By harnessing the power of science, Pro Plan supports owners by providing the optimal nutrition for pets. For us, nutrition is the foundation for optimal health and wellbeing – and the starting point for an amazing life.
In the first 6 months of life, a puppy goes through many growth and development changes that need to be supported by optimal nutrition. PRO PLAN Performance Starter Chicken Dry Dog Food combines all the essential nutrients that mothers & puppies need, including colostrum - proven to boost the immune system and protect them from common intestinal upsets. This recipe helps provide targeted benefits, such as high digestibility and high nutrient absorption to support your dog’s long-term health. The easy rehydration kibble to supports weaning & transitioning puppies onto solid food.
Learn more about Pro Plan Food.
Chicken meal and chicken (36%); animal fat; brewers rice; whole grain wheat; oats; wheat gluten; animal digest; barley; beet pulp; fish meal and fish oil (source of DHA); minerals, vitamins, amino acids (including calcium, phosphorous, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, selenium, iodine, aluminosilicate, vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, choline, folic acid); colostrum (0.1%) and natural antioxidants.
|
Nutritional Composition |
As Feed |
Dry Matter |
|
Crude Protein |
32% |
34.59% |
|
Crude Fat |
21% |
22.70% |
|
Crude Fibre (Max) |
3% |
3.24% |
|
Calcium (Ca) (Min) |
1% |
1.08% |
|
Phosphorus (P) (Min) |
0.8% |
0.86% |
| DHA (Min) | 0.1 |
0.11% |
|
Glucosamine (Min) |
400mg/kg |
432mg/kg |
|
Vitamin C (Min) |
70mg/kg |
76mg/kg |
|
Vitamin E (Min) |
460 IU/kg |
497 IU/kg |
|
Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Min) |
0.5% |
0.54% |
|
Omega 6 Fatty Acids (Min) |
2% |
2.16% |
|
Metabolisable Energy (ME) |
3.9kcal/g |
Daily Feeding Guide
| Weaning Puppy (Expected Adult Weight) | |||||||||||
| Age in weeks | Meals /day | 2kg | 5kg | 10kg | 15kg | 25kg | 35kg | 45kg | 60kg | 75kg | 90kg |
| Up to 3 weeks | Mother’s milk only | ||||||||||
| 3 to 5 weeks | At wil | Introduce soaked kibbles (1 part + 2 parts of warm water up to 60 Celsius) | |||||||||
| 6 weeks | 3-4 meals | 50 | 55 | 75 | 85 | 95 | 105 | 120 | 145 | 165 | 190 |
| (moistened) | |||||||||||
| 3 months | 3 meals | 60 | 85 | 115 | 140 | 190 | 210 | 235 | 330 | 430 | 530 |
| 4 months | 60 | 80 | 120 | 150 | 220 | 250 | 270 | 390 | 465 | 560 | |
| 5 months | 60 | 70 | 140 | 170 | 235 | 300 | 340 | 505 | 645 | 795 | |
| 6 months | 2 meals | 60 | 70 | 145 | 190 | 290 | 350 | 395 | 580 | 690 | 840 |
| 9 months | Adult* | 70 | 145 | 210 | 340 | 475 | 580 | 770 | 1015 | 1235 | |
| 12 months | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | 505 | 625 | 815 | 1015 | 1210 | |
| 24 months | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | Adult* | 825 | 970 | 1105 | |
| *After weaning, it is recommended to feed PRO PLAN® Puppy product according to body size or keep your growing puppy on PRO PLAN® Performance | |||||||||||
| *When your puppy has reached adulthood, transition to appropriate Pro Plan Adult product or keep your active dog on Pro Plan Performance | |||||||||||
| Gestation and Lactation (Adult Ideal Weight) | |||||||||||
| 2kg | 5kg | 10kg | 15kg | 25kg | 35kg | 45kg | 60kg | 75kg | 90kg | ||
| Weeks of pregnancy | Gestation | ||||||||||
| 1 to 5 weeks | 55 | 105 | 165 | 215 | 305 | 380 | 450 | 545 | 630 | 715 | |
| 6 weeks | 60 | 115 | 180 | 235 | 335 | 415 | 495 | 600 | 695 | 785 | |
| 7 weeks | 65 | 125 | 200 | 260 | 365 | 460 | 545 | 660 | 765 | 865 | |
| 8 weeks | 75 | 135 | 220 | 285 | 405 | 505 | 595 | 725 | 840 | 950 | |
| 9 weeks | 80 | 150 | 240 | 315 | 445 | 555 | 655 | 795 | 925 | 1045 | |
| Weeks of ages | Lactation | ||||||||||
| 1 to 2 weeks | 110 | 205 | 325 | 430 | 605 | 760 | 895 | 1090 | 1265 | 1425 | |
| 3 to 4 weeks | 165 | 310 | 490 | 645 | 910 | 1135 | 1345 | 1630 | 1895 | 2140 | |
| 5 to 6 weeks | 110 | 205 | 325 | 430 | 605 | 760 | 895 | 1090 | 1265 | 1425 | |
IMPORTANT: Always have fresh, clean water available.
Although you will be keen to see the difference PRO PLAN can make in your dog, please allow 7–10 days to transition from their current food. This enables your dog’s digestive enzymes to gradually adapt to the change in ingredient and nutritional content, assisting with the proper digestion of the food and helping prevent stomach upsets. Each day, simply feed a little less of the previous food and a little more of PRO PLAN until you are feeding PRO PLAN exclusively.
Pro Plan offers optimal nutrition for an amazing life. We all want our dogs to get the most from every moment of their lives, from enjoying walks in the rain to curling up indoors.
By harnessing the power of science, Pro Plan supports owners by providing the optimal nutrition for pets. For us, nutrition is the foundation for optimal health and wellbeing – and the starting point for an amazing life.
Learn more about Pro Plan Food.
As a full-time working mum, wife, and passionate Labrador breeder along side my supportive husband Mark, I needed a low-hassle dry food that could deliver the same performance, cognitive, and longevity benefits I’ve achieved through years of successful raw feeding. I wanted nutrient-dense, highly bioavailable nutrition, with the added advantages of food safety, balanced vitamins/minerals, and a clinically backed probiotic—all areas where home-prepared raw diets can fall short. Purina Pro Plan stood out as a practical solution. With my background in laboratory science, I appreciate the clinical research and long-term trials produced by the Purina Institute, especially their work on cellular health, mitochondrial support, and lifespan outcomes. It offers modern, evidence-based nutrition without the risks of pathogen exposure or imbalance. My results have been exceptional. Our Labrador dam maintained peak condition through whelping, produced 14 strong, even puppies, and kept a healthy, glowing coat. The pups thrived from birth through weaning, and continue to live active, healthy lives in their new homes. A subsequent back-to-back litter delivered the same outstanding outcomes. Purina Pro Plan has given me the ease of a complete dry diet with the nutritional confidence and performance I expect from a high-level breeding program
ProPlan Performance Starter kept my beagle in top condition through her biggest litter yet! She has easily maintained a great weight, shiny coat, muscle tone, and an incredible milk supply. Super easy to use for weaning, rehydrates fast, and the puppies love it. Highly recommend!
WOW Schondara Schnauzers has recently started using this new product Performance Starter it not only keeps mum in good shape while in whelp but has bridged the gap when weaning my pups. It is so easy to use and both mum and pups thrive on this formulation. Well done Proplan for your ongoing support of breeders.
All orders are dispatched from Petdirect’s Auckland and Christchurch warehouses, offering fast, reliable delivery throughout New Zealand.
Free shipping on orders $79.00 and over
Flat $5.90 delivery for smaller orders
This is ideal for urgent pet supply needs within the Auckland and Christchurch regions.
Available in eligible Auckland and Christchurch suburbs only.
See our shipping & delivery page for more information
You have 30 days to return products in original condition if you change your mind. Courier costs apply for change-of-mind returns.
If we made a mistake or your order is faulty or damaged, we’ll make it right — and cover the return shipping.
In-person returns are welcome at our Auckland store or Christchurch warehouse (by appointment).
See our full returns & refunds policy for more detail