The Best Dog Foods That Your Pup Will Chow Down

What to Look for in Dog Food

AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement 

Check to see if the food has an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement to indicate that the food is nutritionally complete and balanced for your dog's specific life stage. 

“Foods that contain an AAFCO statement have been verified through laboratory testing and in some cases, feeding trials to confirm they are complete and balanced for a particular life stage of a dog,” says Dr. Erin Katribe, DVM, MS, medical director and veterinarian for Best Friends Animal Society. “Other things to look for on the label include mention of the company’s quality control process, and if the company provides contact information and is available for questions.”

Life Stage 

Nutrients and calorie needs are different for each stage of a dog’s life—puppy, adult, senior.

“The caloric requirements of puppies are much higher than adult dogs, and if not fed a diet that’s calorie dense enough, they may lack the energy necessary for growth and development,” Dr. Katribe says. “In contrast, older dogs tend to have slower metabolisms, and senior diets have nutrient profiles that are adjusted to prevent or slow the onset of chronic diseases that we commonly see in older pets.”

In general, dogs should be fed puppy food until they’re a year old, adult food until 7 years old, and senior food after that, says veterinarian Kristin Wuellner, an employee of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Dr. Wuellner says feeding a puppy age-appropriate food is important because they are active and growing, so pound for pound, they need more calories and nutrients than an adult dog. "The biology of mature dogs changes around seven years of age and certain nutrients are needed to support healthy functioning of organs, bones and muscles,” she says. “As dogs enter their golden years, their metabolism often slows down significantly, so they typically eat fewer calories than when they were younger, yet still need the full complement of essential nutrients.”

Size or Specific Breeds

Some foods are targeted toward small or large breeds. Others are targeted toward very specific breeds such as Labrador retrievers or Chihuahuas. Does your dog need something that detailed? It depends, says Dr. Katribe.

“The importance of these is variable; for example, it may be important for some small breed dogs to eat smaller kibble if they struggle with larger food sizes,” she says. “Other factors may be less vital, but there may still be important benefits, such as the inclusion of supplements that have been shown to impact the development of osteoarthritis in older dogs.”

It is crucial for large and giant breed puppies to eat a diet designed for them, she says. “It’s important that their diet has the correct calcium and calorie content to support bone development but not allow them to grow too quickly, which can also lead to problems,” she says. 

Grain-Free or Not?

Grain-free diets are very popular, but not needed for most dogs, says Dr. Wuellner.

“Grain-free dog food is only necessary if your pet has been diagnosed with an allergy or intolerance to grains via an elimination diet trial. This type of allergy is rare in dogs,” she says. “The most common grains we see in dog food include barley, corn, oats, rice, wheat, rye, and sorghum and they all play a role in providing your pet with the nutrients they need. For example, barley is seen as a superfood for dogs, oats are known to benefit heart health, and corn provides vitamin E and linoleic acid.”

In addition, recent research suggests a possible link between some grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs. Researchers aren’t exactly sure of the connection but it seems to be related to a deficiency in the amino acid, taurine. It could be that there isn’t enough taurine in the diets or that it isn’t absorbed as well. 

“For this reason, until we understand more about this mechanism, feeding only grain-free is not recommended,” Dr. Katribe says.

Dry vs. Wet Dog Food

If given the option, your dog might vote for wet food, but that’s not always the best choice for every pet. Dry food can have an advantage over wet food because when your dog chews it, the mechanics help clean teeth.

Wet foods have a higher percentage of water which can help when your goal is weight loss for your pet, says Dr. Katribe. Your dog will feel fuller after eating a meal with more water. Wet food can also be helpful when a dog is recovering from an illness because it’s more appealing and they may be more likely to eat it. It’s also good when they might have dental pain.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

We interviewed several certified veterinarians, including Dr. Erin Katribe and Dr. Kristin Wuellner, about what to look for and consider when choosing a dog food. We then researched dozens of dog food brands to find the best for this roundup.

This article was researched and written by Mary Jo DiLonardo who has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than three dozen puppies and is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products, foods, and treats for them. She has also cleaned up after all of them!