How to Choose Dog Food

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The following items represent some of The Dog Food Advisor’s most frequently asked questions about how to choose a dog food.

Choosing dog food seems so confusing. How can I learn the basics?

Watch Dr. Karen Becker’s short video and go shopping with her as she presents the basics on how to choose a dog food.

There are so many dog foods to pick from, can you help me find the best one for my pet?

We truly wish we could take the time to search the many dog foods on our website to help you find one that meets your pet’s special needs. However, the Dog Food Advisor was never designed to provide custom services of this nature.

What’s the best way to pick one myself?

Why not limit your search to the 3, 4 and 5-star products we’ve already screened from the thousands of recipes currently available.

Or for help finding a special type, see our Best Dog Foods page for links to some of our suggested products.

And be sure to also check the comments at the end of each review to see what our readers (the real experts) have to say, too.

Can you compare two different dog foods for me?

Unfortunately, time does not permit us to provide personalized product comparisons.

Besides, since each dog responds to a particular food in its own way, it would be impossible for us to compare two or more recipes and predict which one would be the right choice for your pet.

What does the Dog Food Advisor feed his own dog?

I’d love to be able to share with you my favorite dog food. But I really don’t have one.

Besides, it would be unfair to publicly endorse a specific brand while there are so many other good ones to pick from.

My dog has a specific health problem. Can you recommend a food that could help his condition?

Unfortunately, since I’m not a veterinarian, you’ve asked a question I don’t feel qualified to answer. Although I’m sure there are specific dog foods that could help, we try to limit our services to reading and interpreting pet food labels only.

We never attempt to judge the ability of any dog food to address certain problems or deliver specific health benefits.

What’s better… canned or dry dog food?

Because of their low cost and unbeatable convenience, dry kibbles are the most popular dog foods in use.

But they’re not always the best. Canned foods can be some of the best (and most overlooked) choices available.

Although there are situations when feeding either one might be the better choice, there are also times when mixing the two together (a process known as topping) makes an especially tasty meal.

To learn more, see our article, “What’s Better… Canned or Dry Dog Food?“

  • LabsRawesome

    Hi Adam, I would suggest grain free dog food. My dog did well on
    Before grain (Merrick)  and Back to Basics. But any grain free dry,
    topped with a grain free canned, will give your dog a great meal. :O) http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/…

  • Adam

    My wife and I recently rescued a German Shepherd and we need to change her food.  She previously lived with an Amish family and we don’t think she had a specific diet.  Does anyone have any recommendations?

  • Jinnyb143

    i would be very grateful if you could advise me on where to look for good dog food for the UK England
    thankyou <3

  • Jinnyb143

    hey Cody 
    as for his joints may i recommend LITOZIN – it’s rosehip with a concentrated form of GOPO.
    i read about it a couple of years ago in the reader digest & they found it was the best to date in-regards helping with joint pain, my dog was 16yrs old at the time & having to use a disabled harness, & things were not looking good for her – even the vets had given up on her! so as a last hope attempt i put her on the LITOZIN capsules…. within a couple of weeks i could notice the difference & within 6months she was off the harness!!! truly a miracle & she is still with me & will be 19yrs old this October!! even the vets were amazed!! ps she is also now off the medication (metacam – anti-inflammatory) that she had been on for years for her joints!! she is a deberman cross staff & i give her one capsule once a day.
    Amazon sell them.
    good luck <3 

  • Bob K

    cody – You need to exercise with the dog start out with a walk around the block twice a day for a few weeks then increase the distance and intensity.  Perhaps a walk in the field?  Maybe a little playing in the water?  Perhaps a tennis ball?  If he is overweight, you need to put him on a diet.  You need to measure his food.  I highly doubt there is any beneful that has enough of any supplement to make a difference.   There are supplements that can help with joint problems.  Its not that hard to get a dog to eat.  You can add a tablespoon of water and microwave for 15 seconds to bring out the smells and flavors,  Drizzle a little chicken or beef broth on the food.   Finely chop some turkey or egg into the food and mix it real well.    Usually exercise stimulates the appetite and also regulates bowel functions. 

  • cody

    my dog cody is a lab and he is 8 years old and ways like 80 pounds and he is lazy and wont exercise and i have tried all kinds of foods to get him more energized. plus he has joint problems and the only food that seemed to come close to helping him is some food made from beneful that helps his joints …. i need a food that gives my dog a significant change in his energy level and his joint problems. PLEASE HELP ME!!

  • Shawna

    Chair639 ~~ sorry if I came off as snippy in my previous post.  Kidney disease is a topic I am very familiar with…  My dog (pictured in my avatar) was born with kidney disease.  She had symptoms before even being weaned.  She was officially dianosed at one year of age.  She will be 6 years old the end of June 2012 and is in supreme health despite her damaged kidneys.  She has been on a HIGH protein, commercial and home made raw diet since she was weaned.

    Protein does not cause kidney disease and if you know what you are doing you can feed a higher protein diet until the later stages of the disease.

    Audrey’s symptoms at 6 weeks old were excessive drinking (polydipsia) and excessive urination (polyuria).  Five and a half years later and her symptoms are still only polydipsia and polyuria. 

    Please don’t fall for the low protein hype vets and others spew out about kidney disease.  This data has been disproven for well over 10 years now.

  • Shawna

    Incorrect Chair639..

    Protein does nothing to further damage the kidneys.  It has now been proven that too little protein actually causes more damage then good.

    In the early to middle stages of kidney disease “protein” does not have to be limited unless there is a signficant amount of proteinuria (protein in the urine).  Phosphorus should be limited but phosphorus is in vegetables, grains and other foods as well as proteins (meats).

  • Chair639

     Does with kidney disease should NOT eat a high protein diet!

  • Shawna

    Hi Peggy ~~ I have two that are toy poodle mixes (one mixed with Shih Tzu and my one born with kidney disease is mixed with Chihuahua and Boston Terrier).  One is 5 pounds and one is 9 pounds.  All my dogs (including my senior Chihuahua and the one with kidney disease) are on a raw, high protein diet.

    There are many good quality raw diets that are easy for senior dogs (even those without teeth) to eat.  Primal, Darwins and Bravo Balance are my favorite.  They all have better ratios of protein, fat and carbs.  Many premade raw diets are too high in fat.

    A canned food would be a good option too.  I like grain free — Weruva is my favorite as the ingredients are made from human foods and produced in a facility that makes human foods.  Probably one of the most expensive canned foods though.  Other goods ones are Merrick, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Lotus (has small amount of rice in them).  Others can give you more ideas on canned.

    I wouldn’t suggest the semi-moist foods.  These are inferior products..

  • Peggy Devos

    I forgot to mention that they are toy poodles.

  • Peggy Devos

    I have senior dogs that are really fussy about eating.  It is hard for them to eat hard dog food.  Is their any bands of soft or raw that dogs will love?  I have spend $$ trying to find something they will eat over the years, but with no real luck.  Some of the products they will eat, but still are fussy about aren’t the best for them.  Help!  Thanks!

  • sandy

    You can supplement with raw meats/organs, liver, gizzards, heart, etc…eggs, sardines, other fish, wild caught, packed in water, no salt added, raw meaty bones like rib bones, turkey necks, chicken wings,thighs,frames, full fat yogurt (no sugar), pureed nonstarchy veggies or lightly cooked,  and also tripe.  Haven’t used tripe yet as it’s hard to find.  I’ve found some dehydrated raw green tripe online.

    http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-stink-on-tripe/

    http://www.freshisbestinc.com/

    http://www.k9natural.com/all-products

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1170745373 Glenda Smith

    I am using a dry dog food, one you rate 4-star but just wondered if it would add to my dog’s overall health if I supplement this
    food with canned salmon or tuna or green tripe.  Also, could you include the
    nutritional advice for green tripe.

    Thank you very much
    !

    Sincerely,

  • sandy

    Geraldine,
     
    My small dogs are doing great on Brothers and Great Life Grain Free. They have also eaten Instinct, Amicus and Nutrisca, Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Core Ocean.  They didn’t all love Orijen so they don’t get that anymore.  They also get raw food.  For treats I stick with dried meat or piece of fruit (keeping sugar to a minimum) or dried sweet potato.  There are several brands that offer grain free biscuits as well.  Stella & Chewys has Carnivore Kisses which are really small bite sized dired meat treats. Or you can also get small freeze dried foods and use that as a treat.

  • Geraldine

    Hi!  We have a 4 year, old very active shihpoo. Our vet says he’s the perfect weight (15lbs)  I’d like to switch from Iams to a 5 star dry food. We feed him in the am & pm, 1/3 cup in addition to a handful of Iams biscuits throughout the day.  Any suggestions on food & treats?  Thanks. 

  • melissa

    Lol. welcome to the world of pups! What your pup is doing sounds normal.

  • Bob K

    jeannie – You slowly transition to a new puppy food for about two weeks.  Step # 1 -Schedule an appt. with a vet soon to make sure you are on a plan with all puppy shots and your puppy is healthy.  Blue Buffalo is a fine food.  Puppies are very all out, eat, sleep  all within 1 hr.  This is probably the first time for your puppy to be away from the his mom and siblings in a new home. There are also some excellent Yorkie books,   Read, Learn, sign up for puppy class and enjoy your puppy

  • jeanine

    We just got a 3 1/2 month old yorkie for our family.  The breeder we got him from was feed him Purina One Beyond Adult Dog Food and we did not think we should be feeding him adult food.  We went to a local pet store and they recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection (Puppy).  After feeding him a 75/25 mix, he became very hyper and almost lost his mind.  We are afraid to feed him any more puppy food.  What would you suggest we do?