Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
Rottweilers get a bad rap. They’re strapping and can be quite intimidating, but in reality, they’re goofy, lovable big babies who easily forget how large they are!
Sure, they’re built like a tank and can be fierce guard dogs. But they’re some of the sweetest dogs around and are incredibly loyal.
Due to their muscular build, it’s essential to feed them right from the very beginning to keep them healthy. Choosing the best food for Rottweiler puppy dogs will start these large breed dogs off on the right paw.
Table of Contents
- 10 Best Food For Rottweiler Puppy in 2020
- CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
- Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers
- Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Wild Weenies Dog Treats
- American Journey Active Life Formula Large Breed Puppy
- Acana Puppy & Junior Grain-Free
- Orijen Puppy Large
- Orijen Puppy
- Acana Singles Grain-Free Recipe Range
- Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Rottweiler Puppy Dry Food
- CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
- Questions & Answers
- What are the nutritional needs of Rottweiler puppies?
- How many times a day should I feed my Rottweiler puppy?
- Can I let my Rottweiler free-feed?
- What should I look for in the best food for Rottweiler puppy?
- What health conditions do Rottweilers suffer from?
- Can I feed my Rottweiler puppy an adult dog food?
- What are the nutritional needs of Rottweiler puppies?
10 Best Food For Rottweiler Puppy in 2020
CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
Best Overall: Best For Weight Management
PROS
- Limited ingredient
- Lower in fat
- Remains high in protein
- Added probiotics
CONS
- High-calorie
- No mention of calcium/phosphorus ratio
It’s not common to find overweight Rottweiler puppies as they’re generally very high-energy. But it does happen! If your little Rottie is getting a bit chubby, consider putting him on this dry dog food.
click to see more
Chubby Puppy
Even just a little extra weight can have a detrimental effect on your Rottweiler’s joints. Nip this problem in the bud quickly by choosing a food with a lower fat count – just like this one.
With less fat to give him energy, your little pup starts burning more of his own body fat. This kibble has 12% fat, while keeping the protein high at 30%. It’s also limited ingredient, so it’s safe for sensitive tummies.
It’s puppy-specific, so your baby Rottie will get everything they need to grow up healthy and the right weight.
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
Best Raw Food
PROS
- High in both protein and fat
- Superb quality ingredients
- Comes in a variety of flavors
- Minimal processing
CONS
- Lacking in joint supplements and DHA
- No mention of calcium/phosphorus ratio
If you want to feed your Rottweiler puppy raw food but don’t have the time to prepare it yourself, Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Patties are a great option. They’re fairly limited in ingredients, but what is in them is of the highest quality.
You’ll find muscle and organ meat from a single protein source and organic vegetables. These patties are already minimally processed and freeze-dried which is a bonus as they’re fresh as can be.
click to see more
Add Your Own Supplements
Although these dinner patties are highly nutritious, they come with no added supplements at all. You’ll need to get your dog a glucosamine supplement and possibly a DHA one too. There’s a fair amount of Omega fatty acids in the meat naturally, but puppies need a little extra.
Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers
Best Kibble Topper
PROS
- Three flavors available
- Slow-burning carb ingredients
- Raw nutrition adds amino acids
- Can be used as a treat too
CONS
- 14oz bag is the biggest you can buy
If your puppy isn’t quite meeting his daily calorie count and needs a little more in each meal, a kibble topper is a great idea. Simply add some to his dry dog food for a taste and texture boost!
They’re also packed with protein and fat, so they’ll give your large breed pup a little more of those. Best for Rottweilers who are fairly active!
click to see more
Extra Healthy Calories
With 244 calories per cup, be careful not to overfeed your Rottie by adding too much of this to their dry dog food. Those calories are made up of a single source protein and wholesome vegetables, so your pooch will be getting great nutrition in every bite.
Choose from chicken, beef, or lamb to avoid ingredients that your Rottie may be sensitive to!
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Wild Weenies Dog Treats
Best Treat
PROS
- 14 calories per treat
- Seven different flavors
- Limited ingredient & grain-free
- High protein and fat
CONS
- May need to rehydrate them to avoid crumbly treats
Every puppy (or adult dog) needs treats in addition to their main best dog food diet. For puppies, treats aren’t often used as supplemental food but are really great as a training aid!
If you’re training your little Rottweiler or simply want something to give him or her a nice surprise here and there, these Wild Weenies would do the trick. You won’t find artificial sweeteners or preservatives in them, and their ingredients are as natural as they come.
click to see more
High-Quality Treats
We love that these little sausages come in seven flavors. No matter your Rottweiler puppy’s tastes or dislikes, there’ll be at least a few different flavors they go wild for.
Every flavor is unusually high in protein and fat and is a limited ingredient. This is fantastic for two reasons – one, it won’t add too many calories to your dog’s diet (especially if you’re training), and two, it helps sensitive tummies to avoid problem ingredients.
Between 14 and 16 calories per treat means you can dish out a good few during training or when those puppy dog eyes break your resolve.
If they feel a little hard and crumbly, you can rehydrate them by adding a little water and letting them plump up before feeding them to your waiting pup.
American Journey Active Life Formula Large Breed Puppy
Best Value For Money
PROS
- More affordable than most
- High-quality ingredient list avoids common allergens
- Good calcium/phosphorus ratio
- Moderate in protein and fat, great for the average Rottweiler
CONS
- Kibble may be slightly small
The best food for Rottweiler puppy parents may depend a little on their budget. Thankfully, this option is well-priced as well as premium quality.
Although there are other flavors available, we specifically chose the salmon recipe. For dogs like a Rottweiler who is prone to allergies, salmon is usually a fantastic choice and nourishes their striking coat at the same time with the fish oil it contains.
click to see more
All Your Puppy Needs
The protein and fat levels are moderate, at 25% and 15% respectively. That’s perfectly adequate for an average puppy who gets daily exercise.
This nicely-priced food packs a full range of supplements, including DHA and ARA, glucosamine and chondroitin, taurine, and high Omegas. The calcium/phosphorus ratio is also right on the button.
The ingredients are of the highest quality. They avoid common allergens such as chicken, beef, and potatoes. The fruit and vegetable inclusion also add a nice dash of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
There’s every indication that this dog food is top-of-the-range. Thankfully, you can feed your Rottweiler puppy this tasty and healthy meal for less, due to its thumbs-up price tag.
Acana Puppy & Junior Grain-Free
Premium Option
PROS
- 60% animal ingredients, 40% fruits & vegetables
- Multiple protein sources
- Free from grains and gluten
- Contains various useful supplements
CONS
- A pricey option
Your Rottweiler puppy deserves the best dog food, and this option hits top spot in our opinion. Acana Puppy and Junior caters specifically for puppies, and is rich in superior animal products (deboned chicken & turkey) and healthy botanical inclusions.
Your puppy won’t be missing anything in their diet when they chow down on this grain-free kibble. It’s a little pricey, but it’s worth it for the health and immune system boost your little big pup will be getting.
The only other downside is that there’s no variation in flavors, but most puppies will be completely fine with that.
click to see more
Puppy-Specific Nutrition
With 31% protein and 19% fat, your energetic Rottweiler puppy will get enough nutrition to power through his day happily and healthily. If your little one is sluggish or a tad lazy, you’ll either need to encourage more exercise or choose a lower-fat food to suit them.
The kibble contains all the necessary things for a growing puppy to thrive. DHA, EPA, glucosamine, and high Omega fatty acid levels all contribute towards a healthy, shiny dog.
The calcium/phosphorus ratio is spot-on, so your puppy’s bones will grow at the right pace. Probiotics have also been added, which will make sure your pup’s stomach deals well with every bit.
Orijen Puppy Large
Runner-Up Option
PROS
- Biologically appropriate nutrition
- Contains DHA and EPA
- Good levels of joint supplements
- Contains healthy botanical inclusions
CONS
- Somewhat pricey
- Not available in other flavors
Orijen Puppy Large is our runner-up choice, and it’s just as nutrition-packed as our premium pick. The best food for Rottweiler dog puppies needs to be highly nutritious and natural, which is exactly what you’ll get with this kibble.
It’s not the cheapest, but can you really put a price on your puppy’s health? It’s packed with everything your large breed puppy needs to grow up strong and healthy.
click to see more
Biologically Appropriate
This kibble is labelled as being ”biologically appropriate”. Basically, that means that it’s composed of ingredients that your Rottie would eat if they were a wild dog, out on the plains.
It’s packed with all-natural stuff. You won’t find anything artificial in this dog food, which is a huge plus.
The protein count (38%) is ideal for active Rottweiler puppies, and comes from a variety of sources. Chicken, turkey, and fish all contribute, and the key thing is that your pup won’t only be getting muscle meat.
Biologically appropriate food uses every bit of the ingredient. That means organ meat and bits of bone too. Don’t worry! This is incredibly healthy for your dog, and adds amino acids that they most likely won’t get elsewhere.
Orijen Puppy
Best for Active Rottweiler Puppies
PROS
- Higher than average fat and protein
- Contains joint and brain supplements
- Fresh and raw animal ingredients
- Added probiotics
CONS
- No other flavors
The best dog food for Rottweiler puppies who are extremely bouncy should have a little more fat and protein than others. If your puppy falls into this category, we recommend this high-energy dry dog food for their activity level.
It’s slightly different than the previous Orijen puppy food in that it’s higher in fat (which is often aimed at small breeds). But there’s no reason your large/medium breed can’t eat this food – it has a great calcium/phosphorus ratio and all the supplements they need.
click to see more
Not for Inactive or Lazy Dogs
The 38% protein, which comes from deboned chicken, deboned turkey, and flounder, is high enough to put all that exercise to good use and build muscle.
20% fat is a really good number for dogs who expend plenty of energy. Remember, fat is what dogs burn for energy. The more they ingest, the more they have available for activity.
With that in mind, we can say that this is not the best food for a Rottweiler dog who is inactive, stuck indoors most of the day, or just lazy. Dog foods with high fat counts would only contribute to obesity in these pups.
Added Supplements
As well as high protein and fat counts, your pooch will be getting a dose of glucosamine and chondroitin, DHA and EPA for eye and brain health, and high Omega fatty acid levels to keep their coat and skin moisturized.
Orijen puppy food also contains botanical inclusions such as turmeric, rosehip, and chicory root. These add an extra dash of vitamins and antioxidants for immune system health.
Acana Singles Grain-Free Recipe Range
Best for Allergies
PROS
- Single protein source & grain-free
- Flavor variety to avoid allergens
- Slow-release carbs for energy
- Contains all necessary supplements
CONS
- Somewhat pricey
- All recipes contain legumes
Rottweilers are quite prone to food allergies and intolerances. If your vet recommends a limited ingredient diet, or you simply want to avoid problems from the start, Acana Singles is the way to go.
It’s important to note that this isn’t specifically a puppy food. But we’ve made sure it meets all the necessary criteria, including hitting the right calcium and phosphorus numbers.
click to see more
Impressive Recipe Range
One of the things that makes this among the best dog food Rottweiler puppies could eat is the sheer choice of recipes. Each one is quite similar in terms of nutrition, but the beauty of having such a range is that your sensitive dog won’t be stuck eating the same flavor forever.
It’s easy to offer your Rottie a variety of flavors and tastes while still avoiding any problem ingredients that may cause their allergies to flare up. Choose from: Duck & Pear, Lamb & Apple, Pork & Squash, Beef & Pumpkin, and Turkey & Pumpkin.
They’re all grain-free and highly nutritious for Rottweilers of all ages, so it’s also an ideal food to go for if you have Rotties of different life stages in your home.
High Nutritional Value
Every recipe contains 31% protein and 17% fat, so it’s more geared towards energetic Rottweilers who get daily exercise.
You’ll find all the essentials: DHA, EPA, glucosamine, chondroitin, Omega fatty acids, vitamin E, as well as a few botanical inclusions and probiotics.
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Rottweiler Puppy Dry Food
Best Breed-Specific
PROS
- Good protein and fat numbers
- Contains joint strengthening supplements
- Contains L-carnitine
CONS
- Contains some low-quality “filler” ingredients
- No DHA or EPA
We’ve put this in here as it’s hard to find breed-specific dog foods. If you’re proud of the fact that you’re the parent of a Rottweiler and you’re looking for the perfect food for her, you may be tempted to choose one that’s geared specifically for them.
While this one comes in as number one for food specific to the Rottweiler breed, we don’t recommend it.
click to see more
Royal Canin has been making dog food for years and is one of the most trusted brands out there. But we suggest choosing something else as the ingredient quality of this dry dog food is below par when compared to the others on this list.
Some of their questionable ingredients include Chicken by-product meal, Brewer’s rice, Wheat gluten, and Corn.
Eukanuba’s Rottie-specific food has much the same problems. We highly recommend letting go of the “breed-specific” mindset in favor of good, nutritious, real food for your dog!
Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
Criteria #1: Ingredient Quality
Rottweilers are prone to allergies and food sensitivities, so it’s crucial to make sure their dog food is made of premium quality ingredients. Everything should be wholesome, natural, and real food – nothing artificial or dodgy.
We’ve made sure that the first ingredient on the list is a high-quality animal protein. Some of the offerings here are single-source protein, and others have multiple proteins in one meal.
As for carbs, some of the foods on this list are grain-free, while others contain healthy, fiber-rich, gluten-free grains. We’ve made an effort to select foods that have fruits and vegetables included. These are not only super carbs for energy, but they also add vitamins and minerals.
We strongly believe that no dog foods should contain glutinous grains like corn, wheat, and soy, animal by-products, artificial ingredients, or vaguely named things like “animal fat”.
We’ve taken care to ensure that each dog food we’ve reviewed is of the highest quality in terms of what ingredients have gone into it.
Criteria #2: DHA & EPA
DHA and EPA are Omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for puppies’ healthy development. They’re not usually included in the normal fatty acids, so to see them on a guaranteed analysis list is extremely important.
These two are responsible for the correct development of your Rottweiler puppy’s eyes and brain cells. You can get supplements that contain them, but it’s super to see them in the dog food your little pup will be eating every day.
We’ve made sure that all dog foods on this list contain one or both of them.
Criteria #3: Joint Supplements
Don’t think that because your Rottie puppy isn’t built like a bodybuilder yet he won’t need joint support! It’s best to start feeding your young dog joint supplements when they’re a puppy so their joints will be supported as they play.
We’ve tried to include dog foods that contain both glucosamine and chondroitin on this list. In the rare case that a food is missing joint supplements, we’ve mentioned it. It’s not the end of the world, as you can easily get a glucosamine supplement separately.
Criteria #4: Calcium/Phosphorus Ratio
This is something that most pet parents don’t realize is incredibly important for large breed puppy growth. It’s also one of the reasons you can’t just feed a puppy adult dog foods (even though some are appropriate).
The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is important to know to ensure your little one’s bones are getting enough support. Too much calcium makes them brittle and unable to hold a Rottie’s weight. Too little makes them weak, and more likely to break.
You don’t need to know the ins and outs of the mathematics. We’ve done the research for you and made sure every puppy food on this list has the correct ratio so you can feed any one to your dog without worrying.
Criteria #5: Affordability
As always, we aim for happy pups and happy pet parents. Your puppy relies on you for food, but they’re also extremely aware of your stresses. This criterion is to make sure they’re getting great nutrition and a happy mom or dad.
Of course, we don’t want you forgoing meals just so your fluff can eat. Our Best Value for Money choice is every bit as high-quality as the rest, but at a lovely price that will suit everybody.
Questions & Answers
What are the nutritional needs of Rottweiler puppies?
Although they’re still babies, Rottweiler puppies need a good many calories and a super high-quality, nutrition-packed food.
As a general rule of thumb, Rottie puppies need about 20 calories per pound of body weight per day. If your dog is very active, you can up that to about 23-24 calories per pound.
The best food for Rottweiler puppy will be high in protein. They need 22% at the minimum, but more is preferable. Some foods contain protein in the high 20s, and others go into the 30s. Protein in the 30s isn’t a bad thing, as long as your pup is also getting the right calcium/phosphorus ratio and joint supplements.
There’s no need to worry about carbohydrate numbers. What’s most important is the content – you’ll want to see fruits and vegetables.
Fat is what your dog uses for energy. 8% is the absolute minimum a puppy needs, but between 12 and 18% is best, depending on your pup’s activity level. Less than 12% is only recommended for weight management.
Apart from those three, you should see high levels of Omega fatty acids, DHA and EPA, vitamins and minerals for immune system boost, probiotics and prebiotics, and glucosamine and chondroitin.
How many times a day should I feed my Rottweiler puppy?
Rottweilers can be at risk of bloat, which is when too much air gets into the digestive tract. This often happens when dogs scoff their food or when the kibble size is too small.
To counteract this, Rottweilers should be fed multiple times throughout the day. Puppies need three to four meals a day. Make sure to split their daily calorie intake between these three or four meals.
Can I let my Rottweiler free-feed?
It’s not a good idea to give your Rottie access to food all the time. These large dogs are prone to overeat, so allowing them free access could super-speed obesity.
What should I look for in the best food for Rottweiler puppy?
The best Rottweiler dog food should tick a few boxes. Make sure the food you choose contains:
- A high-quality animal protein
This should be the first ingredient on the list. A single source protein is great for Rotties who have sensitive tummies. Multiple sources are superb if your dog isn’t fussy.
- Fruits and vegetables
Gluten-free grains like rice, oatmeal, millet, and sorghum are all right. But whether or not they’re present, fruits and vegetables should be included. They’re an essential source of vitamins and minerals, and also contribute to the tastiness of the kibble.
- DHA and EPA
A food without these is not worth feeding to your pup unless you’re adding them in. These two are crucial for your Rottweiler puppy’s development.
- Omega Fatty Acids
Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids are also essential. Not only do they help with digestion, but they also keep your Rottie’s black-and-tan coat shiny and healthy.
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Your little one’s joints need supporting right from the start. These compounds strengthen and support their joints as they do their bouncy puppy business.
- Calcium and Phosphorus
Both calcium and phosphorus should be around the 1% mark, with a ratio of about 1.3:1. This is essential to check on. Adult dog foods have a ratio of close to 1:1, but puppies need a different mix for best health.
What health conditions do Rottweilers suffer from?
Rottweilers are prone to certain health conditions. Some of these only show up in adults, but it’s worth knowing about them and actively preventing them while your Rottie is still a puppy. Some common health problems include:
- Food allergies
- Obesity
- Knee, elbow, and hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Osteoarthritis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cataracts
- Bloat
Can I feed my Rottweiler puppy an adult dog food?
You can, but you shouldn’t. Although some adult foods are perfectly appropriate, it’s safer to choose a puppy food as they’re created specifically for these little, growing pooches.