Choosing a Dog Food

Selecting a dog food can feel overwhelming—there are so many options. There’s the classic kibble (sometimes dramatically labeled in ads as “brown burnt balls”), along with fresh-cooked meals, raw diets, and freeze-dried raw. You’ll see commercial formulas alongside increasingly popular homemade diets, plus an ever-growing selection of toppers and mix-ins. It’s a lot to sort through.

From my perspective, there are actually many good choices out there. But for the sake of simplicity, I’m going to focus on choices within the category of kibble. Kibble remains one of the most convenient and practical ways to feed a dog, and there are easily hundreds of options available. To help narrow it down, here are three basic principles I use when selecting a high-quality kibble.

1- Two Named Animal Protein Sources in the First 5 Ingredients.

Just like in a human diet, protein is typically the most expensive component of dog food. Lower-quality formulas often compensate by using more carbohydrates in place of higher-quality protein. Because ingredients are listed by weight, looking for two named animal protein sources within the first five ingredients helps ensure that real, biologically appropriate protein makes up a meaningful portion of the diet rather than being overshadowed by fillers or starch-heavy ingredients.

Including at least two animal protein sources also provides a broader spectrum of essential amino acids, which supports muscle maintenance, immune function, and overall health. It can also be a sign of a more thoughtfully formulated food—brands that prioritize multiple, high-quality animal proteins tend to focus more on nutrient density than cost-cutting.

When evaluating ingredients, look for clearly named proteins such as beef, chicken, lamb, venison, or salmon. These are preferable to vague terms like “meat” or “fish,” which lack transparency about the source.

You’ll also commonly see the word “meal,” and this is not something to avoid. A meat “meal” is simply a concentrated form of protein where most of the moisture has been removed, making it significantly richer in protein by weight. While it may sound less appealing than fresh meat, a clearly named meal—such as chicken meal or lamb meal—is often one of the most nutrient-dense ingredients in a kibble. The key is to choose specific, named meals rather than generic ones like “animal meal” or “meat meal,” which can vary widely in quality.

2-Avoid Corn Products

Corn is widely used in food processing, and there are many corn byproducts that can end up in dog food—making it a very inexpensive ingredient. While corn itself isn’t inherently harmful and can provide a source of energy, it is often used as a low-cost filler, contributing more carbohydrates than biologically appropriate protein for dogs.

When a food relies heavily on corn (ie: in the first five ingredients), it can dilute the overall nutrient density of the diet. This means your dog may need to eat more food to get the same amount of essential protein and nutrients they would get from a meat-focused formula. In some cases, corn can also be harder for certain dogs to digest compared to high-quality animal-based ingredients, and it may contribute to sensitivities in more prone individuals.

It’s also worth paying attention to ingredient lists where multiple corn products appear—especially within the first five ingredients. This is common in some lower-cost brands and can indicate a formula built more around inexpensive fillers than nutrient-dense ingredients.

By choosing foods that prioritize meat and whole-food ingredients over corn, you’re more likely to provide a diet that better supports your dog’s energy, muscle health, and overall well-being.

3- Prioritize Animal Protein Over Plant Protein

Dogs are not strict carnivores—they’re scientifically classified as facultative carnivores, meaning they are biologically designed to eat meat but can also digest and utilize plant-based ingredients. Because of this adaptability, most dog foods include some plant ingredients, and that’s perfectly acceptable.

However, it’s important to remember that a dog’s biology still favors animal-based nutrition. Animal proteins provide a more complete and bioavailable source of essential amino acids compared to plant proteins. For this reason, animal-source ingredients should make up the majority of the protein in the diet.

When evaluating a dog food, aim for formulas where animal proteins clearly outweigh plant-based protein sources. Some foods use ingredients like peas, lentils, or soy to boost overall protein levels, but these should not replace or dominate the primary role of meat.

By prioritizing animal protein over plant protein, you’re aligning your dog’s diet more closely with their natural nutritional needs, supporting better muscle maintenance, energy levels, and overall health.

Rice: A Situational Ingredient

Rice is an ingredient that should be considered on a case-by-case basis. It’s a very common binding agent in dog food and is naturally carbohydrate-heavy. On its own, rice isn’t a problem—as long as it isn’t displacing higher-quality animal protein in the formula.

That said, I tend to be more cautious with rice in certain situations, especially for puppies. The transition from weaning to a new home is a naturally stressful time and can temporarily lower immunity. This is when issues like giardia, a common intestinal parasite, are more likely to show up and cause diarrhea.

Although rice is often recommended by veterinarians as part of a “bland diet” for upset stomachs, diets that rely heavily on rice can sometimes contribute to looser stools in dogs dealing with giardia. For that reason, I prefer to limit rice-based foods in puppies or in dogs with known exposure risks.

If your dog frequently encounters standing or slow-moving water, high-traffic dog areas, or consistently wet environments, it may be worth leaning away from rice-heavy formulas and choosing a more protein-focused option instead.

Summary As you digest (pun intended) this information, you might wonder whether choosing a good dog food means spending a lot more money. Not necessarily. Take these three principles with you—whether you’re standing in the pet food aisle or browsing online—and start comparing ingredient lists alongside price. It’s actually pretty eye-opening.

Look at the least expensive options, then compare them to the most expensive. You may be surprised to find that some high-priced foods don’t even meet these basic criteria. Marketing is powerful in the pet industry, and as pet owners, we’re naturally willing to go the extra mile for our dogs.

These guidelines aren’t meant to be a perfect or complete checklist, but they do give you a solid, practical foundation for evaluating dog food. With a little label reading and awareness, you can make a more informed choice—without relying solely on branding or price tags.