When people ask me what the best diet for dogs is, I always give the same answer: it depends on the dog—but quality, balance and digestibility always come first. Over time, I’ve realized that the best diet isn’t about trends like grain-free or raw—it’s about what consistently supports your dog’s health, energy and longevity.
Dog food has changed a lot since Mr. Spratt created his meat fibrine biscuit for dogs or even since your only choice was kibble or canned food. Today you can not only choose different flavors, recipes and meat proteins for your dog, but there is a multitude of special diets.
There are so many companies, brands and diets today that trying to decide what to feed your dog can feel like a research project.
From my experience, the healthiest approach is a balanced, nutrient-dense diet made with high-quality ingredients, tailored to your dog’s age, size and medical needs.
Here’s a look at some dog food trends and diets that are currently popular. Maybe this overview will help you make some decisions on which is the best diet for your beloved pooch.
Our quick take: For most healthy dogs, the best diet is a “complete and balanced” food for their life stage, with a named animal protein first, fed in portions that keep them lean. Grain-free is not healthier for most dogs, and the FDA is still looking into a possible link between legume-heavy diets and heart disease. Special diets (low protein, hypoallergenic, prescription) are for dogs with a diagnosed need, chosen with your vet.
What I Consider the Best Diet for Dogs
The best diet for dogs is one that meets all nutritional requirements while being easy to digest and appropriate for your dog’s lifestyle.
Key Characteristics
- High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
- Moderate, controlled fat levels
- Digestible carbohydrates (e.g., rice, oats, sweet potatoes)
- Added vitamins and minerals for complete nutrition
- Free from unnecessary fillers and artificial additives
Technical Specifications (What I Look For)
- Protein: 18–30% (depending on life stage)
- Fat: 8–18% (lower for less active or sensitive dogs)
- Fiber: 3–6% for digestive support
- AAFCO compliance: Complete and balanced label
- Caloric density: Appropriate for weight management
Common Diet Types
1. The “grain-inclusive” diet
This used to be traditional dog food but today grain free foods have become so popular that we needed a way to distinguish “regular” dog food from the grain free foods. “Grain inclusive” seems to be the most popular term for these foods.
They don’t usually contain corn, wheat, or soy – at least in some of the top quality foods – but they can contain other grains and cereals such as rice, barley, oatmeal, and “ancestral” grains (another popular new term in the pet food world) such as quinoa.
Some of these “grains” are actually cereals, grasses, or seeds, but it usually takes too long to go into such explanations so they are just considered grains. Many dogs can eat foods containing these alternative grains without any difficulty, even if corn or wheat have been a problem.
As with all dog foods, you should run the numbers and figure the dry matter basis for grain-inclusive foods. They range from foods that are relatively low in carbs to some that are high in carbohydrates.
And, of course, check the ingredients. Many good brands today make grain-inclusive foods but it’s always important to make sure the ingredients used are of good quality.
2. Grain free
Grain free foods are very popular at the moment and most dog food companies offer grain free lines of food. However, not every dog needs a grain free food and your dog may not do best on one, depending on the ingredients and dry matter basis of the food.
Grain free foods originated because veterinarians were recommending owners provide food for their dogs that did not contain certain grains – dogs that seemed to have food allergies to some of the common grains in dog foods such as corn and wheat.
People feeding their dogs a raw diet using meat and few carbs were also claiming success with their dogs’ health. (A company in Canada actually claims to have created the first grain free food in the mid-1990s.)
By the late 1990s grain free dog foods began to be seen more frequently. After the pet food recalls in 2007, when glutens were implicated in the adulteration of dog food, sales of grain free food started booming. Anything with glutens or grains seemed to be off-limits to many dog owners.
Here is our obligatory information about glutens and grains: glutens are the proteins from grains but, as used by the pet food industry, the term is jargon. Some cereals and other “grains” don’t really have any gluten.
For example, rice doesn’t have gluten, but the pet food industry uses the term “rice gluten.” Corn has protein but, again, it doesn’t really have any gluten. Yet the term “corn gluten meal” is quite common.
The only grains which really have gluten are wheat (including wheat varieties like spelt, kamut, farro and durum, plus products like bulgur and semolina), barley, rye and triticale. Oats are naturally gluten-free, though they are often contaminated with wheat during growing and processing.
Is gluten harmful to dogs? That depends on the dog and who you ask. If your dog has food allergies or food sensitivities, or any kind of digestive disorder, then it’s possible that glutens might make things worse. However, the vast majority of dogs in the world can eat foods that contain grains with glutens without any problem.
Some dogs are allergic to the protein in some grains. However, grains are by no means the most common food allergen for dogs. In a 2016 review of published studies, the foods most often behind food allergies in dogs were beef (34% of the allergic dogs), dairy products (17%), chicken (15%) and wheat (13%), with lamb, soy, corn, eggs and others reported less often.
So, your dog is more likely to be allergic to beef or chicken than to grains like corn or wheat. None of these ingredients are “harmful” but if your particular dog has trouble with them, you should clearly avoid feeding them.
Corn and wheat are not even particularly bad for dogs. The problem with them from our perspective is that they have been widely overused in the pet food industry as filler ingredients in place of actual meat.
There are certainly worse ingredients for dogs than corn or wheat (think oat hulls, peanut hulls, rice hulls, soybean mill run, wheat middlings), though we do recommend you look for better ingredients in the dog food you choose.
Grain free diets can be a good choice for some dogs, especially if your dog has food allergies, food sensitivities, or other health issues. These foods are often higher in protein and they can be lower in carbs (but not always). They are often good quality dog foods but it’s important to read the ingredients carefully and check dry matter basis for the food.
In some cases grain free dog foods are higher in protein because they replace grains in the food with copious amounts of peas and lentils. Peas and lentils are much higher in protein than grains such as corn.
While corn has bout 6-7 percent protein, peas (field peas, split peas, chickpeas) have about 22-24 percent protein. So a dog food that uses peas as a source of protein (especially in the first several ingredients) will often look like it’s very high in protein.
It is high in protein but it has additional plant-based protein instead of additional meat-based protein, so the food is somewhat misleading to the customer. As mentioned elsewhere, your dog can digest meat-based protein much more easily than plant-based protein.
Carbohydrates can also be high in these foods because they use ingredients such as potatoes, tapioca, sweet potatoes, and other starches. These foods sound healthier to consumers than corn and wheat but they are still carbohydrates.
Grain-free and heart disease: In 2018 the FDA began looking into reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart disease, in dogs of breeds not usually prone to it. Most of the foods named in the reports had peas, lentils or other legumes high on the ingredient list, and many were grain-free. The FDA says it does not have enough data to show that these foods cause DCM, and since December 2022 it has said it will only post updates when there is meaningful new science. Until the question is settled, there is little reason to choose grain-free for a dog without a diagnosed grain allergy, and if your dog eats a legume-heavy food, mention it to your vet.
There are lots of good grain free dog foods right now. Acana, Farmina, Fromm, Addiction, Orijen, Nulo, Victor, Canidae PURE, Instinct (once sold as Nature’s Variety Instinct), Merrick, Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain, Taste of the Wild and other companies all make good grain free foods.
3. High protein diets
Several trends have combined in recent years to make high protein diets for dogs popular. Since the 1970s there has been a move toward feeding dogs a healthier, more natural diet – and away from commercial dog food.
There has also been increasing interest in the idea of dogs as carnivores – the descendants of wolves – and how that should influence their diet. Raw feeding has had a definite influence on the kind of food that people want to feed their dogs, too.
Many people like the idea of feeding their dog like a carnivore, with more natural ingredients, more meat in the diet, and higher protein/fewer carbohydrates, but they aren’t able to take the plunge into feeding a raw diet.
As always, the pet food industry has been happy to fill the void. Lots of companies have today market foods that are supposedly based on a raw diet for dogs, or a carnivore diet. Orijen and ZiwiPeak, for example, follow this format. Blue Wilderness, Acana, EVO, and Nulo are other foods that are high in protein with lower carbohydrates.
The thought behind many of these foods is that many health problems in modern dogs, such as diabetes and obesity, can be traced directly to the high carbohydrates in so many dog foods.
With foods that take this biologically appropriate approach, the idea is that dogs were not intended to eat the kind of modern diet we normally feed them. If they eat a diet that is high in protein with few or no carbohydrates, they should live healthier lives.
Many of these foods are very high quality. They are high in meat protein with good quality ingredients. As with all foods, you should read the ingredients and figure the dry matter basis for the food to make sure the percentages are what they claim.
It’s important to know that the National Research Councils Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats lists very modest protein requirements for dogs. Their recommendations are based on many years of research and are updated as new research is completed.
You can see some of the AAFCO and NRC recommendations here. According to AAFCO, the minimum protein requirements for dogs are 22.5 percent for growth and reproduction; and 18 percent for adult maintenance (both on a dry matter basis). However, protein requirements do vary, depending on a dog’s activity level and stage of life.
| Species and Growth Stage | Recommended Protein % | Recommended Fat % |
| Puppy | 28% | 17% |
| Adult dog | 18% | 9-15% |
| Performance dog | 25% | 20% |
| Racing sled dog | 35% | 50% |
| Lactating dog | 28% | 17% |
Nearly all premium dog foods today have much more protein than the minimal AAFCO requirements. Do keep in mind that protein from good quality meat sources is great but some dog foods – even from well-known companies – boost their protein percentages by using large amounts of peas, pea protein, and soy products.
Dogs can utilize these plant sources of protein but not as easily or as thoroughly as meat sources of protein. It’s not uncommon to see a premium dog food change their formulation, remove a meat source of protein from the food, and replace it with peas.
The protein percentage on the label may stay the same, but it’s possible that your dog will not be able to digest the food as well or get as many nutrients from the food so you may see a change in his coat, condition, or weight.
He may experience some digestive upset or diarrhea. It’s also not unusual to see the addition of probiotics to dog foods that suddenly add peas and lentils to their formula since the probiotics may help dogs digest the plant-based protein better.
Does your dog really need to eat a dog food that has 40 percent protein? Probably not, unless he’s a racing sled dog. Dogs have been living with us for thousands of years and they have certainly adapted to eating a diet similar to ours – which does contain carbs.
They do not eat the same diet as wolves today and dogs are not obligate carnivores like cats. They have developed enzymes so they can digest carbs, which wolves don’t have. Your dog doesn’t really need to eat a prey model or carnivore diet.
However, many dogs do thrive on a meat-based diet so if you prefer to feed a high protein diet and your dog does well on this kind of food, there’s no reason you shouldn’t feed it – as long as your bank account can afford it.
These are some of the most expensive foods in the dog food world. Not only are the overall ingredients usually of very good quality, but meat is the single most expensive ingredient in dog food and these foods usually have lots of meat.
Can you give your dog too much protein? Maybe yes – or no. Theoretically, if a healthy dog eats too much protein, he will simply pass the unused portion in his urine. The rest is converted to fat or used as calories. However, meat does contain other nutrients besides protein.
Too much meat protein can make it difficult to maintain a good calcium-phosphorus ratio, which affects bone growth. For this reason, foods that are very high in protein are sometimes not recommended for growing puppies, especially large breed puppies. These puppies have to be careful about the calcium-phosphorus ratio in their food because of their bone growth.
High protein should not cause kidney problems for healthy dogs but if your dog has existing kidney problems then a diet they is very high in protein can worsen those problems. It can also make liver problems worse.
Healthy dogs should not have a problem eating high protein diets, especially if they are active and use lots of energy. Some older dogs can also benefit from more protein as they age since it can be harder for them to metabolize nutrients like protein as they get older.
However, it’s important that the meat protein comes from quality sources if older dogs are to use it. They won’t be able to benefit from the protein if it comes from poor quality sources. If your dog has any health issues, especially any kidney problems, talk to your veterinarian before deciding to feed a high protein dog food.
4. Low protein
You may wonder why someone would want to feed a low protein dog food. Dogs with renal disease or who are in kidney failure can benefit from these diets. While most research today suggests that dogs can eat average or higher amounts of protein safely, even if they have minor kidney issues, if a dog has a more serious kidney problem, it’s advisable to seek a dog food with lower phosphorus.
The low phosphorus in the diet is just as important – or more important – than lowering the protein percentage. These two elements – lower phosphorus and lower protein – are often found together in a dog food.
Several companies make low protein prescription dog food. They include Hills Prescription Diet and their k/d Canine Renal Health Dog Food for kidney care. If you need this kind of food for your dog you will need a prescription from your veterinarian.
If your dog has kidney disease or renal failure, it’s important that he sees a veterinarian. You should discuss his diet and other care. This condition is life-threatening and your dog’s diet is important for his health.
If your dog has kidney disease or renal failure, we recommend that you read this page on the Dogaware.com site. It discusses a disagreement about low protein dog food. The information on this page goes into more detail than we can provide about food for this condition.
Most healthy dogs will not require a low protein dog food so you won’t need to worry about this subject or about phosphorus levels.
5. Weight Management
“Weight management” or weight control dog food is usually a euphemism for low calorie or low fat dog food. It’s usually intended for dogs that are overweight or obese. Considering the fact that 59% of dogs in the United States were assessed as overweight or obese in the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention’s 2022 survey, it’s not surprising that dog food companies have seen an opportunity with this food niche.
Obesity in dogs is mostly preventable. It’s usually due to overfeeding and too little exercise, unless your dog has a health issue that leads to weight gain. However, it’s not always easy for dogs to lose weight once they put on the extra pounds.
Owners often don’t know how many calories their dog needs to maintain a healthy weight, how many calories are in the food they feed, or even what their dog should look like at a healthy weight. Many owners think that dogs are supposed to be a little pudgy.
In fact, healthy dogs should have a slight tuck-up behind the ribs (this is a dog’s waistline). You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs but not see them. Healthy, fit dogs should be slim. If you have questions about whether your dog is overweight, you should talk to your vet or look at a body chart for comparison.
Weight management dog foods typically have more carbohydrates or fillers than other dog foods, but fewer calories. They aim to make dogs feel full so they won’t be hungry between meals.
They also have less fat than other foods since fat normally contains a lot of the calories found in dog foods. Some of these food are also lower in protein. They often add the amino acid L-carnitine that helps the body convert fat to energy and muscle. The idea is to encourage the dog’s body to use up some of its fat reserves and lose weight.
Most well-known pet food manufacturers make weight management foods as one of their offerings since these foods are in demand. Do check out the labels and guaranteed analyses since they often have very high carb percentages and low protein.
You will usually need to figure the dry matter basis for the food in order to arrive at the percentage of carbohydrates since most companies don’t provide this information.
Also pay attention to the fat percentages in these foods. One of the problems you may encounter is very low fat percentages. Yes, this is a way to lower the calories in the food, but if there is an extremely low fat percentage, your dog will probably still be hungry between meals.
The food may also not taste very good to him so he may not want to eat it. You may want to avoid foods that are extremely low in fat. Most experts suggest choosing a weight management dog food with a fat percentage between 12 and 16 percent. Look for a protein percentage no lower than 25 percent.
If you don’t like the idea of feeding a weight management dog food, you can try cutting back on your dog’s regular food and feeding smaller portions. If your dog insists he’s starving, try adding (low sodium) green beans to his food. This is an old trick that helps dogs feel full when they eat without adding many calories.
If you are free feeding your dog (leaving food out all the time), your dog will probably lose some weight if you switch to feeding his meals on a regular schedule and measuring his portions. Leaving food down encourages snacking all day, which leads to added weight. Increasing your dog’s daily exercise is another good way to help him lose weight, even if it’s just adding a daily walk.
Watch the treats you give your dog, too. Treats are often high in calories and they can add up.
Being overweight or obese can lead to serious health problems for your dog such as diabetes, respiratory problems, cardiac problems, joint problems and arthritis, problems during surgery, and other dangers. Weight issues can shorten your dog’s life so try to watch how much you are feeding your dog.
If you have a puppy or elderly dog, we don’t recommend a weight management dog food. We don’t recommend them for pregnant or nursing female dogs either. These foods may not have the nutrients that these dogs need.
If your dog does need to lose weight, take things slowly. Dogs don’t become overweight all at once and they can’t lose weight quickly. Don’t expect your dog to lose more than about 1 percent of his body weight per week.