Ultimate Dog Food Guide 101

 When it comes to our beloved fur babies, we want nothing but the best kind of dog food for them. And with good reason. A dog's food not only provides them daily nutrients, but it also helps them grow, be strong and healthy, and improve their fur coat, so it is sleek and shiny. We want to give our dogs the very best pet food available so they can be happy and healthy, as well as prevent health problems down the road. While it may seem that dog food is dog food, not all of them are created equal. Although dog food doesn't come in as many colors, shapes, and sizes, as human food, there are still quite a few options available on the market. No matter what type of food you choose for your dog's diet, the most crucial decision factor should be finding a dog food that meets all of your pet's nutritional needs.

What Kinds Of Dog Food Are There?

There are five main categories of dog food available:

• Kibble or dry dog food: Kibble, or dry food is the most popular of all dog foods. It is the most economical, as well as lasts for a long time, and doesn't need to be refrigerated. A benefit of dry dog food is it keeps your dog's teeth healthy and clean since chewing crunchy dry food helps reduce tartar buildup. There are hundreds of dry food options out there, so be sure to carefully read the ingredients and choose a brand that uses wholesome foods as their primary ingredient.
• Canned food or wet food: As a dog owner, you will quickly discover how much your pet loves canned or wet dog food for their meal. It has a long shelf life and is easy to find at any local grocery or pet store. However, it can quickly become expensive. For some pet parents, it is worth every penny, but be aware that not every brand of commercially canned dog food will provide the protein that your dog needs. The critical factor to consider when looking at canned food is how much digestible protein it contains. Indigestible protein will simply pass through your dog's digestion system without being broken down into absorbable nutrients that their body can use. Also, most canned wet dog food is about 75% water. The higher the water content, the lower the nutritional content, so your dog will need to consume more food to get all of the nutrients that a pet diet requires. Keep in mind that if you do decide to go solely with canned food and not supplement with kibble, to be sure to go with a kind that is labeled "100% nutritionally complete," so your beloved pet can get the nutritional value their body needs.
• Semi-moist dog food: Semi-moist dog food is typically shaped like burgers, pork chops, or other meaty food. This type of dog food has the least nutritional value out of all dog foods, as it contains many artificial colorings and flavors. You can use these as an occasional healthy treat to give your dog, but they are not enough to be your dog's entire diet. They don't contain all of the nutrients your dog needs to grow, be strong, and have healthy skin and fur, so you will need to use another type of food as the central portion of their diet.
• Home-cooked dog food: Some pet owners value being able to create healthy dog food from scratch so that they can be in complete control of their dog's diet. A home-cooked diet with only premium ingredients, fresh food, and no preservatives as part of the recipe, can ensure that your dog is precisely getting what they need nutritionally. Feeding your dog a 100% home-cooked diet is expensive and time-consuming, but some pet parents feel that the extra effort is worth the peace of mind they gain, knowing precisely what their dog is eating. If you do decide to feed your pet a home-cooked diet, make sure you are well acquainted with canine nutrition, so you can be positive that your dog is not missing out on any essential nutrients and vitamins. 
• Raw dog food: A raw dog food diet typically consists of meat like chicken, lamb, or beef, along with organs and the bones mixed in (never cooked, only raw), since bones are a natural source of phosphorous and calcium, which are essential for your dog. While this type of diet is not ideal for humans, it works reasonably well for most dogs, since dogs have strong stomach acids and short intestinal tracts, which combined make it easy for them to digest and consume raw food. Before you transition your dog to a raw diet, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the benefits and risks of this diet for your particular breed of dog, as well as their age.

What Is The Best Dog Food?

Once you've decided on the type of food you want your dog's diet to consist of, it is time to decide on the brand of dog food. Now we get to the tricky part. There are so many brands out there, and all of them claim to be the best. More and more pet owners are turning towards natural and organic options to feed their pets. Of course, we want the very best for our pet, but how can we know what the best option is for high-quality food, along with being affordable and not breaking the bank? 

While high-quality may seem synonymous with natural or organic, which in turn equals expensive, it doesn't have to be. It is 100% possible to feed your dog a high-quality, natural food, even organic dog food when you are on a budget.

Before we delve into what affordable natural dog brands are out there, let's figure out what "natural" dog food even means. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) define "natural" as "a feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources...not have been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any addition or processing aids that are chemically synthetic." Of course, there are a lot of natural substances that are healthy for humans but shouldn't show up in dog food. In general, dog food that is marketed as natural is free of wheat, corn, soy by-products, and artificial colors. Make sure to read the full list of ingredients, since there is no regulation against using "natural" in the label, and it could still contain components that can be harmful to a dog with a sensitive stomach, like wheat or corn. Natural dog food should be free of preservatives and made from high-quality ingredients.

"Organic," on the other hand, has a more strict definition than "natural." For something to qualify as organic, the plant ingredients in pet food have to be grown without artificial fertilizers, pesticides, genetic modification, irradiation, or sewage sludge. The animal ingredients in organic dog food, including the meat and eggs, are required to come from animals that are raised on organic feed, not treated with antibiotics or hormones, and are given access to the outdoors. Because the organic certification process is so complex and the regulations so strict, organic dog food is typically in the higher price range.

When choosing a food for your dog, the top priority is to make sure it is high in protein. Find a dog food that has "whole," named ingredients (e.g., chicken vs. meat), including vegetables, animal protein, fruit, and fish like salmon. That way, you can rest assured that your pet is getting the full amount of nutrients from the ingredients. In regards to food allergies for dogs, it is usually the protein that is the culprit, so if your dog's sensitive stomach doesn't do well with beef, they may tolerate fish or chicken. If you have any concerns, check with your local vet to see what the best food options are.  There are many options for high-quality natural food, as long as it contains the whole ingredient. That way, your dog is getting the complete package of nutrients from that kind of food, as well as you're getting the best bang for your buck for the quality of dog food you are buying. Now that we know the importance of the kind of food we give our dogs, based on the quality of ingredients and the type of protein, here are the top 10 dog food brands we've found that is an excellent match for your beloved pet:

• Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe, Dry Dog Food: There's a reason this recipe is one of the best dry dog foods out there. It's top five ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, and peas, which provides a balanced and complete diet for your dog, while being tasty at the same time. It is loaded with antioxidants and high-quality nutrients, which help support cognitive health and help your dog's immune system to stay healthy. This delicious dog food is best suited for adult dogs. With no corn, wheat, or soy protein, this natural dog food is a top-notch choice for your dog, regardless of their size or breed.
• Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free, Dry Dog Food: This delicious grain-free dog food is another excellent option for your dog. It is rich in essential omega acids, which fatty acids are critical for your dog to grow, have healthy skin, play a crucial role in cell growth, and promote a robust immune system. This dog food is packed with proteins from ingredients like buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potato, and peas. This food is ideal for adult dogs and small, medium, or large breeds. With its high nutritional value and protein to fat ratio, Taste of The Wild dog food is sure to impress.
• Nature's Logic Canine Chicken Meal Feast, Dry Dog Food: This excellent dog food truly is a feast, with the meat-based crunchy kibbles containing high levels of protein, as well as antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. The dog food contains chicken meal, millet, chicken fat, pumpkin seed, and yeast culture, among other ingredients, which help it to be packed full of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals.  This fantastic dog food is free from unnecessary fillers like corn, soy, rice, or wheat, which help dogs with weak digestion enjoy their meal as well. This dry dog food is excellent for adults and any size or breed. 
• Purina Beyond Simply 9 White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe, Dry Dog Food: This dry dog food from Purina Beyond is an excellent choice to get the best value for your money. Since the recipe is based on a single animal-based protein source of chicken, it is considered a limited ingredient meal with a nutritional blend of other wholesome ingredients like rice, whole barley, canola meal, and chicken meal. This provides a balanced diet for your pet. With how loaded it is in natural minerals and vitamins, it is no surprise that this dog food is such a hit, especially with how affordable it is as well. This particular kind of dog food is best for adult dogs and any size or breed.
• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, Dry Dog Food: Blue Buffalo is tried and true when it comes to high-quality dog food that is packed full of proteins and healthy fats. With deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, and oatmeal, and no unhealthy fillers, preservatives, or artificial colors, this fiber-rich diet is one of the healthiest dog foods on the market. With a well-balanced ratio of protein and fat, this adult dog food guarantees excellent nutritional value for your dog, as well as healthy digestion.
• Wellness CORE Grain-Free Turkey, Chicken Liver & Turkey Liver Formula, Wet Dog Food: This natural wet dog food is an excellent choice for your canine. With chicken, turkey, chicken liver, chicken broth, and chicken meal, this poultry-based food has 50% more protein than most wet dog foods available. It uses chicken broth as the primary source of moisture, which means even the liquid portion of the food is beneficial for your dog, and not just a filler. This excellent wet food formula has all of the fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to support proper metabolism and a healthy immune system in your precious dog. It is best for adult dogs as well as a puppy, due to not being hard and crunchy, and can be eaten by a small dog or a large dog with ease. This is, by far, one of the best wet dog food options on the market right now.
• Taste of the Wild High Praire Grain-Free, Wet Dog Food: Taste of the Wild offers this excellent grain-free wet dog food, in addition to their dry dog food option. No dog food list is complete without Taste of the Wild since they provide all of the essential proteins and nutrients your dog needs to maintain optimal health. With beef, lamb broth, vegetable broth, lamb liver, and dried egg product, your dog gets powerful proteins, as well as antioxidants for their immune system, fiber for better absorption of nutrients, and fatty acids for a shiny coat. If your adult dog of any breed or size loves meat at all, they will be begging to eat this delicious wet dog food.
• Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables & Brown Rice, Wet Dog Food: Blue Buffalo is another staple brand when it comes to high-quality dog food. They keep their dog food simple, without any fillers, so that they can have as many nutrients as possible in every bite. This delicious wet dog food is made with fresh garden vegetables like carrots and peas, as well as chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver for protein. This healthy mixture of grains, vegetables, and meat is an excellent choice if you want your adult dog of any breed to eat natural food, but they aren't ready for a strictly raw food diet. 
• American Journey Chicken and Vegetable Stew, Wet Dog Food: Every dog loves a tasty meat stew, and American Journey dog stew is no exception. With its simple formula of chicken, chicken broth, beef broth, chicken liver, and dried egg whites, this recipe provides balanced nutrition and helps keep your dog safe from allergies and stomach troubles. This flavorful stew is free of fillers, grain, soy, and corn, which can trigger sensitivities in your dog. This wet dog food ensures your dog gets essential amino acids and fatty acids, in addition to plenty of vitamins and nutrients. It is excellent for adult dogs that are small, medium, or large, that are likely to gain fat faster than lean muscle and helps provide the desired balance in your pet's diet.
• Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Classic Chicken & Rice Entree, Wet Dog Food: Purina is another brand name in the dog food industry that thousands of pet owners know and love. Their chicken and rice wet dog food formula were created to provide a perfectly balanced diet for your pet that tastes delicious while keeping them safe and healthy at the same time.  Purina Pro plan contains chicken, rice, liver, meat by-products, and guar gum, which helps boost your dog's immune system. This wet dog food is beneficial for dogs that fall sick, have low energy, are recovering from illness, and is even appropriate for your senior dog to eat. 

Choose The Best Dog Food For Your Pet

There are many different tasty and healthy options out there for your dog's diet. When deciding on the type of food to buy them, you will first want to determine if you are going to do dry food, canned or wet food, or a combination of home-cooked or raw food. Make sure you follow the size portion guidelines on the bag, so your pet doesn't grow overweight. Once you've decided on the type of dog food, then you can choose the brand. The highest priority is the amount of protein in the dog food and the nutrient level. As you can see, there are many, many options available to provide the best dog food possible for your precious pet, while still being affordable.