Now that you’re familiar with some of the best dog food options, you might be wondering exactly how to make your decision. Below we go into detail about some of the factors you might want to consider when choosing the food that best fits your pooch.

Ingredient Quality

Though all of the foods listed above contain quality ingredients, some contain ingredients that are a cut above the rest, but not surprisingly, that comes with a higher price tag. Overall, you want to look for dog foods from companies that are transparent about their ingredients and don’t contain preservatives, anything artificial or unnecessary fillers. Just like the food you eat yourself, fresh is best.

Vet-Developed Formulas

In order to ensure your dog is getting a complete and nutritious diet, their food should be balanced, developed by an agrologist, veterinarian, or pet formulation specialist, and meet nutrition guidelines, like those provided by AAFCO. Otherwise, you might find yourself needing to include special supplements into their meals, which adds additional cost, can be inconvenient – and let’s face it, you’re simply not an expert. We prefer companies that include a vitamin mix in their recipes to ensure all your dog’s nutritional needs are met from the jump.

Health Concerns

Depending on your dog’s life stage, body composition, breed, and whether or not they have any specific health issues, you’ll want to ensure that the food you chose will meet their needs. With companies that allow you to create custom meal plans, you can feel good knowing that your dog’s age, breed, weight and activity level will all be taken into account when determining their recipes as well as portion size.

However, if your dog suffers from specific health concerns, like diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, or arthritis, it’s best to have a look at the recipe’s nutritional information (specifically, the amount of carbs, fat and protein) and discuss with your veterinarian. Many dog food companies have food that caters to specific health concerns, so it’s always best to reach out and ask. If companies aren’t transparent about sharing their ingredients or nutrient profiles, that’s definitely a red flag.

Personalization

It may or may not be important for you to have a personalized meal plan built just for your dog, but it sure takes out all the guesswork and makes feeding your dog healthy food incredibly easy. While some companies give you meal packs in a standard size (either 0.5 lbs or 1 lbs) and tell you how much to feed, others truly personalize even the meal pack size, providing truly pre-portioned meal packs. With standard meal packs, you might be stuck leaving the leftover food in the fridge for days, making it not-so-fresh by the time it hits the bowl. It’s also worth considering how easy it is to make changes to your meal plan and how reliable the customer service is.

Delivery Service

If you’re tired of running out of food or running to the pet store in the middle of winter, dog food companies that provide delivery service can be very convenient. The personalized meal plan services automatically send food when you’re scheduled to run out, so you don’t even need to place a new order. Some companies offer free delivery in many parts of Canada, so keep this in mind as you’re making your choice.

Price

Depending on the quality of the product and service you’re looking for, there will be some differences in price. Not surprisingly, the more premium the food and the more personalized and convenient the service, the more you can expect to pay. It’s worthwhile to think about the best value for your money depending on your needs and lifestyle. For example, do you prefer having a meal plan that’s personalized and truly pre-portioned rather than having to portion it out yourself? Do you value having food delivered to your door instead of visiting the pet shop when you run out? Take these things into consideration when making your selection.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing healthy, nutritious food for your dog, there are several companies that provide great offerings. Depending on what you value, your budget, and your lifestyle, one company might be a better fit for you than another.

For us, NutriCanine came out on top because of its unparalleled quality, convenient and personalized service, reasonable price and free delivery options in many parts of Canada. Overall, we felt that this made NutriCanine the best value option out there.

NutriCanine the only option that actually pre-portion their food, tailoring the meal pack size to your individual dog. Since dog obesity is the most common preventable disease in dogs, with over 50% of dogs in North American being overweight,, we feel that ensuring your dog is truly getting the right portion is of the utmost importance in combating weight issues – and having pre-portioned meal packs ensure this. Additionally, NutriCanine all-in-one meal solutions that contain vitamin mixes and don’t require additional supplements or broths. However, we found the NutriCanine’s quality was better and it came in at a more affordable price point.

No matter what company you choose, remember that deciding the proper nutrition for your furry family member shouldn’t be taken lightly, as diet is a prominent contributor to their overall health and longevity.