10 Best Dry Dog Foods in Australia – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Shopping for dog food in Australia can be stressful because there are so many options. It’s difficult to separate high-quality food from low-quality food, and the wide variety of specialized diets can make the process even more confusing.

To make the process easier for you, we’ve done our own research on some of the most popular dog foods in Australia. Our reviews provide valuable information on different dog food brands to help you determine which one is best for your dog.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, make sure to read through our reviews. You can also refer to our buyer’s guide to help you identify high-quality dog food and differentiate it from low-quality food.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorite Picks in 2024

The 10 Best Dry Dog Foods in Australia

1. Meals for Mutts Salmon & Sardine Dry Dog Food – Best Overall

Meals for Mutts Salmon & Sardine Dry Dog Food is the best overall dry dog food in Australia for several reasons. First, the recipe is very clean and simple and uses nutritious, natural ingredients. Real salmon and sardine are the first ingredients, which are excellent sources of omega fatty acids.

This dog food has a hypoallergenic formula, so it’s a great option for dogs with common food allergies or sensitivities. It doesn’t contain any beef, chicken, or dairy products. It’s also gluten-free.

The addition of coconut oil, prebiotics, probiotics, and omega fatty acids also helps to moisturize dry skin and nourish the skin and coat. This dog food is nutrient-dense, and the formula has balanced nutrient ratios for optimal absorption so that your dog is getting the most out of its food.

While this dog food is great for almost any kind of dog, it does have a lower percentage of crude protein. It may not be sufficient for high-energy dogs. So, if you have an active dog, make sure to consult with your veterinarian before making the switch.

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2. Purina Supercoat True Origin Salmon and Ocean Fish Dry Dog Food – Best Value

This Purina Supercoat dog food is the best dry dog food in Australia for the money, and it hardly sacrifices quality. While it may contain small amounts of poultry by-products, Salmon and ocean fish are the first ingredients. It’s also a high-protein meal and contains all the essential vitamins and minerals to nourish and sustain your dog as it goes about its day.

The formula includes antioxidants to strengthen the immune system and omega-3 fatty acids to support joint health and the skin and coat. The whole grains in the recipe are also great sources of fiber and can promote healthy digestion.

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3. Acana Grain-Free Adult Dog Food, Light & Fit Recipe – Premium Choice

This Acana dog food is a premium option that provides one of the most nutritious meals you can find for dogs. It’s a high-protein diet that contains natural sources of meat-based proteins rather than plant-based proteins. Chicken and turkey are the first two ingredients, and you’ll also find other healthy sources of protein, like chicken liver, turkey liver, and herring meal. This recipe is also free of any beef products, so it’s a safe option for dogs with a beef allergy.

The ingredient list also contains other natural ingredients, like pumpkins, apples, and collard greens. All the kibble is also coated with an extra layer of freeze-dried chicken and turkey, making it very appetizing to picky dogs.

As responsible dog owners, it’s important to keep in mind that high-protein and grain-free dog food isn’t always the best option for dogs. The FDA is currently investigating links between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy. Legumes are also under investigation, and this recipe contains a wide variety of legumes, including lentils, peas, pinto beans, and chickpeas.

This recipe also contains a relatively large percentage of protein, which is great for high-energy dogs, but it may be too much for average companion dogs. So, don’t forget to speak with your veterinarian to see if a very high-protein diet or grain-free diet is appropriate for your dog.

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4. Purina Pro Plan Healthy Growth & Development Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies

Puppies have special nutritional needs for healthy growth and development. This Purina Pro Plan dog food provides reliable, complete and balanced meals that set up a strong foundation for your puppy. Real chicken is the first ingredient, and it also contains nutritious whole grains.

The formula is designed to boost the immune system, and it also contains DHA from fish oil, which is essential for brain and vision development. Since puppies tend to have more sensitive stomachs than adults, the recipe contains highly digestible ingredients that are easy on the stomach and maximize nutrient absorption.

One thing to keep in mind is that this recipe contains animal digest, which is often used to enhance the flavor of pet food. It’s a bit of an ambiguous ingredient, but it’s safe for dogs to eat. However, particularly picky puppies may not enjoy the flavor of this dog food.

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5. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet stays true to the brand’s reputation and doesn’t disappoint.

With nearly half of pet dogs in Australia being overweight, helping dogs maintain a healthy weight is a top priority for dog owners. When paired with a consistent exercise regimen, this recipe can help dogs get back to a healthy body weight. It’s packed with savory chicken flavor that’s irresistible to dogs and contains natural sources of fiber to help dogs feel fuller for longer.

Dogs can shed fat with this recipe, and you don’t have to worry about losing muscle mass. Chicken is the first ingredient, and it’s a healthy source of protein that can also support lean muscle maintenance.

This research-based diet is sure to bring in results, but the brand is relatively expensive. So, you’ll have to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option.

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6. Black Hawk Lamb and Rice Adult and Senior Dry Dog Food

This Black Hawk recipe is suitable for both adult and senior dogs, so if your dog enjoys it, you don’t have to worry about making meal transitions throughout its lifetime. Lamb meal is the first ingredient, which is a great source of protein. It’s also a natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine, which can help with arthritis and joint pain.

The recipe contains omega fatty acids to reduce inflammation and maintain healthy skin and coat. It includes nutritious fruits and vegetables to boost the immune system.

While many lamb recipes are often marketed as hypoallergenic meals, this particular recipe isn’t a viable option for dogs with food allergies. It contains chicken meal, fish meal, and egg powder. So, there’s a chance that your dog may not be able to properly digest it if it has food sensitivities.

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7. Ivory Coat Mature Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food

This Ivory Coat dog food recipe is a great option for dogs over 7 years old. While any dog breed can enjoy this food, it’s particularly good for large dog breeds. It contains prebiotics derived from natural sources, which help with gut health and digestion. The recipe also includes yucca extract to help control and reduce stool odors.

The first ingredient is salmon meal, which is an excellent source of omega fatty acids to support the immune system and skin and coat. The second ingredient is brown rice, and it contains beneficial fibers to further help with digestion.

While this recipe contains a well-rounded blend of natural ingredients, lentils are pretty high on the ingredient list. Due to the investigation of legumes by the FDA, this recipe may not be the best option for dogs susceptible to heart disease.

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8. Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Taste of the Wild produces a wide variety of grain-free recipes. This particular recipe only contains poultry and fish products, so it’s a considerable choice for dogs with beef allergies and wheat allergies.

You’ll find a lot of flavors in this recipe that dogs will enjoy. It contains a savory assortment of poultry, including duck, chicken, quail, and turkey. It also has tasty natural carbohydrates, like sweet potatoes and potatoes.

This dog food contains a lot of protein, so it’s perfect for active and energetic dogs. However, it may be too much for some dogs and cause unnecessary weight gain. So, if you have a relatively calm dog with moderate exercise needs, it may not need to eat this high-protein dog food.

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9. Stockman & Paddock High-Performance Dry Beef Food for Working Dog

If you have a working dog, this high-performance meal is a considerable budget-friendly option. It contains a good amount of protein and fat to help dogs perform throughout the day. It may even be an appropriate diet for some dogs that need to gain weight. However, if you have moderate or low-energy dogs, they may quickly become overweight with this recipe.

The first ingredient is beef meal, which is denser and contains more protein than whole cuts of beef. The recipe contains natural sources of prebiotics to support gut health and digestion. It also incorporates flaxseed and fish oil, which are excellent sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

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10. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food, Fish and Brown Rice Recipe

While Blue Buffalo dog food may be a little more challenging to come by in Australia, you can find a lot of good recipes for all kinds of dogs that have been produced by Blue Buffalo. This recipe is highly nutritious and contains a healthy variety of natural ingredients, like fish, whole grains, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

The formula includes glucosamine for joint health and mobility and omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. It also has chelated minerals and antioxidants that work to strengthen the immune system.

Keep in mind that this recipe does contain chicken meal and chicken fat, even if the name doesn’t include poultry. So, it’s not a good option for dogs with chicken allergies.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Dry Dog Foods in Australia

While both dogs and humans are omnivores, they still have completely different nutritional needs to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to know what your dog needs and what kinds of dog food will help meet those needs. Here are some key factors to help you navigate the ever-expanding world of dog food.

High-Quality Protein

Protein is the main energy source for dogs, and animal meat contains essential nutrients, like taurine, that dogs can not synthesize on their own. High-quality proteins used in dog food are real animal meat and specified meat meals, like chicken meal or lamb meal. It’s best to avoid dog food that uses animal by-product meals as its main ingredient. Animal by-product meals are ambiguous, and their actual nutritional value is unclear.

Dog food must also contain a decent percentage of dog food. You can find the amount of protein in dog food by looking for its crude protein percentage. Dogs require varying amounts of protein depending on their life stage and breed.

In general, puppies and small dog breeds need to consume more protein than average adult dogs and senior dogs. Athletic and working dogs must also eat high-protein meals. The minimum requirement for protein in dog food is 18%. Anything lower cannot sustain a dog’s daily bodily functioning.

On the other hand, excessive protein can be harmful to dogs. Dogs typically don’t need their diets to contain more than 30% protein, especially if they are athletes or working dogs.

Whole Foods

Dry dog foods will either use natural foods or synthetic blends to include essential vitamins and minerals in their formulas. While the efficiency of nutrient absorption is still being debated, natural foods are viewed as the safer option because there’s more transparency and clarity on where your dog is getting its nutrients.

So, high-quality dog food will use a blend of natural, whole foods. Common nutritious fruits and vegetables you’ll find in dog food include the following:

As mentioned in our reviews, legumes are nutritious, but they may also be unsafe for dogs to eat if they’re not cooked properly or if they eat large quantities of them. So, it’s important to be wary of foods that place legumes pretty high up on their ingredient lists.

Special Diets

These days, you can find a wide assortment of special diets. Dog food companies will use different marketing tactics to make their food seem healthier. However, there are some gimmicks that you can see past so that you can purchase dog food at reasonable prices.

First, grain-free diets have become extremely popular over the years. However, they’re not always the best option for dogs. Dogs can eat and digest grains safely, and they’re also a great source of energy and nutrients. There’s really no need to omit grains from a dog’s diet unless they have an allergic reaction or consistently get an upset stomach.

Another popular term that dog food companies will use is “human-grade” dog food. There are no regulations for human-grade dog food, so some dog food companies will use the term more flippantly than others. So, it’s important to check the ingredient list and guaranteed analysis to determine the quality of the food rather than the descriptive words used for advertising purposes.

Some dog food may be categorized as hypoallergenic. However, this term also isn’t regulated. A good hypoallergenic diet will contain a single source of protein and a limited list of ingredients that are also easily digestible. If your dog has severe food allergies, you can also look into food that uses more novelty meat, like duck, lamb, or venison.

The best way to determine your dog’s nutritional needs is to consult with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can give you trusted advice on if your dog needs a special diet and help you narrow down your choices.

Conclusion

Based on our reviews, Meals for Mutts Salmon & Sardine Dry Dog Food is the best dry dog food in Australia because of its clean ingredient list and truly hypoallergenic formula. Purina Supercoat True Origin Salmon and Ocean Fish Dry Dog Food is a great budget-friendly option that provides a complete and balanced meal for adult dogs.

If you’re looking for a reliable premium recipe, Acana Grain-Free Adult Dog Food, Light & Fit Recipe is a considerable choice because it’s nutritious and helps dogs maintain a healthy body weight. Last but not least is Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food. It’s a favorite because the formula is backed by research and science to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients it needs.

Finding the right food for your dog can be challenging, but you can simplify your search by focusing on a few key factors. Your veterinarian will also be a valuable resource to help you identify your dog’s unique nutritional needs and find a diet that meets those needs.