Make sure your faithful friend gets the best in doggy diet and nutrition

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It may not always be the cheapest option, but getting the best dog food for your pet really is a good investment. A dog food with balanced nutrition – be it the best dry dog food or even the best raw dog food – will keep your hound healthy, and the best brands often manage to pack in plenty of flavor too, so your dog will enjoy eating it as well. While you can’t put a price on a happy dog, you definitely can put one on a healthy one – it’s measured in veterinary fees. Good pet health starts with food, so making sure you give your dog the best food for them is the most effective way to get a clean bill of health when they visit the vet.

What should you look for in the best dog food? You need kibbles and chum that uses natural ingredients, and blends them with the vitamins and minerals that are required for all-round health. While there are speciality dog foods that cater for pets with intolerances and dietary requirements, as featured in our guide to the best dog food for allergies, most of the top dog foods will remove anything that negatively affects your pet (like ingredients they’re widely intolerant to like corn, wheat, and soy), while keeping in things like calcium, iron, and other stuff that they need plenty of.

Cheaper dog foods will tend to sacrifice natural ingredients or use lower grade meat, and will often bulk out their mass with things like grains, so you’re getting less quality meat in there (especially in tinned dog food) and less tasty food. We like dog foods from the likes of Purina, Hills, and Blue Buffalo as they all offer balanced nutrition for your pet, although some of the cheaper options still pack plenty of goodness in – you just have to be a little more selective if you’re on a budget.

PetsRadar’s pick of the best dog food

Hill’s Science Plan Adult Dog Food with Lamb and Rice

Recommended suitable age: 1 to 6 years | Key nutritional inclusions: Omega-6s, Vitamin E, high in protein | Flavour: Lamb and rice

Made with high quality ingredients

Promotes a healthy coat

Easily digestible

Not suitable for puppies, pregnant or nursing females

Not suitable for older adult dogs

When it comes to the best overall dog food, Hill’s Science Plan Adult Dog Food with Lamb and Rice is as close to a catch-all dry dog food as it’s possible to have.

While you should consider the age and lifestyle of your dog when deciding their diet, this dog food is ideal for dogs aged one to six-years-old and of medium size. So, if you’re the owner of a healthy Basset Hound, Labrador or an Alaskan Malamute – or any other dog of a similar size – this is the dog food you need.

If your dog isn’t in the one to six-years-old age bracket, or is pregnant or nursing, this isn’t the dog food you need, so take a look at the remainder of the guide for a food that’s perfect for your pup.

Hill’s Science Plan Adult Dog Food with Lamb and Rice is a dry kibble-style food, designed to support your dog’s dietary requirements while they’re in the prime of their life. While ensuring they get the energy they need for bounding about, this dog food offers a reliable source of Omega-6s and Vitamin E – ideal for promoting healthy skin and a glossy coat – as well as lamb and rice as central protein-rich ingredients. These high-quality ingredients not only taste great for your dog, but they’re also easy to digest, and can help support the development of lean muscles.

As another great bonus, the total ingredients list is delightfully small. The dry feed comprises maize, wheat, lamb meal, soybean meal, animal fat, maize gluten meal, brewers’ rice, digest, vegetable oil, flaxseed and minerals. Created with the high-quality ingredients that your dog deserves, there are no hidden nasties here.

It’s worth noting that, as with all dog foods, you’ll have to weigh out the amount of food served based on the weight of your dog – so it can be worth having a food scale to hand.

Bakers Adult Beef with Country Vegetables

Recommended suitable age: 1 to 6 years | Key nutritional inclusions: Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Zinc | Flavour: Beef and vegetable

Affordable price point

Enriched with vitamins and minerals

No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives

Tender kibble can harden up over time

The dry kibble is a beef and country vegetable flavor, comprising tender meat chunks and vegetables. Said to include all the nutrients your dog needs to consume in one day, this Bakers feed also contains no added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and includes probiotics and antioxidants to help promote healthy digestion and support their immune system.

Additionally, the dry kibble contains Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Zinc and other minerals – all things that can help encourage healthy and strong teeth, bones, skin and coat.

However, it is worth noting that, in the ingredients, wholegrain cereals account for 55% of the feed. Grain is often used as a filler in dog food, which can become problematic for dogs that have wheat and other gastric intolerances.

In comparison to another affordable dry kibble, Pedigree Complete Dry with chicken and vegetables, grains (listed as cereals) are still the most prevalent ingredient. There is 5% more ‘Meat and Animal Derivatives’ listed in the pedigree ingredients, but on average this food comes in at £3-4 more expensive, for 2kg less in the bag than the Bakers option.

Though it is more affordable to buy in larger quantities, the kibble might get a little hard over time – but dog owners recommend sealing the top of the bag as tightly as possible once opened to help retain freshness.

Overall, Bakers Adult beef with country vegetables should be considered a reliable and affordable dry dog food that’s suitable for many kinds of adult dogs. While it’s not the Michelin Star food of the dog world, it contains everything your dog needs to thrive at a lower price point.

Lily’s Kitchen Grain Free Multipack

Recommended suitable age: 1+ years | Key nutritional inclusions: Grain-free, meat meal, bone meal and rendered meat-free | Flavour: Assorted

Entirely grain-free recipes

Created with fresh meat and vegetables

Multipack offers four flavour options

Fine ingredients increase cost

No added nutrition as with dry dog food

It’s widely understood that wet food is generally more appetizing for dogs, and who can blame them when the flavor options in this multipack are ‘Cottage Pie’, ‘Sunday Lunch’, ‘Fishy Fish Pie’ and ‘Wild Campfire Stew’. But, Lily’s Kitchen Grain-Free wet food isn’t pumped full of water and ‘filler’ products such as wheat, soya or corn grain. Each tin is made with fresh meat, and organic vegetables and herbs, so you can be entirely sure of what your dog is consuming at their mealtimes.

There has been some debate as to whether the quality of the product has dropped since the company was bought by Nestle in April 2020, but many pet owners still vouch for the food, claiming it has drastically helped if their dog has had suspected wheat allergies or intolerances.

While these benefits and flavors are available in tin multipacks, it’s fair to say that it’s not the cheapest dog food on the market. It’s also worth noting that several of these Lily’s Kitchen dog food flavors are also available from Lily’s Kitchen in grain-free dry kibble form – which includes added vitamins and other nutritional supplements to help support your dog’s healthy diet.

Read more:

Is dry dog food best?

What are the benefits of homemade dog food?

5 dog treats for sensitive stomachs

N&D Ancestral Grain Canine Chicken and Pomegranate Puppy

Recommended suitable age: 0-1 years | Key nutritional inclusions: 90% meat, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, zinc | Flavour: Chicken and pomegranate

Designed for puppy development

High-quality natural ingredients

Only suitable for puppies

If you’re in the market for a reliable puppy feed, this N&D Ancestral Grain Canine Chicken and Pomegranate Puppy dry food could be a good choice for the new addition to the family.

While this recipe does include grain, the emphasis with this brand is on the quality of the ingredients used, all of which have been inspired by nature. Spelt, oats, fresh chicken combine with pumpkin, apples, carrots, spinach and blueberries to create a delicious puppy food.

What’s more, the balance of ingredients used means that 90% of the feed is protein-rich chicken, supported with the vegetables, fruits and grains – with no artificial preservatives hidden in there either. The choice of certain ingredients is designed to bring certain vitamins and minerals into play in a natural way.

For instance, the use of pumpkin adds antioxidants, Vitamin A, Vitamin E and zinc into the feed, and the spinach, blueberries, apples and carrots add a generous dose of fiber. All of the natural qualities of the ingredients combine to serve up a puppy food that’s able to support the development of the immune system (as well as keeping it well maintained), help with your puppy’s skin and coat, and aims to prevent urinary and sensitive stomach issues.

It’s fair to say that N&D Ancestral Grain chicken and pomegranate is a little pricier than other puppy feeds, however, the quality of the ingredients is the reason why. A great choice for any new four-legged friend.

Skinner’s Field & Trial – Light & Senior

Recommended suitable age: Approx 6 years, breed dependant | Key nutritional inclusions: Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, iron and zinc, no artificial colours or flavours | Flavour: Chicken and rice

Formulated for older or inactive dogs

Designed to avoid weight gain

Nutritionally balanced

Colour variation can occur in the kibble

As your dog ages, it’s important that their feed matches their physical habits. If they begin to slow down a little, and yet still consume the same food as they’ve always done, this can lead to weight gain. This is where a dedicated dog food for senior dogs becomes vital.

Skinner’s Field & Trial – Light & Senior offers dogs a nutritionally balanced food that can help quell any noticeable weight gain in less active dogs. Though it’s worth noting that the packaging doesn’t give any indication of calorie content per portion, the food is formulated with reduced levels of fat and protein to encourage a ‘holistic weight management strategy’.

The kibble itself is shaped into ovals to help encourage a feeling of fullness in your dog and, as it’s less-energy dense in its formulation, larger meals can be fed too – your dog doesn’t have to feel short-changed at meal times once they hit their twilight years!

The food aims to support joint health too, with the inclusion of glucosamine and chondroitin, and linseed and sunflower oils provide fatty acids. These are great for your dog’s skin and coat, and have little impact on how fat-full the feed is.

The feed is also wheat gluten-free, which is great for dogs with wheat allergies or intolerances, but it is worth noting that maize and oats are still at the top of the ingredients list – and these grains are often used as a filler to help bulk the food out.

To counter that, the third-most present ingredient is chicken meal, which can help a dog’s digestion, and also has low purine levels. This makes the food an ideal choice for mature or less active dogs that also have sensitive stomachs to consider.

Royal Canin Mini Adult

Recommended suitable age: 10 months to 12 years | Key nutritional inclusions: Vitamin D3, Vitamin E2, E4 and E5, zinc | Flavour: Meat and gravy

Designed for smaller sized dogs

Nutritionally complete wet food

Supports healthy weight maintenance

Meat products unspecified in ingredients

Uses cereal to bulk out the feed

High moisture content

As we’re sure you know, small dogs have bags of personality. They know what they like – and that’s especially true when it comes to their food. Finding a pet food they like that also supports everything they need as a small breed is really important – and an area where Royal Canin Mini Adult can really help.

This is a wet feed, which is widely considered as being tastier for our pups, simply because the moisture allows their senses to engage with the taste and smell of the meal more.

However, be aware that the moisture content can, in some food, mean that water is replacing food substance. Though the moisture content here sits at 80%, the ingredient list gives you reassurance that the feed offers a balanced, nutritious diet. 

As a comparison, in a high-end and more expensive puppy feed produced by Lily’s Kitchen, the moisture content is still 80% – the price difference is explained by the types of meat products used in the food.

It’s important, especially in small dogs, that excess weight doesn’t become an issue. Royal Canin Mini Adult offers a moderate energy content for active adult dogs of a small breed, and also contains a whole host of vitamins and minerals to support a healthy digestive system and top-notch coat.

Along with supporting your dog nutritionally, the feed is also made with your dog in mind. The soft chunks themselves are small enough for Yorkshire Terriers, Pomskies and other small breeds to eat comfortably. In turn, the shape of the feed – or the ‘kibble technology’ – is able to help reduce the build-up of tartar on the dog’s teeth. This helps owners prevent oral problems appearing, without having to supplement tartar-avoidance specific food into their pup’s diet.

How to choose the best dog food

Choosing the best dog food for your pup can feel like a daunting task. There are so many factors to consider – from the size of the dog to their age and their breed, it can feel like a bit of a minefield.

There are many products to sift through and select from, but understanding the common elements in dog food and what each ingredient can offer is the key. Most foods offer a balance of vitamins and minerals to help boost your dog’s immune system and to help promote healthy skin and coat – but what are the core ingredients?

You should also be aware of the grain and meat content in a food when selecting it. More affordable products will include cereal and less-specific meat products, whereas high-end options are likely to include less cereal and a high-quality meat content.

But, ultimately, as the owner, you know your dog and the priorities you hold for them better than anyone. Here, you’ll find the best dog foods we’ve found for all types of dog – and we’re confident you’ll make a choice that your dog will truly love.