Nutritional profile specifically adapted for the bitch’s high energy needs at the end of gestation and during lactation.

Nutritional response helps to facilitate the transition from mother’s milk to solid food.

Kibbles easily rehydrate to a porridge-like consistency that is very palatable for both the bitch and her weaning puppies.

Developed from scientific research, Royal Canin's START COMPLEX is a combination of nutritional elements present in mother’s milk that actively promote digestive health and help maintain the puppy’s natural defenses.

Royal Canin’s Starter formulas are a unique nutritional solution that meets the needs of the mother and her puppies during the first 5 stages of life: gestation, birth, lactation, weaning and growth up to 2 months.

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Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, chicken fat, corn, wheat gluten, dried plain beet pulp, natural flavors, fish oil, monocalcium phosphate, vegetable oil, sodium silico aluminate, potassium chloride, salt, fructooligosaccharides, hydrolyzed yeast (source of betaglucans), L-lysine, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid], choline chloride, marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.), trace minerals [zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate], DL-methionine, taurine, L-tyrosine, N-butyric acid, L-carnitine, carotene, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

Calorie Content

This diet contains 3995 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per kilogram or 364 kilocalories ME per cup on an as fed basis (calculated).

Nutrient Amount
Crude Protein (min)28.0%
Crude Fat (min)20.0%
Crude Fiber (max)3.4%
Moisture (max)10.0%.

For the Puppy

Adult Target Weight Before 2 weeks 2-3 Weeks 3-4 weeks 4-5 weeks 5-6 weeks 6-7 weeks 7-8 weeks
2 lb (1 kg) Mother’s Milk 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 1/2 cup (40 g) 1/2 cup (50 g)
4 lb (2 kg) 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 1/2 cup (40 g) 1/2 cup (50 g)
7 lb (3 kg) 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 1/2 cup (40 g) 1/2 cup (50 g)
9 lb (4 kg) 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 5/8 cup (60 g) 7/8 cup (80 g) 1 cup (95 g)
11 lb (5 kg) 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 5/8 cup (60 g) 7/8 cup (80 g) 1 cup (95 g)
15 lb (7 kg) 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 1 cup (90 g) 1 3/8 cups (120 g) 1 5/8 cups (145 g)
22 lb (10 kg) 1/8 cup (10 g) 3/8 cup (30 g) 1 cup (90 g) 1 3/8 cups (120 g) 1 5/8 cups (145 g)


For the Mother

Dog Weight Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Lactating
2 lb (1 kg) 3/8 cup (34 g) 3/8 cup (38 g) 1/2 cup (41 g) 1/2 cup (44 g) Feed Ad libitum
4 lb (2 kg) 5/8 cup (57 g) 5/8 cup (62 g) 3/4 cup (67 g) 3/4 cup (73 g)
7 lb (3 kg) 7/8 cup (77 g) 7/8 cup (84 g) 1 cup (91 g) 1 1/8 cups (98 g)
9 lb (4 kg) 1 cup (95 g) 1 1/8 cups (103 g) 1 1/4 cups (112 g) 1 3/8 cups (120 g)
11 lb (5 kg) 1 1/4 cups (111 g) 1 3/8 cups (121 g) 1 1/2 cups (132 g) 1 1/2 cups (142 g)
15 lb (7 kg) 1 5/8 cups (142 g) 1 3/4 cups (155 g) 1 7/8 cups (168 g) 2 cups (181 g)
22 lb (10 kg) 2 cups (185 g) 2 1/4 cups (201 g) 2 3/8 cups (218 g) 2 5/8 cups (235 g)
Small Starter Mother And Babydog Dry Dog Food

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Customer reviews

01 Apr 2025

Susan Marcek breeder
20 Mar 2025

Mommy dog receiving the best in nutrition

My Cavalier King Charles Rose as expecting puppies, I had always fed my puppies their Cavalier puppy chow but this was great to actually find a diet specific to our breeding needs. I love knowing she is getting the very best nutrition.
25 Feb 2025

Ava puppy
05 Jan 2025

Good for puppy

Puppy likes this product and has been eating it for months
Royal Canin response
That's great! We appreciate your feedback!
J Finn
18 Dec 2024

13 Oct 2024

My yorkiebabies
28 Aug 2024

Great dog food

I have been using this dog food for the last 35yrs on my dogs and my dogs love it they have never gotten sick on it and they do very well and they love I recommend it to all the people who buy my puppies and their puppies do great on it my youngest yorkie died at age 15 on this dog food and my oldest one lived to be 20yrs old it’s a great dog food
Royal Canin response
Thank your very much for your feedback! We are so happy for your dogs!
15 Jan 2024

Awsome food excellent transition from stage 1 to 2

I love this transition from the puppy mousse to kibble.
09 Dec 2023

AnonymousNC
07 Nov 2023

Puppy won't eat it.

Not worth the money- puppy won't eat it. customer service not great at getting a refund processed, has taken multiple contacts to try to get money back.