How to Decide Which Type of Dog Food is Best for Your Dog

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

One of the biggest debates in the dog community is what food you should feed to your dog. Between raw, kibble, canned, and homemade, the variety of dog food options is endless and it can be difficult to decide which is best for your pup. At the end of the day, you should always feed what you and your vet agree works well for your dog, however, it can still be tricky to decide. Today I’m sharing the pros and cons of different dog food options and how to decide which is best for you and your dog. 

How to Decide Which Type of Dog Food is Best for Your Dog

No two dogs are the same, so what works for one dog may not work for another. Even dogs within the same household may need to be placed on different diets based on their health needs. 

There is a lot to think about when choosing your dogs diet. You’ll need to consider your dogs breed and size, their activity level, and any health issues they may have. You’ll also need to consider your lifestyle and how much time and money you have to dedicate to your dogs meals. If you have the time and money to prep raw meals for your dog everyday that’s great but if you work full time each week there’s no shame in sticking with kibble. 

When deciding what type of food to feed your dog you should always discuss the various options with your vet. At the very least they’ll be able to give you educated advice to lead you in the right direction. 

Pros and Cons of Different Types of Dog Food

Kibble 

Kibble, or dry food, is the most popular dog food choice amongst pet owners for several reasons. 

Pros:

• It’s convenient. Dry dog food is available at most grocery stores and online. It comes in a bag and doesn’t need to be stored in a fridge or freezer. There’s no prep involved, just pour a scoop into your dogs bowl and keep going about your day. 
• It’s easy to travel with. Whether you’re bringing your dog on vacation or dropping them off for boarding, bringing a bag of dog food along requires very little thought or preparation. 
• It’s well balanced. Even the lowest quality brands of dog food are properly balanced to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients that they need. You’ll be able to feed them and feel confident that they’re getting all their vitamins and minerals. 
• It’s what most vets recommend. Listening to your vets recommendations is what gives many pet parents peace of mind that they’re doing what’s best for their dog. If you have any doubts about what to feed your pup, feeding dry food is a safe bet. 

Cons:

• It’s not the healthiest choice. When done correctly, homemade and raw diets are arguably healthier and more natural for your dog than dry kibble. Kibble has to be cooked at such a high temperature that a lot of the nutrients are cooked right out of the food.
• It’s dehydrating. Kibble has a very low moisture content so dogs that are on a dry food diet often experience dehydration symptoms such as dry skin and coat. 
• The ingredients can change with no warning. Dog food companies are allowed to change their ingredients without telling consumers for up to 6 months. If your dog has allergies that require a specific set of ingredients, their food could be changed without warning causing illness. 
• It’s full of fillers. If you’ve ever compared the stool of a dry food fed dog compared to a fresh or raw fed dog, you’ll notice the dog who eats kibble has much larger stools. This is because dry food is full of fillers that can’t be properly digested such as corn, grain, and soy. 

Canned Food

Canned food is a popular option for pickier pets, older dogs, and dogs missing teeth. 

Pros:

• It’s healthier than dry food. Because canned food does not have to be cooked at such a high temperature, it contains more nutrients than dry food.
• It has a high moisture content. Canned food is often known as “wet food” because it is literally wet. This high moisture content makes it a good option for dogs with low functioning kidneys that require more water in their diet. 
• It has a long shelf life. Canned foods can last for several years unopened when kept at the proper temperature making its shelf life even longer than that of dry food.
• It’s a good option for older dogs and dogs missing teeth. Older dogs, especially those who have lost some teeth, may have a hard time eating crunchy dry food.
• It’s good for picky eaters. Canned food has a more potent smell than dry food so many picky dogs are more enticed to eat it. 

Cons:

• It’s expensive. Canned food comes in much smaller quantities than dry food and so you’ll have to buy much more of it. 
• It can be more easily contaminated. Open cans need to be stored in the fridge and used within a couple of days or it will go bad.
• It can cause loose stool. It’s not uncommon for dogs to experience loose stool on a canned food diet, especially if it’s not what they’ve been eating their entire life.

Homemade or Fresh Food

Homemade food is a great option for dogs when balanced correctly. Fresh food brands such as Farmers Dog and Ollie are also good options for when you don’t want to try to balance meals on your own.

Pros: 

• It contains maximum nutritional value. Cooking the food on your own allows it to maintain it’s nutritional content, unlike dry food. 
• You control the ingredients. Homemade diets are great for dogs with severe food allergies and intolerances. If you’re cooking it, you know exactly what is going in it and can stay away from anything that doesn’t sit well with your pup.
• It’s always fresh. You never have to worry about food recalls or contamination as long as you prep and store your food properly. 
• It’s great for picky eaters. What dog doesn’t love table scraps? Homemade/fresh food diets are essentially just table scraps that your dog is allowed to have so very few dogs will turn it down.

Cons:

• It can be time consuming. Cooking and meal prepping for ourselves can sometimes be too time consuming, so doing so for a dog may be too much for people living a busier lifestyle. 
• It’s expensive. Buying fresh meats and produce for your dog can get really expensive really fast. Pre-prepared fresh food diets are also very pricey compared to dry food and even canned food.
• It’s hard to balance. Dogs require a lot of vitamins and nutrients at a higher volume than humans do so it’s important to make sure your homemade dog food is appropriately balanced. If you choose to home cook for your dog you should work with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure you’re creating a balanced diet. You’ll likely have to purchase supplements to get your dog all the nutrients they need.

Raw Food

Many will argue that dogs have been domesticated for so long that raw diets are not good for them but raw food is the most species appropriate diet. 

Pros:

• When done correctly, raw diets are the most species appropriate diet for dogs.
• Raw food helps keep your dogs teeth clean, skin healthy, and coat shiny.
• Dogs that eat a raw diet tend to digest most of their food, making for smaller and less smelly poops. 
• Raw fed dogs have a healthier gut and improved digestion.

Cons:

• It’s expensive. Of all the different dog food options, raw food is definitely the most expensive of the group.
• It can be tricky to balance. Just like homemade food, making your own raw diet can be hard to nutritionally balance. Pre-made raw diets such as Darwin’s are a good choice to give your dog all the benefits of raw food without having to worry about balancing it on your own.
• Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria. When feeding raw food there is always a slight chance that it can contain bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli. While the risk is not that great, it’s important to be mindful that it can happen. 

No matter what type of diet you choose to feed your dog, as long as they are happy and healthy you’re doing okay. Remember, your dog should be excited to eat their food and should never feel sick after meals. If you have any questions or concerns about your dogs diet, always ask your vet for help.