Pet Smart Small Dog Dry Food
Searching for a healthy and risk-free dry pet dog food can be a obstacle! Pet food labels are confusing and also leave crucial details out. We did the legwork for you and also compiled our listing of Best Dry Dog Foods For 2022.
DOG FOOD REVIEW CRITERIA
Each food in this listing has actually been reviewed based on the active ingredient quality as well as component safety and security by DogFoodReviews.com. It’s great to take a look at how much protein and also fat remains in a food, however at the end of the day, the food requires to be safe for your dog to eat ( and also several foods have ingredients that are fairly risky). So each food’s rating is an average of the ingredient top quality as well as the component safety.
Here are some of the criteria we seek:
DOG FOOD INGREDIENT QUALITY
- Does the food have too much carb?
- Are plant sources made use of to increase healthy protein material?
- Does it include unrevealed pet protein?
- Are there too much nutrients added?
- Are free amino acids included in balance poor quality proteins?
- Does it consist of refined or seed oils?
DOG FOOD INGREDIENT SAFETY
- How much handling is associated with making the food?
- Does the food consist of rice?
- Does the food have recognized genetically changed foods?
- Does the food have foods recognized to be high in pesticides?
- Does the food consist of natural taste?
Each food is fairly evaluated making use of these requirements. You can check out the full Evaluation Criteria used to examine the dog foods.
This is NOT a paid checklist and also there are no associate web links. We’ve partnered with Dog Food Reviews to ensure dog owners have objective, unbiased requirements to help them select the most effective completely dry pet dog food on the marketplace.
Since you recognize exactly how we examine the foods, let’s locate the most effective completely dry canine food for 2022. The foods assessed include air-dried, cold-pressed and baked foods, along with even more standard kibbles.
# 1: THE NEW ZEALAND NATURAL PET FOOD CO.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. provides 3 air-dried pet dog food dishes with an ordinary score of 9/10. Each food loses an ingredient security point for modest handling, however this applies to all air-dried foods. On the whole, baked and also air-dried foods may be less processed than kibble, which is taken into consideration an ultra-processed food.
Much better Bones is naturally air dried out bones from grass-fed Australian livestock. It’s the safe as well as all-natural method to stabilize your canine’s raw or residence prepared dishes.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Air-Dried food line averages 47% protein and also 11% carb, as determined.
When it comes to ingredient quality, the resource of carbohydrate comes from foods like bok choy and carrots, which are reduced in starch and also are not high-pesticide or GMO plants. The food likewise consists of a range of meats and organ meats, which supply normally taking place minerals as well as vitamins . There are some added minerals, yet they are high quality and there are less than 5 added, giving this food a ideal score for active ingredient top quality.
There are no lost factors for this, coconut oil is included to this food. It’s worth noting that coconut oil has been linked to increased digestive tract leaks in the structure as well as inflammation in canines in some researches.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. is a tiny firm that utilizes ingredients that are in your area sourced from New Zealand. The company likewise deals with and also offers freeze-dried foods .
At the time of creating, The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. has actually not been recalled.
Sight The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews
# 2: ZIWI PEAK ORIGINAL AIR-DRIED
ziwipeak pet food evaluation POULTRY RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, New Zealand Green Mussel, Chicken Bone, Lecithin, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
Ziwi Peak offers 6 air-dried dog food dishes in their Original line, with an ordinary score of 9/10. Each food loses an ingredient safety and security factor for moderate handling, however this puts on all air-dried foods. Overall, air-dried as well as baked foods may be less refined than kibble, which is considered an ultra-processed food
. Ziwi Peak’s Provenance Air-Dried food line standards 33% protein and 4% carbohydrate, as calculated. Foods which contain less than 15% carbohydrate will certainly not shed factors for too much carbohydrate content as well as this food absolutely is low in carbs. The Original line is fairly high in fat with an average of 24%, and it’s a bit lower in protein than some competing brand names.
When it involves component high quality, the carbohydrate source comes from high and low-starch top quality active ingredients like inulin from chicory and also kelp. Both are low in starch and also are low pesticide or GMO crops. Both are healthy additions. The food likewise has a selection of meats as well as organ meats, which offers normally taking place vitamins and minerals . With that said claimed, there are a handful of included vitamins as well as a number of included minerals, which costs the food an active ingredient top quality factor. The included minerals are high quality as well as organic.
Ziwi Peak came from as a smaller brand name yet has been acquired by FountainVest Partners, a big personal equity company based in China. Although this is not straight pertaining to product high quality, bigger companies tend to have more of an obligation to their capitalists and also item top quality has a tendency to decline in bigger business.
Ziwi Peak has not been remembered at the time of composing.
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 3: ZIWI PEAK PROVENANCE AIR-DRIED.
best dry dog food.
POULTRY RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Whole Kahawai, Duck, Chicken Heart, Turkey, Chicken Necks, Chicken Liver, Whole Eggs, New Zealand Green Mussel, Chicken Bone, Lecithin, Duck Bone, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Dried Apple Pomace, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Turkey Gizzard, Turkey Liver, Turkey Bone, Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Turkey heart, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
Ziwi Peak provides 3 air-dried dog food dishes in their Provenance line, with an average score of 8/10. The Provenance line standards 38% protein and 1% carb, as calculated.
When it concerns component high quality, Provenance loses factors for a large number of added minerals as well as vitamins , which are substandard to food-based micronutrients and also might suggest lower quality active ingredients. With that said claimed, the added minerals are are high and also organic top quality.
When it concerns ingredient security, air-dried foods are moderately refined, so there will certainly be a tiny charge there. Some well-known high-pesticide plant ingredients like apples additionally make an appearance, however further down the component panel so they’re much less of a issue.
Overall, this is a high fat/low carb food with good quality components.
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 4: ZEAL CANADA AIR-DRIED.
best dry canine food.
POULTRY RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken tender, Chicken liver, Bamboo fiber, Dicalcium phosphate, Pumpkin Powder, Salt, Coconut oil, Yeast extract, Yucca Schidigera essence, Parsley, Calcium Carbonate, Green lipped mussel, Magnesium Sulphate, Rosemary remove, Choline, Zinc proteinate, Riboflavin, Selenium yeast, Manganese Proteinate, Copper proteinate, Potassium chloride, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid, Niacin, Folic acid, Vitamin B12, Pyridoxine, Calcium iodate.
Passion Canada offers 5 air-dried pet food dishes, with an typical rating of 7.8/ 10. Like all air-dried foods, each food loses an ingredient safety factor for moderate handling. While air-dried and baked foods might be less processed than kibble, which is thought about an ultra-processed food, there is still processing as well as a possible succeeding loss of phytonutrients.
Passion Canada’s Air-Dried food line averages 38% healthy protein and 12% carb, as calculated. Foods that consist of less than 15% carbohydrate will certainly not shed factors for too much carbohydrate content.
The foods also have lecithin from sunflower, which is a high-pesticide plant– however with that stated, it amounts to a tiny percent of the food. Some foods additionally contain a variety of organ meats, which offers naturally taking place vitamins and also minerals . With that stated, there are several included minerals and also vitamins , which sets you back the food component high quality points.
Passion is a loved one newbie to the pet food market as well as claims their foods are in your area sourced. The food is manufactured in Canada.
Zeal has actually not been remembered at the time of creating.
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 5: SUNDAYS FOR DOGS.
best dry pet food.
POULTRY RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Millet, Oat, Pumpkin, Kale, Ground Bone, Fish Oil, Sea Salt, Flaxseed, Parsley, Turmeric, Chicory Root, Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols, Ginger, Blueberries, Carrots, Apples, Tomatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Broccoli, Oranges, Cranberries, Spinach, Beets, Tart Cherries, Strawberries.
Sundays provides 2 air-dried dog food dishes: poultry as well as beef. The brand uses an typical rating of 7.5/ 10. The Sundays foods typical 36% protein and also 22% carbohydrate, as determined. Foods that contain more than 15% carbohydrate yet less than 30% are taken into consideration moderately high in carbohydrate web content and also will certainly shed a point. The food averages 17% fat, that makes it lower in fat compared to other air-dried foods.
The carbohydrate source for the Beef Recipe is quinoa when it comes to component top quality. This is not a high pesticide plant, although it is high in starch as well as healthy protein. Nevertheless, the Chicken Recipe features 2 recognized high-pesticide foods in the top 5 ingredients: millet and oats. Both of these plants are generally spray-dried with Roundup right prior to harvest, that makes the chemical web content of the food potentially extremely high. Significant active ingredient safety and security points will certainly be lost for the leading 5 components in the Chicken Recipe.
Rounding out ingredient top quality, the Beef Recipe contains fish oil yet the kind and species of fish is not called– and this will set you back a factor. Healthy protein sources should always be named and not common, otherwise it can be presumed the component is reduced high quality.
What we simulate is that the food includes no added vitamins or minerals , which implies the components are or else premium quality.
Besides the high-pesticide foods in the Chicken Recipe, there are no additional points shed, except for the modest quantity of handling for air-dried foods.
Although there are no shed points for this, it needs to be kept in mind that Sundays includes glam components. While it’s desirable to have actually included foods like blueberries, broccoli and also mushrooms, these components all appear after salt on the label, that makes it likely that they are only existing in trace amounts.
Sundays is a little, shop brand name that’s possessed and also created by vet Tory Waxman. The food is made in a USDA monitored cooking area in Ohio.
Sundays has actually not been remembered at the time of composing.
View The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 6: CARNA4 BAKED AIR-DRIED.
best dry dog food.
Carna4 uses 6 foods in their Baked Air-Dried line. The line uses an typical score of 7.3/ 10.
Carna4 averages 28% protein and also 35% carb, which is thought about relatively high in carbohydrate content and also sets you back the food some component quality factors. The food averages 15% fat.
The carbohydrate resource for Carna4 originates from organic sprouted barley seed. While barley is a high chemical plant, the barley is sprouted as well as natural so it will not be spray-dried with Roundup like a lot of barley crops are. Grown grains are additionally more absorbable for dogs and arguably a better component. Several of the dishes do include organic rice, which can be high in arsenic. Non-organic potatoes likewise make an look as well as are a high-pesticide, genetically modified plant. Non-organic, high-pesticide apples likewise appear in some of the foods. Nonetheless, both of these foods are additionally down the component list and also there are no genetically modified or high-pesticide foods in the top 5 ingredients.
Carna4 is one of a handful of completely dry foods that does not consist of any kind of included minerals or vitamins , which indicates better components and also less processing.
There are no extra factors shed, with the exception of the modest amount of processing for air-dried foods.
Carna4 is another little, shop brand as well as it’s the 2nd Canadian firm on our listing. Carna4 is manufactured in an EU certified human pastry shop in Quebec.
Carna4 has actually not been recalled at the time of creating.
Sight The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 7: NATURE’S LOGIC DISTINCTION GRAIN-FREE.
best dry pet dog food.
BEEF RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Beef, Beef Meal, Millet, Pork Fat ( maintained with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Spray Dried Pork Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Yeast Culture, Montmorillonite Clay, Dried Kale, Dried Kelp, Spray Dried Porcine Plasma, Dried Tomato, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Apple, Dried Carrot, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberry, Dried Apricot, Dried Spinach, Dried Broccoli, Dried Parsley, Dried Cranberry, Dried Artichoke, Dried Mushrooms, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract.
Nature’s Logic is the highest ranked kibble n our Top Dry Dog Food checklist. Their Distinction Grain-Free line offers 3 foods with an average score of 7.3/ 10.
Nature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free standards 32% protein as well as 29% carbohydrate, which is thought about higher in carbohydrate content and costs the food an active ingredient high quality point. The food averages 15% fat.
When it concerns active ingredient quality, the carb source is tapioca origin, which is not a high-pesticide plant. Nature’s Logic is one-of-a-kind for a kibble because it includes no included vitamins or minerals , which keeps its active ingredient top quality score quite high. It ought to additionally be kept in mind that it is created utilizing feeding tests and not developed to meet AAFCO minimum demands.
When it comes to active ingredient security, this is a kibble and consists of dishes, making it an ultra-processed food. Extruded foods are warmed four different times throughout production, which will certainly trigger significant losses in some energetic enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Research studies additionally show that ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause death in human beings, so the food does shed some security points below.
There are likewise some high-pesticide components in the food (kale and also spinach), but they appear even more down the label and also are not in the leading 5 ingredients.
Overall, this is our highest ranking kibble and the only really ultra-processed kibble that’s devoid of added minerals and vitamins .
Nature’s Logic started as a little firm win Lincoln, Nebraska and was acquired in 2021 by Mid America Pet Food, which manufactures Victor, Wayne Feeds and also Eagle Mountain. MAPF produces their item in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and it’s thought Nature’s Logic is presently produced in that plant.
Nature’s Logic has actually not been remembered at the time of writing.
Sight The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 8: NATURE’S LOGIC DISTINCTION.
best completely dry dog food.
BEEF RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Beef, Beef Meal, Millet, Pork Fat ( protected with Mixed Tocopherols), Menhaden Fish Meal, Spray Dried Pork Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Yeast Culture, Montmorillonite Clay, Dried Kale, Dried Kelp, Spray Dried Porcine Plasma, Dried Tomato, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Apple, Dried Carrot, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberry, Dried Apricot, Dried Spinach, Dried Broccoli, Dried Parsley, Dried Cranberry, Dried Artichoke, Dried Mushrooms, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract.
With 4 dry foods, Nature’s Logic’s Distinction line has an typical score of 6.9. The foods in this line resemble the Distinction Grain-Free line, with approximately 32% healthy protein, 30% carbohydrate and also 13% fat.
The food is higher in carbohydrate than we want to see, yet still less than many equivalent kibbles. Like all Nature’s Logic foods, this line sports whole food nourishment without included vitamins or minerals .
Like the Distinction Grain-Free Line, Distinction is a kibble and also is ultra-processed. It’s also worth noting that it has dish as its second active ingredient, which is another ultra-processed active ingredient. For kibble buyers that can’t afford air-dried, Nature’s Logic is at the top of our list.
In addition to the handling, the food safety score is dramatically influenced by the incorporation of millet as the carbohydrate source. Like a lot of grains, millet is typically spray-dried with Roundup prior to harvest, making this a really high chemical (herbicide) food. Organic millet would dramatically increase the score of this food.
Sight The Entire Review on Dog Food Reviews.
# 9: ORIJEN ORIGINAL DRY DOG FOOD.
best dry pet dog food.
REGIONAL RED INGREDIENTS: Beef, Wild Boar, Goat, Lamb, Lamb Liver, Beef Liver, Beef Tripe, Wild Boar Liver, Mutton, Whole Mackerel, Pork, Goat Meal, Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Mackerel Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Beef Kidney, Pork Liver, Herring Meal, Mutton Meal, Whole Green Peas, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Navy Beans, Whole Chickpeas, Natural Pork Flavor, Beef Fat, Pollock Oil, Pork Kidney, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Whole Yellow Peas, Lamb Tripe, Wild Boar Heart, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
Orijen deals 9 completely dry foods in their original line. The line has an average score of 6.9 and also averages 38% protein, 20% carb as well as 17% fat.
When it involves ingredient top quality, this food scores moderately high as a result of its reduced carbohydrate content. There are a SMALL number of included minerals and also vitamins , but the minerals are high quality as well as natural. The food also includes a nice variety of healthy proteins and liver.
Like every kibble, Orijen is ultra-processed. Extruded kibbles are heated four different times throughout production, which will certainly trigger significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Research studies additionally reveal that ultra-processed foods are connected to a greater price of all-cause mortality in human beings, so the food does shed some safety points right here.
There are several high-pesticide components in the food, including lentils, apples, chickpeas as well as peas and also this lowers the component security rating. The food additionally consists of all-natural taste, which is frequently animal absorb or MSG. Natural flavor is a poor quality component with limited safety and security researches.
Orijen has the very same ordinary rating as Nature’s Logic Distinction, it’s bumped right into 9th place due to the all-natural taste. This is regrettable given that the food is reduced in carb as well as greater in protein. Nonetheless both are reasonable selections for a kibble.
Orijen is made by Canadian company, Champion Petfoods. It’s manufactured in-house in both Canada and also the United States. It provides mostly ultra-processed kibble, yet additionally has a canned and freeze-dried line.
To date, Orijen dog food has not been recalled in Canada or the United States.
It deserves absolutely nothing that their parent company, Champion Petfoods had actually 2 suits submitted versus it.
In 2020, Animal Equality questioned Champion’s case that the trout in the ACANA line was wild caught when it was determined by the AE company as farmed fish. The match was fixed with Champion Petfoods changing their advertising insurance claims and also encouraging far better openness in its fish sourcing.
Likewise in 2020, the Organic Consumers Association sued Champion Petfoods for misleading advertising and marketing under both the ACANA and also Orijen brand names. The organization declared that declarations such as “free-run” poultry were misleading. This situation has actually likewise been fixed with Champion Petfoods making changes to their product packaging and also marketing.
It’s fine to look at how much protein and fat is in a food, yet at the end of the day, the food needs to be safe for your pet dog to eat (and numerous foods have active ingredients that are fairly hazardous). Like all air-dried foods, each food sheds an component safety point for moderate handling. The foods additionally contain lecithin from sunflower, which is a high-pesticide plant– however with that stated, it amounts to a small portion of the food. Research studies additionally show that ultra-processed foods are connected to a higher rate of all-cause death in humans, so the food does shed some safety points below.
Researches additionally show that ultra-processed foods are connected to a greater price of all-cause mortality in people, so the food does lose some security points below.