Your puppy can get her daily nutrients in a variety of ways. If you head down a pet supply store's dog food aisle, you'll soon discover a dizzying selection of bags, cans, packets, and other containers, all vying for your attention. Some people choose to bypass the store altogether and make their puppy's food at home. Which is best for your puppy? Learn about the different types of food, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Commercial Diets

Commercial dog food diets come in three main types: dry, canned, and semi-moist.

Dry Food

Advantages: Dry food or kibble is very common and easily available. It may assist in good dental hygiene, scraping plaque and tartar off the teeth if the puppy has to chew it significantly. Dry food is usually less expensive per pound (kg) than canned food. It has greater caloric density than does canned food, so puppies need to eat less to get the nutrition they need.

Disadvantages: Some finicky puppies turn their nose up at dry food, but this is more common if you've fed your puppy table scraps or started out with canned food.

Canned Food

Advantages: Canned foods are very tasty to puppies. Depending on ingredients, higher amounts of fat could improve skin and coat. Canned foods may be recommended for puppies with special dietary needs or for those who are underweight.

Disadvantages: Canned foods are high in fat and also high in waterabout 78% of a can of food is moisture. Puppies have to eat more to get the nutrition they need, which can lead to obesity. Canned foods usually cost more than dry kibble, and the soft, pasty texture can lead to dental disease.

Semi-Moist Food

Advantage: Puppies usually like the taste.

Disadvantages: To make it attractive to consumers (and dogs), semi-moist foods are usually high in sugar and salt. However, it can lead to dental disease.