Comparing Dog Foods: Which Is Best For Your Furry Friend?
When it comes to our furry companions, choosing the right dog food can feel overwhelming in this consumer age of variety. Our dog’s nutrition is just as important as ours if we want them to live a long and healthy life.
With so many brands available, I thought sharing my thoughts on comparing dog foods would be beneficial. And Piper weighs in too.
Quote of the day: “Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.” Dean Koontz
It took me 20 years to finally cajole my husband into getting a dog. And what’s the one thing I hear daily? “Piper is the best dog ever.”
That means we have to take care of her so she lives a long, long, life.
So comparing dog foods is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to keeping our fur babies in tip-top shape.
Sure, I could cook real food for Piper to try to keep her healthy, and I’m sure it would be less expensive. But one needs to take into account the time and energy in such projects. And my time is very limited right now.
Insider tip: Another thought about cooking your food for your dog is making sure you get all of the nutrients they need. It can be overwhelming.
Therefore, we have tried out and evaluated a boatload of healthier dog foods which brings me to comparing them in this article.
I’ll also touch on supplements, as they can be just as crucial to maintaining our pups’ well-being.
Insider tip: This is a constantly evolving list since brands come and go, and may change over time. It’s no different than the food and supplements for ourselves.
In no particular order, here are the ones Piper has tried and we like to give her. And obviously we believe that variety is the spice of life, even for Piper’s food.
1. Happy Howl: A Happy Choice for Every Dog
We first found Happy Howl boxed food at CVS. The ingredients were impressive (we diligently check out the first 3-5 ingredients) and I loved the idea that it was shelf stable.
Happy Howl prides itself on creating dog food that’s nutritious and delicious. Made with high-quality, human-grade ingredients, this brand caters to dogs of all sizes and breeds. Happy Howl emphasizes clean eating for pets—no fillers, no artificial flavors, and certainly no low-quality meat by-products.
What I love:
Their recipes are crafted with a focus on proteins like chicken, turkey, and beef, paired with wholesome veggies and grains. What’s more, they make it clear that their food supports gut health, which is vital for a dog’s overall well-being.
At home, I keep it in the refrigerator, but it is also nice for Travel since it’s shelf stable.
One of the proteins is lamb, which I don’t find as easily with other brands, so it’s a nice variety for Piper.
Insider tip: When you order a case of Happy Howl from their website, you also get a long spoon and a clear plastic bag.
You can always use a thrifted long iced tea spoon.
Things to consider:
Though Happy Howl promotes using human-grade food, I don’t think that’s always the biggest point of importance (have you seen what humans eat lately, LOL).
There is dextrose and wheat flour in it although not in the first couple of ingredients.
Piper’s Thoughts:
Piper gets about a quarter of a box for breakfast with a little kibble to make it last longer. She loves all of the flavors equally well.
2. The Farmer’s Dog: Farm Fresh and Fully Balanced
Want the quality of fresh without the hassle of making it yourself? That’s where The Farmer’s Dog comes in. With The Farmer’s Dog, each meal is designed to meet your dog’s individual needs. You fill out a questionnaire about your dog’s size, breed, and dietary concerns, and they deliver ready-to-serve meals to your door.
Insider tip: I am able to share a free box of The Farmer’s Dog with my link here. Risk-free, with no obligations besides canceling it before the next box is sent. This is exactly how we started using it when a friend shared her link with us.
What we love:
Their box of prepackaged foods comes with a container to store it in (albeit it is plastic). It’s shipped frozen and easy to pop in our freezer. I take one out the night before we need it, and put it in the sink until we go to bed. Then it goes into the refrigerator.
The company warns you before your next subscription box is sent, so I can reschedule it for months down the road if we don’t need it right away.
Things to consider:
The ingredients are unique to your dog’s plan. And they add a nutrient blend of vitamins and minerals to each plan. The Farmer’s Dog claims it’s “human-grade proteins, mixed with simple whole foods, and balanced with vitamins and minerals. That’s it. We never use feed-grade ingredients, and we don’t process our ingredients to be shelf-stable.”
Fresh meals are perishable, so you’ll need to store them in the fridge or freezer. This can be a challenge if you have limited space or if you’re always on the go.
Piper’s Thoughts:
This is one of her evening meals along with some kibble. I can stretch a package for 4 evening meals this way.
We have tried all 4 proteins and Piper loves them all equally.
3. Maev: Raw Feeding Made Simple
I never understood why Raw was a thing before I had Piper. But if you want “REAL” ingredients and none of the bad stuff, this is the way to go. That’s why I wanted to try out Maev.
What raw enthusiasts claim is that raw diets can offer benefits, like shinier coats, improved digestion, and better energy levels.
What we love:
I’ve babysat dogs who were fed raw food, and for some reason, all I remember is that it smelled. Maev does not smell. It’s frozen and easy to pour into Piper’s bowl.
This brand also has a subscription service, but they have a fabulous reminder system and it’s easy to reschedule if needed.
Things to consider:
It’s not cheap.
And it’s cold. Because of this, Piper has been known to put it on the floor before eating it or walking around waiting for it to warm up a little.
Piper’s Thoughts:
This is one of her evening meals along with some kibble. One package usually lasts me a good 2 weeks since we alternate her evening meals with The Farmer’s Dog.
4. Sundays: The Shelf-Stable Alternative
While comparing dog foods, it’s only fair to share Sundays also. This air-dried dog food combines the best of both worlds: it has the nutrition of fresh, whole ingredients but the convenience of a shelf-stable product.
Insider tip: With my link, you can get $50 off your first order. Even though Piper is considered medium size, we always get the small size for her because it’s less expensive.
What we love:
I took a screenshot of the ingredients, (see above), for you since we are currently out of this brand in our household. But you have to be impressed with them. Except for the preservative, but how else could it be shelf-stable?
I love the velcro closure on their bag, but it is a big bag. I used to pour a bunch into a smaller container to keep in my indoor refrigerator.
Things to consider:
Sundays claims to be shelf stable enough that you can store it in your cupboard. And you can, however, once it’s opened, I find it better to keep it in the fridge.
Maybe it’s just because it’s SOOO hot here in Arizona, or maybe it’s because we alternate with other dog foods, and thus it takes longer to use up a bag.
Piper’s Thoughts:
Piper got this as a topper on her other food for breakfast. She has only tried the beef and chicken flavors but loved them both.
5. Nom Nom: Fresh Meals Tailored to Your Dog’s Needs
Nom Nom is another fresh dog food delivery service that’s getting a lot of attention for its personalized approach. I’d consider it similar to The Farmer’s Dog, as you provide information about your dog’s weight, breed, and health goals, and Nom Nom delivers pre-portioned meals made from fresh, wholesome ingredients.
What we love:
Nom Nom also includes probiotics in their food, which helps promote a healthy gut microbiome—a huge plus for dogs with sensitive stomachs. The ingredients are pretty clean…except for citric acid.
I also like the packaging since it’s made to be a single serving. Granted, the flip side of that is there is more packaging which isn’t environmentally wonderful.
Things to consider:
I was disappointed to see citric acid in the ingredients. But it’s one reason I like to vary Piper’s food.
Piper’s thoughts:
Again, we ration this out as we do all of Piper’s “wet” food so that the preportioned packages last longer than what the company says. She loves all of the flavors
Supplements: Boosting Your Dog’s Health with Native Pet & Wuffes
As we focus on comparing dog foods, we can’t forget the role of supplements in maintaining a dog’s health, especially as they age or develop specific needs. For Piper’s everyday health, here are the two daily supplements I alternate using on a daily basis.
- Native Pet: Found on Amazon or Chewys, Native Pet specializes in natural, clean supplements. The Daily comes as a powder that I sprinkle on top of Piper’s morning meal.
- Wuffes: Wuffes is all about your dog’s health, with supplements for daily health and joints. They have a very limited variety but it’s all good stuff. In fact, this multivitamin had such great ingredients, that Rob wanted it for himself. This daily supplement comes as a chewable tablet that I put on Piper’s morning meal.
Insider tip: You need to check the ingredients on pet supplements just like you do on human supplements.
Conclusion: Finding the Right Fit for Your Dog
Choosing the best food for your dog ultimately comes down to their individual needs, your Lifestyle, and, of course, your budget.
That’s why I wanted to share about comparing dog foods with the options of fresh, human-grade meals from The Farmer’s Dog, air-dried Sundays, a shelf-stable option of Happy Howl, or the raw benefits of Maev.
Insider tip: I keep a tab on my site that is Just For Pets if you want to explore these and other brands.
Supplements like those from Native Pet and Wuffes can provide extra support, particularly for dogs with specific health concerns.
Remember, no two dogs are the same, so what works for one may not work for another. Don’t hesitate to experiment and see what brings out the best in your furry friend, because at the end of the day, a healthy dog is a happy dog!
This is not the first time I’ve written on the subject of pets.
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