Top Pick: Taste of the Wild Grain Free Premium High Protein Dry Dog Food Pacific Stream Adult- Smoked Salmon

Key Features:

  • Salmon is the #1 ingredient
  • Grain, corn, wheat and filler free with high protein
  • Contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat

Overall Impressions:

This dry dog food from Taste of the Wild is our top pick due to it’s quality ingredients and consideration of common food allergies in dogs. The dry food is rich in protein, grain and filler-free and also made without any eggs or egg products. What could be better if you’re wanting your dog to be healthy?

They have several flavors if your dog is a picky eater, including Roasted Bison and Venison, Roasted Duck, Roasted Lamb, and Pine Forest (a mix of game meats).

Price Point: $50 for a 28lb bag

Helpful Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars  Great brand of dog food, our dogs eat the lamb and salmon, both chicken free, and love it.

I have been getting the lamb version for a while now and my dogs love it. I accidentally purchased the salmon and I was afraid they’d not like it compared to the lamb. Nope, they loved it too. I’m not even sure they knew it was a different flavor. This brand is a good brand, I even talked to them when I was originally buy it because I wanted to ensure it had zero chicken…both this and the lamb are chicken free. I also found out its a family owned company that makes this, always partial towards family owned businesses as they geniunely try the hardest in customer satisfaction. — Christopher Powers

 

Best Dry & Raw Dog Food: Wellness Core Rawrev Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

  • High-protein dry kibble mixed with 100% raw bites of freeze-dried lamb
  • Easy to serve and very little prep
  • Grain and gluten-free

Overall Impressions:

If your testing whether your dog likes raw food, trying Wellness Core Rawrev is a great place to start. Having raw bites mixed into kibble helps for an easy transition to a raw diet and also reduces a lot of the prep-time when it comes to making raw meals.

With any food that’s less preserved and more raw-based, make sure you check the expiration date and keep the food in a dry, cool space to make sure the food to go bad. While this food doesn’t need to be refrigerated, keeping in mind general food-safe practices are essential to keeping it clean and safe to eat.

Price Point: $43 for a 10lb bag

Helpful Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best food!

My dogs love this food! It is rated 4 1/2 stars at the dog food review. It is the best! They have been eating this food for the last year. I just add a little water to it and they scarf it down! Their fur coat is so shiny! My dogs are both seniors. One is a 14 year old Dachshund and the other is a 14 year old Terrier mix. There is an ample mix of raw bites to the kibble. They have a lot of energy for a couple of seniors on this food. — texas10

 

 

Top Freeze-Dried dog food: Stella & Chewy's Stella's Super Beef Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

Key Features:

  • Made of 95% grass-fed beef and all sustainably sourced ingredients
  • Convenient and easy to feed because of freeze-dried formula
  • Made in the USA in small batches

Overall Impressions:

These freeze-dried raw patties are a great raw-food option (though pricy) for your dog, without the mess or time of having to make the meals yourself. If you’re not quite sure about putting your dog on a full raw-food diet yet, try mixing a couple of these into your dog’s current food, or offering small pieces as a treat first. Many reviews state that dogs have more energy, shinier coats and better breath after eating these patties. Be aware that raw food can have a higher fat content compared to other dried food, so consult with your vet before switching your dog’s diet completely.

The freeze-dried formulas also come in Chicken, Duck, Lamb, Turkey, Rabbit, Venison and Surf & Turf. As always with raw food, make sure you store properly (refrigeration isn’t necessary but can help keep the food longer) and check the food before feeding. Also make sure to wash your hands after feeding your dog and keeping any used dishes separate, this is raw meat after all.

Price Point: $50 for a 25 oz. bag

Helpful Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 17 Year Old Dog's Eyes/Energy/Coat have greatly improved with this food…

I started giving these to my 16 year old papillon who has lost 60% of his teeth over the years, as a supplement to his dry food. He had really bad cataracts and his coat was definitely duller than it had been when he was younger. Within about 2 weeks, his eyes were much clearer and his coat is soft and shiny. His energy level is also greatly improved and he's running around a bit again! I wish I would have started him on a diet like this earlier. I am a firm believer that food can really heal our bodies and it looks to be helping heal/improve the life of my beloved dog as well. I'm very pleased with this and I highly recommend! Great price if you subscribe and save and get 15% off. He gets 3 patty's a day as a supplement to his Origen Senior Dry Food. — M. Mitchell

 

Best Dry Food for Puppies: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food

 

Key Features:

  • High protein and grain free
  • Contains Lifesource bits mixed into the food: a blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
  • Doesn’t contain any wheat, soy, by-product meals or artificial flavors and preservatives

Overall Impressions:

Choosing a dry food for puppies is a big decision. We’ve chosen Blue Buffalo because it’s well rounded in essentials for growth (vitamins and protein) and has removed ingredients that are common intolerances such as grains and soy. This dry food comes in a few ‘wild’ flavors for adult dogs as well and is intended to mimic your dog’s ancestral diet.

Since the main consideration is healthy growth for puppies, this formula also contains DHA and ARA fatty acids, which are found in mother’s milk and helps support brain and eye development.

Price Point: $53 for a 24lb bag

Helpful Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars  Worked great for my rescue pup!

I had recently adopted a rescue Corgi/Dachshund mix who had terrible flaky skin, coarse hair that shed terribly, loose stools and who was underweight. After a month and a half on this food he has gained several pounds, his dry skin and coarse hair are silky smooth with appropriate amounts of shedding and his stools are consistent and solid. I am very pleased and will continue to purchase! — Westly Sirois

 

 

Best Affordable Dry Dog Food: Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Natural With Real Turkey & Venison Adult Dry Dog Food

Key Features:

  • Real turkey is the #1 ingredient
  • Contains 30% protein content
  • Affordable and easy to serve

Overall Impressions:

Purina ONE Smartblend is a healthy option for those on a tighter budget, since it still focuses on having a high level of protein for your dog. The kibble comes in small pieces and contains omega 6 fatty acids for your dog’s healthy coat and skin. The ingredients do include wheat, soy and gluten so it might not be the best choice for dogs with sensitivities or intolerances. If you’re wanting a simple, healthy, affordable option for your dog, Purina ONE Smartblend might be a good fit.

This kibble also comes in Salmon & Tuna and a Grain-Free Formula (Chicken & Sweet Potato) with varying prices.

Price Point: $42 for a 36lb bag

Helpful Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turkey & Venison variety reduced sensitive stomach issues for our lab mix

We got a lab mix "pound puppy." It turned out that she has a "sensitive stomach" a/k/a stinky gas! We were told by the vet to buy a better dog food, and we tried many of the higher priced ones that were 100% grain free, organic, etc. We found that she simply preferred Purina One. We tried all the varieties before finally settling on the Turkey and Venison. The others varieties still gave her gas, but since she has been eating the Turkey and Venison Purina One, she has been essentially gas-free. The kibble is small and thin enough that our old dachshund with bad teeth can eat it too. Highly recommend you give it a try! – K. Gifford

 

Takeaway Notes for Changing Your Dog's Diet

As always, if you’re switching your dog to a new food, slowly introduce the new food by adding smaller amounts into their current food over a period of a week or so. This way your dog can adjust to the new food and lessens any chances of irritated stomachs and changes in bathroom

Always consult with your vet before making any large changes in your dog's diet, especially if they have health concerns. 

 

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