“What food is best for my dog?” is surprisingly one of the most frequent questions we get asked as professional dog trainers. And the answer really is simple: The best food for your dog is going to be the one that your dog eats consistently, matches their lifestyle, and has healthy, quality ingredients.
Low quality food can lead to low quality behavior. As professionals, it is our job to recommend higher quality food to our clients to minimize all potential outside factors that could be contributing to problem behaviors. Too many processed ingredients can lead to hyperarousal, low stress tolerance, anxiety, and many other behaviors that would make an owner believe their dog is just “badly behaved”. Don’t get me wrong: changing your dog’s food won’t reliably change their overall behavior and demeanor, but it’ll at least ensure your dog’s body and brain is functioning as it should be, so that your training can be more effective and long-lasting.
The first step in finding a good dog food is reading the nutrition label. The first ingredient in your dog’s food should be a source of protein, such as: chicken, beef, salmon, cod, lamb, etc. This ingredient is the most important, as it makes up the bulk of the food. You also want to avoid foods with excess artificial ingredients/colors, fillers, and preservatives. If your dog’s kibble has shades of red, green, or blue, ditch it!
Excess artificial coloring can lead to increase energy levels, anxiety, and other problem behaviors.
Next: Take into account the percentage of protein, fats, and carbs in the food you’re interested in purchasing. This breakdown of macronutrients should match your dog’s lifestyle, or it could lead to weight gain or weight loss, metabolism changes, bodily dysfunction, too low or too high energy, etc. Check the nutritional adequacy statement (AAFCO statement) on the label to make sure the food is formulated to meet your dog’s needs.
And lastly, take into account your dog’s personal needs. If they have sensitive skin, a fish-based product would be best. If they are older and have weaker joints, a food rich in Glucosamine may be best. Every dog is an individual and requires a certain amount of finesse to find the perfect, well-balanced diet.
Learn more about how to read nutrition labels here: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-buy-the-best-dog-food/.
Some brands do we recommend:
- Kibble (for all price ranges): Open Farm, Farmina, The Honest Kitchen, Purina Pro Plan, 4Health, Merrick, Stella & Chewy’s, Acana, Orijen, Diamond Naturals, Nature’s Logic, Nulo, Canidae
- Raw/Fresh: Farmer’s Dog, JustFoodForDogs, Ollie Fresh, NomNom, Fresh Pet
Some brands we don’t recommend:
- Purina Dog Chow, Pedigree, Hills Science Diet, Gravy Train, Iams, Cesars, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Beneful
