I always say how about I tell you what not to buy and why. Buying dog food can be very overwhelming and confusing. The biggest question you need to ask yourself is, what can you afford? I know a Rolls Royce is a better ride, but I can’t afford one. The best food to feed your dog probably isn’t going to be seen on a TV commercial or found in a grocery store. Lots of dog food companies spend a small fortune on cool packaging and making commercials. Don’t judge a book by its cover. While they promise you their food is the best now, try reading the ingredient list.

Reading the label is the best place to start. That being said, reading a label can be pretty tricky. Cracked corn and corn gluten is still corn, so by breaking it down into different names it doesn’t have to be listed as the first ingredient listed according to weight. Did you ever hear garbage in garbage out? Just because your dog loves his food doesn’t mean it’s really the best food for him. If you feed your child candy bars at every meal your child would be happy. However, they would eventually have some sort of behavioral and or health problems creep up because of bad nutrition.

I always suggest an all-natural food to start, no artificial dyes, flavor or preservatives. For dry kibble, look at the first ingredient, it should be an identifiable meat like chicken, salmon, or lamb – not poultry, fish, or meat. There is more of whatever is listed first on the ingredients list than anything else on the label; so, the first ingredient on a dog food label should be an identifiable meat. By-products are basically anything but the “oink”, so steer clear. Highest protein isn’t always best. If you have a working or very athletic dog, you’ll want a high protein. Remember to check the fat percentage. Couch potatoes don’t need that much fat. Always check the manufacturing date and Best by Date to get the freshest product. Grain-free doesn’t mean your dog’s food has more meat. Grain-free has recently been linked to heart disease in dogs. Always ask your veterinarian! You’ll have to take your dog’s age, breed, size, weight, and activity level into account when choosing a food. This information should help you get started in your search.