Which pet parent hasn’t tried to give kibble once or twice or more? It’s convenient, has a long shelf life, easy to store, and cheaper than wet food. And dry dog food provides just as much of the nutritional requirements of your pooch as other types of food products.
Of course, low-quality dog foods are much easier to disguise in kibble form because most go through a thorough processing that makes the natural ingredients unrecognizable. Don’t worry! We got your back.Â
There are quite a few quality dry kibble dog food options that use premium ingredients to satisfy all your dog’s nutritional needs.
And we’ve listed the best dry dog food products here. But before that, let’s take a look at a few things you should know before you choose your dog's dry food. Read on to find out what the best dry dog foods are!
If you’re feeding your dog dry kibbles or even wet canned food, then the UnKibble is a step up in a better direction. UnKibble is dry dog food that’s made with real ingredients, kept fresh, tailored with a custom meal plan for your pet, and then delivered to you.
Well, unlike your ordinary run-off-the-mill kibbles, UnKibble is made with human-grade ingredients. Yep, none of those scraps or by-products. Your pet gets only the premium ingredients that humans eat. There’s so few in the market that can boast of this.
It’s dry dog food that’s made fresh, with none of the artificial preservatives you’d usually find in other kibbles. The brand’s Beef & Barley fresh food recipe features real beef and whole foods that you’ll recognize. Vitamins and minerals are naturally supplied by the carefully selected ingredients that make up each meal.
Each meal is customized specifically to your pet’s age, breed, and activity level so you don’t have to guess how much to give for each feeding.
2. Instinct Raw Boost Recipe with Real Beef
First 5 ingredients:
Beef, White Fish Meal, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat, Peas
This dry dog food formula from Instinct uses whole beef for a complete protein source but also encourages dogs to eat with real bits of freeze-dried raw meat for taste and flavor. It contains a quality mix of protein and carbohydrates to help your dog feel full longer and to provide dense nutrition.
It has plenty of fruits and vegetables to support the immune system with a variety of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Essential fatty acids support coat and skin health as well as maintain brain function. It uses no cheap fillers, no artificial ingredients, and no potatoes.
This high-quality food contains no meat byproducts, artificial preservatives, or artificial colors. What the grain-free kibble does contain is a nutritious blend of muscle meats, quality fish meals, and organ meats to give your pet an ultra high level of animal protein (36%) for long-lasting energy and muscle maintenance.
3. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Taste of the Wild’s food is a grain-free dry dog food formula with a whole protein source (buffalo) as the first ingredient. High Prairie formula uses buffalo and lamb as the main protein, and sweet potato for all-day energy.
Whole fruits and veggies provide excellent vitamins and antioxidants for immune support. Essential fatty acids help keep the skin and coat healthy and supple. It contains no cheap fillers or grains that can irritate your dog’s digestive system.
Aside from buffalo, lamb, and chicken meal, this recipe also contains bison, venison, beef, and ocean fish meal to maximize your pet’s protein intake. The inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetables turn this into a nutritious and balanced diet.
Best Food For Allergies: Zignature’s limited ingredient formula contains none of the usual allergy suspects, like chicken, corn, soy, gluten, or grain. Turkey is the only animal protein source but which nevertheless supplies a high 32% crude protein level.
It’s low glycemic and contains whole fruits and veggies for immune support. It shouldn’t trigger any of the usual allergic reactions but still offers balanced nutrition for your dog.
Since the recipe has a limited number of ingredients, it is easier to track each food product that goes into your pup’s bowl.
5. Natural Balance L.I.D. Sweet Potato & Venison Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Sweet Potatoes, Venison, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Potato Protein
Best For Sensitive Stomachs: Premium ingredients and a chock full of essential nutrients wrapped up in one flavorful package best describes this limited ingredients formula.
This pet food offers a tasty grain-free and healthy alternative for sensitive adult canines (small breed to large breed), with venison as the single source of animal protein.
Because it’s venison, the meat is leaner and contains less saturated fat than other meat sources. At a 20% minimum protein content, this formulation supports a shiny coat, healthy skin, and strong muscles.
The sweet potato provides the energy boost the body needs in the form of carbohydrates. As a soluble fiber, it’s easily digested and aids in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system.
This formula is full of nutrients to bolster your large breed dog’s health. This recipe is carefully formulated with 65% premium animal ingredients, including fresh or raw free-run chicken and turkey, complemented by 35% wholesome grains, vegetables, and fruit to aid your dog's digestion.
This wholesome combination supports your dog’s specific needs, enhancing joint, immune, and digestive health, while also helping to maintain an optimal weight. It’s a delicious way to care for your larger breed best friend, inside and out.
This grain-free dry dog food for small breed dogs provides fresh, easily digestible turkey, duck, and salmon as protein sources to support muscle maintenance.
The inclusion of fiber-rich pumpkin and sweet potato promotes healthy digestion, while flaxseed's omega-3 fatty acids help maintain a lustrous coat.
Designed with small kibble sizes, this recipe makes it easier for your little friend to enjoy each bite. Additionally, it’s infused with natural breath fresheners like parsley and peppermint, ensuring your pup’s breath stays as pleasant as their personality.
Best Dry Dog Food for Seniors
Seniors need joint support and probiotics for healthy digestion and immune system. They may need some weight control formulas because of decreased activity levels, especially if they’ve developed any joint sensitivity or pain. Talk with your veterinarian about the right path for your senior dog, but this is our current favorite.
8. Merrick Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Senior
Whole chicken and sweet potato provide the perfect blend of lean proteins and carbohydrates to help your senior dog feel full and energetic all day.
There are no empty calories, just dense nutrition that won’t contribute to excess weight gain. It has plenty of real fruits and veggies for vitamins and minerals, as well as industry-leading levels of joint-favorites glucosamine and chondroitin.
It’s all natural, grain free, and gluten free plus no empty fillers such as corn or soy. The food is suitable for sensitive digestion and It’s crafted with 55% protein and fat, while the 45% is made up of nutritious produce, fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
The food is suitable for a sensitive stomach and is thoroughly tested in Merrick’s test kitchens. The company uses locally sourced ingredients for top quality nutrition in your senior’s twilight years.
Best Dry Puppy Food
Puppies need the right building blocks for lifelong health. They should get quality ingredients with plenty of protein and veggies for proper bone, muscle, and skin health.
Discuss with your veterinarian the best ways to provide this nutritional foundation for your puppy and how to best meet your puppy’s nutritional needs.
Nulo’s puppy formula is a limited ingredient dog food that helps your newly weaned puppy get used to solid foods and receive dense nutrition for proper growth. It is made up of 30% crude protein for lean muscle mass.
The dog food uses whole salmon as the first ingredient and as a single animal protein source. Salmon is a fatty fish and provides a complete, lean protein plus tons of omega fatty acids. It’s grain-free but uses chickpeas for good fiber and carb content.
Specially formulated probiotics help support puppy health by strengthening the immune system and promoting healthy gut flora.
It has no potatoes and is easier on the gut for digestion. There are no cheap fillers (corn or soy), no preservatives, and no peas or pea protein.
Set your large breed puppy up for a healthy start with this specialized recipe! This nutritious formula begins with real chicken as the primary ingredient, providing a high-protein diet essential for developing strong muscles and a healthy heart.
To further support your puppy’s growth, DHA is included to enhance brain and vision development, while a blend of four antioxidants boosts immune function.
Recognizing the importance of joint health in large breed puppies, this formula also incorporates glucosamine. With no fillers, every ingredient is chosen to benefit your puppy's well-being, and its high digestibility ensures that your pup gets the maximum nutritional value from every meal.
Why Quality Food Matters for Your Dog
Dog food that doesn’t give your pet complete nutrition offers only empty calories that puts your dog at risk of gaining weight. Quality food gives your dog the building blocks for health and well-being.
Beginning in the puppy years, premium kibble can offer your dog building blocks for strong bones and muscles while growth is controlled.
Adults receive immune support and the elements of healthy skin and coat. Senior dogs are aided by formulas that help control weight and keep them mobile.
Premium kibble helps your dog’s teeth as well. Appropriately-sized kibble helps scrape plaque, which can contribute to bad breath, from the teeth and prevent bacterial build up that can cause other health problems. Dogs who have primarily dry food have fewer instances of tooth issues.
Advantages of Dry Over Wet Food
Dry food has many excellent benefits, but there are three specific advantages that dry food can help provide your dog. These are:
Dental Health
Your dog’s teeth are frequently overlooked, but just like humans, dogs can develop dental issues with cheap, sugary foods. Tooth decay and gum disease can make it difficult for your dog to eat, but it can also cause other serious health problems. As dogs swallow bacteria living on the teeth, that bacteria travels through your dog’s body where it can cause other issues.
Quality dry foods help clean your dog’s teeth and provide the right balance of minerals and proteins to build strong enamel. Even aging dogs can still have strong teeth if the building blocks are there. You should be caring for your dog’s teeth (brushing and regular checkups), but premium dry foods can make that process a lot easier.
Weight
Sure, dogs love that wet food and food from your table, but rich foods can cause serious weight gain. Kibble helps with weight control when it has the correct amount of fiber and contains no empty calories.
Portion sizes can be difficult with raw or cooked diets. Kibble offers easy portioning to help prevent overeating and keep your dog on track. If your dog is already overweight, switching to a premium kibble can be the catalyst for your dog getting back down to its target weight.
Spoilage
Wet dog food and raw foods have higher chances of being improperly stored and causing spoilage. Dogs are notoriously resistant to many bacteria that would cause a human to run for the toilet, but that doesn’t mean they’re invincible to food poisoning.
Kibble has been dehydrated, so it stores for far longer without spoiling than wet foods. Moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria, and all it takes is one damaged can for you to have a mess on your hands.
What to Look For?
The best dry food brands meet and often exceed the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profiles, ensuring a balanced and complete diet for your pet's health and well-being.
A quality kibble will have the proper mix of proteins (listed as the first ingredient) and carbohydrates for long-lasting energy and healthy muscles. The precise measure will depend a lot on your dog’s breed, age, and life stage (lactating for example), but looking at the first five ingredients of the food should tell you a lot.
Carbohydrate sources should come from things like brown rice or lentils, which break down slowly and provide plenty of natural fibers. Fiber encourages better digestion and helps keep your dog’s stools soft enough to pass without pain. It also controls weight, helping your dog feel full for longer.
Fruits and vegetables can offer vitamins and antioxidants to support immune health and other biological systems such as the eyes and heart. They’re vital as prebiotics, or substances known to encourage healthy gut flora. Dogs are omnivores, and this more closely aligns with the types of things dogs would have eaten during ancestral days.
Foods with omega fatty acids can help support the skin and coat. If your dog has allergies, they can also help relieve some of the itchy skin your dog could be experiencing. It also helps with brain development and could help keep joints lubricated.
Seniors need joint support and probiotics for a healthy digestion and immune system. They may need some weight management formulas because of decreased activity levels, especially if they’ve developed any joint sensitivity or pain. Talk with your veterinarian about the right path for your senior dog.
If your dog is older or a large breed, glucosamine and chondroitin may have quite a few beneficial effects on joint health.
Older dogs may need supplementation to ease the degeneration of joints, and large breed dogs need preventative care to prevent premature joint issues because of their large size. Glucosamine and chondroitin are thought to help maintain joints and possibly even repair some of the damage already done.
Ingredients to Avoid
Many cheap dog food labels contain cheap fillers as the main ingredients. These ingredients can lower the cost of your food, for sure, but it comes at a higher price elsewhere. Corn provides only empty calories, causing your dog to eat without gaining vital nutrients, and soy can cause food allergies.
A recent study also discovered a possible link between a food heavy in potatoes, legumes, and peas, and a condition known as canine dilated cardiomyopathy, or an enlarging of the heart.
The link isn’t yet understood, and we don’t recommend throwing out your old food just yet. Until we know more about what’s going on, we recommend that you avoid foods that list those ingredients in the first three places to be on the safe side.
If your dog has significant food allergies and chronic itchy skin or digestive issues, you may want to switch to a limited ingredient food.
This type of food contains a single protein source and is usually grain and gluten-free. Fewer ingredients means your dog doesn’t have to work as hard to digest the food and is less likely to experience inflammation as a result of consuming too many different ingredients.
Pet food companies that are frequent offenders for using cheap fillers and artificial ingredients are some well-known names in big box stores. Ol Roy and Kibbles ’n Bits aren’t known for using quality ingredients from single protein sources, for example. You may save some money in the short term but could end up spending that money on extra vet visits.
Dry Food Feeding Chart
Kibble portion sizes are usually clearly marked on the package. For quality kibble, fewer portions and smaller portion sizes are needed because your dog is getting more complete nutrition on less. This is good news because premium kibble can be a bigger investment than cheap kibble.
We recommend following your vet’s or each recipe’s feeding instructions. Don’t forget to transition slowly when feeding your dog new food so that they won’t get any digestive upsets.
Here are some general recommendations for feeding kibble:
Puppies: Your puppy will change a lot over a short time, so the way you feed him will also change. Your veterinarian can give you a clear path for feeding your puppy properly so that he receives all the proper building blocks for lifelong health.
Puppies should get quality ingredients with plenty of protein and veggies for proper bone and muscle development. Make sure that the formulation you provide is designed specifically for this life stage.
At this age, puppies will usually need feeding several times a day.
Adults: Feeding kibble depends on your dog’s ideal weight. Smaller dogs may receive only a 1/4 cup portion twice a day while the largest breeds may receive anywhere from four to six cups per day. Your veterinarian can give you advice on maintaining your dog’s target weight and how to assess if your dog is carrying more pounds than necessary.
Seniors: Senior dogs will receive much the same nutrition as they did when they were younger adults, but if your senior dog struggles with weight, this could be a time to cut back on feeding and treats at the direction of your veterinarian. It could also be time to switch to a smaller kibble size if necessary for mouth comfort.
Final Thoughts
The best dry dog food brands provide a nutritious and balanced diet tailored to your pet's specific needs, ensuring they meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles.
While these brands are often touted as premium, it’s essential to remember that what's best for your pet can vary significantly based on individual needs.
Every dog is different, and factors like whether your dog is allergic to certain ingredients or their preference for dry and canned food play a crucial role.
The pet food industry has evolved significantly, drawing inspiration from human food trends, but it’s important to remain vigilant and regularly check pet food labels.
Be aware of pet food recalls and consult with your veterinarian to ensure the food you choose is safe and suitable for your furry friend.
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Noreen possesses a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from Informatics International College. While this credential might not elucidate her passion for pets, it does demonstrate her technical expertise and diverse character.
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