How to spot good dog food on the ingredient list
Good dog food is recognised first and foremost by the ingredient list, not by the front of the bag. Look for a high proportion of named meat or fish, where the ingredient is listed under its actual name (e.g. "chicken" or "salmon") rather than vague collective terms like "meat and animal by-products". The dog is adapted to a diet with a solid animal foundation, and the more specifically the manufacturer dares to name the ingredients, the easier it is for you to assess what is actually in the bag.
Avoid food where cheap fillers and sugar make up too much, and where additives are used to compensate for thin ingredients. A short, readable ingredient list with recognisable ingredients usually says more about quality than big words on the packaging. If you want to dive into the individual points on the declaration, we have gathered it in the guide what should good dog food contain.
Choose food according to the dog's age: puppy, adult and senior
A dog's nutritional needs change throughout life, and good food takes this into account. A growing puppy needs more energy and a different ratio between protein, fat and minerals than a fully grown dog, partly because bones and muscles need to be built up. That is why our meals come in three life stages: Puppy & junior, adult and senior.
Senior dogs are typically less active and often benefit from food with adjusted energy content and support for joints and digestion. If you are unsure when your dog switches from one stage to the next, it depends on both breed and size. Large breeds become fully grown later than small ones, and you can read more about the timing in the article when is a dog an adult.
Food for small and large breeds
Size matters more than most people think. Small dogs have a faster metabolism and a small mouth, so they benefit from smaller kibble and energy-dense food, while large breeds need food that supports joints and controlled growth so they don't put on weight too quickly. With us you will find targeted meals for small dogs and for large dogs.
If you share your home with a particular breed, it can be worth taking a closer look at its typical needs. For example, we have written separately about best dog food labrador and about large dog breeds choices and meals, where breed, size and feeding are connected.
Grain-free, allergy-friendly or low-fat: food for special needs
Some dogs react to certain ingredients or need an adjusted diet for health reasons, and here good dog food is about hitting exactly that need. If your dog tends to itch, have an upset stomach or react to food changes, you can start with our selection of allergy-friendly food or our grain-free range, where the grain has been replaced with other carbohydrate sources.
If the dog needs to lose weight or maintain a stable weight, food with a low fat content makes sense, and dogs with a sensitive digestion may benefit from our meals for sensitive stomach. Note that a food change in the case of real problems should always take place in dialogue with your vet, so that you together find the cause rather than only treating the symptom. If you have a dog with a delicate stomach, you can read more in best dog food sensitive stomachs.
How to figure out how much your dog should have
Even the best food makes no difference if the amount is wrong. How much your dog should have per day depends on weight, age, activity level and the food's energy content, and that is why the recommended daily amount is always stated on the bag based on the dog's weight. Use it as a starting point, and adjust according to how your dog maintains its weight over time: if you can feel the ribs without seeing them clearly, and the dog has a visible waist seen from above, you are usually on the right track.
An active hunting or sporting dog life requires more energy than a calm everyday life, and here food with a higher energy content can be relevant, which you will find in our working & sporting selection. If you want to calculate more precisely, the article how much dog food should my dog have will help you further.
Try the food before you buy a big bag
A food change is only successful if the dog actually wants to eat the food and tolerates it well. Because dogs are individuals, it can be difficult to predict whether your particular food will go down well before the dog has tasted it. That is why you can start with our sample meals, so you can test whether the food suits your dog without committing to a large bag from day one.
When you change food, the transition should happen gradually over several days, so the stomach has time to get used to the new composition. Otherwise you risk loose stools that have nothing to do with the quality of the food. The step-by-step procedure is described in how to change dog food.
Dry food, pâté or a combination
Good dog food comes in several forms, and the choice is about both the dog's preferences and your everyday life. Dry food is easy to portion and store, while wet food in the form of pâté has a higher water content and a different consistency that many dogs find extra appetising. A number of dog owners combine the two, so that the dry food makes up the base meal and a spoonful of pâté on top makes the bowl more tempting, especially for fussy dogs or older dogs with a reduced appetite.
If you want to understand when wet food makes the most sense, and how the need changes with age, you can read wet food dogs age needs.
