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If you are confused about the plethora of options, I am here to help. In this comprehensive dry dog food guide, I will review my recommendation for the best dry food for dogs and tell you some of the secret ways to find the best dry food for your fluffy.
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So, let’s get started.
- Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food – ⬇️ Jump to Review
- Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – ⬇️ Jump to Review
- Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food – ⬇️ Jump to Review
- Taste Of Wild Dry Dog Food – ⬇️ Jump to Review
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Dog Food – ⬇️ Jump to Review
- Purina Pro Plan Focus Dry Dog Food – ⬇️ Jump to Review
I have tested many products available in the market that have made me a little pro in dog food. It does take a matter of weeks and months to find suitable best dry food for Dogs.
You will have to go through the same process. To further ease your hassle of finding the list of best picks, here are some of the best dry food for dogs popular in the market:
What Is The Best Dry Food For Dogs
You can find plenty of dry food for dogs, but here are my favorite and best dry food for dogs picks that you can try out:
Reviewing Some Of The Best Dry Food For Dogs
#1 Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food
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A brand that sells by its name, Wellness is a dog food brand that is highly popular in the market.
A majority of dog owners prefer this brand over others for its high quality and wholesome goodness in the products.
It is made up of 6 key ingredients that play a significant role in your dog’s growth. Check below for a more detailed analysis of these 6 ingredients:
Ingredient Analysis
What I Like About The Ingredients
- Deboned Chicken
- Oatmeal
- Peas and Ground Barley
- Brown Rice
- Chicken Fat
- Sweet Potatoes
- Glucosamine Hydrochloride
- Chondroitin Sulfate
- Probiotics
- Vitamin & Mineral Supplements
First Ingredient
The first ingredient in Wellness complete health dry dog food is chicken. Even chicken is a quality item, row chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking the row chicken, most of the water moisture is lost. Then this can reduce the chicken content to a bit of its original weight.
Second Ingredient
The second ingredient in Wellness Health dry dog food is a chicken meal which I don’t like as I mentioned above. The chicken meal examined a meat concentrate and contains up to 300% more protein than fresh.
Third Ingredient
The third ingredient is oatmeal, which is a whole-grain product made from ground oats. Oatmeal is rich in B vitamins, Fiber, and is gluten-free.
Fourth Ingredient
The fourth ingredient is barley; Barley is providing fiber, protein, and micronutrients. Barley is one of the oldest grains and provides selenium and niacin. And barley is a source of the energy.
Fifth Ingredient
The fifth ingredient is peas, which are a source of carbohydrates. Also, peas are rich in natural fiber and contain up to 25% protein.
Sixth Ingredient
The sixth ingredient is ground brown rice, which is another name for rice flour. Brown rice is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
It is a grain-inclusive dry food that is made up of brown rice, barley, and oatmeal.
It is the perfect composition of health and taste that your dog will undoubtedly love.
There are different recipes available in the line of Wellness Complete Health Dry Food.
It is also made with different sets of dogs like a puppy, small breed, large breed, and adult.
The product contains 12% crude fat, 24% crude protein, and 4% of crude fiber.
The meat protein from the chicken meal will offer your dog a complete boost of fatless protein.
It has an ideal fat-to-protein ratio of 50%. In a nutshell, it is an excellent product for dogs of all sizes.
Wellness Dog Food Formulas
In the past, I tested and reviewed many formulas for dogs of different ages and breeds.
Wellness is one of the best choices for my dogs, and they have different dietary requirements.
Wellness is grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a significant amount of named meat meals as a source of animal protein.
Product Details:
- Type: Dry dog food
- Flavor Options: Chicken and Oatmeal
- Age Range: Adult dogs
Where Is Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food Made?
Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food is made in the USA, and the manufacturing facility is in Mishawaka, Indiana, USA. Wellness distributes its formulas to the USA, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
Is Wellness Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food Good for Dogs?
The answer is Yes, Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food is good. Wellness provides a lot of food formulas and they care about each and every step.
Wellness handpicked the ingredients of the formula including vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
#2 Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
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Yet another famous brand in dog food, this Instinct product is focused on the duck meal.
Raw duck is the primary ingredient in the food that adds to the protein level.
The chicken meal has 300% more protein than regular chicken, so it is, hands down, a perfect pick.
The peas in this dry food increase the natural fiber content and help in digesting the food better.
Apart from these primary ingredients, you will find vegetables, fruits, and natural oil. It is brimmed with omega-3 fatty acids that will keep up the cholesterol level.
The tapioca is a standalone ingredient in this product that you will hardly find in other dog dry foods.
It is gluten-free, and the starchy carbohydrate also helps in the digestion process.
The recipe houses salmon oil and tomato pomace which certainly enhances the flavor and nutrient profile.
All the products in this line are chemically tested to make them dog friendly.
Ingredient Analysis
What I Like About The Ingredients
- Real high-quality meat
- Peas
- Chicken
- Vegetables and Fruits
- Tapioca
- Vitamins like (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, and Vitamin A Supplement)
Features To Highlight:
- A powerhouse of chicken, vegetables, fruits, and nutritious oils.
- The Fat-to-protein ratio is 56%.
- Grain-free product.
Product Details:
- Type: Dry dog food
- Flavor Options: Chicken, Rabbit, Salmon, Beef
- Age Range: All Stages, Puppy, Young Adult, Adult, Senior
Where Is Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry Made?
Instinct HQ is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Instinct owned by Nature’s Variety.
Is Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Good for Dogs?
Yes, Instinct Dry Dog Food is good for your fluffy.
Instinct provides healthy food without any preservatives, filler, grains, or artificial flavors.
#3 Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food
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Deriving the protein goodness of chicken meal, this grain-inclusive dry food can be a treat for your dog.
You can have an abundance of meat meals in this product, starting from the rabbit meal that gives 300% more protein than the fresh rabbit.
The turkey meal is the second rich-protein content in the product.
As it is an inclusive grain product, you can find millets that are gluten-free, hypoallergic, and filled with B vitamins and fiber.
Ingredient Analysis
The reason it is on my list of best dry food for dogs is that Nature’s Logic has used chicken fat, which is processed with the skimmed layer of the soup; it is highly beneficial for strengthening the bones.
You can find a variety of health-enhancing ingredients like pumpkin seeds, yeast culture, dried egg, pork liver, and alfalfa nutrient concentrate, making it rich in minerals and vitamins.
The protein content is 40%, with a fat level of 17% and carbs of 36%. The fat-to-protein ratio comes to 40%.
Features To Highlight:
- The protein content is stuffed in the form of different meat meals.
- Grain inclusive (millet).
- Packed with vitamins and minerals.
- A popular pick among customers.
Ingredient Analysis
What I Like About The Ingredients
- 100% Natural
- Beef meal
- Millet, a gluten-free grain – Millet rich in B vitamins and fiber
- Chicken fat, that high in omega-6 fatty acid
- Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and omega-6 fat
- Yeast culture is high in B vitamins and protein
Product Details:
- Type: Dry dog food
- Flavor Options: Beef, Chicken, Rabbit, Sardine, Turkey, Lamb, Duck, Seafood, Venison, Duck & Salmon
- Age Range: All Stages, Puppy, Young Adult, Adult, Senior
#4 Taste Of Wild Dry Dog Food
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I am talking about the High Prairie version, which is one of the 9 different recipes from the Taste Of Wild Dry Dog Food.
I added it to my list of best dry food for dogs because of its unique flavor profile that concentrates on leveraging the protein content.
Ingredient Analysis
The five primary ingredients in this product include buffalo meal, lamb meal, chicken meal, peas, and sweet potatoes. It is the perfect blend of meat and veggies that your fluffy friend needs.
It is a grain-free product that is available for small breeds, puppies, and even adults.
The High Prairie derives most of the protein content from the buffalo meal which makes it quite different from the other products in the market.
While the meat meal adds up to the protein content, peas and sweet potatoes increase the natural fiber.
It also has garbanzo beans, which are fiber-rich, just like lentils and peas.
Garbanzo will serve 22% protein, which is just enough for your dog. The product is also rich in omega-3 fats due to the presence of canola in it.
Another protein-rich meat concentrate is ocean fish meal, which hikes up omega-3 fats. With an overall 32% protein, 18% fat, and 42% carbohydrates, this dry dog food is worth a try.
What I Like About The Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes and Peas for energy
- Real roasted meat
- Vegetables and Fruits
- Buffalo
- Roasted bison
Features To Highlight:
- The Fat-to-protein ratio is 53%.
- Rich in omega-3 fats.
- Buffalo protein.
- Chicken fat.
Product Details:
- Type: Dry dog food
- Flavor Options: Roasted bison & Roasted venison
- Age Range: Adult
#5 Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food
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It is one of the 23 recipes from this brand. You can also try the other recipes as well, which are perfectly formulated with different protein profiles.
Ingredient Analysis
This particular Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is focused on chicken protein. The five significant ingredients include deboned chicken, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, chicken meal, and brown rice.
As it comprises brown rice, oatmeal, and barley; it is evidently a grain-inclusive meal. It is ideal for a large breed, small breed, adults, and even puppies. You just need to understand the right dosage.
When it comes to assessing the protein profile of this dog dry food, it has arguably decent ingredients to enhance your dog’s health. The chicken meal hikes up the protein profile, which is 300% more than the fresh chicken.
What I Like About The Ingredients
- Real high-quality meat
- Peas
- Chicken
- Vegetables and Fruits
- Tapioca
- Vitamins like (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, and Vitamin A Supplement)
The grain ingredients like brown rice, barley, and oatmeal enhance the fiber content in this product. Though barley is a starchy fiber compound, it helps indigestion.
Flaxseed is the source of omega-3 fat that your dog needs. The skimmed chicken fat is a bonus that will add up to the protein profile. The tomato pomace adds a tangy flavor profile to the food altogether.
This dry food has 27% protein, 16% fat, and 50% of carbohydrates, to be precise. The fat-to-protein ratio falls at 50%.
Customers have given many positive reviews about this product, and have shot up in its popularity in the market.
Features To Highlight:
- Source of protein with a chicken meal.
- Grain-inclusive product (barley, oatmeal, brown rice).
- Omega-3 fat with flaxseed.
- Better protein profile.
Product Details:
- Type: Dry dog food
- Flavor Options: Chicken & Brown rice, Beef & Brown rice, Lamb & Brown rice, Fish & Brown rice, Small bite Chicken & Brown rice, and Healthy weight chicken & brown rice.
- Age Range: Adult
#6 Purina Pro Plan Focus Dry Dog Food
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If you want to treat your dog with something superior and richer in nutrient content, Pro Plan is the right pick for you.
There are 18 other recipes other than this product that you can buy.
I liked this one and added it to my list of best dry food for dogs because it has the best of every health-rich food you need for your dog.
Starting from the chicken meal to the whole grain corn, it has got everything.
Ingredient Analysis
This product’s five main ingredients comprise chicken, whole-grain wheat, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, and whole-grain corn. It is a grain-inclusive product as it has rice, corn, barley, and wheat.
These ingredients will give a chunky texture to the food. The majority of the animal protein is bagged from fresh chicken.
Each recipe is specially formulated and certified by the board and veterinary nutritionists. The primary ingredient in this food is chicken which makes up the protein profile of this food.
Ground rice, wheat, and barley are fiber content that does their work just fine. The corn gluten meal is the major highlight of this food that adds carbohydrate content.
It also has a poultry-by-product meal, which is the slaughterhouse meal. There are certain parts of that meal that are highly beneficial for your dog like the liver.
The product as a whole contains 30% protein, 14% fat, and an estimated carbohydrate of 49%. The fat-to-protein ratio comes at 57%.
What I Like About The Ingredients
- High protein
- Less fat
- Real meat poultry
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- Vitamin to support skin and coat
- Natural fiber for the digestive health system
Purina is a well-known brand that is sold just by its name, and this particular is one of my favorite best dry food for dogs.
Features To Highlight:
- Chicken meal for the ideal protein content.
- Grain-inclusive products (barley, rice, wheat, corn).
- Different recipes are available.
- A top pick in the market.
Product Details:
- Type: Dry dog food
- Flavor Options: Chicken
- Age Range: Adult
Things To Consider Before Buying Dry Food For Dogs
It is highly important always to keep your eyes open when you are choosing food for your dog.
There is no dearth of dry foods in the market that can possibly confuse.
So what do you do?
You take some of the criteria to select the perfect product. Over years of research and testing and trial, I have finally learned how to find the best dry food for dogs.
Avoid All-Wheat Based Dry Food
Dogs are not particularly intolerant to wheat, but going for an all-wheat product would be a mistake. Pair with rice, barley, or even oatmeal to subside the gluten content.
Dogs cannot digest gluten which can lead to plenty of malabsorption issues.
Some products offer gluten-free wheat that is worth trying but make sure to first test for a few days before making it permanent.
Be careful to read the label of the product always; you can get plenty of information regarding the gluten content that might be harmful to your dog.
So, the lesson here is say-no to wheat.
Avoid Kibble Altogether
Kibble had been a famous dog food for quite a while, but now it has lost its reputation due to the highly processed preservatives it serves in dog foods.
Though Kibble is trying to redeem its lost worth in the market and has been introducing protein and nutrient-rich food, time and again, it is best to advise to avoid it completely.
With Kibble, your dog would not get the actual nutrient that the product claims to offer. It is loaded with preservatives that will severely hamper your dog’s health.
Look For USDA Ingredients
USDA is a certification given to food items that determine their authenticity and nutrient value. You would not want to feed your dog something that has no health value in it.
Well, USDA makes it easier for you. When you buy dry dog food, read the label, and look for the number of USDA ingredients.
These are tested and verified in the lab and fall in the best interests of your dog’s health.
There is a general thumb rule to find the USDA ingredients, and check if it is human friendly.
If you can eat your dog’s food, you can safely serve it to your fluffy.
Stay Away From Preservatives
To increase the products’ shelf life, many dog food manufacturers are inclining towards adding preservatives to the food.
You find some dog food extremely cheap because they are stuffed with preservatives and do not have any highly healthy food items.
Make sure you are serving your dog food free from preservatives. Do not try to save some bucks when it comes to your dog’s food.
A preservative-free dog diet will certainly add up to their health and promote fast growth as well.
Go For Natural Brands
When it comes to being brand-specific, make sure you are choosing organic ones.
You are responsible for what goes on in your dog’s stomach. Natural and organic brands will only use natural content and additives that are safe and healthy for your dog.
It is simple to detect natural brands.
Just take a look at the back label, and if you see ingredients that you cannot pronounce, they are indeed chemical ones.
The natural brands will have ingredients that you are already familiar with.
You can also ask your friends and families about the natural dog food brand they have been using to get an idea.
Be Picky With Recipes
Dry foods are available in different recipes according to the flavor and nutrition profile.
When you are trying out the products, make sure to change the recipes every now and then in order to find your dog’s favorite one.
You will gradually realize what your dog is fond of.
The food that your dog likes will automatically add up to the dog’s health. It will also make your feeding job easier.
Buy a different dog food recipe in smaller quantities, and once your dog has picked his/her favorite, you can buy it in a large quantity.
Before You Go
All the dogs love their dry food. It is easy to feed with a lesser mess and has a bunch of nutrient value as well.
When it comes to the best dry food for dogs, you can choose from plenty of options. It is imperative to consider the deciding factors before making any decision.
I have struggled a lot in finding the right balance between taste and nutrients for the dry dog food, and at last, I was able to find a suitable pick for my pet.
So, it might be challenging for you at the beginning to try out options and then select one.
But you want to serve your dog with the best, don’t you?
I have compiled this guide for all those confused dog owners who cannot figure out the best dry food for dogs.
Make the most of it and do your independent research to get a perfect pick.
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