Organizing a pantry for my puppy was a lot of fun, but finding high quality jars and dishes for her food was not easy. Doggie stores today have a wide variety of seasonal foods and treats. Storing all that food nicely makes eating fun for your puppy pal.

The first time I bought groceries for my puppy, I bought a 10-pound bag of food. She got bored of it by the end of the bag, and I quickly realized how important a variety of fresh food was to maintain her appetite. After that, I bought smaller bags of different foods and stored the food in jars.

Best food storage materials for dogs

Finding safe and durable food storage for my puppy involved a lot of research. I decided on glass and ceramic because most of the foods she eats have natural oils that can affect plastic over time. Glass jars for puppy treats are just as fun for a dog as candy jars are for us. (A candy scoop is also useful for measuring portions.) Ceramic or stoneware jars are more practical for large portions of everyday food.

For the widest selection, you can shop for your puppy wherever you would shop for your own pantry. In the photo, the stoneware jars are from Pottery Barn, the stainless steel scoop is from CB2, the ceramic food bowl is from Chewy, the porcelain dishes are from Target, and the glass jars are from an Etsy shop. There are also some luxury pet supply stores that sell food containers, such as Harry Barker.

Deciding if jar lids with silicone seals are right for you

The hardest decision to make was whether or not to buy jars with silicone in them. This is a topic that not everyone agrees on, but luckily the silicone on jar lids is often removable.

If you live in an urban environment, having a silicone seal might be a necessity rather than option, in order to protect the food. If you have the option of a jar without a seal, it’s worth reading the research on food-safe silicones and deciding for yourself. Keep in mind that like plastic, silicone does deteriorate over time.

The FDA outlines rules for food-safe silicones in CFR 177.2600 that manufacturers follow in the United States. However, if you buy jars from European brand IKEA, they are labelled as containing D4, D5, and D6 siloxanes. These have been identified by the European Commission as bioaccumulative and toxic.

If you’re not sure what to buy, it’s helpful to focus on shopping for pantry storage that is safe and fun. You’ll know you made good choices when you see your puppy’s tail wagging every time you open the pantry.

Find some helpful resources for setting up a puppy pantry here.