Discuss your dog’s food with your vet—all dogs have their own activity levels, preferences, temperaments, and metabolisms. Look for a statement from the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), a private organization that provides nutrition standards, label regulations, and more guidelines for state, federal, and international pet food regulators. Feed your dog what’s appropriate for their life stage, whether that’s “puppy” or “senior,” to ensure that they’re receiving proper nutrition. Terms like “organic” and “gourmet” are marketing jargon, since there’s no federal regulation for these words on pet food labels. Grain-free pet food hasn’t been found to be better than traditional pet food. Unless your vet recommends a grain-free diet, you can skip paying extra.
There’s no evidence that raw-food diets are superior, and major veterinary groups oppose them because of bacterial concerns. If you do opt for raw dog food, commercially prepared food is safer than food made at home. A dog’s food should account for 90% of their diet, and treats can round out the remaining 10%. The brand’s serving-size guidelines are a good starting point. But if your pet is under- or overweight, consult your veterinarian to ensure that your dog is getting the right amount of calories (called “kilocalories” in pet food). Why you should trust us I’m Wirecutter’s pets writer, and I’ve covered complex topics that require months of research, including for our guides to dog DNA tests, pet insurance, and pet subscription boxes. For years, I ran an independent pet food blog, so I have a bit of knowledge on this complicated subject. For this guide, I researched pet food manufacturers and read up on the regulatory power of the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). I sniffed out the positions on dog food types held by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Pet Food Institute, and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. I also considered independent reviews and research by the American Kennel Club, PetMD, Veterinary Partner, Whole Dog Journal, and the well-known Petfoodology blog of the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University1, among others. I interviewed Dr. José Arce, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association; Dr. Danielle Bernal of Wellness Pet Company; Dr. Karen Fine, a holistic veterinarian at Central Animal Hospital in Leominster, Massachusetts; Parisa Fowles-Pazdro, founder of pet-supply store Maxbone; Dr. Darcia Kostiuk of Champion Petfoods; Rachel Beck, director of Veterinary Technician Programs at Banfield Pet Hospital; Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club; and Chris and Holly Reed, owners of Bayou, the Giant Schnauzer who won the 2021 AKC National Championship. Finally, I asked the manufacturers of 16 pet food brands, from big kibble to fresh startups, to spill the secrets on how they formulate their food, their quality-control processes, and their nutritional research.