Dry Dog Food - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
His dog is a member of his family, so of course he wants to do what's best for him. Part of keeping him happy and healthy is feeding him quality foods, which is why you need to find a decent dry dog food. With so many options on the market, selecting the best dry dog food can seem overwhelming. The good news is that we can teach you how to differentiate quality foods from those that leave a lot to be desired. With this knowledge, choosing a dry food for your dog is simple.
If you're ready to buy dry dog food, see our recommendations above. If you want to know more about dry dog food and how to choose the best formulas, read on for our complete guide.
Types of Dry Dog Food
You can find several varieties of dog food on the market, all designed to meet the needs of different dogs, so choose accordingly.
- Dry Puppy Food
Dry puppy food is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies. Puppy food should have higher amounts of protein and fat compared to standard adult formulas, as well as higher levels of calcium, phosphorous and a range of other minerals.
- Dry Food for Adult Dogs
Adult dog food is designed for canines that have reached their adult size and are finished growing. Most dogs should be fed adult food from the age of one year onwards, although giant breeds grow more slowly and may need to continue eating puppy food for up to two years.
- Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Small breed dry dog foods are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of small breed dogs. These formulas generally contain pieces that are smaller and more suitable for tiny mouths.
- Dry Food for Senior Dogs
Senior dog food is made with the needs of senior dogs in mind. These formulas typically contain less fat and fewer calories, as some older dogs put on weight more easily than when they were younger. That said, there is no strict definition of what constitutes senior dog food, and many dogs do perfectly well on regular adult food throughout their adult lives. If you have a senior dog that stops thriving on his food, consider a senior formula. Otherwise, feel free to stick with the adult food.
- Dry Food for Active Dogs
You can find "active formula" dry dog food that is balanced with the needs of a very active dog in mind. If you have a working dog, a dog that regularly participates in agility competitions or a similar sport, or even a very active dog that gets several hours of vigorous exercise each day, you may benefit from an active dry dog food.
- Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Some large dogs, especially giant breeds like Great Danes and St. Bernards, thrive on a slightly different balance of nutrients than their smaller counterparts. Large breed dry dog food is designed to meet these needs.
What to Look for in a Dry Dog Food
- Quality Protein Sources
Choose a dry dog food that contains quality sources or protein. Meat and/or meat meal should be the main ingredients, but remember that fresh meat has a high moisture content, so you'll need to move down a couple of places on the ingredients list to compensate for this.
- Vegetables, Fruits and Whole Grains
Look for a dry dog food that contains a range of fruits and vegetables. If it contains grains, they should be whole grains, as they contain much more goodness than grain foods.
- Vitamins and Minerals
Dry dog food should contain a wide range of added vitamins and minerals to help meet your dog's nutritional needs. Chelated vitamins and minerals are supposed to be more bioavailable and therefore easier to absorb.
Aafco Statement
The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is the body that oversees the feeding of dogs. The dog food you choose should have an AAFCO statement on the package indicating that it meets the minimum nutritional requirements.
This is not necessarily proof that a dog food is good, but only poor quality dog foods do not meet AAFCO requirements.
What to Avoid in a Dry Dog Food
- Unnatural Preservatives, Colors and Flavors
A quality dog food should contain natural preservatives and sprinkles, such as tocopherols (vitamin E) or ascorbate (vitamin C) and sprinkles, and get its flavor and color from natural ingredients. Avoid artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors such as BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin, and propylene glycol.
- A Lot of filler ingredients
Grain splitting is the practice of using a number of different grains or listing one type of grain into separate parts. For example, listing corn flour, corn gluten and corn flour separately instead of just listing corn is an example of splitting grains. A manufacturer might do this so that ingredients appear lower on the list, making it appear that the food contains fewer grains than it actually does.
- Nameless Meats
A clear sign of poor quality protein is when the meats or fats have no name. For example, if an ingredient list contains "meat meal" or "animal fats" instead of "meat meal" or "chicken fat," the food should be avoided.
Considerations for Selecting a Dry Dog Food
- Complete Feed or Mixer
Some dry dog foods are complete, while others are mixers. Complete dog food contains all the nutrients your dog needs to stay healthy. Mixers do not contain all of your dog's essential nutrients. Instead, they are designed to be mixed with high-quality foods to increase volume and reduce cost. For simplicity and to ensure proper nutrient balance, we recommend that you feed your puppy a complete dog food.
- Flavor and Palatability
Dry dog food comes in a range of flavors, some of which may be more palatable to your dog than others. Just like some people can't get enough of broccoli while others ditch it entirely from their plates, all dogs have different food preferences and flavors, with some being pickier than others. If you have a picky eater, you may have to try different foods before you find one that he likes.
- Aallergens
Some ingredients are potential allergens, like gluten, grains, and even meat. If your four-legged friend has any allergies, pay close attention to the list of ingredients so your chosen food doesn't cause a reaction.
Although grain-free dog food is all the rage right now, there's no reason to avoid grains unless your dog has an allergy. Instead, look for a dry dog food that contains healthy whole grains in reasonable amounts…no grain should be high on the ingredient list.
Open Formula vs. Fixed Formula
Fixed formula dry dog foods list each ingredient separately, and the ingredients are properly named. For example, you could list: tuna meal, &share; salmon meal; brown rice, and & quota; corn. This clarifies exactly what dry dog food contains.
Open formula dry dog food has no specific ingredients. For example, they could simply list "fishmeal" and "grains."
We highly recommend fixed formula dog food over open formula dog food as it is not known what you get from the latter. This usually means that it contains poor quality ingredients.
Tips
Look for signs that your dog is thriving on his food. A shiny coat, bright eyes, regular bowel movements, and a healthy weight are good indicators.
Make the switch to a new food gradually. Changing your dog's diet without warning can cause an upset stomach. Instead, replace about 20% of your old food with your new food and increase this by 20% each day until you've eliminated the old stuff.
Consider wellness standards. Some dog food manufacturers only use meat that has been raised to high welfare standards.
Think about the fat content. Fat is an essential part of your dog's diet when consumed in moderation. Most dry dog foods contain between 9% and 14% fat. If your dog is prone to weight gain, choose a food that contains no more than 10% fat.
FAQ
Que. How many meals a day should my dog eat?
Ans. Most adult dogs thrive on two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Puppies need more frequent feedings, preferably three or four a day, evenly spaced.
Que. How should I store my dog's dry food?
Ans. Dry dog food is easy to store and has a long shelf life, even after opening. However, we still recommend keeping it in a cool, dry place to increase its longevity. If you buy large bags of food that will last for months, you might consider sealing the bag with a clamp or storing it in a closed container between meals.
Que. How can I help my dog maintain a healthy weight?
Ans. A dog that is fed the correct amount of food, along with plenty of daily exercise, should have no problem maintaining a healthy weight. Feed your puppy the recommended amount of food for her weight and activity level, but still keep an eye on her weight, as feeding guidelines are not absolute and may not be accurate for all dogs. If you start to gain weight, reduce the size of your meals and/or increase your exercise.
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