seniors, we’ve got you covered.
• The Best Dry Dog Food — Take a look at the very best dry food on the market today to feed your pup the very best.
• The Best Wet Dog Food — Does your pup prefer wet dog food? Look no further, we’ve got your covered with our comprehensive list!