Food for Small Breed Puppies

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Dog food package from 'The Simple Food Project' with duck and trout for small dogs recipe on a white background

Small Nuggets - For Dogs - Duck & Trout - 24oz Bag

$44.49

Dog food package from 'The Simple Food Project' with beef and salmon small nugget recipe.

Small Nuggets - For Dogs - Beef & Salmon - 24oz Bag

$44.49

Dog food package with 'The Simple Food Project' branding and chicken and turkey small nugget recipe on a white background.

Small Nuggets - For Dogs - Chicken & Turkey - 24oz Bag

$44.49

Package of 'The Simple Food Project' Bison Recipe for small dogs food with a dog on the label.

Small Nuggets - For Dogs - Bison - 24oz Bag

$44.49

Dog food package from 'The Simple Food Project' with a duck small nugget recipe on a white background.

Small Nuggets - For Dogs - Duck - 24oz Bag

$44.49

Package of 'The Simple Food Project' lamb small nugget recipe freeze-dried raw dog food on a white background.

Small Nuggets - For Dogs - Lamb - 24oz Bag

$44.49

75g Puppy Balancer vitamins and minerals powder container on a white background

Puppy Balancer - 2.93 oz Powder

$12.49

150g Jar of 'Puppy Balancer' vitamins and minerals with a colorful label on a white background

Puppy Balancer - 6.5 oz Powder

$20.49

500g Puppy Balancer powder container with colorful label on a white background

Puppy Balancer - 17.63 oz Powder

$46.49

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Freeze-Dried Food for Small Breed Puppies

Puppy Balancer™ is a concentrated blend of whole food vitamins and minerals that in combination with the Simple Food Project diets meet AAFCO’s Growth & Reproduction standards.

It’s clean, simple, and built for growing four-leggers.

Pair it with our small breed freeze-dried recipes—each one made with 19 or fewer honest-to-raw ingredients, including whole meats and organic produce. No synthetics. No fillers. Just real food, freeze-dried to keep every bit of it working in the bowl.

*Not all recipes require Puppy Balancer—check the chart or scroll to FAQs for details.

Why Simple Food Project

  • Doctor bessent in a white coat sitting in a room with a lamp and flowers.
     

    Vet Built, Hands On

    35+ years of holistic veterinary care, and Dr. Bessent still walks the floor.

  • Raw chicken legs, a bowl of dog food, apples, carrots, spinach, and ground krill on a wooden cutting board.
     

    Carnivore-First Nutrition

    Meat. Organs. Bone. A dash of organic produce—no fillers, no synthetics needed.

  • Assorted food items including meat, vegetables, and fruits on a blue plate.
     

    Raw Made A Daily Reality

    Freeze-dried raw to protect nutrients. Pasteurized for safety. No fridge. No compromise.

  • Person wearing a black glove handling freeze dried nuggets on a tray in a kitchen setting
     

    Small-Batch Quality

    No co-packers, no shortcuts.

  • Block of salmon on a bed of ice
     

    Transparent Sourcing

    Grass-fed & pasture-raised meats. Organic produce. Wild-caught krill. Zero synthetics.

  • Dog looking at a hand holding pet food with simple food packages in the background.
     

    Fair Costs, No Compromises

    Feeding real whole food for 50% less than other freeze-dried and raw brands.

What We Say Yes To

Because your four-legger deserves the real deal.

Vet-formulated & owned by Dr. Chris Bessent
Independently owned — no venture capital
Made in our GMP Wisconsin facilities
Proudly rooted in Wisconsin
Freeze-dried raw to lock in 97%+ nutrients
Carnivore-balanced (70–80% meat for dogs, 80–90% for cats)
Low-carb recipes with as few as 7% carbs from fresh fruits, seeds, veggies
Minimalist recipes (as few as 10 ingredients, never more than 19)
Whole-animal meats and organic produce
Calcium from ground bone—no synthetic additives
Rich in omegas from wild-caught krill (with unheard-of 1:1–1:2 Omega 6:3 ratios)
Taurine from real meat—no synthetics needed
Formulated using Food Energetics to support internal balance
Medley-style nuggets: freeze-dried + air-dried for texture & taste
Batch-logged & fully traceable (you can track each run)
Every batch 3rd-party tested for quality & safety
Low-temp pasteurization to kill pathogens without damaging nutrients
Feeding thousands of dogs & cats since 2017
Affordable pricing (as low as ~$3.21/day for a 30 lb dog), because all dogs (& cats) deserve real food
A DIY raw diet, without the DIY (all the benefits of raw feeding without the prep, freezer space, or raw handling)
A passion project run by pet-obsessed humans, nutrition nerds, and cat ladies

What You’ll Never Find Here

Because food shouldn’t come with fine print.

No synthetic vitamins or minerals
No rendered, powdered, or mystery meats
No corn, soy, or wheat
No grains or gluten
No fillers or artificial preservatives
No artificial flavors or dyes
No carrageenan, gums, or thickeners
No plasma, BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin
No synthetic taurine — ours comes from real meat
No tapioca or potato starch (no starchy fillers, period)
No ingredient splitting (aka carb hiding)
No extrusion, irradiation, or HPP
No high-temp processing — nutrients don’t survive extreme heat
No short shelf life — freeze-drying preserves food naturally
No caramel coloring or food dyes
No hidden carbs or cheap fillers disguised as “natural”
No formulas from faceless labs — Dr. Bessent built it herself
No skipped safety steps — every batch is pasteurized and tested
No venture capital
No co-packers or third-party processing — we make every batch ourselves
No mystery behind the label — what’s in the bag is on the bag

Ingredients

Beef, salmon, flaxseed, beef liver, beef heart, organic carrots, whole ground krill, whole ground pumpkin seeds, organic green peas, organic spinach, organic cranberries, organic ginger, sea salt, dried kelp, dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative)

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…40.0%
Crude Fat (min)…31.0%
Crude Fiber (max)…6.0%
Moisture (max)…5.0%
Carbohydrates % (max)…6.0%
Omega-3* (min)…5.2%
Omega-6* (min)…2.5%
Omega 3 : 6 ratio*…2 : 1

*Not recognized as essential by AAFCO.

Recipe Breakdown

Beef & Salmon breakdown

Complete & Balanced

Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance.

Calorie Content

Energy: 4,812 kcal/kg · 370 kcal/cup

Ingredients

Bison, bison liver, egg, flaxseed, organic green beans, organic spinach, organic pumpkin, whole ground krill, organic beets, coconut oil, whole ground eggshell, potassium salt, cod liver oil, dried kelp, dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative), sage, guava

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…36.0%
Crude Fat (min)…35.0%
Crude Fiber (max)…6.0%
Moisture (max)…5.0%
Carbohydrates % (max)…9.0%
Omega-3* (min)…4.0%
Omega-6* (min)…3.5%
Omega 3 : 6 ratio*…1.1 : 1

*Not recognized as essential by AAFCO.

Recipe Breakdown

Bison breakdown

Complete & Balanced

The Simple Food Project Bison Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Calorie Content

Energy: 4,037 kcal/kg · 443 kcal/cup

Ingredients

Chicken, turkey, chicken hearts, chicken liver, flaxseed, sweet potato, whole ground krill, whole ground pumpkin seeds, organic spinach, organic carrots, organic blueberries, organic cinnamon, sea salt, dried kelp, dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative)

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…38.0%
Crude Fat (min)…26.0%
Crude Fiber (max)…6.0%
Moisture (max)…5.0%
Carbohydrates % (max)…12.0%
Omega-3* (min)…5.0%
Omega-6* (min)…4.2%
Omega 3 : 6 ratio*…1.2 : 1

*Not recognized as essential by AAFCO.

Recipe Breakdown

Chicken & Turkey breakdown

Complete & Balanced

Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance.

Calorie Content

Energy: 4,503 kcal/kg · 284 kcal/cup

Ingredients

Duck, duck neck, flaxseed, duck heart, organic squash, organic kale, organic carrots, whole ground krill, organic blueberries, chia seeds, organic turmeric, sea salt, cod liver oil, dried kelp, dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative), black pepper, fennel, guava

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…36.0%
Crude Fat (min)…31.0%
Crude Fiber (max)…6.0%
Moisture (max)…5.0%
Carbohydrates % (max)…8.0%
Omega-3* (min)…4.9%
Omega-6* (min)…5.7%
Omega 3 : 6 ratio*…0.85 : 1

*Not recognized as essential by AAFCO.

Recipe Breakdown

Duck breakdown

Complete & Balanced

Meets AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Calorie Content

Energy: 4,689 kcal/kg · 258 kcal/cup

Ingredients

Duck, beef, flaxseed, lentils, beef liver, trout, organic green beans, whole ground krill, whole ground pumpkin seeds, organic apples, organic spinach, organic turmeric, sea salt, dried kelp, dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative)

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…38.0%
Crude Fat (min)…23.0%
Crude Fiber (max)…6.0%
Moisture (max)…5.0%
Carbohydrates % (max)…15.0%
Omega-3* (min)…4.5%
Omega-6* (min)…4.2%
Omega 3 : 6 ratio*…1 : 1

*Not recognized as essential by AAFCO.

Recipe Breakdown

Duck & Trout breakdown

Complete & Balanced

Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance.

Calorie Content

Energy: 4,355 kcal/kg · 353 kcal/scoop

Ingredients

Lamb, lamb spleen, lamb heart, flaxseed, organic yams, organic spinach, whole ground krill, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, cod liver oil, organic cranberries, whole ground eggshell, potassium salt, sea salt, dried yeast, dried kelp, mixed tocopherols (natural preservative), mint, guava

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…34.0%
Crude Fat (min)…38.0%
Crude Fiber (max)…6.0%
Moisture (max)…5.0%
Carbohydrates % (max)…6.0%
Omega-3* (min)…5%
Omega-6* (min)…3%
Omega 3 : 6 ratio*…1.6 : 1

*Not recognized as essential by AAFCO.

Recipe Breakdown

Lamb breakdown

Complete & Balanced

The Simple Food Project Lamb Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Calorie Content

Energy: 5,200 kcal/kg · 364 kcal/cup

Ingredients

Ground turkey, ground krill, dried ground spinach, dried ground tomato, dried ground avocado, dried ground cranberry, dried ground blueberry, dried ground spirulina, dried ground sweet potato, dried ground broccoli, barley grass, dried ground pomegranate, and dried ground guava.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)…30%
Crude Fat (min)…5%
Crude Fiber (max)…5%
Moisture (max)…12%

How Long to Add Puppy Balancer

Expected Adult Weight (lbs) 0–6 Months 6–8 Months 8–12 Months
Beef & Salmon, Chicken & Turkey, Duck & Trout
<40 lbs Add Puppy Balancer OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
<70 lbs Add Puppy Balancer Add Puppy Balancer Add Puppy Balancer
>70 lbs Add Puppy Balancer Add Puppy Balancer Add Puppy Balancer
Bison or Lamb
<70 lbs OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
>70 lbs Add Puppy Balancer Add Puppy Balancer Add Puppy Balancer
Duck
All size puppies OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer
OK to feed without
Puppy Balancer

*Puppy Balancer is simply a concentrated blend of vitamins and minerals from whole foods, so you can use the blend well past puppy age!

Complete & Balanced

Pairing Puppy Balancer with the Beef & Salmon, Duck & Trout, or Chicken & Turkey recipes will meet AAFCO’s Growth & Reproduction standards—making each a complete & balanced puppy diet.

**If your puppy will be over 70 lbs**, pair Puppy Balancer with the Bison or Lamb recipes to ensure a complete & balanced meal for large-breed growth.

The Duck recipe is formulated for all life stages and does not require Puppy Balancer.

By itself, Puppy Balancer is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.


Feeding Recommendation

Use: Add 1 tsp Puppy Balancer for every 1/3 cup Simple Food.

Note: Puppy Balancer is a concentrated blend of vitamins and minerals from whole foods, designed to support your puppy’s growth through their first year (and beyond, if needed!).

Simple Serving Suggestions

Start by using the daily feeding guide below and adjust to your own puppy’s needs. 

If your pup is 4 months or younger, we’d suggest allowing your puppy to graze throughout the day. You can also break up their feeding schedule by putting food out four or more times a day.

Once they’re 4-months-old, you can start dividing their food into two portions, feeding AM & PM.

Feeding guidelines are general starting points. Calorie needs vary by dog—adjust amounts as needed and reach out to our team or your veterinarian for individualized guidance.
Raw chicken legs, a bowl of dog food, apples, carrots, spinach, and ground krill on a wooden cutting board.
bowl of simple food project in a bowl with raw chicken and sweet potatoes on a wooden board.
Raw chicken pieces, a bowl of simple food chicken and turkey, carrots, and other ingredients on a wooden board.
Assorted bowls of simple food project recipes on a wooden board with a marble background

About the Project

Every pet deserves real food– whole, high-quality food that we believe helps all pets thrive. 

What goes into recipes is every bit as important as what’s left out so, using nothing but whole foods, Dr. Bessent formulated limited-ingredient recipes. Then, using some rather cutting-edge spaceman technology, she freeze-dried them so that every benefit of raw, whole food was available for your pet.

It’s real, whole food nutrition without compromising convenience, and that really makes the decision around how and what to feed your four-legger simple.

It’s simple. it’s food as food should be.