Top 10 Best Dog Food Brands Reviews 2016 – 2017 - Pet Blog For Dog & Cat Parents

We went through a phase where Harley was getting really picky with his food. He no longer wanted to touch his favorite food and we realized he might have developed an allergy. This took us on a whole ride into researching dog food brands and collating a whole lots of information. I thought I would share my findings of the best dry and wet dog food brands from well-known brands such as Orijen, Taste of the Wild, Wellness Dog Food and so on.

When we try to determine how good the foods are, it can be quite difficult because there are other factors to consider such as the condition of a dog itself and the food quality. From the behavior of your dog, to its size, to its breed, or even its health condition (eg. sensitive stomach) – each of these factors will have to be included in your consideration of which one to choose.

Best Dog Food Brand Reviews Comparison Table

Table of Contents

Best Dog Food Brand Reviews Comparison Table
What Makes A Good Healthy Dog Food Brand?
Types of Dog Food:
Good Indicators To Look Out For In Dog Food Brands:
Dog Foods To Avoid:
Best Dog Food Reviews
Purina Dog Food Review
Rachael Ray Dog Food Review
Natural Balance Dog Food Review
Pedigree Dog Food Review
Taste of the Wild Dog Food Review
Purina Pro Plan Review
Wellness Dog Food Review
Diamond Naturals Dog Food Review
Orijen Dog Food Review

Brand	Notes	Check It Out
Canidae	Made in USA in USDA, FDA & AAFCO approved facilities	More Details Here
Purina	Made recent changes by adding more soybeans as a protein source & a smart blend for Purina ONE	More Details Here
Rachael Ray	Features real meat, wholesome veggies & essential nutrients.	More Details Here
Natural Balance	Often used by trainers. No grains. Known for Limited Ingredients Diet.	More Details Here
Pedigree	Specifically caters to different needs such as oral care, healthy skin and coat, hip and joint, weight problems	More Details Here
Taste of the Wild	Grain free. Features real roasted meats, fruits, veggies, natural antioxidants.	More Details Here
Purina Pro Plan	Plant-based foods	More Details Here
Wellness Natural	Uses real meat and no corn. No by-products.	More Details Here
Diamond Naturals	Features K9 Strain Probiotics for good digestion & immune system.	More Details Here
Orijen	Biologically appropriate made from fresh regional ingredients	More Details Here

What Makes A Good Healthy Dog Food Brand?

Seek to first understand your dog`s health, conditions and needs. Then you`ll know what to look out for:

A Chihuahua, for instance, is not as active as a young Australian Shepherd, which needs more food for its exercise.
Adult dogs are more prone to getting health issues such as Arthritis so they really need proper nutrition.
Different foods will have different nutritional content. Some are higher in protein which is what a puppy needs.
To prevent dogs from developing cancer, it is recommended that they bed fed low carb foods to help stop cancer cells from spreading.
Ultra-low carb foods: Dogs with cancer usually need a low carb diet in order to starve cancer cells and prevent them from spreading.
For an older dog, they are more likely to get kidney problems. Foods that are low in protein might be best.
For a growing puppy, there`s a need for lots of high fat and protein to support growth.
1 of 4 dogs have a problem with being overweight. Going for low calorie dog foods is a must in this case.

Types of Dog Food:

Compare the types of foods – raw, canned and dry. Each one of these has its purpose. The easiest way to understand the difference between canned and dry foods:

Dry Dog Food	Canned Dog Food
Can have more meat by-products	Higher-quality protein
Good for dogs to chew	Fewer preservatives and fillers
Less expensive and is easier to store	Fewer calories and carbohydrates

Good Indicators To Look Out For In Dog Food Brands:

Video: TOP 10 BEST FOODS FOR DOGS!!

AFFCO on its label – this is to ensure that a particular product is nutritionally balanced.
You might want to look out for the Product of USA label.
You might want to look out for the “new recipe” label. This label isn’t necessarily negative but you might want to be more cautious as there are chances your dog might not take to the new recipe very well.
Before thinking of providing new food for your dog, make sure you read more information about like its ingredients and any reviews on it.

Video: Top 5 Best Large Breed Puppy Food 2016

Related: Find out about the best healthy dog treats

Dog Foods To Avoid:

Put simply - it`s the opposite of the above mentioned. For example, don`t feed high protein foods to a dog with kidney disease. Instead, give it to a puppy who will benefit from it.

Best Dog Food Reviews

Canidae Dog Food Review

Canidae prides themselves on being USA-made, in USDA, FDA, and AAFCO approved facilities. High quality grains, veggies, fruits are often included. Using fresh natural ingredients, their main protein sources come from chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal and fish meal. Fillers, antibiotics, hormones, preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors are not included which is great.

Grain Free Pure promises to be a premium dog food with better ingredients than generic dog foods. It also contain fewer chemical preservatives and has a simpler formula for dogs that are more sensitive. Only about 7 to 10 ingredients are included and these are usually recognizable to us common people. All formulas used in this category is grain gluten free. They have a particular formula for adult dogs, like Elements, Land, Sky, and Sea. Available in canned and dry varieties.

Life Stages – This formula suits all size of breeds, ages, and sizes. It’s AFFCO compliant and has no corn, wheat or soy. Probiotics are even included to help your dog’s digestion. I recommend this if you have different dogs of different ages at home – just makes it much easier when you don’t have to transition between different foods.

TidNips Treats– Small sized, it’s perfect to use as a reward for your dog during training. I like that it doesn’t contain chicken by product.

Most Popular Canidae Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Canidae Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages (Chicken, Turkey, Lamb & Fish)	Includes probiotics. Suitable for senior & overweight dogs.	Check Latest Price Here	4.5
Canidae Grain Free (Pure Sea with Fresh Salmon)	Grain free limited ingredient diet with 8 key ingredients	Check Latest Price Here	4.8
Canidae Life Stages Dry Dog Food (Chicken Meal & Rice)	Suitable for puppies, adults & senior dogs	Check Latest Price Here	4.2

Purina Dog Food Review

In terms of price range, I would say Purina is average. 3 best types of this brand are Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE and Purina ONE Beyond.

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Some people might steer away from Purina because most of their foods use poultry by-products and corn. It has grain contents too. For certain dogs, grain in dog foods should be limited as it might not be as easy for them to digest (eg. meat proteins). Purina’s range also focuses on easy digestion and good proteins for muscle development.

On a per ounce basis, they cost about the same as Purina ProPlan, which is Purina’s most expensive line of dog food sold in pet food specialty stores.

In recent years, Purina has made some changes by adding more soybeans to the food, a smart blend for Purina ONE. We know that soybeans are high in protein and with this it will reduce the dependence of meat protein.

Purina also introduced Purina ONE Beyond, two natural dry dog foods, plus vitamins and minerals, both made with nutritious whole grains and real meat as the No. 1 ingredient. It does not contain corn.

Purina Dog Food Recall: The latest recall was in March 2016 where their Pro Plan dog food (5 types from the wet food range) was recalled due to insufficient vitamin or mineral levels as claimed. In 2011, their dry cat food range was recalled on suspicion of salmonella.

Most Popular Purina Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Purina ONE SmartBlend Dry Dog Food, Chicken & Rice Formula	Includes natural sources of Glucosamine to help support healthy joints	Check Latest Price Here	3.7
Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food, Savor, Shredded Blend Adult Chicken & Rice Formula	Real chicken as the 1st ingredient. Mix of hard kibble & shredded pieces	Check Latest Price Here	4.8
Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food, Focus, Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula	Antioxidants, Omega-3, Omega-6 fatty acids and zinc	Check Latest Price Here	4.5

Rachael Ray Dog Food Review

The Rachael Ray Dog Food range features grain-free and filler-free ingredients. I wouldn’t call it as premium top quality range but it is a little healthier than the average brand in my opinion. It does have animal fat and corn meal but only in very small amounts.

It is made in Thailand and is FDA compliant. They even explicitly state that no foods are sourced from China, as most of us are scared because of this. They don’t use any poultry by-products, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives. And the best thing is that they use real meat and wholesome veggies, plus essential nutrients.

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray also donates part of her sales to 4 animal rescues!

Most Popular Rachael Ray Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Natural Dry Dog Food (Chicken & Veggies)	1st ingredient is US farm raised chicken! No Artificial Flavors or Artificial Preservatives	Check Latest Price Here	4.7
Just 6 Natural Dry Dog Food	#1 ingredient is lamb meal. All natural with no Artificial Flavors or Artificial Preservatives	Check Latest Price Here	4.2
Natural Dog Food (Turkey)	#1 Ingredient is real U.S. Farm-Raised Turkey. Includes L-Carnitine to help maintain healthy weight.	Check Latest Price Here	4.6
Zero Grain Natural Dry Dog Food	Zero Grains, Glutens or Fillers	Check Latest Price Here	4.1

Natural Balance Dog Food Review

Natural Balance is an Australian brand developed with nutritionists and vets over 20 years. comes in 6 varieties of selection: canned, dry, stew, rolls, threats and puppy foods. They also target dogs with sensitive stomachs and skins specifically.

According to Consumer Affairs, Natural Balance is often used by trainers. They are known for their canned food and limited ingredient diets that help to minimize the number of ingredients your dog gets exposed to. They do not use grains such as wheat, barley, rice or corn and are known for their blend of premium protein and carbohydrates that are not usually found in other dog foods. The whole deal about limited ingredient diets is that they include single-sources of animal protein and limited carbohydrate sources and unique proteins instead.

Most Popular Natural Balance Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Limited Ingredient Diet Canned Dog Food	Premium grain-free, number of ingredients are kept to a minimum	Check Latest Price Here	4.4
Ultra Premium Wet Dog Food	No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives	Check Latest Price Here	4.1
Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dry Dog Food	Supports strong, growing heart, brain health, eyes, bones, teeth & immune system.	Check Latest Price Here	4.5

Pedigree Dog Food Review

Pedigree is one of the most well-known pet foods in the market. The Pedigree brand makes dry, canned and moist foods, and treats for dogs. The range of dog foods caters to every life stage: from puppies, adults to mature dogs.

There are also foods for particular health needs and problems- examples are oral care, healthy skin and coat, hip and joint, weight problem, etc. as shown below.

Is Pedigree Dog Food Good?

Judging from its ingredients, Pedigree is of average quality when compared to other brands. Pedigree, being a plant-based dry dog food, has content of poultry by-products and meat-and-bone, as primary sources of protein for your dogs. A main ingredient they use is corn which isn’t the best ingredient. Some dogs are allergic to corn and it’s not the best source of protein. It is priced very affordably though so if you are looking for something in the lower price range, do consider Pedigree.

Most Popular Pedigree Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Pedigree Complete Nutrition Adult Dry Dog Food	Optimal levels of omega-6 fatty acid, whole grains & protein. Special fibre blend.	Check Latest Price Here	4.6
PEDIGREE Little Champions Meaty Ground Dinner With Chicken	Perfect for small dogs. Easily digestible recipe.	Check Latest Price Here	4.2
Pedigree Complete Nutrition Puppy Dry Dog Food	Optimal balance of calcium and phosphorous to help puppies develop strong teeth and bones	Check Latest Price Here	4.5

Taste of the Wild Dog Food Review

Making their entrance in the dog food world, Taste of the Wild quickly gained popularity since 2007. In terms of ingredients, I would class it to be of higher quality. Despite being a more premium formula, their price is surprisingly much lower compared to other so called premium formulas. They also focus on providing a great source of ‘natural’ and grain free food for dogs.

You can find easily the AFFCO approved label on their packaging. I love that the top 5 ingredients are animal sources of protein.

Who Makes Taste of the Wild? US based pet food manufacturer, Diamond Pet Foods Inc, makes Taste of the Wild. They have factories in Missouri, California and South Carolina.

Most Popular Taste of the Wild Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food	Real roasted meats, fruits, veggies, natural antioxidants, grain free - for all life stages.	Check Latest Price Here	4.9
Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dry Dog Food for Puppy	Blend Of Fish Protein sources, natural antioxidants, fruits & veggies	Check Latest Price Here	4.9

Purina Pro Plan Review

Purina Pro Plan is the more premium product of the Purina line. They carry different foods to cater to different life stages as well as health conditions (sensitive skin and stomach or weight management). They also use real meat, fish or poultry as the top ingredient.

Most Popular Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out Of 5
Purina Pro Plan Focus Dry Dog Food - Sensitive Skin & Stomach	Highly digestible formula with prebiotic fiber to maintain intestinal balance & promote digestive health	Check Latest Price Here	4.5
Purina Pro Plan Dog Snacks and Meal Enhancements	Super convenient, mess-Free, resealable pouch. Real human-grade ingredients, with Prebiotic Fiber.	Check Latest Price Here	4.7
Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind	#1 ingredient is chicken! With enhanced botanical oils shown to promote alertness & mental sharpness	Check Latest Price Here	4.5

Wellness Dog Food Review

Wellness dog food is a premium food that has high-quality ingredients.

They use real meat at human grade ingredients, no corn and any by-products. Wellness also has been quality-proofed in the Whole Dog Journal.

The product sources for this food come from the United States and Canada, or from New Zealand, Australia, and Belgium. Wellness has a solution for almost every condition and dog varieties.

Most Popular Wellness Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out of 5
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog Food	Small kibble size. No wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives	Check Latest Price Here	4.1
Wellness Simple Natural Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food	Easily digestible. Fewer ingredients for dogs with food sensitivities, allergies or ingredient intolerances	Check Latest Price Here	4.2
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Dog Food (Chicken & Oatmeal)	Made with delicious proteins including deboned chicken and whitefish	Check Latest Price Here	4.8
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food	100% grain free and protein focused nutrition.	Check Latest Price Here	4.8

Diamond Naturals Dog Food Review

Popular with breeders, Diamond Naturals is a holistic brand focused on high quality ingredients. Each of their dry dog food formulas is boosted with their K9 Strain Probiotics so the ‘good’ bacterial can help with your dog’s digestion and immune system. Antioxidants and superfoods are often included in their range – these are highly nutritional and include popular human favorites like kale, chia seed, pumpkin, blueberries and more. A star ingredient they use is Salmon Oil which is a good source of DHA and is great for brain and vision in pups.

If your dog is sensitive to corn, wheat or soy, you will find that the whole grains Diamond Naturals use (eg. cracked pearled barley, quinoa) will help a lot.

Most Popular Diamond Naturals Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out of 5
Diamond Naturals Dry Food for Adult Dogs	Contains fresh meat and is highly nutritious. Does not contain wheat, corn or soy.	Check Latest Price Here	4.9
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Dry Puppy Food	Contains DHA for brain & eye development for pups.	Check Latest Price Here	4.8

Orijen Dog Food Review

Orijen uses ingredients that I would class as better than average. Featuring fresh regional ingredients, fresh whole meats, Orijen believes that our dogs should do without high-glycemic carbohydrates and plant proteins. Low in carbohydrate, high in freshness and inclusive of whole fruits and veggies, I personally really like this brand for their wholesome approach to dog food.

Most Popular Orijen Dog Food Products Table:

Product	My Notes	Check It Out	My Rating Out of 5
Orijen Adult Dry Dog Food	Fresh regional ingredients with 80% meats	Check Latest Price Here	4.6
Orijen Puppy	Wholesome sources of lean protein to help puppy grow healthily	Check Latest Price Here	4.3
Orijen Regional Red Dog	Great for its red meat sources that have not been tainted with antibiotics or hormones	Check Latest Price Here	4.7
Orijen Senior Dog	No grain, soy and corn fillers which can be bad for senior dogs (digestive problems)	Check Latest Price Here	4.7
Orijen Grain Free	Fresh meats, fruits & vegs. No grain or plant oils.	Check Latest Price Here	4.2

The Importance to plan new food for them! How to Plan?

You might be considering transitioning your dog to a new brand. Whether it’s due to its age or health needs or your own preference for certain brands, you need a new plan for your dog’s diet.

If you want to make the change, the idea is to add new food gradually. Around 20% mixed into the regularly food you feed them.

According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, this 20% should be added accordingly, day by day, into your dog’s meal.

Day 1 = add 20%

Day 2 = add 40%

Day 3 = add 60%

Day 4 = add 80%

Day 5 = make it 100%

During this 5-day period, be sure to carefully observe your dog and look for problems that might appear. Signs that are abnormal may include vomiting, gassiness, developing diarrhea or loss of appetite. If these happen, it’s better to take your dog to the vet for a better analysis. Read more about the top dog food brands for dogs with allergies. Hope you enjoyed this mega guide to the best dog food reviews!