Dry Dog Food | How to Choose the Best Dry Dog Food for your Dog

When choosing the best dog food, you and your dog may have different needs and preferences. Whether your pooch needs to lose weight, or they have a specific allergy, it is important to find the very best dog food that suits them. Dry dog food is a great option for all ages, sizes and breeds, with various brands providing tailored dog food to suit specific requirements. Available in a range of different flavours, there are plenty of dry dog food options out there to satisfy your pooch, but which dry dog food type do you choose?

Our comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about choosing the best dry dog food for your dog. We will discuss the benefits of a range of different dry dog food options, including natural, cold pressed and grain free. We will also look at the best high quality and affordable dry dog food options, and which food type you should choose for a light, low card diet.

Choosing Natural Dry Dog Food

When choosing natural dry dog food, it is essential to check the ingredients to ensure it is a natural option. Meat is the core ingredient of all natural dog food, and should be the first ingredient listed on the packaging. Vegetables such as carrots, peas and broccoli should also be present in natural dry dog food; choosing natural dog food with vegetables included also saves you the hassle of feeding them vegetables yourself. Natural dog food should also be grain-free; grains such as rice don’t provide much nutritional value for your dog, so grain-free dog food is the healthier option. Natural dry dog food also contains no added colours, flavours or preservatives. Nourish Rite is a great option for natural dry dog food, available in a range of flavours for puppies and adults alike.

There are various benefits to feeding your dog a natural dry dog food diet, such as providing them with a shinier coat, more energy and better skin. There are plenty of natural dry dog food options to choose from, including Sana. Sana is available in different flavours, from chicken to beef, with an air dried state that is easier to store than raw options, with natural goodness all naturally preserved.

You can find out more natural dry dog food in our previous guide here.

Cold Pressed Dog Food

Cold pressed dog food is different to raw, wet and extruded dry food mainly in the way it is processed. It is “pressed” at a low temperature to pack in all the vital nutrients, hence the name “cold pressed.” It is available in a pellet form, making it much easier for your dog to eat and digest. It can either be provided as an alternative to raw food, or provided alongside a raw dog food diet.

It can be fed to dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds, and can be efficiently stored at room temperature in an airtight container. We stock the popular DARF cold pressed dog food brand, with specialist options for puppies and senior dogs too. The recommended serving guidelines for DARF cold pressed dog food include:

• < 5 kilos approx. 60g per day = 1.2% of body weight
• < 20 kilos approx. 220g per day = 1.1% of body weight
• < 40 kilos approx. 400g per day = 1% of body weight

You can request a wellbeing consultation from our expert team at Fetch to ensure your dog is receiving the healthiest diet for their needs and requirements.

You can find out more about cold pressed dog food in our previous guide here.

Light, Low Carb Dry Dog Food

Lighter dry dog food is perfect for dogs with specific health conditions or those that need to lose a bit of weight. Reasons such as weight management, certain health conditions and lifestyle changes could mean that a lighter diet is needed, but you don’t have to worry about compromising on taste. There are plenty of flavourful dry dog food options out there that will benefit your pooch.

The best low carb dry dog food contains less fat and carbohydrates than other dog food options; Nourish Rite provide a grain-free trout dry dog food option for weight management, particularly in senior dogs. It contains 15% less fat than regular adult choices, and is designed to maintain a healthy immune system.

Ready to move to a lighter dry dog food diet? You can find out more in our previous guide.

Choosing High Quality Dry Dog Food

Although all dry dog food stocked here at Fetch is perfect for a range of different dogs, there are some brands labelled as “premium” or higher quality that could have more benefits for your best friend. If your dog has a particular health issue, or quality is simply the top of your priorities, certain brands will tick all your boxes. Canagan dental free run dog food, for example, is perfect for reducing plaque and freshening breath, ideal for dogs with dental issues.

At Fetch, we recommend brands such as Nourish Rite, Innocent Hound, DARF Cold Pressed and Sana for a high quality dog food option that combines flavour, vitamins and nutrients. Each brand is ideal for your dog in its own right, with recommended serving sizes personalised for your dog’s size and age. Before making the switch to a more premium brand, you should first consider your budget, the ingredient quality, your dog’s nutritional needs and brand reputation,

To compare to high quality dog food to regular dog food, read our previous guide here.

Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Grain free dry dog food is a natural, alternative choice aimed at providing your dog with a balanced diet. Many dry dog food options that include grains are mainly “filler” and aren’t the healthiest choice; grain free dog food can provide your dog with more energy, improve their digestion and is closer to their ancestral diet, amongst a wide range of other benefits.

Dogs that have sensitive skin, stomach issues or grain intolerances will benefit the most from a grain free dry dog food diet, but it is recommended for all kinds of dogs. Popular brands such as Nourish Rite, Canagan, Sana and Innocent Hound are all highly recommended for a grain free dry dog food diet.

Find out more about grain free dry dog food in our previous guide here.

Affordable Dry Dog Food

If you’re on a budget, your dog doesn’t have to suffer cheap, non-nutritional dog food. There are plenty of affordable dog food brands that are still an ideal choice for your pooch, providing them with the healthy, balanced diet they deserve. It is important to not only consider price when looking for affordable dog food, but the ingredients they provide too; meat and protein should make up 50% of your dog’s diet, alongside vegetables, vitamins and minerals.

Whistlers and the 20kg DARF cold pressed dog food option are great for dog owners on a budget, and don’t compromise on your dog’s health. You should pay attention to the cost per kilo of different dog food brands rather than overall price. Our helpful graph in our previous guide discussing affordable dry dog food tells you everything you need to know about cost per kilo.

Dry dog food can be both healthy and affordable, but you should always check the ingredient quality, price per serving and brand reputation before purchasing. To help you decide, you can get in touch with a member of our team today.