What’s the best dog food (in Australia)?

2024 marks a whole decade of Pet Food Reviews, which is pretty impressive if I say so myself.

During that time I’ve worked with industry experts, manufacturers, retailers, veterinarians, nutritionists, university professors, Channel 9, and ABC 7.30.

Thanks to this wonderful community which you’re a big part of, pet food in Australia is much better today than it was when I started this website. We have better brands, better options, and healthier pets.

2018 saw a Senate inquiry into the safety of pet food in Australia which really highlighted the flaws of our unregulated pet food industry. Even though in 2024 we still have many terrible excuses for dog and cat food, we also have many pet food companies who do better. The proof of this is in the health of all our cats and dogs.

What's the best dog food (in Australia)?

For 2024 I’m changing this page up a bit. First I’ll recommend what I consider the best of the best dog foods in Australia – the ones which are seriously good for your dog, no expense spared.

Then I’ll cover what I consider the best dry dog foods based on both formula and also from correlating all the feedback I’ve received from Aussie dog owners such as yourself.

I recommend you consider feeding your dog a variety, so even if you can’t afford the best of the best dog foods, you can still feed them as part of your dog’s diet, or as a “topper” on top of their regular bowl of kibble.

This is very much a community, so please comment on reviews, give feedback (positive and negative), and share the reviews with your social media communities.

Don’t forget to join the mailing list for updates.

The Best of the Best Dog Foods in Australia (2024)

Whether you like the term “Ultra Premium”, “Boutique”, or like to support independent Australian pet food companies who offer you the best possible diet for your dog, I highly recommend all the below dog foods.

All these dog foods come with impeccable feedback from other dog owners, and should greatly boost the health of your dog.

In no particular order, these are what I consider the best of the best dog foods in Australia in 2024:

Eureka

Eureka dog food

Most pet owners have heard of ZIWI Peak, one of the most notable air-dried raw dog foods sold in Australia. As a flagship New Zealand brand it’s really good, but here in Australia we have another brand equally as good (if not better) – Eureka.

Our dogs are more carnivorous than the pet food industry like to admit. Most kibbles are high in carbs (and fillers) which your dog doesn’t really need, whereas they thrive more off a diet mostly of raw meat, organs, and bones. That’s exactly what Eureka is.

Eureka is essentially a raw diet combined with really beneficial superfoods, but with the convenience of being air-dried. You can feed it as easily as kibble, but it’s far more digestible, and far healthier for your dog.

Read the full Eureka review here (you’ll also find a link which gives you money off your first purchase).

Frontier Pets

Frontier Pets Best Australian Dog Food

Frontier Pets has become one of the most loved Australian pet foods, and continues to be one of the best dog foods money can buy.

Special offer: 15% off Frontier Pets with this link (or coupon code PETFOODREVIEWS15)

Diana and her team in Evans Head are absolute pioneers and have set precedent in creating an absolutely wonderful dog food (and cat food).

Frontier Pets is a freeze-dried dog food. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the best way to ensure a dog food retains the maximum nutrition possible which allowing it to keep for ages. Like Eureka above, Frontier Pets is dried raw, which is what your dog will truly benefit from.

Frontier Pets Dog Food

You just add water and let the freeze-dried pieces soak a while before feeding your dog. Easy!

Read the full Frontier Pets review here.

Lyka

Lyka dog food review

Lyka is another Australian pet food success story. The reason – because they’re a company with ethics, and their pet food is fantastically healthy for your dog!

Lyka is like Hello Fresh, but for your dog. It’s packed with raw meats, organs, bones, and veggies, very slightly cooked, and delivered to your door wherever you are in Australia (unless you live in the sticks).

The amount of positive feedback I have for Lyka, Frontier Pets, and Eureka is ridiculous, but goes to show how good these dog foods are.

Read the full Lyka review here (with a money off link as well!)

It’s not just good feedback, it’s lifechanging feedback. Far too many dogs really suffer on poor quality dog foods, suffering all manner of health conditions, and the above three foods can give your dog a complete turnaround back to health.

The Best Dry Dog Foods in Australia (2024)

Most dog owners feed kibble. I do too, for the simple reason I couldn’t afford to feed the above super premium brands all the time – I have a mortgage, and I need to eat myself.

A good approach I take is variety, something I consider very important in our dog’s diet, and of course our own.

Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in Australian in 2024 based on formulation (are they meat based, high protein, quality ingredients and so forth), and also based on manufacturer reputation and feedback from Aussie dog owners like us.

I recommend Pet Circle when it comes to stocking up on dog food. I find their prices are almost always the most competitive, and over the years they’ve been very good at stocking the pet foods I recommend on this website.

So here you go, in no particular order, some of the best dry dog foods in Australian in 2024:

Best Premium – Orijen

Orijen dry dog food

If you want the cream of the crop for your royal pooch then Orijen has to be the best in dry dog food.

Fun fact – Orijen boasts upwards of 85% animal ingredients.

Want some perspective?

On average, dry dog foods often contain 20 to 30% animal ingredients (combined with a stack of other stuff which isn’t ideal for your dog).

So yes, Orijen may seem very expensive (well ok, it is very expensive), but it’s also much better, much healthier, and much more appropriate for your meat-eating predator pooch.

Another caveat is Orijen can be hard to get hold of in Australia, with die hard fans snapping up bags whenever it’s in stock.

That said, if you can grab some, and even if it’s only 30% or so of your dog’s diet, then it’s worth it.

For a break down of ingredients and analysis read the full Orijen dog food review.

Best Australian – Petzyo

Petzyo Best Australian Dog Food Review

The Petzyo dry dog food doesn’t have the same astounding animal content of Orijen above, but it doesn’t have the crazy price tag either.

For many this would be a much more realistic choice.

I find Petzyo great value for money, a great company to deal with, and they’re also Australian made and owned, made from local produce.

The recent addition of raw dog food (BARF) shows they’re moving in the right direction for the health of our dogs, so it’s worth checking out the patties as well as the dry food.

Petzyo work on a subscription service. You can subscribe via their website and have the food delivered to your door on whatever schedule suits you.

If subscription isn’t your thing, you may prefer the next pick below – Taste of the Wild.

If you’re interested in trying Petzyo then as a reader of Pet Food Reviews you can grab 10% off your first order (or use the coupon code PETREVIEW at checkout).

For more information on both the Petzyo dry dog foods and raw BARF patties read the full Petzyo review.

Best All-Rounder – Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild dry dog food

If Orijen would require an extension on the home loan, or the subscription style of Petzyo isn’t your thing, then I feel Taste of the Wild is a good choice if you’re looking for a really reputable dog food which won’t break the bank.

Taste of the Wild pet foods are made in the US and sold worldwide, with an excellent reputation worldwide. I consider the brand better than most other big global brands made by Mars, Nestle, Colgate-Palmolive et al. Did you know most pet foods sold in the supermarkets, pet stores, or endorsed by vets are actually made by those three conglomerate giants?

Optimum, Advance, Royal Canin, My Dog, Purina, Hill’s Science Diet, and many more – all made by Mars, Nestle, or Colgate-Palmolive.

Taste of the Wild on the other hand is made by Diamond Pet Foods, a smaller manufacturer, and I find the formulas better and more species-appropriate than most of the above.

When it comes to hypoallergenic diets, for when your dog seems to react to other dry dog foods, then also take a look at Taste of the Wild PREY which is a limited ingredient dry dog food of great quality.

For more information, read the full Taste of the Wild dog food review.

Best Budget – Hypro Premium

Hypro Premium Dry Dog Food

A new entry to the best dog food list for 2024, Hypro Premium is a really good affordable choice. It’s not the cheapest dry dog food, but I couldn’t find anything cheaper than this which I would feed my own dog.

The 20kg bags are very well priced considering the ingredients, and I’ve found Hypro as a manufacturer very reputable. They manufactured Meals for Mutts until early 2023 (before MFM switched manufacturer and ran into unfortunate problems), and you will find the formula of Hypro Premium very similar.

Read the full Hypro Premium dog food review.

If the above dry dog foods are still too much for your budget then don’t worry, as the guide to more affordable dog foods in Australia may help.

The Best BARF Dog Foods in Australia (2024)

BARF has been a sensation worldwide as a way of feeding our dogs raw with the convenience of little meaty patties.

BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding and was invented by a true blue Australian veterinarian Dr Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog a Bone.

As great as BARF is for your dog, I see it as having one flaw. It’s a flaw of most dog food in general, including dry dog food, air/freeze-dried dog food, rolls, and especially wet mushy dog food – it does very little for dental health.

I consider raw meaty bones the best in preventing poor dental health, plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease in dogs, or if you’re not keen on feeding your dog raw bones then choose a decent chewable dried meat treat as an alternative.

I also highly recommend the book Work Wonders : Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones by Australian vet Dr Tom Lonsdale – if you read one book about dog nutrition, for the sake of your dog’s health, then let that book be it.

Back on track, here are what I consider the best BARF dog foods in Australia, in 2024, in no particular order:

Big Dog BARF

Big Dog BARF has been around almost quarter of a century – how crazy is that! As one of the original BARF patties in Australia it continues to be a brilliant option.

The other original BARF patty was Dr B’s BARF (originally made by Dr Ian Billinghurst himself, but later sold to Aussie pet food manufacturing giant The Real Petfood Co). The difference between the two is Big Dog uses human grade ingredients, which is far better than pet grade in terms of quality.

You will find Big Dog in most pet food retail stores. If you can’t find it, you’ll likely find the next option instead – Proudi.

Proudi

Like Big Dog BARF, the Proudi BARF patties also use human grade ingredients. That’s a great thing.

The small different between Big Dog and Proudi is Big Dog have a small amount of veggies included, whereas Proudi is full carnivore – meat, organs, bones.

Personally I consider both of brands of BARF very good, so will leave it up to you to decide. BARF patties are well worth considering as part of your dog’s diet, such as alongside a dry dog food, and you could always rotate between Big Dog and Proudi.

If you haven’t found your perfect dog food as yet, then here are some more great options:

Click here for all dog food reviews.

Some of these brands are available direct from the manufacturer. You should find many of them in good pet stores on independent pet shops. I know Pet Circle are very proactive in stocking decent dog foods, as are   – both competitive on price.

Are dog foods really that different?

The difference in quality between some dog foods and others in Australia is astounding. Some dog foods tell you exactly what they’re made from, usually because they’re made from ingredients which are good for your dog.

But…

*Most* dog foods sold in Australia do their best not to tell you the truth.

I have a copy of the Australian standards for Manufacturing and marketing of pet food (AS 5812:20127) which is available here, but you’ll have to pay $118.76 AUD for the privilege. How’s that for transparency?

The standards, if you do read them, will give you the impression they were written by the pet food industry, for the pet food industry.

On in other words, not for the benefit of you or me as the consumer.

Seasoned Australian vet Dr Tom Lonsdale, author of Raw Meaty Bones and Work Wonders, refers to it as “the junk pet food industry”, having witnessed first hand the harm caused to our dogs from commercial pet food, for decades.

Dr Lonsdale, unlike most vets, records data on what dog foods were fed to the sick dogs and cats who go through his veterinary practice daily. He attributes most conditions, such as itchy skin, rotting teeth and gums, and other serious illnesses to commercial pet foods.

Needless to say, he has a great deal of credibility on the subject, and those two books are eye-opening.

I’ve found the marketing of many brands of dog food so skewed it’s amazing it’s legal. I find highly questionable brands benefit from 5 star ratings on various websites, simply because the owner thinks it’s good because their dog eats it.

Many of those people will readily say it’s the best dog food in Australia to any social media group who’ll listen or ask for recommendations!

How often do people recommend Supercoat as the best dog food, ever? Lot’s of cereal by-products, wheat, corn, sorghum, or barley in that food for essentially meat-eating dogs.

Just saying.

Your dog will eat a Big Mac – they’ll probably love it – but is that good for your dog? Should Big Macs be rated 5 stars as a dog food?

Alternatively, would you rate broccoli 1 star because your baby refuses to eat it?

Nope.


Hopefully my experience with dog food over many years, combined with gathering so much information and feedback from other dog owners, will help you make a better decision when choosing a dog food in Australia.

Lastly, before I get to some interesting misconceptions about dog food, I want you to take part in helping other dog lovers learn.

We’re in this together.

What dog food do you feed? What experiences have you had? What have you learned from others?

Every review has a comments section, and it’s totally free to use!

Misconceptions about dog food which will change your mind forever!

If you’ve got this far, thank you – it’s clear you really want to know what’s best for your dog!

Here’s not one, but two misconceptions about dog food in the world today! In fact, they’ve been misconceptions for decades.

When searching for the best food for your dog, always keep these misconceptions in mind. They’ll guide you towards the right decision.

#1 misconception about dog food

You’ll be forgiven if this surprises you. We fall victim to clever marketing, and pet food marketers are up there with magicians – they know how to trick us.

Most commercial dog foods are grain-based, not meat-based.

Walk down the dog food aisle in any supermarket across the world, and spend time looking at every packet of dog food. What pictures are on the front? What claims do they make?

Ask yourself – how many say “Rich in Wheat!”, “Grain is the first ingredient!”, “Packed with rice your dog will love!”, or “Made with real corn!”.

Any of them?

Now turn those bags around and read the ingredients. Most commercial dog foods are made from grains!

Don’t be fooled by grain-free slogans either. They usually swap grains for potatoes, tapioca, or other starchy high-carbohydrate ingredients. They’ll still market it as meaty.

When you read my reviews you’ll find that’s not the only trickery they use to make a dog food appear like the best dog food in the aisle.

Even claims like “meat first ingredient” doesn’t mean there’s much of it in the product, so don’t be fooled by that one either.

#2 misconception about dog food

If you’ve read the first misconception about dog food, then this second misconception might not come as a shock.

But sit down, and take a deep breath.

Most commercial dog food is, quite likely, unhealthy.

This may sound like a crazy thing to say, and I hope you don’t think I’m crazy for saying it.

People have said to me, many times, “If it wasn’t healthy, they wouldn’t sell it”.

Personally I think that’s crazy, especially given the amount of junk food you can buy.

In 2021, a leaked document from Nestlé claimed the majority of it’s portfolio is unhealthy.

The document, meant for internal use only, was a presentation acknowledging more than 60% of products did not meet ‘recognised definition of health’ – cited from an FT article here.

Did you know Purina is a brand of Nestlé? They’re one of the biggest sellers of pet food in Australia!

Nestlé brands in Australia include Supercoat, Purina One, Felix, Fancy Feast, Pro Plan, Friskies, Lucky Dog, Bonnie, Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Dentalife!

In fact, according to Statista, Nestlé made an incredible US $15,422,000,000 with their Purina range of pet foods in 2021.

That’s around 30% of all pet food sold worldwide.

Nestlé aren’t the biggest pet food manufacturer either. The biggest player, making a whopping US $18,085,000,000 in 2021, was Mars.

How many dog foods have you seen with “Mars” in big letters on the packaging, like you get with the Mars bar?

None?

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Yet most of the dog foods in the supermarket aisles are brands by Nestlé or Mars.

Go to your local vets and look at the dog foods they recommend. Read the ingredients. Do you think they’re much better?

Most of those brands are also Mars, or Colgate-Palmolive.

When you read my reviews for many of these brands, and others, you can decide for yourself if you’re feeding the best dog food.

What's the best dog food (in Australia)?

Oh, and before you turn to an Australian brand instead of one of those big American brands, just keep in mind Australia’s regulations for pet food are worse, with even less guarantees of honesty, quality, or even safety.

Why choosing the right dog food is vital for the health of your dog

You’ve probably got the gist of it already, but what we feed our dogs is vital for their health.

Let me give you some examples…

I’ve spoken to hundreds of dog owners over the years who didn’t realise their dog’s itchy skin or rashes were related to diet. It’s actually very common, but not really considered.

Most of the time those dogs will be taken to the vet and prescribed some form of medication or expensive “prescription diet” – usually Hills Science Diet, Hills Prescription Diet, or Royal Canin.

Those prescription diets work because they don’t contain common allergens – namely wheat or cereals. If you don’t believe me, compare the ingredients between a dermocare formula and another formula of the same brand.

Those medications merely cover up the issues without addressing the real problem.

In most of those cases any grain free dog food would do the trick, and these are often cheaper.

There are many diet-related illnesses our dogs suffer, and it’s rarely considered cheap dog foods are the culprit.

Cancer, arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, IBS, allergies, dermatitis, ear infections, urinary crystals, pancreatitis

All of these can be attributed to diet, which is why choosing a decent dog food is vital for the long term health of our dogs.

There’s some great information about those illnesses on the Frontier Pets website here, which is well worth keeping in mind.

How the list of best dog food in Australia is chosen

All the dog food reviews are written firstly as an overview of the ingredients and analysis, but there are many other factors taken into account. Many brands of Australian dog foods actually come from the same manufacturer. There are many Australian brands of dog food, yet only a handful of manufacturers.

I monitor trends with each manufacturer, so if you find your dog has a reaction to a dog food, or you have any issues, then make sure you say so in the comments.

Australian Pet Owners Group (APOG) have an issue log for most brands of dog and cat food sold in Australia, and it’s well worth researching any pet food you feed on their website.

With some leading Australian manufacturers I’ve gathered many reports of sickness or diarrhoea. For other pet food manufacturers, hardly any at all.

What's the best dog food (in Australia)?

The dog foods on the “Best Dog Food in Australia” list will change over time, either as formulas change, or feedback and other factors change.

Dog foods I have rated highly in the past have at times been bought up or switched manufacturers and shown drastic changes in quality – very sad considering the consumer loyalty which has been built up.

If you’ve had a positive or negative experience on a dog food in Australia then let me know, add a comment, or through the Facebook page.

Varying your dog’s diet is something I see as a good thing, so keep that in mind as well.

Your dog doesn’t need to be fed a single brand of dry dog food any more than we would eat a single brand of breakfast cereal for every meal day after day.

In fact, my guide on how to feed a dog (or cat) may offer some guidance!

What about the worst dog food brands?

Some of the worst dog food brands in Australia are actually the most well known. What ads have you seen recently on TV featuring a cute dog apparently “loving” some brand of dog food?

The reason for this is the big players in dog food make the some of the worst foods. It’s why they make so much profit – selling a cheap formula with impeccable marketing is a business strategy which works.

Those companies have huge budgets for marketing their products, and not just for ads either – by influencing breeder communities, dog shows, University sponsorships and endorsements.

If you’re feeding one of those best-selling dog food brands, then read the review on this website, or at the very least look at the ingredients – what does it really say about the product?

Don’t stick to dry dog food

There’s such a belief a dog should eat the same food from the day he’s weened until the day he dies.

Why?

Imagine if we were told to eat a commercial dry biscuit for the rest of our lives?

Always keep in mind dry dog food is a processed product. Yes, it’s designed to meet the insanely complex nutritional needs of our dogs as one complete package, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

Rotate, add variety, and mix in some wet, BARF, or fresh ingredients. These reviews are mostly dry dog foods, but if you want the best wet dog food in Australia then many of the top rated dry foods have a corresponding wet food.

There isn’t a best supermarket dry dog food page on this website, but there’s a list of more affordable dog foods which is a balance of price and quality.

Nutrition analysis of the best dog foods

All the foods on the best dog food in Australia list must meet my stringent criteria.

In a nutshell, here are a few:

  • Must have sufficient protein and fat.
  • Must have sufficient meat ingredients.
  • Must not contain any nasty or ambiguous ingredients.
  • Must avoid allergenic or problematic ingredients.
  • Must have a long standing reputation and good consumer feedback.
  • Must conform to AAFCO standards to offer a complete & balanced diet (only applicable to dry/wet dog foods, not applicable to raw dog foods/patties).

I care what you think!

It’s taken me a great deal of time, and huge amounts of research to put these reviews together. I’ve spent a great deal of time finding research studies, picking through them, and doing my best to ensure they’re not biased, not influenced, and provide valuable facts.

Pet Food Reviews takes up more of my life than I care to admit, but the ultimate goal is for us to have happier, healthier pets, who have the best chance of living a long life.

I can’t do that alone. I encourage you to be involved, to add comments, discuss, get in touch, and share the knowledge you’ve learned with friends, family, and social media groups.

If your dog’s allergies clear up, they become more buoyant, more active, or show a new lease of life based on the information on these reviews, then let me know!

And let others know!

The “Best dog food in Australia” list depends on your ongoing feedback.

The links on the reviews to pet food retailers are also affiliate links, so any time you click and buy a dog food a small percentage will help keep Pet Food Reviews up, running, and up to date – thank you!

what is the best dog food in australia
In memory of my best friend Archie, who I lost to the horrible disease lymphoma (a cancer linked to weed killer glyphosate sprayed on Australian parks).

“What is the Best Dog Food in Australia?”, updated 2024.

David D'Angelo

David D'Angelo has worked as a scientist since graduating with a BSc (Hons) in 2000. In addition, David holds a CPD accredited Diploma in Pet Nutrition as well as being CPD accredited VSA (Veterinary Support Assistant). However, his experience and involvement in the pet food industry for 15+ years has given true insight into pet food, formulations, science, research, and pet food marketing. Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Pinterest

101 Comments
  1. Been feeding a smaller breed “Stay Loyal” brand food but he passed and we now have a Golden Retriever and a Labrador. Both around 1 year old and close to 30kgs. Stay Loyal for these 2 is just too expensive so we went to “Black Dog” but that is still too expensive. So 2 questions, none of the 2 brands i listed come up in your recommendations so i was wondering why?
    Was thinking maybe switching to Hypro, do you think that maybe ok?
    Thanks

    • Hi Daryl, Stay Loyal has been on the recommended list at times and a good choice. I tend to keep the best rated list short with options based on availability and price as well as formula etc.

      Hypro Premium can be a good affordable option, but also have a read of the affordable dog food page, which although aren’t the cheapest are probably a good starting point for quality vs affordability.

  2. Hi David – my small Jack Russell (who is trim and fit) was recently diagnosed – as my vet described it – with a ‘rumbling’ pancreatitis – ie – it’s not severe but can just be in the background causing a lack of apetite for a few days, then she’ll eat and it kicks in again. – Treatment painkillers and an antibiotic and change to a low fat diet. She’s been on Stay Loyal for years with either Lyka or a Black Hawke grain free tin portion to add a bit of variety.
    So my issue was finding a low fat dry food to feed her without using Hills or Royal Canin.

    At this stage I have transferred her to Lifewise Lamb Lean and Trim (I tried sample packs and she wasn’t keen on the Biotic low fat).

    But was wondering if you have any other quality low fat dry food suggestions. She is still getting small amounts of Lyka/Black Hawke wet or even some Big Dog Raw. She does get stale on the same food over and over.
    Thanks

    • Hi Liz, there are quite a few options for low fat dog foods which should help, and reducing kibble in favour of wet/raw/dried should generally help. Low fat kibble can often be higher in carbohydrates which is arguably worse, which is why an emphasis on feeding high quality protein and fat can have better results.

      Lifewise and Lyka are good options, and it may be worth looking at something like Prime100 SPD low fat, or even Eureka or Ziwi Peak formulas which although not low fat per-se can still be a good addition as part of the diet as they’re species appropriate. Or you can look at supplementing a commercial food with fresh food, such as low fat meats, some organs, raw meaty bones etc.

      In terms of kibble you could also look at Wellness CORE reduced fat or Canidae PURE healthy weight formulas amongst others.

  3. Just wanted to leave a note to say thank you so much for the excellent information on this site.

    I’ve had my 2 year old rescue for a bit over 12 months and I spent the first 6 months quite stressed with trying to feed her a perfect raw diet. I tried Raw n Fresh and a few other places offering ‘complete’ mixes but I found I was wasting alot of it as she didn’t love it and especially in summer I couldn’t just leave it out waiting for her to get hungry enough to eat it. There’s only so many times you can put those mixes in and out of the fridge.

    Based on your helpful advice about just going for a varied diet I’ve switched to a feeding plan that is based around feeding a half serve of kibble each day and a half serve of the equivalent raw/fresh amount she needs.

    I use different dry foods, at the moment Vetalogica Biologically Appropriate (I have a bag of each flavour).

    For the fresh/raw option I mix it up depending on whats on sale when I’m at the shop or market, or what appropriate meals of mine I can share.

    Raw red meats, eggs, cooked meats, organs, giblets, fish, dried and tin sardines, various raw meaty bones are all staples.

    I bake chicken for her with some water and the lid on and then use the fatty broth as base for adding grated veggies and chia seeds.

    Big cuts like a lamb shoulder or blade roast are often found for half price.

    Whole chickens are often on sale and are a cheap way to get meat and bone.

    To make sure she’s also getting some really good quality meats I get offcuts, bones and green tripe from the grass fed vendors at the farmers market.

    It’s working out as a really afforable and easy way to feed well and she usually licks her bowl clean.

    I keep an eye out for whats on sale at the pet food shops online too – 50% off short dated bags of high end brands like Ziwi Peak come up on occasion, and often you can get air dried high quality treats which are heavily discounted too.

    She’s super healthy, happy and shiny. She does excellent poos and very rarely has any kind of upset tummy. Her coat is so glossy you need sunnies to look at her 🙂

    So I just wanted to say thanks for giving me the confidence and information to feed like this, and I hope my ideas above help inspire someone else with how easy it can be to feed a fussy dog cheaply and really well.

    • It sounds to me like your dog has a fabulous diet, and others should be encouraged by this! Feeding a dog better isn’t as difficult (or as costly) as we often think, and the variety you feed your dog is fantastic!

      Thanks for taking the time to write this, and also thank you for the positive feedback 🙂

  4. Hello 🙂 Do you think it’s okay to just feed Raw foods and not dry foods? Like I am thinking frontier pets + big dog barf? Plus maybe prime 100 as treats, as my dog loves them and they are pricey. Thanks heaps 🙂

    • Hi Darija, generally I see raw foods far better and more natural for a dog.

      The big caveat though is dental health, which no commercial pet foods truly address. You’ve prompted me to write a guide on dental health and what we can do about it – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/dental-health/

      • Ok, so you’re saying that none of these foods on the list are good for dental health and to improve that we should give them the treats that are good for dental health listed in the article?

        • Hi Darija, I would be skeptical of any claims of a pet food product being beneficial for dental health. We don’t clean our teeth with food.

          However, for dogs (and many wild animals) the action of chewing and gnawing helps keep their teeth clean. In nature, for carnivores (of which you should classify your dog in this respect), that would be chewing on flesh and bone. If raw meaty bones such as chicken necks aren’t your thing, then tough chewy meat-based treats are a good option as long as they really are meat or similar rather than sugar and additives.

  5. I do worry about Orijen and Taste of the Wild. There are a lot of wide spread contamination worries from products made in the US and sick dogs.

    • You tend to find this with all US brands. Whether those allegations come from competitors or edge case consumers is hard to know, but the US seems to have a culture of taking legal action by default.

      You also find the bigger the brand the more inevitable it is these things crop up on social media, whereas smaller brands often sail under the radar – it doesn’t mean those brands are free of issues, and I suspect in most cases they’re not.

  6. Hi what are your views with Black Hawk kibble for cats and dogs please

  7. Hi there, fantastic article and recommendations. Thank you! I’m doing my research before I adopt my puppy in a few weeks and trying to decide on best feeding options. The pup will have been fed Lyka all its life so they recommend that at first. Is the meat in Lyka cooked or just the veggies? I was planning on eventually switching to an alternate raw food provider that does BARF meals (e.g. Rogue Raw). But I keep reading and hearing views that raw meat can be harmful to dogs. I understand there is bacteria present in raw meat but I thought dogs were able to digest it without harm?! Would love your thoughts on this. Trying to filter out the bad info from the good. Much appreciated!!!

    • Hi Nikki, dogs instinctively eat raw meat/organ/bones and nature is almost always correct. Nature’s a good guide.

      The slurs on raw feeding likely stem from pet food companies, but also veterinarians with genuine concerns – usually around the risks of feeding inappropriate sized bones or cooked bones which splinter or cause blockages. As for bacteria… well that’s more a risk to us, which is why we wash our chopping boards, wash our hands, and never eat raw chicken, pork etc. A dogs gut is much more resilient to bacteria, and it’s unlikely a healthy dog will get sick from raw meat.

      Brands such as Lyka give you as the consumer piece of mind as the meat and veg are all slightly cooked. It also takes away the need to chop up yucky organs.

      One thing I will add though, is raw (including raw meaty bones) will help your dog keep their teeth clean from plaque and tartar. Most commercial pet foods, BARF, or pre-made raw don’t really do much in this respect. Tough dried meat chews can be a good alternative.

  8. Very good & great comments – healthier pets for life
    I too have read our Customs radiate overseas coming in, I think ziwi peak have excluded theirs from this from memory years ago & I too have read about product recalls in US for Orijen (not sure if I spelt this correct ) & Taste of the Wild

  9. Hi, I have a small Papillon 2yrs old. I’ve been feeding him Stay Loyal & Scratch alternately, they are both dry kibble. I also give him a raw chicken neck which he absolutely loves.
    I find it really difficult to buy a wet food or raw dog food in small quantities and I’m not sure about freezing it. He weighs only 3:5kg so as you can imagine his meals are not very big. Also, it’s hard to find very small bones, most are beef bones and I know the butchers are willing to cut them smaller they generally cut them length wise.
    Would it be ok to give him small portions of sheep’s heart ?
    Thanks for any advice.

    • Hi Sarah, yes little bits of beef heart make a great treat, or kidney, or on occasion a little bit of liver.

      If you’re looking to feed a little bit of raw with the kibble then have a look at Proudi or Big Dog. Most pet stores will sell one or the other and they come as small patties (BARF) which you can freeze, then feed for two or three meals per week.

      • Hi David, given Orijen is so expensive at $25-30/kg, wouldn’t it be cheaper just to feed raw meat or fish? Why do dogs need kibble? Is it for the other 15% of ingredients considered “fillers”?

        • Hi again Li (I just replied to your other comment).

          Simply put, before kibble dogs survived for over 30,000 years. Kibble is a convenience product which makes our lives easier, but dogs definitely don’t need kibble. They do, however, need a balance of nutrients to help them stay healthy and live longer, and most of those nutrients come from animal sources.

      • Hi David, very glad I came across your website. Thank you for the time and effort you put in to producing this very worthwhile information. Certainly given me a lot to think about and look at changing the diet of my 3 rescue dogs.

        We’ve had them now for 10 years, all of them were under 12 months old when we adopted them.

        Our previous pair of dogs were fed Eukenuba for most of their lives and we changed to Blackhawk grain free after having some issues with eukenuba.

        Our 3 rescue dogs were fed Blackhawk until our vet told me grain free was a fad and a waste of money. I asked him what he fed his dog and he said Advanced.

        We changed to Advanced about 5 years ago and feed them steamed vegetables every morning with the Advanced and include sardines and raw chicken drum sticks (with the occasional chicken carcass) weekly.
        The dogs seem to have been handling this diet relatively well except for the occasional bout of sloppy stools. I’m also giving them the recommended dose of Rosehip powder daily to help with some joint problems with one of my dogs, which fortunately seems to be helping.

        Have you done an assessment on Advanced?
        Based on your advice it seems I should go back to grain free, which actually makes sense and supports my original thought in the first place. I wonder why my vet of many years thinks grain free is a waste of money.
        Do you have any thoughts on the rosehip powder?
        Other than my failure to give them a varied diet what are your thoughts the way I have been feeding them so far?
        Cheers

        • Hi Wayne, many vets are still under the illusion grain free dog foods are bad based on an utter farce of an investigation instigated by a notable veterinarian under the employment of numerous pet food companies. Even though the investigation was subsequently dropped due to no conclusive evidence, there are few people (including vets) who took the time to read anything except the headlines.

          You can read my thoughts here – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/grain-free-dog-foods-heart-problems/

          My view is neither grains or grain-free alternatives are ideal for a dog as an animal I would consider carnivorous or a facultative carnivore which should have animal ingredients making up the majority of their diet.

          I expect your vet isn’t aware Advance, a Mars brand, has actually been one of the most problematic brands of the last decade, which led to an investigation by the Senate back in 2017 into the safety of pet food. You can read more about that on ABC here – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-30/popular-dog-food-suspected-of-making-dogs-sick-advance-dermocare/9699866

          That said, the Dermocare issues were unfortunate, and I expect most of the time Advance dog foods are safe. My question would be – if you read the ingredients, do they suit your dog as a carnivorous animal?

          If they don’t, then one option could be keep feeding Advance as say 80% of the diet, then supplement with meats, organs, raw meaty bones, eggs, or other dog-appropriate fresh foods as the other 20%.

  10. Hi, thank you for your research and recommendations!! I adopted a greyhound a year ago and she is not particularly food orientated. I am now worried that I am not feeding her a healthy, nutritious and varied diet. I initially continued with GAP’s recommendation of Likewise kibble but stopped the raw mince (for personal reasons but now would like to resume) and have also tried Black Hawk, Meals for Mutts, Savour Life and recently purchased Taste of the Wild as it was on your list. It is yet to arrive. I’ve recently bought Prime 100 dog rolls for variety (very expensive) – are they any good? I also feed her sardines every other day – is this ok? She has 4cyte supplementation because she was retired from racing with an injury to a leg joint. I also add some turmeric and ginger – is this ok?. Do you recommend raw or cooked mince – what do you do and what kind of mince is preferred? She doesn’t like raw vegetables or apples so I want to cook them and add to either raw/cooked mince – are there any vegetables I shouldn’t give her? What shaped bones would you recommend for her for her long jaw? Thank you, I look forward to your answers.

  11. It seems Australians have high quality dog food. In general these options tend to have higher quality ingredients than most of the brands we have in the US and Mexico. Of course we have some premium high-quality options too but I can’t think of this many. The air-dried raw dog foods are a great option to try over kibble. Thanks for the info, can’t wait to visit Australia one day 🙂

  12. Have you heard anything or have info about the growing number of dogs in the US getting sick for dry food? No official recall as yet. Some US dog nutritionists are naming Orijen and Taste of the Wild as possible brands as well.

    • Hi Amanda, did you ever receive a response to your enquiry? I am curious myself.

      From what I’ve read there were mostly reports of all Purina products.

  13. Hi everyone,

    great reading and I must say… still very abstract and overwhelming. What diet would you recommend for an adult (just) Australian Shepherd? I am not much of a detective so please keep it very plain and simple, recipe style (quantity and ingredients). Thank you all.

  14. I see you have kibble as some of the best dog foods. Kibble can never be a healthy form of nutrition for dogs, cats or any animal. Because of the way it’s processed (it sustains very high heat in its manufacture), acyrlamides form naturally and these are known carcinogens. Fresh is best, whether raw or lightly cooked and balanced with fruit, vegetables and all the vitamins and minerals (chelated) that an animal needs for optimal health. As an aside, I am sorry you lost Archie. We just need to keep emailing our local Councils to stop spraying glyphosate at our parks. I have done this and urge others to do the same. If enough people complain and do so repeatedly, Councils will have to start listening.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 22, 2023 at 7:57 pm

      Hi Gloria, I do agree with you, and in an ideal world I would prefer to see kibble non-existent and the supermarket pet food shelves replaced with freezers full of whole prey and real foods for dogs.

      A lot of the recommendations on this website are designed to offer people better alternatives, so better kibbles, or better dog foods, and in many reviews I try and push people in the direction of fresh/raw feeding. I also pay a lot of consideration to the intricacies of raw feeding, and the numerous nutritional requirements, and many pet owners are still of the belief you buy a pet and feed it an off-the-shelf pet food.

      Thank you for contacting your council and raising awareness about glyphosate. No council should spray dog parks which such a horrible chemical, and I suspect many dogs develop cancer such as lymphoma as a result. Personally I’d rather have weeds in a dog park than chemicals, but I’m sure for local councils it’s more about cost cutting.

  15. What are your thoughts on the FDA research suggesting that grain free foods are a link to issues regarding dogs being at higher risk of heart diseases?

    https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fdas-work-potential-causes-non-hereditary-dcm-dogs

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 22, 2023 at 8:16 pm

      Hi Samuel, these are my thoughts. Let me know what you think!

      • If I’m feeding my dog 50% raw meat, am I better off getting a cheaper kibble just to balance out the additional fibres / amino acids that kibble can provide (rather than going for higher meat content)?

        • Hi Li, dogs need a balance of nutrients which are covered in a raw diet by muscle meat, organs, fat, and raw meaty bones. A common ratio is 80% muscle meat + fat, 10% organs (of which liver should be in moderation), and 10% raw meaty bones.

          Kibbles tend to replicate these nutrients with vitamin and mineral packs (premixes) combined with some meat, fat, and whatever else they want to fill it with.

          So if 50% of your dog’s diet is nothing more than mince beef then you should probably look at adding some organs and raw meaty bones as well, or eggs as a great option. Often this can work out cheaper than feeding 100% kibble, and potentially far healthier.

  16. Is wet food easier for dogs to digest than the dried ones? I’m beginning to wonder if that is why my dog vomits every now and then. I’ve switched him off the dry Ziwi Peak venison to the canned chicken. Canned venison doesn’t seem to be available. I am getting to the point where I’m stressed about him and having a dog should be a pleasure.
    I’ve tried the dry meals for mutts and the Prime100 kangaroo rolls and he was just doing the same thing. Okay for about a week or 2 and then vomiting first thing in the morning. The vets have no clue to it. Blood tests are fine.

  17. I’ve used your reviews to make a choice about which foods to feed my dog and cat. However, just reading through your website again, I decided I’d have a look at the Mars website to see which pet food brands they own. One of their brands is in the top 10 dog food list, so at least Mars isn’t all bad. I don’t mean to discredit your work, but in all fairness, it might be worth adding that information to your website, if only as a disclaimer against Mars’ legal action.

    • Hi Wayne, it has to be said they’re very good and catering for all market demographics, which I expect is why they recently acquired Orijen and ACANA which have a reputation for being very high end.

  18. Thankyou, my dog from 2 months old has been fed, chicken legs, (raw), chicken necks, chicken frames beef, roo, raw bones as classed as soup bones, also dog biscuits (Supercoat) Never ever tin food. She is 11 years old now, still a pain as in behaviour, full of life but age is creeping up on her. I sometimes wonder if I have done the right thing, but we do not find biscuits in the wild, mainly red raw meat.I trust Nature, hence most of her meat is raw. Love your articles but mostly the common sense that you use. (common sense seems to be dying) Thankyou once again for your time you put into this Beryl

  19. Thank you so very much for all your research. I have read many of your reviews and tried a few of the different brands. My Cavoodle seems to be very sensitive to some foods as after a few months of eating them he starts vomiting. I’ve tried Venison, Kangaroo, Salmon and chicken. Is there a brand that is good for dogs with sensitive stomachs?
    Have had blood tests etc, but nothing shows up.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) October 2, 2023 at 11:37 pm

      Hi Ann, what brands have you fed so far which didn’t work? Have you tried any of the brands on this page? The best way forward is always to understand what hasn’t worked up until this point.

  20. Hi all. I’ve recently discovered this website and I’m finding it so wonderful and helpful, if not a bit overwhelming!
    We recently adopted a 5 year old greyhound and since we got her we have been feeding her what was recommended – Ivory Coat kibble, white rice and cooked human mince (chicken or beef) twice a day. She eats it happily enough but I’ve noticed her poops are inconsistent (sometimes fine, sometimes sloppy) and I’m getting a bit over cooking rice and mince all the time! I’m wondering if any wonderful people on here have some suggestions for better alternatives, both for her health and to save me time so I don’t have to cook for the dog as well as the rest of the family!
    Unfortunately a lot of the good brands I’ve looked at so far are just too expensive considering her size and how much she eats. So any help would be greatly appreciated as I feel a bit out of my depth! Thanks in advance.

    • Why do we not feed dogs as carnivores if that is their natural biology?
      Carnivores eat meat – yes?
      Pet foods are more expensive than human grade foods.
      And as with all packaged and processed / ultraprocessed foods are made with the least costly ingredients etc., for maximising profits.
      Australia has no pet food regulatory authority.
      As pet foods are essentially scraps and waste, let’s feed our pets from the human table.
      Meal and meal by products are unhealthy. Dogs don’t naturally eat the majority of ingredients in commercial, manufactured pet foods. All added vitamins, minerals, biotics, (chelated or not) cause a dis-balance of normal homeostasis and so on begins a cascading effect.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) June 20, 2023 at 4:10 pm

      Hi Bri, try not to feel overwhelmed! It can be a learning curve but you’re on the right track because you’re thinking about it!

      There’s a list of affordable dog foods here – at least more affordable than some. You may decide to try a few different brands, or rotate between them. Take advantage of what’s on sale whenever you stock up! I get a lot of negative feedback about Ivory Coat these days, which is why I wouldn’t personally recommend it. You’ll see this reading the comments on the Ivory Coat reviews.

      For now start with dry food as most of the diet, and the rice/meat as up to a quarter of the diet. Once you become more confident you’ll likely change how you feed your dog. It’s important for a dog to have balance in their diet, which in terms of homecooked or raw means a balance of nutrients from organ meats, fat, raw meaty bones etc.

      You may be happy to start feeding the mince raw, and keep an eye out for organ meats too. The only caveat is liver shouldn’t be fed in excess.

      Go with the flow!

      • Thanks so much for the reply – very helpful! I’ve decided on a combination of Raw & Fresh and kibble, but I haven’t decided on which kibble yet. I finished our bag of Ivory Coat yesterday and bought Applaws as a stop-gap as it’s on special at Coles and she seems to love it!
        Would love to see a review of a range I’ve just seen called Joy that’s stocked exclusively at PetO (eg. The grain free chicken and coconut oil). Seems good (and cheap and it’s Aussie) but I’m no expert!

  21. Hi, just wondering why Open Farm isn’t on your list of best dog foods?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 23, 2023 at 6:13 pm

      Hi Natasha, good spot – it is now. This list does change from time to time, and I try and keep it short as before I had a lot of people left confused with too many recommendations!

      I’ve also just updated the Open Farm dog food review as it was getting a little neglected, and I’ve also covered the wet foods which are 100% human grade.

      • We were using open farm since it’s inception into the Aussie market, excellent ingredients and its Prices were good at $109 10kg but the last 6-9 months it has skyrocketed on pet circle,up to $149!?
        The kibble is rather small and our gsp inhales it , have since moved onto Phoenix, bigger kibble,13kg $129-142.

  22. Hi! Do you have any experience with Animals Like Us? They are available in Woolworths and are quite expensive too, wondering how their quality is! Thank you. I have a really picky 13weeks dachshund and have always fed Raw and Fresh(he inhales it) because he would rather starve than eat his dry kibbles 🙁

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 9, 2023 at 9:02 pm

      Hi Vinly, yes Animals Like Us looks good and I’ll be writing a full review shortly. For Woolworths it seems a really good option, with the price being a reflection of quality. New Zealand brands always tend to be good.

      Oh, and I find many dogs once introduced to more meat-based or “raw” foods then become picky with kibble! Once you offer them the good stuff, they don’t want to go back.

  23. Hi, my friend put me on to this website and I can say it has been an eye opener and very informative. Great break down on why you rate certain products and how you come to your conclusions. Thank you very much for the information.

    Can you help me with advice on mixing different dog food products together for better flavor and nutrition? Specifically, I have switched to Taste of the Wild High Prairie Bison Venison and Puppy kibble for my adult dogs and puppies (Cavaliers), but one of my adult dogs is a picky eater and prefers wet canned food (currently Advanced) and Prime 100 rolls. I shave down the rolls and mix them in with the kibble and a bit of wet food to help it all stick together, which seems to work well for all the dogs. I am considering switching to a better quality wet food and adding Taste of the Wild PREY to the mix. What is your advice on mixing different dog food products for optimal results?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 7, 2023 at 5:03 pm

      Hi Mitch, personally I’m all for variety. Otherwise you’re putting complete faith in a single product to meet the complex nutritional requirements of your dog!

      If a dog refuses to eat dry food it’s worth considering if they’re suffering any dental pain – it’s a reason older pets start avoiding hard food in favour of soft food.

      When a dog only eats soft food (and this also applies to dry foods), it does very little for fighting plaque and keeping teeth keen. Personally I feed my dog (and cat) raw meaty bones as well as other foods, as the gnawing action is perfect at fighting plaque.

      Mixing wet and dry, or adding some kind of broth (like bone broth) to dry, is a good way of getting a picky dog to eat a dry food, so that may help. Even adding some sardines or mince to dry food can help in that respect. Plenty of other options though, so it’s a case of finding what works. Some dogs get really picky.

  24. I am very surprised not to see Blackhawk on the list of great foods, seeing as how expensive it is and its supposed to be holistic.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 7, 2023 at 6:02 pm

      Hi Debra, Black Hawk isn’t on the list?

      Not regarding the price though, but from years of consumer feedback which hasn’t been overly positive.

  25. Hiya
    I have a 20 month old Jackchi who refuses all other dry food apart from Royal Canine mini puppy food – full of fat I would think. At 5.6 kg, he is not overweight but I have tried many methods and brands to get him onto adult Kibble- mixing new with old, heating new in microwave, persisting for 3-4 days with new food….

    I make fresh meatballs with grated carrot, potato, rice, egg etc as wet food which he loves. He also loves a big Chunk of carrot each day.

    Should I be worried about his addiction to puppy food? Ive tried the adult version of Royale Canine and Hills small paws, which he spits out when mixed…….

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) April 21, 2023 at 1:41 am

      Hi Paul, I think he’s trying to tell you he prefers meats (and animal fats) over the grains in the adult versions of Royal Canin 😉 Puppy food almost always has more animal ingredients than the corresponding adult formulas, which is a shame because dogs need proteins and fats rather than carbohydrates.

  26. Hi,
    I’ve been reading your reviews for the past 7 years since adopting my dog. Thanks so much for all the research that goes into this, it’s undeniably helped so many pets and owners. I alternate between meals for mutts and lifewise as I’ve found them a good balance of economical and high quality. As his diet is purely dry kibble and with all the hype now around raw/BARF I’m worried he’s missing a complete diet with dry only. I’ve looked into a few wet food suggestions here but for practical and economical reasons want to stay predominately on kibble.

    Can you please suggest what I can supplement my dog’s kibble diet with to help with teeth, skin, joint and gut health? I’m hoping that there’s a few raw bones/tripe I could add on to help but any suggestions are appreciated

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) February 2, 2023 at 5:39 pm

      Hi Grace, firstly thanks for the positive feedback – very much appreciated.

      To answer your question with my personal opinion, I tend to feed a base diet of decent kibbles (which I vary), combined with some raw/barf foods (also “complete and balanced”), plus raw meats, offal, eggs, and scraps which I consider healthy. Green tripe is good if you can find it. I also feed raw meaty bones for tooth and gum health, nutritional health, and because it’s the best “toy” I can offer my dog.

      I realise many raw feeding groups and forums are very stringent on balance and ratios, but I tend not to overthink it.

  27. Hi My Goldie has been diagnosed with pancreatitis. At the moment he is eating expensive hills prescription id (as per vet instructions) but I am keen to get him off this $ and boring diet … but unsure what to feed him – low fat, gentle on stomach, easy to digest etc etc. Can you point me to some good, affordable options please? Happy to go with some kibble/dry, some raw etc – but I need easy prep and not overly $
    Cheers

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) January 21, 2023 at 7:18 pm

      Hi Angela, an alternative brand to Hills is Lifewise (Australian brand), but try to add wet into the diet if this isn’t currently the case. Generally the Royal Canin and Hills wet foods are a better standard, and I find feeding dry a bit counterproductive when a dog has a condition such as this. Fresh brands like Lyka, or Frontier Pets may also help, and don’t need to be the full diet.

  28. Would anyone be able to tell me about the fat content in MYDog canned food? My dog has elevated cholesterol levels and needs to be on a reduced fat content of no more than 10%. I have mixed this with Royal Canine low-fat food but the latter is very expensive so he gets 90 grams of Royal Canine and 60 grams of MyDog, My vet is not too happy about this mix and said it has to be less than 10% fat. My boy seems to be doing OK on that but he hasn’t had his cholesterol levels checked in a little while, the test is expensive as well as the RC food and being a pensioner I can’t afford the expense of just RC.

  29. If a dog is itching, they might benefit from a food trial. Talk to your vet.

    • Thank you Pet Food reviews for this site and the time and effort. I’ve been using it for 10 years now and my 12 year old lab collie is in perfect condition after a recent vet check.

      I feel him the Prime100 meat loaf at night and Canidae or Lifewise dry food in the AM – with raw eggs or meat cutoffs. Raw broccoli heads / carrots for treats, the occasional bone.

      Any recommendations for arthritis which is starting to bother him?

      My number #1 rule is don’t buy any animal foods from Coles or Woolworths. It’s the McDonalds for dogs food.

      • Reply
        Pet Food Reviews (Australia) August 11, 2023 at 1:47 am

        Hi Mellissa, thank you very much for the positive feedback – it’s appreciated.

        With arthritis you could always look at supplements, but adding anything like sardines, salmon, fish oils, chewy bones like chicken necks, wings, or feet, some turmeric etc. I’m sure eggs help too – a wonderful food for dogs.

  30. Thanks so much for this info.
    I am wondering if there is any way to find low sodium dry food for a dog with Congenital Heart Disease, a lot of the mfgers don’t list this on their nutrition breakdown.

    • My dog won’t eat raw bones they have to be cooked does like raw meat

      • Reply
        Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 7, 2023 at 5:42 pm

        Cooked bones can be very harmful to a dog as they splinter and get stuck. You can, however, scrape the meat off and feed it to your dog – tasty treat.

  31. Hi everyone,

    I work in an Australian pet store and the majority of food that we sell is in fact not good for your pup.

    Some ones I do recommend are Meals for Mutts (made in Melbourne and is great quality) My two dogs have been on it for about 10 months and the difference I have noticed in them is astounding! Have a look at their website I would really recommend. Another factor is their ingredients, on the packaging it stated exactly what is in the food along with the percentage of fat and protein.

    I would also recommend Ziwi peak, while the price is up there you can use it as a topper or treats; that wont upset you pups stomach like most do. If you can afford the $50 something per 500g then I would highly suggest trying it. Otherwise the Meals for Mutts is far cheaper and still high up there in quality.

  32. Hi, how good is Hypro dry dog food? It is made in Sydney and seems more focused on protein and not grains. Thanks.

  33. START SHOUTING AS LOUD AS YOU CAN…
    TELL PEOPLE REAL MEAT REAL MEAT REAL MEAT .. IT IS NOT !! ROCKET SCIENCE .

  34. Why does the list not include Balanced Life, with a rating of 9.3? Can that food also be fed to puppies?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) April 25, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      Hi Jennifer, yes Balanced Life is very good, can be fed to puppies, and at times does feature on this list (which varies from time to time).

      • Hello,
        Great page, thank you.
        Is there any other brands you consider to be great, that is not on this list? Just curious, as one tends to treat a list like this – well researched etc – as gospel…and may not consider other brands.

        I am interested in the concept of mixing up the dry food. It makes sense and appeals, but have been careful to do so as one has always been fed the wisdom that changing between different brands can cause stomach upset. Is the truth rather that when you mix between quality brands, there will not be stomach upset?

        Lastly, does giving dogs raw meaty bones not cause blunting and premature wearing of teeth?
        Cheers
        Will

        • Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 15, 2023 at 4:55 pm

          Hi Will, thanks for the positive feedback, and these are good questions too.

          The list of dog foods on this page is kept to a minimum but there are other good dog foods which are also decent. There used to be more recommendations on this page but so many people were saying it left them confused on what to feed, so I narrowed it down to what I consider some really good ones.

          I’ve always fed my pets a variety, and I see it as a very good thing. Most of the time when I hear a dog has had digestive upset on a new food, it always turns out they were fed a single brand of dog food for a long time. Just like us dogs develop intolerances when fed the same thing every single day – intolerances to foods which become unusual for them to eat, and sometimes even the diet they’re being fed all the time.

          I’m pretty sure the belief a dog must be fed one brand of food to be healthy, or else, comes from product marketing. Being locked into a product is exactly what a company wants.

          I’ve fed all my pets a variety (not just dry, but other feeding styles as well – wet, BARF, raw, fresh) for years, and guess what – no digestive issues.

          As for bones, yes there are risks, but there are also risks of feeding a dog rock hard nuggets of baked wheat for years. Most risks with bones are from feeding inappropriate bones. Cooked bones cause the most issues and should never be fed. Dogs who gulp or at fast are at risk of knuckle bones or anything which could cause an obstruction. Weight bearing bones can be too hard, so more a risk of breaking teeth, and generally cut bones (length wise) aren’t idea.

          On the other hand, bones are (in my honest opinion) the absolute best way of keeping a dog’s teeth clean, free of plaque and tartar, and free from periodontal disease. So in that way, bones will keep a dog’s teeth strong and free from disease.

  35. hi all, i’d love some guidance for my Bull Arab x Staffy. 2.5yo. since we had him as a pup he has had really bad itchy skin. changing to grain free and gut supportive dry kibble as suggested by the vet has done nothing for him. he doesnt have red patches, or loss of fur. his overall condition is great but the poor fellow is so itchy all the time. i am considering trying ‘golden paste’ (turmeric) as an alternative to the Apoquel medication he has been on for a year; i find if we are even a bit late medicating him daily his itch becomes more pronounced. is there a dry food out there that can help? ive tried so many so far with limited success. i looked in to Lyka suggested on this site but it would cost $19 per day – out of our ability at this stage.. thank you for taking the time to read, i look forward to anyones suggestions x

    • Hi Helen
      We had a Wolfhound x who always had itchy skin. We tried everything recommended by the vets. Nothing worked!! She had an episode of pancreatitis when she was 10 and spent three nights at the vet. When we picked her up the vet said she would have to go on a very strict diet of these biscuits he sold. Nearly $150 a bag!! The receptionist said ‘but it will last you a week!’
      We talked to a guy who sold pet food in Bomaderry NSW and he suggested trying her on kangaroo meat. Worked almost immediately. She never had a pancreas issue again,stopped scratching, could sleep calmly and we were no longer stressed about her situation. No more pills, creams,expensive vet visits. She lived till 14 which is brilliant for a dog of her size.

    • Hi we had a bull arab that had such bad itch he was almost bald in the back half of his body. We tried every diet and vet recommended shampoo but nothing worked. One day we read about bathing in diluted copper Sulphate, we did it once cause he cried abit and we thought it was too irritating for him….. but he completely healed from that day on his coat grew out and we never had a problem again. Might be worth a try?

      • Consider trying a food without chicken or chicken by-product. I’ve had 2 dogs (Irish Setter and Border Collie mix) now where this diet change solved the issue. They came from different geographic areas and the Border Collie was fed a mix of kibble and fresh meat. The diet change and a few ocean salt water baths cleared up his itching and he barely sheds and is quite fluffy.

  36. I have been feeding Ivory Coat grain free to my dogs since they were puppies. Last year I changed to the grain variety. Within weeks, both dogs were losing massive amounts of hair. My male also had a skin allergy, with red, flushed and itchy skin. Hundreds of dollars spent at the vet to get them both well. Now I have to source a healthier alternative that I can afford. Very sad to see what was a great product go down hill.

  37. My dog is ten months old and was fed black hawk until a week ago. His coat has been shiney, he was very active with firm stools.
    I was unable to get black hawk and purchased a bag of OPTIMUM.
    Within a week his hair started to fall out and his stools are runny. He refused to eat any more after a week and I have gone back to Black Hawk today. I hope that his health improves over the next week as he is my assistance dog.

    Very disappointed that big company’s promote their product as good for dogs but in reality this is not true.
    Shame on Dr Chris Brown for promoting a product which is obviously not up to its hype.

  38. Hello.
    My dog has developed reflux and upon research I’m reading he needs “less fat and less protein ” in his foods and some sites just saying “less fat” but no one has mentioned the specific % of fats or protein to stay within that is safe/tolerable for dog with digestion/reflux issues.

    I feel I can’t ask vets because they’ll just throw Hill’s or Royal Canin at me.

    (Currently just changed to big dog right now, I figured soft would be easier to digest, he is improving but stilll doing the elongated neck thing after eating but not as frequently compared to the pet food australia crud he was on)

    So, What are the best foods for this? or what % of fat & protein is okay?
    If you could; I’d absolutely love if you could do an review/article thing for those of us whom have dogs with reflux/digestion issues. Would help greatly!

    • So for any acidity issues I’ve noticed and noted what worked for others/me and my dogs.

      Spirulina was a god send when I could take it, reducing my GERD symptoms to zero. Logic suggests it should provide the same aid to dogs. Source of Iron as well.

      Slippery elm and psyllium husk, didn’t work for me, but works for my dogs and it is mentioned often. Can and does impede absorption of medications and supposedly vitamins and minerals. Long term usage is not advised.

      Pumpkin stomach soother.

      Colostrum helps with acid and provides over 250 beneficial substances including enzymes. Cures colds and flu’s in 3 days. Usage of only free range bovine and 100% no fillers like milk and sugar.

      Linseed meal coats the stomach reducing acid wear and tear.

      Barley grass and wheat grass both also being green like spirulina may provide extra aid when they are all together in one. 2 of them contain extra enzymes.

      There’s very possibly other things, including herbs, but I just don’t know those. These I’ve had experience with.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) February 7, 2022 at 6:41 pm

      Hi Court, from what you said it would seem the Pet Food Australia food has caused the issue, especially if the condition is improving on Big Dog. My recommendation would be to stop feeding the Pet Food Australia and notify them of the issue, and continue with the Big Dog, perhaps any of the foods listed above, or even fresh/raw/meaty bones etc.

  39. Have you seen the reports of links to grain free foods and heart issues?

    What are your thoughts? Is this a myth or?

    I am a bit concerned and I’m considering of changing to grains again?

    it’s hard to find foods that aren’t grain free these days, i’m little unsure but if i did change, what are the best non- grain free food but not too expensive?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) February 2, 2022 at 2:36 am

      Hi Courtney, since the DCM (heart issue) scare began I strongly suspected this to be a marketing slur from corporate grain-based pet food manufacturers to their smaller grain-free “boutique” competitors. Unfortunately the nature of social media has meant this “theory” has become widely believed, yet the FDA subsequently withdrew the investigation due to insufficient evidence. To quote the FDA website, “FDA has received reports of non-hereditary DCM associated with both grain-free and grain-containing diets”. My opinion from the outset was a lack of taurine in commercial pet foods as it was previous understood dog’s didn’t need taurine in the diet. Taurine comes from animal sources, which are sadly lacking in both grain and grain-free diets. Ironically taurine has now become a requirement by AAFCO in dog foods. In any case, the condition DCM is extremely rare.

  40. Lifewise puppy starter recommended feeding rate seems very low? Although a simplistic comparison it recommends less that half the daily energy intake For example a 10kg puppy is recommended 120g/day at 16.8MJ or 4025kcal per kg. This equates to 2 MJ/day whereas other brands Glow and Eukanuba equate to around 5.5MJ/day. These higher rates seem to match our puppies needs (still always hungry and very slim looking). Can you comment on why the vast difference or if it’s likely a mistake?

    • On Aussie dog and cat foods Facebook page, people using Lifewise have said the feeding guides are about right for their dogs anyways.

      The adult foods are all incredibly low as well, with the 50kg dog one being only 280g per day. If the number is close to reality than this food is the best go to for Great Danes lol. No more 6+ cups per day.

      To be honest I feel most foods are too high for dogs beyond 50kg. One food mentioned that you’d need a kilo of food per day to feed a 50kg dog. I mean that’s just crazy, I’d rather buy Lifewise and drop that number down as far as possible.

      No doubt there’s worse ones than even that.

      I free feed so I don’t use guidelines at all. I simply fill all 3 tray parts and they eat their fill of whatever their in the mood for that day. But if you have a gobble guts who doesn’t know when to stop, obviously don’t try this.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) January 30, 2022 at 8:41 pm

      Hi Leigh, I’ve always found feeding guidelines vary from brand to brand and I tend to ignore them. There are many factors involved such as types of ingredient and digestibility, so MJ isn’t always the best factor. Manufacturers also tend to skew feeding guidelines to make a product appear to last longer than it actually will. Then when you take the many factors involved with dog breeds, age, energy levels, lifestyle etc you really can’t rely on feeding guidelines.

  41. Is science diet dog food any good

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 19, 2021 at 7:31 pm

      Hi Gary, there’s a review of Science Diet here – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/hills-science-diet-dog-food-review/

      There’s also some more information on the following page if you want to go a little further down the “rabbit hole” on why vets recommend brands like Hill’s and Royal Canin – https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/why-vets-recommend-hills-science-prescription-diet/

      • This has me crying for my beautiful labrador that we lost age 9 a few months ago to aggressive cancer. We only fed him Royal Canin believing it was a full balanced diet. If only I could turn back the clock.
        We’ve a new dog, a golden retriever and he came with his Royal Canin propoganda and a bag of food. I just stepped outside while he went to the toilet and the smell was acrid. That vile acidic smell brought back painful memories.
        I’ll be absorbing all your advice and not letting this gorgeous pup be poisoned, like I believe our beautiful Chester was.
        If you’ve any specific advice for retrievers I’d be grateful x

        • My 2 albeit Chihuahuas have eaten air dried as their main meal with a side of Cherish kibble their entire lives. I’ve found this combo to be their favourite and the best for them. I like Cherish I think it’s a very well thought out food.

          For treats I give single ingredient beef jerky for dogs. Single ingredient treats are the best. But for a tastier high value training treat you can use the likes of Providore air dried or Yours Droolly New Zealand range only. Their other treats are trash and from China. I will try to upload a pic of the treats.

          If you can rotate foods, flavours etc and do it with treats too that’s better. Feed real food alongside the other foods to provide real nutrients. We’re talking small amounts of fruits and veggies, meats, organs, if you feed kibble don’t feed any grains or other starches as kibble has enough of those. Dogs also don’t need them.

          Aussie Dog and Cat food is a good Facebook group for food recommendations. Fresh food feeding groups are good to ask questions about raw, if your interested.

          Look into preventatives for joint issues as well like Antinol or bone broth powder or liquid. Glucosamine and chondroitin, green lipped mussels etc. Joint issues cost a lot once your dog gets issues, better to try to prevent the issues from every coming time fruition. 

          If your breeds predisposed to like heart disease feed meat rich and organ foods first and foremost. But organs are highly nutrient dense so don’t overdo them either or you’ll get an overdose of vitamins. The important nutrients are taurine and CoQ10. Hawthorn is mentioned as a preventative too. 

          Gut issues you’ve got Canine Ceuticals, My Doggie Boosters, Cen Nutrition, EAC Animal Care, Green Pet etc. 

          We really honestly have everything for every issue under the sun nowadays. So dogs needn’t suffer any easy to treat ailments. 

          For cancer there is plenty of things to try as well. Keto diet, immunity boosting mushrooms, colostrum, turmeric etc. Turkey tail mushrooms are the most mentioned to possibly cure even the most aggressive cancers. 

          If giving oils give the best quality ones like Salpet salmon oil, K9 Natural oil and Pet Drs Mega Oil. There’s a few others that aren’t too bad, but try to stick to animal oils, dogs digest them better and make use of them better than plant oils. Coconut and mct oil’s are good plant oils though, study says it reduces seizures. Flaxseed isn’t too bad. 

          So yeah I hope I gave you some good information =)

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