Dog Food 101: What’s For Dinner? 5 Main Types of Dog Food to Choose From
Stephanie Wan Editorial Date:Mealtime is one of your dog’s favourite times of the day, and we hope we can make it yours too by helping you provide delicious and nutritious meals that will keep your furry friends healthy and strong.
We know there are many things to consider when choosing the right food for your dog. From nutritional value to satisfying your dog’s taste buds to convenience for pawrents, it can be a little overwhelming to navigate the sea of available foods for dogs.
Here is an introduction to 5 main types of dog food to choose from, helping you find the best options for your family.
1. Dry Food
Benefits of dry dog food:
- Easy storage and zero prep time
- A complete and balanced meal every time
Dry food or kibble is the most traditional dog food and is a convenient and affordable way to feed your dog a healthy diet. Storage is simple and zero prep time is required. Just pour directly from bag to bowl! Dry food provides a complete and balanced meal for your dog so you don’t have to worry about any vitamin or nutrient deficiencies. Brands like the Canidae Pure range are made from wholesome ingredients and offer a variety of flavours to rotate your dog’s diet on, and can meet the needs of dogs from every life stage. Orijen dry food focuses on biologically appropriate food to provide your dog with the protein-rich meals they were born to eat. Wellness Core offers high-quality animal protein diets wrapped up in a delicious package. All kibble at Whiskers N Paws are made from natural and wholesome ingredients to give your dog a reliable and healthy meal.
Make sure that fresh water is available for your dog at all times so that they can stay hydrated along with their meals. To encourage them to drink more, add a squeeze of Nulo’s Water Enhancer to their water bowl to give it a flavourful and nutritional boost!
2. Canned Food
Benefits of canned dog food:- Delicious flavour
- High water content
- A great food topper
Canned and wet dog food has a strong aroma and delicious flavour, perfect for any picky eaters or for adding something special to every meal. It contains high water content and helps keep your pup hydrated. It is great for pairing with kibble as a topper, and some can even be fed as a complete and balanced meal. Check the label to confirm! Try out the Wellness Venison and Salmon Stew with Potatoes and Carrots for a meaty stew with vegetables made with natural whole ingredients, or a Ziwipeak Moist Can for a single protein meal to improve appetite and digestion.
Shop canned wet dog food here.
3. Freeze-Dried Food
Benefits of freeze-dried dog food:
- Convenient way to feed raw foods
- Easy storage and handling
- Can be used as a snack, topper, or complete meal
- Easily crumbled into smaller pieces for puppies and seniors
Freeze-dried dog foods are a great way to introduce your pup to a raw food diet. Raw food mimics what your dog would eat in the wild and because nothing is cooked, the natural nutrients of every protein, vitamin and mineral are preserved. Freeze-dried foods are flash frozen to remove moisture and no heat is applied, making it a convenient way to add some raw food to your dog’s meals without having to handle actual raw meat. It has a long shelf-life and can simply be stored at room temperature. Nature's Variety Instinct Rawboost Mixers are a delicious treat made from raw, wholesome ingredients full of nutrients and flavour. Northwest Naturals and K9 Natural have a wide range of flavours for you to choose from and are easily breakable to make feeding easier for puppies and senior dogs looking for a smaller bite. They are a versatile treat that can be used as a snack, topper, or complete meal! Make sure your dog has access to fresh water and let them enjoy the natural goodness of freeze-dried dog food.
Shop freeze-dried dog food here.
4. Frozen Food
Benefits of frozen dog food:
- Raw food to provide minimally processed, natural nutrition
- A meat-rich diet
- Simply defrost and serve
For those determined to feed a true raw diet, frozen food makes things easy. All the raw ingredients are prepared and stored in the freezer for you, so you only have to defrost and serve. Dr. Billinghurst's BARF frozen food is a multi-protein source raw food, providing a complete and balanced meal without adding additional synthetic vitamins. All its nutrients are derived from meats, fruits and vegetables. Big Dog Frozen Food offers a single protein kangaroo meal which is a great low fat option for pups with food allergies. Each serving is pre-portioned for easy defrosting. For even more flexibility you can choose from kibble size, nuggets, or patties from Primal Pet Foods Inc. Frozen food is great for pawrents who are looking for a meat-rich diet for their dogs!.
5. Dehydrated Food
Benefits of frozen dog food:
- Raw food to provide minimally processed, natural nutrition
- A meat-rich diet
- Simply defrost and serve
Dehydrated food is something in between kibble and a raw diet. The ingredients are gently heated, slowly cooking the proteins and killing bacteria without compromising nutritional value. Simply rehydrate with water or broth and the meal is ready to serve! Dehydrated food does not require refrigeration, and the extra water content is great for dogs who need a little help to stay hydrated. Honest Kitchen is one of our favourite brands, made with human-grade and responsibly sourced ingredients. After mixing with water it forms a soft paste that is great for dogs who have trouble chewing their food. Ziwipeak and Nutrience offer another form of dehydrated food, with a gently air-dried formula that removes bacteria while locking in the goodness and deliciousness of their raw ingredients.
Shop dehydrated dog food here.
Remember that hydration is just as important for dogs as it is for humans! No matter which type of food you choose, always make sure fresh water is within easy reach of your furry friends.
Whiskers N Paws only offers food choices made with wholesome natural ingredients. Our products are hand-picked with care because we are fur parents too!. And with free delivery over $300, we can deliver your dog’s healthy meals straight to your door.! Shop Whiskers N Paws to find the best dog food for your furry friend.
