We all want what’s best for our little furball and choosing the best dry dog food brands for him is a crucial decision you need to make as the pet-parent. There are thousands of dog food currently on the market and your dog won’t live long enough to try them one by one and figure out which one’s the best. Worry no more, in this article we will discuss the best kibbles you can feed your dog to.
You will be introduced to the Top 10 dry dog food brands– each has their own promising aspect to consider. So read on and see what makes them standout in the competition.
Dry vs. wet food: Which is better
Since this article features the best dry dog food brands, we’ll discuss some aspects that make dry dog food better than wet.
First, dry dog food gives you more value for your money. Kibbles are typically more affordable than other dog food types.
Using dry dog food will not give you as much mess as you can get when you feed your little doggo with wet food. Dogs tend to play with everything, sometimes with food, making dry dog food less stressful to handle.
Importantly, dry dog food doesn’t spoil as fast as its counterparts. However, there are factors that can deplete its nutritional value. You can read more about it here: How Long Does Dry Dog Food Last.
The beauty of dry dog food is you can accurately measure the meal you serve. If your dog is on a diet, you can easily serve the desired quantity.
Lastly, dry dog food is also a powerhouse of nutrients, depending on the brand you choose. Let this review be your guide in choosing the next kibble for your beloved dog.
Top 10 best dry dog food brands reviewed 2020
1. Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Here’s a good treat for small dogs. The Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food is composed of real beef – a taste that dogs really love. This food is perfect for small breeds, specially crafted with 26 nutrient-rich ingredients essential for the small ones.
Even though the Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food is specially crafted with the small breed in mind, any adult dog can still consume this food. Even big dogs will surely adore these delectable meaty chunks – truly a kibble for every furball.
The Cesar Dry Dog Food also contains great chicken by-product meal, ground wheat, ground yellow corn, bone meal, brewers rice, soybean, gluten meal, beet pulp, some natural flavors, and a whole lot more ingredients your little dog can feast upon.
The best part is the array of vitamins that maintains and promotes your dog’s healthy well-being. Things like Vitamin A supplement, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3, and Folic Acid to name a few.
Overall the Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food is ideal, as the name suggests, for your little furball buddy. He will always look forward to eating this tasty and appetizing crunchy beef-dominated kibble with some chicken flavor and a culmination of ingredients all packed inside these bite pieces!
2. Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Turkey and Venison Formula Dry Dog Food
Now this one’s a distinct dry dog food specially formulated to benefit your best bud’s entire body. The brand even has a promise that claims owners will see a great, positive difference in their dog after a 28-day period of eating this kibble. If you’re looking for a dry dog food crafted for the adult ones, the Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Turkey and Venison Formula Dry Dog Food is a good choice.
This product is made with a special recipe – a blend of real turkey and venison. This makes the Purina ONE a must-try dry dog food. It is packed with unmatched nutrition – a “smart blend” of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality ingredients that deliver enough protein to satisfy your dog’s need. Further, this kibble has a blend of real turkey and venison that your dog can really crave for.
The Purina Turkey and Venison formula is truly something that makes your dog’s meal quite enjoyable while keeping you confident that everything your buddy needs is right there entering his system.
The kibble is highly digestible and contains not just significant protein but also natural sources of glucosamine and other nutrient-rich ingredients that support a dog with an active lifestyle. The smart formula is ideal for active adult dogs. Serving him this kibble is a perfect way of showing him your love and affection.
3. Pedigree Complete Nutrition Adult Dry Dog Food Bonus Bags
This one’s from a popular brand. The Pedigree Complete Nutrition Adult Dry Dog Food is a complete blend of roasted chicken, rice, and vegetables that will surely promote a healthier, more energetic dog.
One thing that makes this product appealing is the fact it’s made in the USA, giving you guarantee that everything in the bag is nothing but the world’s finest ingredients.
The beauty of Pedigree is its attribute of containing a complete and balanced nutrition for your dog to consume. It can provide omega-6 fatty acids capable of nourishing your dog’s skin while keeping it healthy and shiny. Now you can pet and hug him while enjoying his soft fur.
The Pedigree formulation also contains real chicken flavor packed with zinc, B vitamins, and other essentials that will transform your dog into their best state, from health to looks. Apart from keeping your dog healthy, the formulation also makes your dog’s teeth clean.
And it doesn’t end there, this Pedigree adult dry dog food promotes a strong immune system by containing vitamin E and antioxidants. Further, you don’t have to worry about digestion because the formulation includes a blend of fiber.
Overall, the Pedigree Complete Nutrition Adult Dry Dog Food is indeed a complete formulation of the best ingredients – the ideal kibble to any dog out there.
4. BLUE life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
Now this one’s a best-seller. The fact that many consumers patronize this product makes you curious about the wonders it can do to your little furball. True in its purest essence, the BLUE Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food can easily become the best dry dog food brands today.
The BLUE life is specially formulated to stimulate a healthy dog well-being. An impressive attribute includes the fact it contains the finest natural ingredients, abundant in vitamins and minerals. The result is high-quality kibble your dog will surely love to eat as much as you like serving it to him.
Blue Buffalo is known to only sell premium-quality pet foods that contain fruits, vegetables, and real meat. This formulation has ZERO by-product meals from chicken and poultry. It is crafted with real deboned chicken that’s protein-rich along with a variety of other elements that make up a great dog food – including wheat soy, corn, whole grains and more.
This is truly the kibble your dog would want to feast upon. Nothing gives you more confidence than a dog food from Blue Buffalo.
5. Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Now here’s something popular too. The Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food is something that gives your dog a rich protein experience coming from a real deboned chicken.
If you think your dog has grain sensitivities, the Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food that has ZERO grains in its formulation is a good choice. It also has no wheat, corn, gluten or soy ingredients – allowing only the best ingredients behind.
A responsible pet parent is someone who will feed his dog with something that is easy to digest and promotes gastrointestinal health. The result is an active dog with outstanding vitality.
The Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food is also processed with industry-leading Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids that nourish a healthy skin and coat. After consistent feeding, you can expect your dog to have a healthy hips and joints thanks to high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin.
Overall the Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog food is the ideal choice for pet parents who want the best organic food for their beloved furball.
6. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Large Breed Dog Food, Chicken & Rice, 30-Pound Bag
This kibble from Wellness is formulated for adult large breed dogs. The food pieces are large and packed with a complete, balanced nutrition that every large breed needs. For starters, this food has 13 percent more protein than conventional kibble. It promotes better muscle mass to maintain the body’s healthiest state.
This Wellness Complete dog food contains only natural and premium ingredients including mainly deboned chicken with controlled calories. If you’re looking for something extremely healthy, this kibble has no corn, wheat, meat, and soy by-products. Further, this one has no artificial flavors and only has minimum preservatives.
You can also expect your dog to have stronger hips and joints with the added chondroitin and glucosamine. The best part – it’s purely made in the US. A lot of people trust Wellness and probably you should too!
7. CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food
So you don’t have just one dog in your home. If you’re kinda afraid of the potential costs it takes to feed different dogs with different kibble, the CANIDAE Life Stages Dry Dog Food is an ideal choice.
This CANIDAE dog food is specially formulated to cater not just a particular breed or size but designed to feed dogs in all life stages – from puppies to adults and seniors. So if you have more than one dog in your home, you don’t have to buy a separate kibble anymore.
CANIDAE, with its staggering diversity of ingredients, offers you a solution by having a food that is compatible with all types of dogs. This makes meal times quite easier than the idea of dealing with different kibble to feed them – just one bag for all dogs. No more switching. No more confusion.
This CANIDAE is composed of optimum protein and other premium ingredients that make the kibble nutritionally dense. It even has antioxidants that promote a better immune system, probiotics for good digestion, and omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for a beautiful skin/coat.
8. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
This one is unique with its potato and duck formula. The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog is grain-free formulation ideal for adult dogs. The beauty of this kibble is the fact it’s not packed with dozens upon dozens of ingredients that can easily drown you just by reading the list.
The Natural Balance kibble is different – only has minimal ingredients to enter your dog’s system. And it’s actually a good thing. It has simple ingredients like potatoes, an excellent energy source that your dog can easily digest.
Your dog will not be exposed to artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. He will only consume only what’s important for his growth and health.
Limited Ingredients Diets or LID is a type of dog lifestyle wherein the pet parent only feeds his dog with kibbles having simple formulas to prevent the risk of food sensitivities. Now you can have a unique alternative meal for your dog with limited carbohydrates and the best source of protein.
This kibble is formulated to enhance your dog’s skin and coat, as well as promote the best digestive health. With Natural Balance, you can strategically specify your dog’s intake of protein.
9. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Dog Food
Another healthy food choice, the Nutro Wholesome Essential Adult Dry Dog Food offers you an array of choices, giving you total freedom on what kibble to feed your beloved doggo.
The Nutro Wholesome Essentials comes in different varieties – chicken, lamb, and salmon that are further categorized into large breeds and small bites. Nothing gives you a better choice in terms of tailoring your dog’s needs.
What makes Nutro Wholesome Essentials better than other brands is the fact their main ingredients are meticulously developed. Things like adult farm-raised chicken (brown rice and sweet potato) recipe, pasture-fed lamb (and rice) recipe, and adult salmon (brown rice and sweet potato) recipe. You can make sure that everything that goes into your dog is nothing but premium goodness.
With Nutro Wholesome Essentials, you can make sure you're buying kibble with ingredients that came from trusted suppliers and farmers. You’ll be feeding your dog with authentic ingredients (no by-products) enhanced with vitamins and minerals. This kibble even has no artificial preservatives and flavors.
Overall, the Nutro Wholesome Essentials is the right choice if you want to feed your dog with something specific to his needs, and at the same time give him with a delectable, trustworthy, and purposeful meal.
10. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Minichunks Dry Dog Food
If you’re a fan of vegetables and you want your dog to experience the goodness of veggies, the IAMS Proactive Health Adult MiniChunks dry dog food might be the best choice.
This mini-chunk kibble is embellished with real veggies (like peas and carrots) as well as packed with real fruits (blueberries and apples). Moreover, the IAMS also contains wholesome grains that make your dog more energetic courtesy of essential carbohydrates and nutrients. Your dog will also consume an abundant combination of vitamins and antioxidants.
The formula contains beet pulp that aid in healthy digestion. IAMS also integrated real chicken for firmer and stronger muscles. Further, your dog will also be grateful for the omega-6s he’ll consume because he’ll have better skin and coat eventually.
IAMS also provides a series of different recipes customized to meet the needs of different dogs. They have something for varying dogs that cater every size and shape.
Overall, the IAMS Proactive Health dry dog food is the ideal kibble for an adult dog if you want him to experience something composed of high-quality ingredients with no fillers – only wholesome ingredients.
Best dry dog food brands buying guide
1. The main ingredient must be protein
The first thing you should look for when buying dry dog food is the protein content – it must be the first ingredient on the list. You might want to look for something specific – it must be a “named” animal protein.
So are non-specific meat proteins always a bad choice?
2. Product must name the protein
Don’t be satisfied by seeing protein alone. The kibble tends to be a low-quality food when the label only says “meat protein” – kinda like a dubious origin. What you have to look for are kibbles having a specific animal protein content – beef, lamb, chicken, and more.
So when shopping for your next kibble, make sure you’re able to select “chicken protein” (for instance) apart from choosing “meat protein.”
3. A long-enough expiration date is a must
Your dry dog food must have a “best before” date at least six months away from your purchase. If you can find something that is as far as 11 months away, the better. Doing so means you are buying something fresh and that the kibble is made quite recently.
That’s not all. The “best before” date can either be a blessing or a curse. Stay away from a kibble that expires as far as two (2) years after the manufacturing date. It means that particular dog food has potentially numerous synthetic preservatives (ethoxyquin, BHT, BHA) you must keep away from your beloved pet.
4. Say YES to veggies
It’s a big plus to look for something that contains fruits, vegetables, and grains. This is the best way for your dog to acquire ample amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, and even minerals.
Unprocessed food like vegetables tends to contain natural nutrients which they retain until consumed by your dog. They contribute big-time to the health factor.
5. By-products are not always a NO
They say you should step away from by-products. Well, not all the time. The truth is you shouldn’t have to. It’s good to have by-products (or food “fractions” of an ingredient) as long as they are low on the list of ingredients. Only stay away from by-products if they are labeled as the main ingredients of the kibble. More of the things you don’t want to buy are listed below.
6. Look for natural preservatives
Go for dry dog food that contains only natural preservatives like vitamin E (Tocopherols), extracts, vitamin C, and so on. Kibbles with natural preservatives may not last as long as those with artificial content but at least you’re serving your dog well.
7. Nutritional guarantee
Ultimately, choose a kibble brand known for giving a nutritional guarantee. The ten dry dog food introduced a while ago are all packed with nutrients that will surely complete your dog’s necessary nutritional intake in a balanced way.
Always look for something that provides complete and balanced nutrition. The type of food that is formulated to bring out the best in your beloved dog!
How to choose kibble with non-specific protein sources
NO. A brand saying “meat protein” on its label doesn’t already mean it’s a bad choice. There is, however, a supporting detail that makes it a credible kibble.
When non-specific “fresh meat” is the main ingredient, the kibble is still a good choice IF it has supporting sources of other animal protein listed as part of the top ingredients.
Frozen or fresh meat only has an average of 20 percent protein content; while the rest is water. They tend to lack protein and is not a sufficient source when used solely in a dry food.
On the other hand, fresh meat backed up by supporting ingredients (like dried tissues, skin, bone, and other meats) tend to have a protein content as high as 65 percent, making it a decent dry dog food.
What to avoid in dog food?
The best dry dog food brands buying guide has taught you the things you should look for. This section serves as another buying guide but the other way around. There are also factors in the opposite spectrum you should be aware of – things you should avoid in dog food. They are the following:
1. Generic fat source
You already know the importance of named protein as the main ingredient (i.e. chicken, lamb, and beef). Same goes for the fat source.
You might want to refrain purchasing something that says “animal fat” because it can literally be any fat of animal origin. Things like fats derived from roadkill and used restaurant grease to name a few.
It’s better if you can find something that says duck fat, chicken fat, or a less specific “poultry” fat will do.
2. High content by-products
Kibble with low content by-products is fine, but dog food with a staggering by-product level is a no. Dog food with high-quality ingredients is stored and processed more meticulously than dog food composed mainly of by-products. This also means you shouldn’t trust ultra-cheap dog food quite easily.
3. Artificial ingredients
We’re all guilty of this, but we can’t blame ourselves either. It’s rare to find kibble products that contain no artificial ingredients at all.
Good news is, you can do something about this. You can either look for dry dog food with no artificial ingredients (some are featured in the review section above) or you can look for something with LESS artificial content.
For instance, it’s totally useless to feed your furball some colorful kibbles. Do you really think color matters to your dog? So start by serving him dog food with natural colors – mostly brown or something with consistency. NEVER feed your dog with kibbles that look more like toys than food.
4. Added sweeteners
As much as possible, do NOT let your dog get used to sweet things. Otherwise, he will eventually look for sweet, grain fragments and will refrain to eat healthy animal proteins.
Start by looking for a kibble with minimally added sweeteners. Focus on serving dry dog food with mainly animal protein and other healthy ingredients.
Is it possible to overfeed?
Canine obesity really does exist as much as human obesity does. It’s actually a huge problem nowadays. Many pet-parents love their dogs too much to the extent they overfeed them. Are you one of them?
If you can’t recognize an overweight dog, then start reading the manufacturer’s guidelines by heart. Follow and adhere to the instructions more strictly. At the same time, discipline your dog and perhaps, let him accompany you to some exercises.
Summary
Choosing the food to feed your beloved dog can drive you crazy – and you’re not alone. You share the same dilemma with thousands, even millions of other pet parents around the globe. Fortunately, there are articles that are made to curate the web and pick out, based on strict standards, the best products to introduce to valued consumers like you.
After filtering numerous options, we have come up with the top dry dog food on the market you can buy today. These ten products are the best-selling ones in the industry and have built a solid reputation under their names.
Now it all boils down to you finally choosing one based on the breed of your pet, his age, and other preferences you think are necessary. Just click one and have that best dry dog food brands delivered right to your doorstep!
