The Best Royal Canin Puppy Foods: Reviewed and Ranked

Imagine walking down the dog food aisle at a local pet-food shop or browsing the dog food section of your favorite pet supply online store. One thing is sure: You will be presented with a myriad of options. With each row or click, you see more food options, and choosing the best one for your puppy becomes a daunting task.

This scenario may be familiar to many puppy owners, especially those who are new to canine feeding. The number of dog food options is no longer as limited as it once was. On the one hand, this means you can get specially formulated recipes for almost any health issue your puppy might encounter. On the contrary, the decision-making process has become more complex.

As you consider options ranging from wet food to semi-moist and kibble, make sure you have enough information from your breeder and veterinarian. This is especially important for first-time puppy parents or those who need to change their puppy’s diet. 

We understand that nutrition is critical to your puppy’s overall development. Here’s a well-researched list of the best Royal Canin Puppy Foods to assist you in selecting the best for your adorable puppy. These foods have been ranked according to their uniqueness, quality, and consumer reviews.

1. Best Overall: Royal Canin Puppy Canned Dog Food

Our top choice for the best Royal Canin food for your puppy is the Royal Canin Puppy Canned Dog Food. It is recommended for small breed puppies up to 10 months and large breed puppies up to 15 months. 

With its multiple protein sources, this pate-style food is a great choice for your young canines. It also has taurine, vitamins C and E that support its growing immune system. 

This product contains beet pulp and fish oil which boost the developing gastrointestinal functions of your puppies. Guaranteed to offer balanced nutrition, it can be served as a whole meal or a topping for kibble. The best part? It is suited for small, medium, and large breeds. 

After feeding this formula to his picky cockapoo, a tester decided to continue using it until the puppy turned 1. It’s one of the few foods his beloved cockapoo accepts wholeheartedly. 

Best Overall

Royal Canin Puppy Canned Dog Food

• This pate-style food is formulated for small breed puppies up to 10 months old and large breed puppies up to 15 months
• Contains multiple protein sources
• Also contains taurine and vitamins C and E, which support a growing puppy's immune system
• Fish oil and beet pulp are included for digestive health
• Suitable for small, medium, and large dog breed puppies

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2. Best for Sensitive Stomachs: Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Puppy Ultra Soft Mousse in Sauce Canned Dog Food

Royal Canin specially formulated this product for puppies with digestive sensitivities. More often than not, puppies experience stomach upset due to their underdeveloped digestive systems. 

If your fur babies show gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, it’s best to check with your vet before placing them on this diet. Keep in mind that this product can only be bought under the prescription of a veterinarian. 

The mousse textured wet food is a high-energy, high digestible protein formula that does more than support the sensitive stomachs of puppies. It also helps to stimulate their appetite and aid the transition from milk to solid food.

Packed with a nutritious blend of prebiotics, dietary fibers, and Omega-3s, it maintains the balance of good bacteria in a dog’s gut, relieves an upset GI tract, and improves stool quality.

According to one of our testers, this product was prescribed by a vet for his Yorkie puppy. “So far, it’s helped her with her soft stool and upset stomach problems, and she loves the food,” he added.

Best for Sensitive Stomachs

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Puppy Gastro-intestinal Ultra Soft Mousse in Sauce

• Formulated for puppies, which often have "tummy" troubles because their digestive systems are still developing
• Requires a veterinarian's prescription to purchase
• The mousse texture provides highly digestible protein in a form little tummies can digest easily
• This recipe gives puppies the high energy they need to grow and play
• Fortified with prebiotics, dietary fiber, and Omega-3 fatty acids that calm digestive issues and improve stool quality

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3. Best for German Shepherds: Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Dry Dog Food

German Shepherd puppies are intelligent, active, and alert as they grow into protective and faithful companions. Little wonder why this is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States.

This dog breed, also known as Alsatian, requires the right diet to strengthen their immune systems and help them grow into their best selves.

This product is made exclusively for purebred German Shepherd puppies aged 8 weeks to 15 months. It contains fibers, highly digestible proteins, antioxidants, and vitamin E to build natural defenses and improve digestive health. 

With a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, your German Shepherd puppy is sure to develop strong bones and joints. The texture and size of the kibble are ideal for the puppy’s teeth and mouth.

There are many great ingredients in this specific formula, however, one thing to look out for is chicken by-product. This is what is left of the chicken after the “prime” cuts have been removed. The same goes for corn, soy, wheat gluten, and other grains. These have been known to cause allergies in some dogs and have little nutritional value.

A couple started feeding this to their 3-month-old German Shepherd puppy. He’s now six months old, and they’re comforted that their beloved GSD is developing into a healthy, thick dog.

Best for Puppies

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition German Shepherd Puppy

• Designed for growing GSD puppies
• Improves digestive issues and helps with overall development
• Contains essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus
• Easy to absorb

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4. Best for Nursing Mothers and Puppies: Royal Canin Small Starter Mother and Babydog Dry Dog Food

Looking for a product that can help your puppy get off to a good start in life? Your best bet is Royal Canin Mother and Baby dog food. This recipe is there for a mother and her puppies every step of the way, from gestation to birth, lactation to weaning, and up to 2 months of growth.

With a protein content of 28%, it aids the puppies’ transition from mother’s milk to solids. It keeps their natural defenses strong while also improving their digestive health.

The kibble can disintegrate into a texture suitable for both the mother and her weaning puppies.

“I ordered a Royal Canin Starter for my pregnant dog and her upcoming puppies. She adores it, and I’m confident it is providing her with everything she requires and will pass it to them later,” a user remarked.

Best for Nursing Mothers and Puppies

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Mother & Babydog Dry Dog Food

• Formulated for a mother dog to eat while she's pregnant, lactating, and weaning her puppies
• Contains 28% protein to help puppies transition from their mother's milk to solid food
• Helps to build puppies' immune and digestive systems
• Can be fed to the mother dog until her puppies are two-months-old

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5. Best for Gassy French Bulldogs: Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy Dry Dog Food

Got a Frenchie that farts a lot? French bulldogs are naturally prone to gas issues because they have more sensitive stomachs than many other dog breeds.

 Some of the reasons your adorable Frenchie farts so much around the house include food allergies, frequent air swallowing, and obesity. However, a proper diet can reduce the frequency of farting and even lessen the stench. 

This formula features essential nutrients, highly digestible proteins, fibers, and antioxidants that suit the dietary requirements of your purebred French Bulldog puppy aged 8 weeks to 12 months old. These ingredients work together to boost immunity, reduce gassiness, improve skin health, and promote digestive health.

Its curved-shaped kibble fits your Frenchie’s flat muzzle and underbite making it easy for him to pick and chew.

This product was recommended by a veterinarian to a tester, and it has been a complete game changer since she began feeding it to her 15-week-old Frenchie.

Best for French Bulldog Puppies

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition French Bulldog Puppy

• Formulated specifically for purebred French bulldog puppies 8 weeks to 12 months old
• The kibble's unique shape helps French bulldog puppies pick up and chew their food easily
• Contains a proprietary blend of antioxidants, including vitamin E, to support your puppy's developing immune system
• Ingredients also support skin and coat health
• Formulated with highly digestible proteins and specific fiber content to reduce gas and stool odor

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6. Best for Yorkies: Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Dry Dog Food

Yorkies are one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. As such, these bright little canines need small-sized kibble that is easy to pick and chew. Their lovely, silky coats also require special care. Royal Canin has yet another breed-specific recipe with kibble shaped for your affectionate Yorkie’s small muzzle and bite.

Packed with omega fatty acids, biotin, vitamin E, and antioxidants, you can be sure that your buddies get the necessary nutrients to navigate their puppyhood. The product also contains high-quality proteins and probiotics to improve digestive health and stool quality.

My Yorkie puppy eats this happily – one tester said of the Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Dry Dog Food: “He loves the taste and the small size is easy to pick up and chew. I will not stop feeding him puppy formula and will switch to adult formula as he grows.“

Best for Yorkies

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Yorkshire Terrier Dry Puppy Food

• This dry kibble is designed for Yorkie pups to be able to pick up and chew with their tiny mouths
• The recipe includes nutrients to nourish their silky coats
• Formulated with high-quality proteins
• Includes probiotics for digestive health and stool quality
• Supplemented with omega fatty acids, biotin, vitamin E, and antioxidants

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7. Best for Large Breed Puppies: Royal Canin Large Puppy Pouch Dog Food

These easy-to-open, chunks in a gravy textured food are the wet food you didn’t know your large dog needed. This formula meets the moderate energy needs of your large breed puppies up to 15 months old with an expected adult weight of more than 56 lb.

It contains fibers, antioxidants, vitamin E, and highly digestible protein sources to promote healthy digestion and build strong immunity and balanced intestinal flora.

Whether served alone or paired with the Royal Canin Large Puppy Dry Dog Food, your large puppy will get complete and balanced nutrition.

A user fed this product to their 8 months old large puppy. In their words, “This has never failed me. Sometimes, I mix with some dry food to save cost.”

Best for Large Breed Puppies

Royal Canin Large Puppy Wet Dog Food

• Easy-to-open wet food
• Formulated to meet the moderate energy needs of large breed puppies
• Fortified with fibers, antioxidants, and vitamin E
• Made with highly digestible protein
• Promotes healthy digestion, a strong immune system, and healthy, balanced intestinal flora

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

Veterinary Prescription

This is one of the factors to consider when buying Royal Canin puppy foods. Some recipes are only available with a veterinarian’s prescription, whether purchased online or offline.

Breed

Another thing to look for is the breed of your puppy. You’re probably already aware that this company offers a diverse range of products, including breed-specific formulas. When you’re out shopping for puppy food, make sure to read the label and confirm that it’s suitable for your canine companion.

Best Overall

Best for Sensitive Stomachs

Best for German Shepherds

Best for Nursing Mothers and Baby Dogs

Best for Yorkies

Best for Gassy French Bulldogs

Best for Large Breeds

Verified Reviews: Users’ Experiences

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Puppy Ultra Soft Mousse In Sauce Canned Dog Food is a lifesaver. A user shares their experience: “My German Shepherd pup had very very bad diarrhea for just over 2 months. Once we started Royal Canin Gastrointestinal puppy brand, she cleared up within 36 hours. We mix the dry food with the moist. She absolutely loves it.”

Up Next…

Check out some of our other articles about puppies and their food.

• Best Puppy Food 2022 – See our list of the best overall puppy foods in 2022.
• Best Blue Buffalo Puppy Foods – Read this before you buy your puppy some Blue Buffalo food, so you can pick the best.
• Best Iams Large Breed Puppy Food – Make sure your large breed puppy gets the best food for its specific needs.