Wellness CORE Puppy vs Edgard & Cooper Puppy Duck & Chicken

Pros

• ✓Named fresh meats (chicken, turkey, salmon oil) as primary ingredients — no generic by-products or meat derivatives
• ✓Salmon oil provides guaranteed DHA for brain and eye development, critical in early puppy months
• ✓Pre- and probiotics support healthy gut microbiome, particularly valuable during the weaning and transition phase
• ✓High protein content (32–37%) exceeds FEDIAF and AAFCO minimum requirements for growth

Cons

• ✗Kibble size and colour inconsistency reported between bags — a QC concern for small breed puppy owners who may need to soak kibble
• ✗Grain-free diets remain under FDA and veterinary scrutiny for a potential link to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), though evidence is not conclusive
• ✗Some puppies show low palatability — one reviewer's cockapoo refused it entirely despite accepting other brands
• ✗Full ingredient list not provided — exact calcium:phosphorus ratio cannot be verified, which is critical for medium-to-large breed puppy bone development

Best For

Pros

• ✓Named meat sources (duck and chicken) — no generic by-products or meat meal
• ✓Grain-free and natural formula with no over-processed or dried meat
• ✓Prebiotics included to support healthy gut development in puppies
• ✓Strong palatability reported by fussy-dog owners switching from other premium brands

Cons

• ✗Palatability is inconsistent — a minority of dogs flatly refuse it with no clear pattern
• ✗150g portion sizes are small for large-breed puppies (25–45 kg), requiring multiple cups per meal
• ✗Grain-free formulas for large-breed puppies require careful calcium/phosphorus balancing — not always verifiable from marketing copy alone
• ✗Some non-English reviews suggest this product is widely distributed internationally but reviewed outside UK context, diluting UK-specific palatability signal

Best For