As a devoted dog parent, you want the very best for your furry friend – and that starts with a high-quality, nutritious diet. However, with so many dry dog food options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and compiled this list of the top 22 dog food brands for 2024.
Whether you have a growing puppy, an active adult dog, or a senior pooch with special dietary needs, you’ll find an excellent option on this list. We’ve considered factors like ingredient quality, nutritional balance, brand reputation, and customer reviews.
What to Look for in a Quality Dry Dog Food
When selecting a dry dog food, prioritize the following factors:
- High-quality protein sources: Look for brands that list real meat, such as chicken, beef, or fish, as the first ingredient. Avoid those with unnamed meat by-products or fillers.
- Wholesome, natural ingredients: Choose foods with whole grains, vegetables, and fruits that provide essential nutrients and fiber.
- Balanced nutrition: Ensure the food meets AAFCO standards. This indicates it is complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage.
- Minimal fillers, by-products, and artificial additives: Steer clear of foods containing cheap fillers, unnamed by-products, and artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Specific formulas: Select a food tailored to your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior), breed size, and any specific health concerns, such as weight management or sensitive digestion.
22 Best Dog Food Brands in 2024 Review
1. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, Atlantic flounder, cage-free eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
Protein: 38% min Fat: 18% min Calories: 449 kcal/cup
Orijen tops our list with their Original formula, which features an impressive 85% animal ingredients. This protein-rich food mirrors the natural diet of wolves, with high-quality meats, organs, cartilage, and bone.
The remaining 15% includes nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. It’s a grain-free, biologically appropriate option for dogs of all life stages.
2. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, dried ground potatoes
Protein: 34% min Fat: 16% min Calories: 417 kcal/cup
Wellness CORE offers a grain-free, protein-focused dry food with deboned turkey as the first ingredient. This formula contains no meat by-products, fillers, corn, wheat, or artificial preservatives. It’s fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, omega fatty acids, and glucosamine for well-rounded nutrition that supports whole-body health.
3. Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Duck
First 5 Ingredients: Duck, chicken meal, peas, egg product, turkey meal Protein: 37.5% min Fat: 17.5% min Calories: 508 kcal/cup
Instinct’s Raw Boost line combines high-protein kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces, giving your dog the benefits of raw nutrition in a convenient form.
The grain-free recipe features cage-free duck as the first ingredient, along with non-GMO fruits and vegetables. It also includes a probiotic boost for digestive health.
4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Water buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
Protein: 32% min Fat: 18% min Calories: 370 kcal/cup
Taste of the Wild’s High Prairie formula is inspired by your dog’s ancestral diet, with novel proteins like real buffalo as the first ingredient.
This grain-free recipe also contains antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, along with species-specific probiotics for digestive support. It’s a great option for active dogs or those with food sensitivities.
5. Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned beef, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes
Protein: 34% min Fat: 15% min Calories: 379 kcal/cup
Merrick’s Grain-Free line features real deboned beef as the first ingredient, along with sweet potatoes for digestible carbohydrates.
This recipe contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It’s also fortified with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. This makes it a solid choice for adult and senior dogs.
6. Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals Beef Frittata Veg Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Beef, peas, pea protein, potatoes, dried whole egg
Protein: 30% min Fat: 18% min Calories: 408 kcal/cup
Fromm’s Four-Star line offers a variety of artisanal recipes, each crafted in small batches for quality control. The Beef Frittata Veg formula features beef as the first ingredient, supported by peas, eggs, and Wisconsin cheese.
It also contains probiotics and prebiotics for digestive health. With no corn, wheat, or artificial ingredients, it’s a trustworthy option.
7. Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic sweet potatoes, organic chickpeas, organic peas
Protein: 26% min Fat: 16% min Calories: 384 kcal/cup
For pet parents seeking an organic option, Castor & Pollux Organix is one of the best. This grain-free recipe features organic, free-range chicken as the first ingredient, followed by a blend of organic fruits and vegetables.
It contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. Plus, a portion of proceeds goes to pet charities.
8. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Beef, beef heart, beef kidney, beef tripe, beef liver
Protein: 38% min Fat: 30% min Calories: 267 kcal/scoop
Ziwi Peak offers a unique air-dried food that combines the convenience of kibble with the nutritional benefits of raw.
The Beef Recipe contains 96% meat, organs, and bone, including free-range and grass-fed New Zealand beef. This high-protein, nutrient-dense food is a great option for picky eaters or dogs with sensitive stomachs.
9. Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Medium & Maxi Adult Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, whole spelled, whole oats, chicken fat Protein: 30% min Fat: 18% min Calories: 394 kcal/cup
Farmina N&D offers a unique formula that combines 60% animal ingredients with 20% organic spelled and oats, all slow-cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutrients.
The Chicken & Pomegranate recipe features free-range chicken as the first ingredient, along with antioxidant-rich pomegranate. It’s designed to support the nutritional needs of medium and large-breed adult dogs.
10. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Kibble Red Meat Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Beef, pork meal, pork, lamb meal, lamb
Protein: 38% min Fat: 18% min Calories: 445 kcal/cup
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Kibble combines high-protein kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces, offering the taste and nutritional benefits of raw with the convenience of dry food.
The Red Meat Recipe features beef, pork, and lamb as the top ingredients, along with organic fruits and vegetables. It also includes probiotics and antioxidants for immune and digestive health.
11. Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, ocean whitefish meal, russet potatoes, garbanzo beans
Protein: 26% min Fat: 15% min Calories: 432 kcal/cup
Open Farm prides itself on transparency and ethical sourcing, with 100% of its ingredients traceable back to the farm.
The Homestead Turkey & Chicken formula features humanely raised poultry and sustainably caught fish. It also includes coconut oil for a healthy coat and pumpkin for digestive support. This recipe is suitable for dogs of all life stages.
12. Nulo Freestyle Salmon & Peas Recipe Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned salmon, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, whole peas, sweet potato
Protein: 30% min Fat: 16% min Calories: 424 kcal/cup
Nulo Freestyle offers a grain-free formula with 80% animal-based proteins and low-glycemic carbohydrates. The Salmon & Peas recipe features deboned salmon as the first ingredient.
It also provides a high-quality protein source and omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat health. It also includes patented BC30 probiotics for digestive support.
13. Solid Gold Barking at the Moon High Protein Duck, Egg & Pea Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Duck, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, chickpeas
Protein: 41% min Fat: 18% min Calories: 465 kcal/cup
Solid Gold’s Barking at the Moon formula is designed for highly active or working dogs, with 41% protein from duck, turkey, and chicken.
This grain and gluten-free recipe also features a blend of 20 superfoods, including pumpkin, cranberries, and lentils. It’s fortified with probiotics for gut health and omega fatty acids for skin and coat.
14. Earthborn Holistic Venture Alaska Pollock Meal & Pumpkin Limited Ingredient Diet
First 5 Ingredients: Alaska pollock meal, peas, pumpkin, tapioca, sunflower oil
Protein: 25% min Fat: 13% min Calories: 325 kcal/cup
Earthborn Holistic’s Venture line offers limited-ingredient diets for dogs with food sensitivities. The Alaska Pollock Meal & Pumpkin recipe contains just six key ingredients, with an easily digestible pollock meal as the single animal protein source. It’s grain-free and gluten-free, with no fillers or artificial additives.
15. Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, corn gluten meal, rice, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, poultry by-product meal
Protein: 30% min Fat: 20% min Calories: 475 kcal/cup
Purina Pro Plan Sport is designed to meet the high-energy needs of active dogs. The 30/20 Chicken & Rice formula provides 30% protein and 20% fat, with real chicken as the first ingredient.
It also contains glucosamine for joint health and antioxidants for immune support. This recipe is suitable for dogs of all life stages.
16. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
Protein: 24% min Fat: 14% min Calories: 378 kcal/cup
Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula features real meat as the first ingredient, along with whole grains, garden veggies, and fruit. The Adult Chicken & Brown Rice recipe is designed to support the needs of adult dogs.
With deboned chicken for lean protein and brown rice for digestible carbohydrates. It also includes Blue’s exclusive LifeSource Bits – a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
17. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, brewer rice, chicken meal, yellow peas, cracked pearled barley
Protein: 21% min Fat: 12% min Calories: 382 kcal/cup
Hill’s Science Diet offers a specialized formula for dogs with sensitive stomachs and skin. The Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe features easily digestible ingredients like chicken, rice, and barley.
It also contains prebiotic fiber to support gut health and vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
18. Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole brown rice, brewer rice, rice bran
Protein: 25% min Fat: 14% min Calories: 341 kcal/cup
Nutro Ultra provides a blend of three lean animal proteins – chicken, lamb, and salmon – along with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
This Adult formula is designed to support the nutritional needs of adult dogs, with antioxidants for immune health and natural fiber for digestion. It contains no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy.
19. Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, brown rice, white rice
Protein: 24% min Fat: 14.5% min Calories: 468 kcal/cup
Canidae All Life Stages is formulated to meet the needs of dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. The Multi-Protein formula features chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish meals for a diverse protein blend.
It also includes wholesome grains, antioxidants, and probiotics. With no corn, wheat, or soy, it’s a good choice for dogs with sensitivities.
20. Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum, chicken by-product meal, dried beet pulp
Protein: 25% min Fat: 14% min Calories: 380 kcal/cup
Iams ProActive Health offers a budget-friendly option that still provides complete and balanced nutrition. The Adult MiniChunks formula features real chicken as the first ingredient, along with whole grains for energy.
It also includes antioxidants to support a strong immune system. While it does contain some lower-quality ingredients like chicken by-product meal and corn, it can be a decent choice for dog owners on a tight budget.
21. Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken
First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, peas, chicken fat, tapioca
Protein: 37% min Fat: 20.5% min Calories: 508 kcal/cup
Instinct Raw Boost combines high-protein, grain-free kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces for a boost of flavor and nutrition.
The chicken recipe features cage-free chicken as the first ingredient, along with non-GMO vegetables and fruits. It also includes guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics to support digestive health.
22. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Turkey & Chicken Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, dried ground potatoes
Protein: 34% min Fat: 16% min Calories: 417 kcal/cup
Wellness CORE offers a protein-rich, grain-free formula with turkey and chicken as the top ingredients. This recipe contains no meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives.
It’s fortified with omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, glucosamine and chondroitin for joints, and probiotics and prebiotics for digestion.
Conclusion
Providing your dog with a high-quality, nutritious diet is one of the best ways to keep them healthy and happy. By choosing food from our top list, you can feel confident that you’re offering your furry friend a well-balanced diet made with premium ingredients.
Remember, every dog is unique, so what works for one may not be the best choice for another. Take your time, do your research, and don’t be afraid to try a few different options until you find the perfect fit for your pup.
