15 Most Popular Dog Food Brands (2024 Update)
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With hundreds of pet food brands on the market—and numerous product lines—it can be extremely challenging to find the right food for your dog. There are many factors to consider, including your dog’s size, age, general health, activity level, and more.
Your vet is your best resource for determining the ideal brand and recipe for your dog, but you can do some homework. Here are the 15 most popular dog food brands, their product lines, and what they have to offer.
Top 15 Most Popular Dog Food Brands
1. Purina
| Umbrella Brand | Nestle |
| Product Lines | Pro Plan, Dog Chow, Beneful, One, Friskies |
| Prescription Diet Options | Yes |
Nestle Purina PetCare, known as Purina, is one of the oldest pet food companies on the market. A subsidiary of the Swiss corporation Nestle, Purina produces livestock and pet food, treats, and litter with some of the most popular product lines on the market. Purina Pro Plan, the company’s premium product line, is one of the most recommended by veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists for its research-backed recipes. Purina also offers a range of diet options, including prescription diets catering to a variety of health issues.
2. Royal Canin
| Umbrella Brand | Mars, Incorporated |
| Product Lines | Breed-specific, size-specific, multiple proteins |
| Prescription Diet Options | Yes |
The Royal Canin is a French manufacturer and global supplier of dog and cat food. A subsidiary of Mars Incorporation, Royal Canin was established by a French veterinary surgeon after he treated skin and coat conditions successfully with a prepared diet. Royal Canin was the first to manufacture dry pet food using an extruder in France and sold primarily to breeders before expanding into the pet market. Like Purina, Royal Canin is backed by peer-reviewed scientific research and offers 260 different formulas, including prescription and specialty diets.
3. Hill’s Science Diet
| Umbrella Brand | Colgate-Palmolive |
| Product Lines | Science Diet, Prescription Diet |
| Prescription Diet Options | Yes |
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., marketed as Hill’s Science Diet, is an American pet food company that produces dog and cat foods as a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. It’s been in operation since 1907, originally producing livestock feed and dog food. Later, it would produce Canine k/d, which would eventually become Hill’s Science Diet. Now, Hill’s makes over 260 individual product lines, including breed- and life-stage food formulas and prescription diets that are only available with a veterinary prescription.
4. Nutro
| Umbrella Brand | Mars Incorporated |
| Product Lines | Max, Wholesome Essentials, Ultra, Wild Frontier, Crave |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
The Nutro Company, Inc., known commonly as Nutro, is a subsidiary company of Mars Incorporated. Headquartered in Tennessee, Nutro produces a range of products, including Max, Wholesome Essentials, Ultra, Wild Frontier, and Crave in canned, soft, and dry kibble varieties. Each line has a range of flavors and formulations for different life stages.
5. Iams
| Umbrella Brand | Spectrum, Mars, Incorporated |
| Product Lines | Proactive Health, Minichunks, Perfect Portions, Advanced Health |
| Prescription Diet Options | Yes |
Iams is an American dog and cat food brand manufactured by Spectrum Brands in Europe and Mars, Incorporated worldwide. Paul Iams, an animal nutritionist, developed the brand in the 1940s when pets were given only table scraps. It was the world’s first animal-based protein dry dog food, which expanded into numerous product lines for puppies and kittens, adults, and mature pets. Iams conducts testing in pet owners’ homes and in P&G Pet Care’s Pet Health & Nutrition Center to ensure adequate nutrition.
6. Pedigree
| Umbrella Brand | Mars, Incorporated |
| Product Lines | Pedigree, Whiskas, Pal, Kit-E-Kat |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
Pedigree Petfoods, known as Pedigree, is a subsidiary of Mars Incorporated, and produces the popular Pedigree and Whiskas food lines, as well as Pal and Kit-E-Kat. Pedigree offers lines for all life stages and different specialty needs, as well as treats for dogs and cats.
7. Eukanuba
| Umbrella Brand | Mars, Incorporated |
| Product Lines | Premium Performance, Fit Body, general |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
Eukanuba is a dog and cat food brand owned and manufactured by Mars, Incorporated. Paul Iams originally created Eukanuba to differentiate new formulas from Iams. Now, the brand offers 17 dog food lines and 13 cat food lines. As a sponsor of canine sports, one of its specialties is performance and fitness foods for active dogs.
8. Wellness
| Umbrella Brand | Wellness Pet Company |
| Product Lines | Wellness Natural, Old Mother Hubbard by Wellness, Whimzees by Wellness, Sojos, Eagle Pack, Holistic Select |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
The Wellness Pet Food Company began as Old Mother Hubbard in 1926. As an offshoot of the A. Hubbard and Sons Bakery in Massachusetts, the company started making dog biscuits. Jim Scott Jr., an animal nutritionist, began working with a team of nutrition experts to develop the Wellness brand of dog and cat foods. Along with wet and dry foods throughout different product lines, Wellness produces Bowl Boosters food toppers, nutritional supplements, and other products.
9. Farmer’s Dog
| Umbrella Brand | Farmer’s Dog |
| Product Lines | Farmer’s Dog |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
The Farmer’s Dog is a newer, privately held company founded in 2014 by Jonathan Regev and Brett Podolsky. It offers a unique subscription service that provides fresh, balanced pet food using ingredients fit for human consumption. Despite being a newcomer on the market, Farmer’s Dog recipes are developed by a board-certified animal nutritionist and are recommended by many vets. Rather than offering different product lines, Farmer’s Dog formulas use simple, custom-portioned recipes.
10. Diamond Naturals
| Umbrella Brand | Diamond Pet Foods |
| Product Lines | Diamond Naturals |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
Diamond Naturals is a dog food brand owned by Diamond Pet Foods, a family-owned company that produces pet food and other food products. The brand produces both dry and canned dog and cat foods for all life stages and different breed sizes or dietary needs.
11. Spot and Tango
| Umbrella Brand | Spot and Tango |
| Product Lines | UnKibble |
| Prescription Diet Options | Small yards and patios |
Like Farmer’s Dog, Spot and Tango is a newer company that offers fresh, personalized dog food as part of a prescription plan. The company’s line, UnKibble, comes in several recipes and features fresh, human-edible ingredients. Recipes and portions are recommended based on a profile of the individual dog’s breed, size, activity level, and health conditions.
12. Freshpet
| Umbrella Brand | Freshpet |
| Product Lines | Freshpet, Dog Joy, DogNation, Spring & Sprout, Vital, Homestyle Creations, Nature’s Fresh |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
Freshpet is an American pet food company that offers dog and cat food products that use fresh ingredients that must be refrigerated. Along with its flagship brand, the company produces Dog Joy, DogNation, Spring & Sprout, Vital, Homestyle Creations, and Nature’s Fresh lines.
13. Taste of the Wild
| Umbrella Brand | Diamond Pet Foods |
| Product Lines | Taste of the Wild, Taste of the Wild PREY |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
Taste of the Wild is a brand of dog and cat food that’s manufactured under Diamond Pet Foods. It features a range of food for all life stages, utilizing ingredients that mimic a more “natural diet,” including salmon, wild boar, duck, venison, ancient grains, and seeds.
14. Orijen
| Umbrella Brand | Orijen |
| Product Lines | Orijen, Freeze-Dried |
| Prescription Diet Options | No |
Orijen is a premium dog and cat food brand that’s privately owned and distributed in 70 countries. Along with dry kibble formulas for all life stages with a range of protein sources, Orijen produces three varieties of Freeze-Dried foods and treats for dogs and cats.
15. Blue Buffalo
| Umbrella Brand | Blue Buffalo |
| Product Lines | Life Protection Formula, Wilderness, Basics, Freedom, True Solutions, Natural Veterinary, Baby BLUE (puppy) |
| Prescription Diet Options | Yes |
Blue Buffalo was developed by Bill Bishop and his sons to offer high-quality nutrition to their dog, Blue, an Airedale Terrier. The company began in 2003 and features wholesome ingredients that were unavailable in competitor brands at the time. Now, Blue Buffalo offers seven product lines and formulas designed for a range of life stages.
How to Choose the Right Dog Food
Pet owners are truly spoiled for choice with dog food options, but not every brand is ideal for every dog. Dogs evolved alongside humans and aren’t strict carnivores, so they need a combination of meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Dog foods follow guidelines from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profiles to ensure they’re complete and balanced for dogs. In addition, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) offers questions you can ask a representative of your dog food brand to ensure you’re giving your dog the best nutrition.
Though all dogs have general nutritional needs, their individual needs can vary. For example, small and large breed dogs have different nutritional needs, particularly as puppies, and do well on formulas designed to support them. Dogs with health conditions also benefit from formulas that offer additional nutrition, such as joint formulas for dogs prone to arthritis. Once your dog ages, you may need a senior formula to help with weight control and overall health.
Your veterinarian is the best resource for your individual dog’s nutrition requirements based on their health, breed, size, and history. Always speak to your vet before making big changes to your dog’s diet to ensure you’re providing ideal nutrition.
Conclusion
Dog food brands and product lines offer literally thousands of choices that pet owners must navigate. The brands on this list are the most popular for their history, commitment to nutritional science, or product offerings, but you should always consult with your vet when choosing the best food for your dog.
- Related Read: Best Dog Foods at Target – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: dogboxstudio, Shutterstock
