9 Best Dog Food Brands—and How to Pick the Right One for Your Pup

✔️ BEST FOR: Pet parents serving up dry food, a.k.a. kibble, which Dr. Caos approves of. "The crunchy texture can help promote dental health," he says. "The mechanical action of chewing kibble can help reduce tartar buildup and maintain healthier teeth and gums, while the abrasive action of chewing can help scrape away plaque."

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: The recipe in this bag is a blend of chicken, lamb, and salmon, for multiple sources of protein. (Chicken is the first ingredient.) Nutro Ultra has what the brand maintains are "superfoods," including grains, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, along with the protein (each cup has at least 22% crude protein).

✔️ TESTING NOTES: One of our pet pros' dogs has been eating this food brand since puppyhood and still loves it. It's pricier than most traditional supermarket brands but slightly less expensive than some premium brands, and it has many reviewers singing its praises.

We show the dry food for large breeds here, but Nutro also offers Ultra versions for small dogs, weight management, puppies, and senior dogs, as well as wet food and a limited-ingredient option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. We appreciate that you can find Nutro products online, including on Amazon, in pet stores such as PetSmart, and at mass retailers like Walmart.

✔️ BEST FOR: Those who want kibble that's better than bargain supermarket brands, but nothing ultra pricey.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: For premium ingredients at a reasonable price, we like Blue Buffalo. Deboned chicken is the first ingredient, followed by chicken meal, brown rice, and a mix that includes barley, oatmeal, and many fruits and vegetables.

The brand includes vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help boost a dog's immunity. On Amazon, it receives tens of thousands of five-star reviews, with many reviewers describing it as their dog's favorite.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: This brand does not go crazy with different formulas for every size of dog. But they do tailor formulas to dog stages, including Baby Blue puppy food and a Life Protection Formula for senior dogs. Blue Buffalo now also has a grain-free variety.

Blue Buffalo is available in various locations, including online, pet stores, supermarkets, and mass-retail chains. This link is to the adult chicken and brown rice formula, which is suitable for most dogs.

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✔️ BEST FOR: Dog owners who are home to receive fresh dog food through the mail, since it must be refrigerated or frozen when it arrives. Also best for those looking to serve their dog homemade-looking dinners rather than or in addition to kibble, and willing to pay for that.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Unfortunately, you can't get an accurate grasp on the exact monthly cost of Ollie until you give it a try, since it varies depending on your dog's size and needs. The brand states that plans start at less than $4 a day for small dogs and average $8 a day for all breeds.

There's a landing page where you can begin creating a customized plan for your pup. Then, instead of having to hunt down a food that's right for your dog based on their size or dietary needs, Ollie will cook and mail appropriate homemade meals in flavors like chicken, turkey, pork, and lamb. Choose from three different plans: the full fresh plan, the mixed bowl of half fresh and half Ollie kibble, or just a half-order of the fresh plan if you already have a dry dog food you like.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: Our experts love how easy it is to customize this dog food for your pet. One of our analysts used Ollie for her finicky pup and particularly liked how easy the website and app are to use, noting that you can change the delivery date or location. "I also love the compact packaging that doesn't take up too much space in the freezer," she adds. "Food-wise, my super-picky Shiba seemed to like Ollie's fresh food much more than she ever liked kibble."

After our testing, we named this the best dog food delivery service. You can also try out a single pound of Ollie food through Petco, but then it won't be personalized for your pup.

✔️ BEST FOR: Dogs with a sensitive stomach. This dog food claims to contain natural prebiotic fiber that helps improve digestive health by promoting the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: When reading the ingredient list, you'll see this option mainly relies on fish proteins, with a variety of vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and vitamin A supplements, as well as choline chloride to keep pup's liver healthy. It is also poultry-free, which can be a taste preference for some picky pups. However, some testers note that the smell of a salmon dog formula is quite strong.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: Dr. Conrad highly recommends this brand since she finds it to be one of the "most nutritionally balanced" options on the market. Omega-6 fatty acids help keep a dog's skin and coat healthy and shiny, while EPA and DHA (found in salmon and fish oil) help promote heart health.There are many other Pro Plan varieties available for dogs of different sizes and with various health issues. A few examples include a high-protein mix with beef, a weight management formula for large dogs, and a puppy formula.

Purina is a well-known mass-market brand available online, in pet stores, in grocery stores, and large retail chains. If you need to pay less, you can also check out the Purina One line of kibble.

✔️ BEST FOR: Dog owners who need food tailored to their dog's size or life stage.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Hyper-specific formulas are a hallmark of the Royal Canin brand, which offers dozens of blends so you can find the one that best matches your dog's size and age. This variety, designed for large adult dogs weighing 56 to 100 pounds, features larger kibble pieces to accommodate their strong jaws. It's a chicken formula (like much Royal Canin dog food) that's also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and omega fatty acids for your big dog's shiny coat, bone health, and joint support.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: What if your dog is extra large? There's also a formula for giant breeds that weigh over 100 pounds. Royal Canin also tailors meals for specific breeds like its Golden Retriever, Shih Tzu, and Bulldog formulas. The shape of the kibble changes for each one!

Finally, if your future biggie is small right now, the brand has large breed puppy food. This brand is pricey, and although it's sold at pet stores, veterinarian offices, and online, it's not typically found in grocery stores or mass-retail chains.

✔️ BEST FOR: Dogs who have been put on a special diet due to weight issues or health issues. This is from the "Science Diet" line, and there is also a "Prescription Diet" line.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Hill's Science Diet is another one of the dog food brands that Dr. Conrad specifically recommends due to its "nutritionally balanced" formula that's great for many different types of dogs. Chicken meal is the first ingredient in this bag and its primary source of protein; however, there's also barley, wheat, and corn in the mix.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: This light formula is for less active dogs. There's another version called Perfect Weight for dogs who are active but might be a little overweight—it helps them lose weight while keeping them feeling full. Hill's Science Diet also offers a formula called Healthy Mobility, specifically designed for joint health.

In addition to being vet-recommended, pet parents who use Hill's for pets with special needs tend to be happy with it. One tester serves the Hill's Prescription Diet for Food Sensitivities (low-fat version) to her dog, who suffers from breed-related seizures, and says, "This was a special prescription for the vet. As soon as we switched him to hydrolyzed protein food, his seizure activity changed significantly. So we are fans!"

There are age-based formulas, too. The senior formula for small dogs is suitable for dogs aged 11 and older. There's a different adult formula for dogs who fall into the middle age range of 7 to 10—the brand's age labeling is so specific that it can be confusing and may require you to change formulas every few years. Hill's Science Diet is sold primarily at pet stores, veterinarian offices, and online.

✔️ BEST FOR: Picky dog parents looking for a brand that's transparent in regards to ingredients. Fromm is family-owned and has been in operation for more than a hundred years, with manufacturing plants in Wisconsin. Their website provides detailed information about individual ingredients.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: The protein comes from chicken, duck, and lamb, and there are also whole grains, salmon oil, and probiotics. The brand claims this version is specifically designed for the unique metabolism of small dogs.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: One tester began using this food based on a recommendation from a dog breeder who said, "It's one of the better dog foods for puppies and small breeds."

As with other brands, there are various options within the Fromm line, including a puppy version for new pups and pregnant dogs, one for large-breed adult dogs, and one for seniors. But Fromm has fewer formulas than some of the bigger brands.

Fromm prefers to sell through independent retailers, including pet stores and farm stores. However, we also found Fromm available on Amazon, and customers can purchase products directly through the brand's website.

✔️ BEST FOR: Dogs who should be on a wet-food diet.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: There are a few reasons you might want to opt for wet dog food, according to Dr. Caos. For dogs with existing dental issues that may have trouble chewing hard food, and for dogs that don't seem to drink enough water throughout the day, the high moisture content makes this type of food easier to chow down on and helps keep dogs hydrated. Dr. Caos also notes that wet dog food can be more appealing to pets due to its "softer texture, stronger smell, and richer flavors."

✔️ TESTING NOTES: Canned food tends to be a bit more expensive than dry kibble, but it's a less expensive option than fresh. Cans are heavy, and you'll need to store unused portions of an open can in the fridge. However, unlike fresh dog food, canned food is shelf-stable and can last for a considerable amount of time unopened.

The primary protein sources in this one are lamb and beef, but it also features a variety of added vitamins and supplements to help promote your pet's healthy immune system, digestion, and strong bones. Other flavors include turkey and a venison and salmon mix. You can buy Wellness dog food in many stores, including PetSmart and Walmart, as well as on various websites, such as Amazon and Chewy.

✔️ BEST FOR: those curious about "homemade" seeming dog foods.

✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Nom Nom offers four ready-cooked flavors plus a variety pack. You receive them frozen and will want to put them in the fridge if you plan to serve them soon, or in the freezer if you're saving them for another time. The food appears mushy and wet, resembling canned food.

Each recipe includes protein, veggies, and vitamins—so they probably pack a bigger nutritional punch than anything you could prepare on your own. What you're missing out on by just picking up these pouches is having the brand tailor a recipe for your dog's special needs. For that, you'd want to move to a subscription through the brand's website.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: One of our Lab pet parents loves using the Nom Nom website to regularly receive meals for her large dog. However, another prefers to use fresh food only occasionally as a meal topper. If you're just curious about fresh food or only want to serve homemade dog food as a treat or topper, we like that you can pick up pouches of Nom Nom dog food through websites, including Chewy, and at stores like PetSmart.