Top 10 Best Dog Food for Active Dogs: Fuel Their Adventure

Obesity is a problem of epidemic proportions in both people and pets. Many pet owners fail to understand that their pets don’t need nearly as many calories as they do themselves, which results in overfeeding.

Being overweight is extremely dangerous for a dog and can shave years off the lifespan and increase the risk for a whole host of health issues.

But what about dogs with the opposite problem? Dogs who have such a fast metabolism and high energy burn that it’s difficult to keep up with?

If you had to choose, you would probably prefer that your dog be highly active than overweight. But active dogs come with their own challenges, particularly when it comes to nutrition. Because they burn energy at a much higher rate, they need to be fed more and more frequently.

Not just that, but certain nutrients become even more important than for the average dog. Understanding your active dog’s nutritional needs is extremely important so you can pick the best high energy dog food.

In this article, we’ll talk about what makes active dogs different from the average dog, both in terms of their dietary and their activity needs. We’ll talk about what goes into an ideal diet for active dogs and help you figure out what to look for. You’ll also receive our top picks for the best high energy dog food.

Now that you have a better understanding of your active dog’s nutritional needs, you’re ready to start looking for the best dog food brands to meet those needs. If you’re still not quite sure what to look for in the best dog food for active dogs, check out our recommendations below.

 

Best Dog Food for Active Dogs

While there may not be a single best option in dog food for active breeds, there are certain things you should look for. Higher protein and fat content are essential, but it must also come from high-quality sources.

Look for digestible carbohydrates like whole grains and sweet potatoes with essential vitamins and minerals for nutritional balance.

1. Ollie Fresh Pet Food

Your active dog requires above-average levels of protein, fat, and calories. More than that, however, they require a diet made up of high-quality sources for these nutrients. The higher the quality of your dog’s diet, the more nutritious it will be and the healthier he will be.

If you want to give your dog the best of the best, consider this brand. They deliver freshly prepared dog food right to your door. Simply fill out some information about your dog online and choose a recipe – the experts back at Ollie will do the rest!

One of the key features of this food is its customization. When you sign up for their service, you start by filling out a detailed questionnaire about your dog, including information about their breed, age, weight, activity level, and any health issues they may have.

Based on this information, Ollie's team of pet health experts will create a personalized meal plan for your dog, with recommendations for the appropriate portion sizes and frequency of feeding.

Keep in mind that fresh food is fairly pricey, and you’ll be paying quite a bit if you feed your active dog Ollie as a staple diet, but it’s hard to beat the quality and the difference you see in your dog’s performance will be noticeable!

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2. Eukanuba Premium Performance 21/13 SPRINT

When you’re at a loss for what dog food to pick, you can always go with a popular brand like Eukanuba. This brand is known for producing top-quality dog foods using premium ingredients in protein-rich formulas.

This kibble is expertly crafted to meet the nutritional needs of highly active dogs with short bursts of intense activity, such as those involved in sprinting, agility or working sports.

Formulated with a tailored antioxidant complex, this premium recipe helps protect your dog against the effects of exercise by defending cells from damaging free radicals, ensuring optimal recovery and sustained health.

To support joint health and mobility, it contains essential nutrients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and EPA, which work together to promote agile, resilient joints even under the stress of rigorous activity.

It also includes a precise balance of prebiotics and fiber to aid healthy digestion, ensuring that your dog absorbs maximum nourishment from every meal.

Designed to deliver targeted levels of carbohydrates, this formula provides quick, efficient energy to fuel your dog’s short, high-intensity performances.

With its advanced combination of performance-driven ingredients and comprehensive nutritional support, this food helps keep your active canine athlete in peak condition every day.

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3. Nulo Challenger Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish

Active adult dogs need a higher concentration of protein, fat, and calories than the typical adult dog but, for active puppies, those needs are even greater.

And when it comes to high-protein dog food, things can get pretty pricey. If you’re looking for an option that delivers on protein without costing a fortune, consider this brand.

This brand offers several “protein first” recipes that contain 30-33%% protein but this one contains a whopping 35% protein.

This recipe rocks ultra-high protein levels from a premium blend of 83% animal-source protein and natural fats. You’ll find this recipe loaded with haddock plus deboned salmon, salmon meal, turkey meal, chicken meal and acadian redfish as the top ingredients.

Additionally, it features low-glycemic organic ancient grains such as oats, barley, and millet to provide lasting energy and promote overall well-being.

Enriched with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C and E, this formula helps support a healthy immune system. Plus, with an optimal balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, it helps keep your furbaby’s skin healthy and their coat shiny.

Overall, this formula provides 35% protein and 18% fat with 427 calories per cup.

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4. Inukshuk Performance Marine 16

Crafted exclusively with 100% ocean-sourced animal proteins—including high-quality salmon, herring, and whitefish—this nutrient-dense formula delivers a powerhouse of essential omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a glossy, vibrant coat.

Perfect for dogs with common food sensitivities, it contains absolutely no chicken, corn, wheat, or soy, making it a gentle and wholesome option for pups with dietary restrictions.

Every bite is made even more beneficial through a specialized vacuum infusion process, which enhances the kibble by making it more calorie-dense, nutrient-packed and highly digestible for optimal nutrient absorption.

With its carefully balanced ratio of proteins and healthy fats, this recipe fuels your dog's daily adventures, helping them stay energized, strong, and ready to perform at their peak.

Whether your pup is an athlete or simply enjoys an active lifestyle, this ocean-inspired meal provides the nourishment they need to thrive.

Overall, it provides 26% crude protein and 16% crude fat with 474 calories per cup.

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5. Next Level Super Premium Beef

When it comes to feeding an active dog, you need a recipe that is nutritionally rich and calorie-dense. This formula is a great option because it features premium animal proteins and highly digestible whole grains.

This recipe starts off strong with beef meal as a concentrated source of premium animal protein with pork meal, chicken meal and menhaden fish meal for support.

Complex carbohydrates like sorghum and whole-grain millet provide quick-burning energy as well as essential nutrients and dietary fiber.

You’ll also find supplemental fibers and probiotic supplements to support your dog’s healthy and regular digestion. This recipe contains plenty of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, with a total of 24% crude fat and 20% protein at 395 calories per cup.

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6. Dr. Tim’s Active Dog Pursuit Formula

If you’re looking for a dog food specifically formulated for active breeds, try Dr. Tim’s Active dog food line. This recipe might cost a bit more, but it is uniquely designed to support your active dog’s nutritional needs.

It features 86% animal protein from chicken meal, eggs, and ocean fish meal with catfish meal, salmon meal, and chicken liver for supplemental protein. This recipe contains digestible whole grains like brown rice and oat groats, plus it is rich in dietary fiber to support your dog’s digestion.

You’ll find that this formula contains plenty of healthy fats, including a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

It also contains vitamin supplements and chelated minerals for nutritional balance and optimal nutrient absorption. Overall, this formula contains 30% protein and 20% fat with 442 calories per cup.

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7. Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula

Feeding an active dog can be expensive but this Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete formula is a more affordable option that still ticks all the necessary boxes. This formula features chicken meal as the first ingredient which is a highly concentrated source of protein.

It is followed by fresh chicken as well, providing a total of 32% crude protein. This formula is highly digestible with complex carbohydrates like cracked pearled barley with the addition of prebiotic fibers and probiotic supplements to ensure healthy digestion.

Overall, this recipe is loaded with healthy ingredients including fresh fruits and vegetables which provide natural sources for key nutrients, though it also contains vitamin supplements and chelated minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition with optimal nutrient absorption. Your dog is sure to love it!

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8. Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish Recipe

If your active dog struggles to digest grains, you may want to consider a high-protein formula that is grain-free. This Crave with Protein from Salmon & Ocean Fish features real salmon as the first ingredient which, in addition to being a great source of premium animal protein, is also loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.

This recipe also contains chicken meal (a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin) as well as pork meal and lamb meal. It is loaded with healthy fats from chicken fat and fish ingredients, delivering a powerful blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

Overall, this recipe provides 34% protein and 17% fat and it carries 443 calories per cup. It is also nutritionally balanced with the help of vitamins and chelated minerals.

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9. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Hero’s Banquet Recipe

If you like the idea of feeding your dog raw food but you don’t want to deal with the hassles, consider this recipe from Merrick as an alternative.

This dry food consists of high-protein kibble infused with freeze-dried bits of premium protein. This recipe features a rich blend of animal proteins like fresh beef, pork meal, turkey meal, and salmon meal as well as fresh turkey and lamb.

It contains highly digestible complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes with prebiotic fibers and probiotic supplements to ensure healthy and regular digestion.

What you’ll be most happy to know, however, is that it provides 38% protein and 17% fat with 389 calories per cup.

This makes it a nutrient- and protein-rich diet for your adult dog. Plus, with all of those different proteins, it is bound to be full of real meat flavor that your dog won’t be able to resist.

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10. Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Chicken Recipe 

This kibble is specially formulated to support the unique needs of aging dogs and help them maintain their youthful energy and vitality.

Made with high-quality, easy-to-digest chicken as the first ingredient, this premium recipe provides balanced nutrition to promote lean muscle maintenance and overall health in senior dogs.

It features a precise blend of natural ingredients, including nourishing fruits and vegetables like carrots and spinach, along with a powerful mix of antioxidants, vitamins C and E and essential minerals to support brain function, immune health and joint mobility as dogs age.

With controlled levels of phosphorus and sodium, it also helps maintain heart and kidney health, while omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E work together to keep your senior dog’s skin healthy and coat soft and shiny.

Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, this product provides complete and balanced nutrition, making it a trusted choice for pet parents who want to help their older dogs feel active, happy, and healthy well into their golden years.

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What Makes an Active Dog Different?

What exactly qualifies a dog as being “active,” and how do you know if your dog meets the qualifications? Generally speaking, you can determine your dog’s activity level based on a couple of different factors – here they are: 

• The time of year (most dogs are more active in spring and summer)
• Where you live (urban-dwelling dogs tend to be less active)
• Whether he participates in dog sports or is a working dog
• The amount of exercise and activity he gets each day

There is no perfect formula for determining your dog’s activity level, but these are some of the clues you can look to when you want to determine whether your dog needs an extra boost of calories to account for his high energy level. Active dogs may require anywhere from 5% to 25% more calories, depending on the type of activity they do and how much of it.

If you’re still not sure whether your dog qualifies as an active breed, here is a quick list of the top active dog breeds according to the American Kennel Club (AKC):

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Dalmatian
• Australian Cattle Dog
• Jack Russel Terrier
• Siberian Husky
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Border Collie
• Australian Shepherd
• English Springer Spaniel 
• Poodle
• Beagle
• Irish Setter
• German Shepherd 

When in doubt, you can always talk to your veterinarian. After yourself, your veterinarian is one of the people who knows your dog best, so ask whether your dog might need a higher energy diet. Keep reading to learn what that diet might look like.

What Does the Ideal Diet Look Like?

Feeding your active dog properly doesn’t need to be complicated, but you do need to know certain things before you choose the right dog food. Very active dogs need a high-performance dog food that works as hard as they do.

This means that it should be made from high-quality, natural ingredients with high bioavailability. Bioavailability is a term that describes ingredients which are easier for the body to absorb and utilize. For example, animal proteins are more bioavailable for dogs than plant proteins.

Here is a quick overview of a dog’s basic nutritional requirements: 

• At least 18% crude protein (22% minimum for puppies)
• A minimum of 5% crude fat (8% minimum for puppies)
• Limited content of complex carbohydrates
• Maximum of 5% dietary fiber

Again, these are the bare minimum requirements for the average dog – your active dog is a little bit different. Protein is essential for your dog to build and maintain lean muscle mass. If your dog doesn’t get enough protein in his diet, his body might start eating away at the protein in his muscles to fill the void.

More protein is generally better for all dogs, but particularly for active dogs, and it should come from highly bioavailable sources like meat, poultry, and fish.

One of the biggest differences between a diet for active dogs and an average dog food is the fat content. Fat is the most highly concentrated source of energy available to a dog – it contains 9 calories per gram versus 4 calories for protein and carbohydrates.

Increasing the fat content of your dog’s diet is the quickest way to boost the calorie (energy) content but it still needs to come from bioavailable sources. Again, animal products are more biologically valuable for dogs than plants.

Here are some other key differences you should know about a diet for active dogs:

• An active dog food needs to be extremely nutrient-dense – you want your dog to get as many calories and nutrients as possible without him having to eat an excessive amount of food.
• Many athletic dogs require up to 10,000 calories per day (think working sled dogs), so be prepared to feed your dog enough to meet those needs.
• The timing of your dog’s meals might matter if he participates in dog sports – you also need to make sure he gets the right diet for weeks leading up to the event. 
• Though the amount of protein and fat in your dog’s diet matters, the quality matters more – a dog food with high protein content from low-quality ingredients won’t do much good.
• Protein and fat are more valuable sources of energy than carbohydrates – carbs are burned off quickly but protein and fat burns more slowly.
• Highly active dogs can benefit greatly from whole grains and other complex carbohydrates in their diet – avoid grain-free dog foods unless your dog is allergic.

The more you learn about your active dog’s nutritional requirements, the better. When you are armed with knowledge, you’re better equipped to choose from the best dog foods on the market which is the perfect choice for your dog. Read on to learn more specifics about the best dog food for active dogs.

What to Look for in a Good Dog Food

The worst thing you can do for your active dog is feed him a cheap dog food. These dog foods are typically made with low-quality ingredients and fillers that won’t meet your dog’s needs for protein and fat.

You don’t just need a dog food that is high in calories – it also needs to have the right balance of protein and fat with optimal bioavailability so your dog can actually utilize the nutrients.

Here are some things to look for in a high energy dog food for active dogs:

• Rich in premium animal protein. The average dog can get away with 18% to 20% protein, but active dogs need closer to 30%, ideally no less than 28% protein from animal sources. Look for whole sources of animal protein and not by-products to ensure bioavailability.
• High levels of animal-based fats. Your dog needs a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat but fats also provide energy. Look for a food in the 18% to 20% range.
• Low levels of complex carbohydrates. Whole grains and complex carbohydrates are not only more digestible for dogs, but also more nutritious. Avoid low-quality grains and fillers.
• Fortified with essential nutrients. Any diet you choose for your dog should be complete and balanced with essential vitamins and minerals according to AAFCO nutrient profiles.

If you already have an active dog, take what you’ve learned here and take a closer look at your dog’s current diet. Ask yourself whether it is high enough in protein, fat, and calories from high-quality sources or whether you might not be doing your best for your dog.

If you are considering adopting an active breed, make sure you can afford to provide for the dog’s high energy needs. When you’re ready to start shopping, take what you’ve learned here to help you make your choice or simply choose one of our top picks above. Best of luck to you and your pup!