The 10 Best Dog Food Choices

And if you've been to a pet super store recently, or searched for dog food online, you've probably seen what feels like a million or so different options yourself.

Because you actually have a life, it's just not possible to find the time to wade through that amount of information in order to figure out what's best.... or to expect your dog to 'test' a dozen different brands.

But there are many great dog food options out there, and I'm going to give you some tips and advice that will help you recognize them, without pulling your hair out or spending a fortune.

When I put together my list of the 10 best dog food choices, the most important thing that I looked at was the ingredients. The order, number, quality and ratio of ingredients in any dog food is what makes the difference between mediocre and GREAT.

The very minimum requirement of any food is that it has this statement on the bag or pouch... 'provides a complete and balanced diet

This means that the food meets the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines for nutrition and has been tested or evaluated in some way. BUT, many poor quality dog foods carry this wording because the standards are not overly high.

Any other wording or phrases such as 'premium' or 'super premium', 'choice' or 'all natural' have no real significance and often no relevance to the quality of the food inside. They're just slogans used to promote that particular food brand.

So, the next thing to look at is the ingredient list itself. The first 3 ingredients are the ones that make majority of the food. This is what you want to see in any food that makes a '10 best dog food' list:

First on the list should be a good source of high-quality protein. Meat is preferred (listed by name as 'chicken', 'lamb' etc. - just saying 'meat' is NOT good enough). Meal, as in 'Chicken Meal or 'Lamb 'Meal' is also fine, and should be just as nutritious as the fresh meat ingredient. But no MEAT-meal!

Most premium foods will also contain some carbohydrates, usually from grains such as rice, barley or oats. This is fine, but you don't want to see half a dozen different grains or 'hulls'.

Fats are important and the best sources are healthy oils such as olive oil or flax oil, or animal fats such as 'chicken fat' (again avoid generic 'animal fat'. Seeing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids is a good indication that you're looking at a quality dog food.

Fruits, vegetables, plus added vitamins/minerals may also appear on the ingredient list of a premium food. All preservatives should be natural, such as Vitamin E or Vitamin C.

Avoid foods that contain artificial additives, preservatives, fillers or 'junk'.

All ingredients should be from USDA inspected facilities if possible, or from facilities within countries that have rigorous quality control procedures that meet USDA requirements.

The second most important aspect of choosing a dog food is making sure that it's a good fit for your individual dog. What works for one dog, won't necessarily work for another... breed, size, age, activity level and so on, all play a part in determining the type of nutrition your dog needs.

Also, some dog health conditions can be aggravated by particular ingredients, or need a very specific balance of nutrients, and there are special formulas for these types of problems.

However, if your pup or dog suffers from diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, heart problems then you should check with your vet for advice on feeding him/her.

Most manufacturers produce dog food that is available in a range of formulas so that there's one to suit every puppy or dog, regardless of age, size or breed.

My 10 Best Dog Food Recommendations

I also took into account manufacturing processes, packaging, and cost!

When it comes to the best dog foods, the superior ones really do cost more initially. BUT because your dog needs to eat less of them, yet gets a much higher level of nutrition, they're a lot more cost-effective than you might think.

But not everyone's budget can stretch to the most expensive brands, so in my choice of the 10 best dog food brands, I've included a couple of more mid-priced foods that are still excellent in terms of quality and provide excellent value for money.

Many of the foods on my '10 Best Dog Food List' are from the most popular premium dog food brands, and all of them are made with superior ingredients and formulated to provide optimum nutrition.

Although I can't (and don't want to!) tell you what to feed your pet, I hope this information will make it a bit easier for you to choose what's best for your dog, lifestyle and situation.

Please Note! The 10 best dog food brands listed here are not in any particular order and the first food isn't 'ranked' more highly than the last.

• Precise
  This multi-generational family owned company has been producing quality pet foods for 30 years, and their current lines are second to none! Well worthy of being on any 'Top 10' best dog food list, they offer three different ranges (Precise Original, Precise Plus and Precise Holistic Complete) and have formulas to suit large breeds, small breeds, seniors and those with certain food sensitivities. Something for just about everyone in fact.

  Their manufacturing plant is USDA/AIB Certified 'Excellent', has an excellent safety record and no food recalls. All natural, human grade ingredients, naturally preserved, and with several different varieties to choose from. Dry foods are packaged by the company themselves to maintain quality.

  The 'Pet Business' Magazine Award for 2010 in the 'Best Pet Food Category' went to Precise Holistic Select line

  Buy Precise Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Orijen
  This range is high-protein, low-carbohydrate and grain-free and provides what they call a 'biologically-appropriate' diet for your dog. This means that their foods are formulated to meet the natural dietary requirements of canines. Made up from 70% meat and 30% fruit and vegetables, this Orijen dog food closely matches a dogs' natural carnivorous diet.

  Orijen was voted Pet Food Of The Year 2010-2011 by The Glycemic Research Institute.

  Buy Orijen Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Canidae
  There are several different ranges of all-natural and holistic Canidae dog food, and they're all formulated with human-grade ingredients. Their 'All Life Stages' range contains over 50% high quality hormone-free and antibiotic-free meat protein, and offers both grain free formulas as well as those with the optimal addition of appropriate grains.

  Canidae foods are manufactured in USDA approved facilities who consistently score 95% or above according to Silliker Good Manufacturing and Food Safety Audits.

  Buy Canidae Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Solid Gold
  A leader in holistic pet nutrition, Solid Gold foods are often seen on top 10 best dog food lists compiled by dog nutrition experts, and in consumer reports. There are 8 different ranges of dog food, all made with premium ingredients and are specifically designed to suit dogs with allergies or sensitivites.

  All dry foods are packed in the company's special 'foil barrier' bags which eliminates the need for chemical preservatives or flavor enhancers. Choose from Wolfking/Wolfpuppy, Hund-N-Flocken/Hundchen and others including the new high-protein/low carb adult dog food 'Barking at the Moon'.

  Buy Solid Gold Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Blue Buffalo
  This holistic range of dog foods is one of the newer members of this '10 Best Dog Food' list, and they are formulated in a unique way. The kibble itself is made from superior, all-natural and holistic ingredients and is then combined with Lifesource Bits which are a precise blend of nutrients and antioxidants selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists. Blue Buffalo foods are also gluten free.

  You can choose from the Life Protection Formula range which offers both size and age-specific formulas, as well as the Blue Wilderness range (high protein and low carbohydrate content, and a convenient alternative to a raw diet) and the Blue Organics range.

  Buy Blue Buffalo Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Natural Balance
  Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance range of dog foods is made from all-natural ingredients. There are too many varieties and categories of Natural Balance foods to go into in detail here, but they include the Ultra Premium, organic, hypoallergenic, reduced calorie, vegetarian and more. There's something for everyone here.

  Buy Natural Balance Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Nature's Variety
  This is also a holistic range of dog foods, and all varieties are 100% free of corn, wheat, soy, chemicals, and artificial colors & preservatives. The Prarie range contains meat, poultry, or fish protein, whole grains, plus fruits and vegetables. The Instinct range is grain free, and there's also a frozen raw food option.

  Buy Nature's Variety Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Timberwolf Organics
  Timberwolf foods offer a range of superior, carnivore specific formulas made with high levels of animal based protein, multiple grains, fruits, vegetables, seeds and herbs. It is also concentrated and nutrient dense, so your dog will get maximum nutrition from a smaller quantity of food.. and pass fewer, more compact stools.

  Buy Timberwolf Here

  Manufacturer's Website




• Wellness
  A holistic range of pet foods, made primarily with human-grade ingredients. Wellness uses whole foods, with no meat by-products, preservatives, fillers, or artificial colors and flavors. The Super5mix range contains age and breed specific holistic dog foods that meet the unique requirements of puppies/dogs of all ages. The CORE range is grain free and protein-focused, and the Simple Food Solutions range has been designed specifically for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.

  Buy Wellness Here

  Manufacturer's Website





New Addition to 10 Best Dog Food Brands list...

• Petcurean Pet Nutrition
  Based in B.C. Canada, this company produces the Now!, Go! and Summit dog foods.

  Now! is a totally grain free range and ingredients include only fresh, hormone free, deboned meats plus farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. There are no rendered meats or oils, no by-products. Low temperature, slow-cooking methods preserve the wholesomeness and nutritional excellence of the ingredients. These foods are particularly good for dogs with digestive tract issues such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome/disease), Pancreatitis or Chronic Renal Failure.

  Go! Natural dog food is a completely natural, concentrated (or 'nutrient-dense'), all-life-stages formula designed to give your dog a well-balanced, wholesome nutrition from puppyhood to senior citizen status. Ingredients include fresh, hormone-free, deboned meat and fresh fruits and vegetables. There are four different foods, one of them is grain free.

  Buy Now! Dog Food Here

  Buy Go! Dog Food Here

  Manufacturer's Website

Of course, the 10 best dog food brands listed above, aren't the only excellent foods available (you can find a list of the Top 25 best dog foods calculated according to Sarah Irick's method of comparing the quality/range of ingredients here... on my 10 best dog food choices page).

There is a little variation in the top 10 best dog food choices from each list, reflecting the changes in the dog food industry since Sarah's list was compiled.

The reassuring news however, is that both lists contain many of the same brands, which shows that premium dog food brands are maintaining a high level of quality in their products.

I can sum it up this way - if you steer clear of the generic, low quality dog foods and choose to feed one of the ones above (or a food of a similar quality), you'll be taking a big step towards keeping your dog happy and healthy.

10 Best Dog Food Choices - Last words......

Getting the proper nutrition both as a puppy, and an adult dog, has a huge impact on your pet's overall health... even on how long he may live.

On the other hand, eating poorly formulated puppy or dog food can cause problems such as allergies, skin/bone/joint issues, chronic digestive problems, obesity, heart problems and more.

In fact, the money you may end up spending at the veterinarian's office to treat the various health issues that could result from poor nutrition, could well mean that choosing a premium dog food (like any one featured on the above 10 best dog food list) in the first place would work out a lot less expensive.

Once you've taken into account the 10 best dog food brands above and decided on the food you want to use, don't forget to take the time to figure out how much to feed your dog each day.

Here are some other pages on my website that I've designed to help you make sure your dog gets the nutrition he needs.....

• Best Puppy Food Choices - learn how to choose the best food for your puppy. Information and advice on ingredients, dog food regulations and the different nutritional requirements of small and large breed puppies.


• Puppy Food Reviews - See a list of the best dog food for puppies, sorted by breed size.


• About Dog Food - this is an overall view of how to feed your puppy or dog, including a look at AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) requirements, the best balance of nutritional ingredients, customized diets and more.


• How Much To Feed Your Dog - learn how to calculate how much food your puppy or dog needs by figuring out the number of calories he needs each day. Also has information on the different nutritional requirements of puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs and more.


• Dog Food Comparisons - takes a close look at the food grading system developed by Great Dane owner, Sarah Irick. This system shows you how to rate any dog food according to the quality of it's ingredients.


• Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food - this article gives you lots of information and advice on feeding dogs who have dog food allergies or sensitivities. Also contains a list of the best allergy-free dog foods on the market.


• Organic Dog Food - this page discusses the benefits of using organic ingredients, and what this means in terms of health for your puppy/dog.


• Homemade Dog Food - learn more about how you can prepare delicious and well-balanced home made meals for your dog


• Raw Food Diet For Dogs - feeding raw dog food (ie the BARF diet) is gaining popularity with dog owners and breeders. Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of this method here.

Your Dog Food Reviews , Recommendations & Comments

The 10 best dog food choices I've featured on this page are my personal choices, but there are a LOT of great dog food options out there.

I would love to hear your recommendations, reviews, and experiences too.

If you use a food that isn't featured on this site, but is of excellent quality and works wonderfully for your dog... then please share it!

It only takes a minute, and your experiences and input could help other dog-lovers make the right choice.

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