Expensive varieties often boast about their ingredient lists. The devil is in the details, so read carefully. Value: $2.80 per pound. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. But according to research, canine nutritionist and veterinarians, there are ten factors that will help you to determine the best dog food brand for your canine (ranked in the order of importance, from most to least). This best dry dog food doesn't include any wheat, soy, corn and is primarily meat-based. by Victor Dog Food, 11Bully Max High Performance Super Premium Unavailable on Chewy. More than 80% of their formula will usually contain high quality protein source, quickly following but a small amount of fruits and veggies to ensure an ample supply of vitamins and minerals. Find it on Chewy ($73.67). Value: $4.70 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($106.99) The brand makes both wet and dry food, as well as food for many stages of a dog’s life: puppy, adult, senior, and pregnant/nursing dogs. Variety: Grain-free Sorting through the noise and picking great kibble for your pup can feel daunting, but here, experts are sharing solid tips to make it all easier. Find it on Chewy ($67.99). As someone who's been doing research on this for years, I'd like to first quickly introduce you to the right way of choosing best dog foods for your specific dog. Horizon Legacy Dog Food Reviews: Read what dog owners say on Amazon, Find it on Amazon ($47.82) They're not grain-free, so if your canine has no problems with a few extra carbohydrates, this USA-made organic dog food brand is easily the best dog food of the non grain-free variety. "The most important thing to me is the company's quality control practices.". Value: $2.37 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($64.99) The two biggest (and most expensive) buzzwords in pet food right now are grain-free and human-grade, but don't feel like you have to spend more. Human-Grade! The most popular option is the Six Fish recipe that has been formulated to be biologically appropriate for dogs, but at the price, not every dog owner can afford it. Merrick Dog Food Reviews: Read what dog owners say on Amazon, Rating: Our Overall Best Kibble Pick: The Orijen brand of dog food products biologically appropriate diets for dogs and it is easily one of the top rated dog food brands on the market. Variety: Grain-free Streeter advises seeking out formulas that contain omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oils to help soothe irritable skin, and switching to a food with new ingredients for tummy upset. To help with balance rice, oatmeal, vegetables, cranberries and pineapple are also introduced. The popular book series turned dog food supplier, Chicken Soup for the Soul provides a high quality dry dog food brand at an affordable price. I have already mentioned above the criteria that is best to use when picking top dog food brands. Dog Food Nutrition. Anybody (and I mean tons of other dog food ratings and reviews websites online) that tell you otherwise, are lying. Note that some of the top rated dog food brands do not fit all criteria, and for example, will have a different protein to fat ratio (but otherwise rank fairly well). (google it). Value: $2.16 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($47.99) Dry kibble is the most popular choice among pet owners, so you can probably find the best dog food brand for your canine among the fifteen choices I've mentioned above. Rating: You can easily take the above list and try to find the best dog food brand yourself without my help. Find it on Chewy ($31.64). I've seen a lot of the advice about feeding dogs and all the top 10 dog food brands rankings out there. "However, some parts of the animal that are considered by-products, such as liver, can be very nutritious.". Video: Weruva Dog Food Review It's very important to know how dog foods are chosen. Twin Pet dog food is a plant-based dry dog food utilizing a limited amount of unnamed and unidentified meat as its main source of animal protein. by Nature's Variety, 3Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Cheap dog food can either be generic grocery store brands or lower end name brands, like Pedigree or Iams. Their Salmon recipe in particular is made of extremely ultra healthy and natural ingredients, and 80% of which is simply high quality salmon (this is very rare among most dry dog foods). In fact, the company’s mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationship between people and their pets, a job they are doing very well. We can help you with that. Shop Chewy for dog food brands featuring wet dog food and dry dog food in addition to grain-free, gluten-free and limited ingredient recipes. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. There's no such thing. With all the above information at hand, you should easily distinguish between poor quality dog foods and top dog food brands that will best suit your specific dog at his stage of life (age) and condition. A dog food brand that uses fresh, animal-based proteins like chicken, turkey, and salmon will be of higher quality than brands that rely on animal by-product and by-product meals. Each recipe has been expertly formulated by a … We've analyzed cost per pound, as dog foods can come in a range of bag sizes. Find it on Chewy ($18.99). Even though some other criteria can and should be considered, the above ten will usually bring up a handful of top dog food brands of good quality and safe for dogs to eat. However, AAFCO states, "Human-grade does not automatically equal nutritional safety for pets.". Victor Dog Food Reviews: Read what dog owners say on Amazon, Rating: Value: $2.23 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($67.99) Let us help you find the best one with dog food reviews, ingredient information, and personal one-on-one attention. When it comes to picking the best dog food for your specific canine, ideally, you want to be able to choose your own top dog food brands based on your dog's age, breed (to an extent), health condition and other unique requirements that only you will know about. Value: $2.08 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($73.67) Nature’s Variety Dog Food Reviews: Read what dog owners say on Amazon, Rating: "With Beef" or "Beef-Flavored" doesn't have to contain much at all. As for adult dogs, you can buy food labeled "for all life stages," but feeding sedentary pets a calorie-rich mix also fit for young pups may contribute to weight gain. by Merrick, 2 Nature’s Variety Instinct The best dog food brands. Description: Taste of the Wild dry dog food is arguably the most popular top dog food brand on the market today. One of the best dog food brands when it comes to organic dog food, Pero have been at the forefront of the market for over 25 years. "Many people are concerned about foods containing by-products instead of whole meat," Streeter adds. You can find either grain-free or non grain-free formula, and they have an outstanding ratio of protein to fat to carbs. Instead, you have to (a) consider your personal situation, (b) several dog food criteria, and (c) several organizational requirements. Find it on Chewy ($42.66). Picking top dog food brands is not simple, and here's why: it depends on what kind of dog foods you're looking for. This universal dry dog food brand makes mealtime much easier for multi-dog families. Use my suggested formulas or simply search for second and third opinion. Using bison and venison as its two animal protein sources, this dog food takes its inspiration from the ancestral diet of prehistoric canines. Government sites may or may not be a good point of reference, because I've seen them provide wrong information at times. Bella® Wet Dog Food Bella Grain-Free Paté Wet Small Dog Food With Chicken, Carrots & Potatoes and Lamb, Peas & Sweet Potatoes, Variety 12 Pack Two delightful varieties of grain-free paté wet food, each with a touch of real vegetables, in one handy 12-count pack. It contains 32% protein and 18% fat. While we're still monitoring them for how they will continue to perform as the company grows, so far they've been manufacturing high quality performance dog food usually marketed for pit bulls (although there's no reason other dog breeds cannot use this). Value: $3.20 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($49.99) Just take a walk down the dog food aisle and you'll realize that pet nutrition contains just as many buzzwords as the human kind: Grain-Free! Puppies do need specific puppy food, as they're growing very quickly. I've been in the pet food industry for several years now, and have been writing about dog foods for over a year. It ranks high on our top dog food brands list due to its continued dedication and promise to provide reduced fat, low carbohydrate and high amount of good quality protein pet foods. For example, dry "meat meal" actually contains more meat than water-filled "whole meats," according to the American Kennel Club. Pamper your small dog with the grain-free wet food they love! These requirements can be met using low-quality ingredients, but that won’t be the case for a 4-star cat food. Some label claims are less meaningful than you think. READ NEXT: 16 Things You Didn’t Know About Prescription Dog Foods. If you already know all about types of dog foods, then click here to jump to the list of top dog food brands (dry kibble). This list may not reflect recent changes (). Value: $6 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($35.99) "Wet food is not necessarily better, but it's typically more palatable and the excess water it provides may help keep dogs hydrated," Streeter says. Every dog has its own needs, and the best diet for dogs will vary depending on size, breed, and more. The company is very transparent and open about the sourcing of ingredients, but their prices are still very high. The best dog food according to experts includes wet, dry and grain-free dog food brands like Rachel Ray, Instinct, Orijen, The Farmer's Dog, Freshpet and more. Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food has hundreds of fans on Amazon. The first dog foods brand in my review is the Hill’s Science Diet. The problem might stem from something other than diet. A 4-star dog food brand may not offer the same quality as a 5-star brand, but it is still a great option for your dog. Value: $1.12 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($31.64) Description: Iams Grain Free Healthy Naturals dry dog food is quickly climbing up the ranks to join other popular top dog food brands and their companies as more pet owners are choosing this do good. Their foods are tailored to the unique needs of different dogs based on their size and breed. Here's a quick summary. If dry dog foods is not what you were looking for, here's a list of other top rated dog food brands that are more specific to your situation and for individual cases: If overall dry top dog food brands is not what you're out for, then you'll find more appropriate dog foods in the above articles. Cheap dog food. Here's the formula I recommend using (more on this below): Personalize + Critical Assessment + Requirements = Best Dog Food. That said, I strongly recommend you do your research on choosing the best dog food for your own Fido. Why trust us? Variety: Grain-free The ratio of high amount of protein and ultra-low amount of carbohydrates makes this a perfect grain free choice. Every recipe is made with fresh, regionally sourced ingredients and designed to mirror your dog’s natural evolutionary diet. Moist & Meaty® Moist & Meaty dog food comes in a variety of dog-pleasing choices, so it is simple to go above and beyond for your dog. Remember to use some common sense and further research before picking out any of the top rated dog food brands, since it all depends on your individual dog. Diamond Naturals Premium Formulas Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs Made with Real Meat Protein, Superfoods, Probiotics and Antioxidants for Supporting Overall Health in Dogs 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,035 $36.99$36.99 ($0.06/Ounce) Save more with Subscribe & Save Pinnacle Dog Food Reviews: Read what dog owners say on Amazon, Rating: Description: Castor & Pollux Organix dry dog food is one of the few organic top dog food brands among the popular, well-known companies that can still pride themselves for high quality. As someone who has worked in the pet food industry, done the research and wrote about the best dog foods for years, my first concern is for pet owners to understand what makes top dog food brands best for your specific dog. The company is known for producing great quality pet food always with added omega-3 and omega-6, vitamins and minerals and never artificial preservatives, colors or flavorings. However, their higher prices prevent the company from becoming more popular among pet owners. We'll discuss all of this further in the article. Value: $4 per pound, Find it on Amazon ($15.99) In order to be labeled “complete and balanced” by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), dog food must meet certain minimum requirements.. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Taste of the Wild is available for sale at major online retailers as well as local pet food stores. For more information on choosing the best dog food brand and how you should do so, continue reading. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) also provides a few additional tips for curious shoppers. Here's a quick tip for when you're scanning the cans: A named ingredient like "Beef Dog Food" means the product must contain at least 70% beef. This formula specifically contains three protein sources as their main ingredients – beef, chicken and pork – with very little carbohydrate fillings. I've used links to Amazon where you can see more information about the brand on their product page, and also read other pet owners' dog food reviews, which I strongly encourage. They use a simple formula that closely follows (yet not to the extreme) the ancestral diet of dogs, and prioritize high protein and extremely low carbohydrate recipes. All of the above mentioned top dog food brands are the leaders in the market not due to low price and mass production, but because they spend a lot of resources in formulating appropriate and healthy dog foods for general dog population. However, names like "Beef Entree" or "Beef Dinner" only have to contain 25%. A couple of good and short guides to understand dog nutrition and the way to distinguish top rated dog food brands from false advertising, which will ultimately help you choose your own top dog food brands for your specific dog, can be found here and here. This is a non grain-free formula, but the little amount of included carbohydrates have all the necessary nutrients for the dogs with no useless fillings. Lots of major brands do this, but dog food still comes in all different price levels with various claims as to why some cost more than others. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. With so many variables to account for, it's impossible to pick the absolute best dog food brands that would be the optimal choice for all dogs. Dog owners should also consider the right food for the size of their pets. Those include employing a board-certified nutritionist to formulate the diet, testing the nutrient content and adequacy, and assessing for contaminants. "Often, they are also higher in fiber, which should help them feel more full.". As for basic dog food, our favorite line is the Wellness CORE selection which has a high amount of protein and no grains (if your dog’s stomach can’t handle high protein, opt for their Complete Health line). University veterinarian run sites are usually my favorite point of reference as well as veterinary and medical journals, which is what I used to come up with the above list of top dog food brands.