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

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

dog feeding_Shutterstock_Jaromir Chalabala

Most people are familiar with the saying, “You are what you eat,” but how many of us have ever stopped to consider that the saying is as equally true for our dogs as it is for us?

According to veterinarian Dr. Lisa Chimes, co-author of the book, “Simple Dog Care: 7 Steps to a Happy Healthy Dog,” when it comes to feeding our four-legged friends, many of us fall into two distinct categories:

  • The set and forgetters, who after purchasing their new dog, simply keep feeding them whatever food the breeder or store owner told them that they feed their dogs, giving little thought to the changing dietary needs of their pet throughout their lifetime.
  • The switchers, constantly switch foods based on whatever brand or type is on sale at the time.

Neither of these two groups is giving any thought to the nutritional needs of their dogs, but how do you choose the best dog food for your pet? With so many different brands and flavors of food available, it is easy to get confused.

To help you out, we’ve taken a look at a wide range of products that are available on the Australian market and put together this list of reviews of 10 of our favorite dog foods, as well as a short buyer guide about the things you should consider when choosing a food for your dog.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dry Dog Food Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dry Dog Food
  • Quality product
  • Premium brand
  • Formulated for a specific size dog
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Purina Supercoat Adult Dog Purina Supercoat Adult Dog
  • Price
  • Quality
  • Value for money
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Ivory Coat Adult Grain Free Dry Dog Food Ivory Coat Adult Grain Free Dry Dog Food
  • Grain-free
  • Premium quality
  • Australian made
  • Hill’s Science Diet Adult Canned Dog Food Hill’s Science Diet Adult Canned Dog Food
  • Premium brand
  • Quality product
  • Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe Dog Food Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe Dog Food
  • 96% meat-based
  • Contains no grain
  • High protein content
  • The 10 Best Dog Foods in Australia

    1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dry Dog Food — Best Overall

    1Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Small & Mini Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

    When it comes to dog food, it’s hard to go past Hill’s Science Diet foods. We particularly like that this dog food is formulated with the specific needs of individual pets in mind. The company has a whole range of premium dry and wet dog foods that are suited for every sized dog, as well as dogs in all stages of their lives and those with specific health conditions.

    This particular product from Hill’s has been formulated for small and toy dogs that are a little on plump size and thus in need of scientifically formulated and nutritious dog food to can help them get back to a healthy weight. This is a problem that many small dogs suffer from, and Hill’s has come up with a great product to help owners get their dogs back to a healthy weight.

    Of course, being overweight isn’t an issue for every dog, but the beauty of the Hill’s range is that it is quite extensive, and you are bound to find the perfect food for your pooch.

    Pros
    • Formulated for a specific size dog
    • Formulated to address a specific health condition
    • Premium brand
    • Quality product
    Cons
    • Price

    2. Purina Supercoat Adult Dog — Best Value

    2Supercoat Adult Dog Large Breed Chicken

    Not every dog needs dog food that has been scientifically designed to address a specific health need, and as much as we’d all like to, many of us can’t afford the increased expense of some of the premium brand products on the market. Thankfully, Purina, which is one of the best-known pet food brands in Australia and the U.S., has an extensive range of dog foods that won’t break the bank. Their dog food range is of excellent quality and reasonably priced, making Purina Supercoat the best dog food in Australia for the money.

    Purina Supercoat comes in a variety of different formulas for dogs of different ages and weights. While this specific product is a general adult dog formula, there are also plenty of other products in the range to choose from. All in all, this is the best dog food in Australia for the money we have reviewed.

    Pros
    • Price
    • Quality
    • Value for money
    Cons
    • Not considered a “premium” brand

    3. Ivory Coat Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food — Premium Choice

    3Ivory Coat Adult and Senior Lamb & Kangaroo 13kg Grain Free Dog Food

    Ivory Coat is an Australian premium brand that specializes in providing high-quality dog food. The brand’s main point of difference is that all their dog food products are made with high-quality Australian meats as their top ingredient. They offer an extensive range of dry, chilled, and wet foods that are age-specific for puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs.

    This specific dry dog food from the Ivory Coat range is suitable for adult and senior dogs and contains 36% protein from a mix of lamb and kangaroo meat. The food is also grain-free, making it suitable for dogs with sensitive stomach or grain allergy.

    Pros
    • Premium quality
    • High protein content
    • Grain-free
    • Australian made
    Cons
    • Price

    4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Canned Dog Food

    4Hills Science Diet Adult Savory Stew with Chicken & Vegetables Canned Dog Food

    We like Hill’s Science branded foods, and another one of their products that is worth checking out is their Science Diet Adult Canned Dog Food. This product is specifically formulated to provide a complete and balanced diet for adult dogs between the ages of 1 and 6 years old.

    Canned products are generally not the most economical way to buy dog foods, due to the amount of water that they contain, but they are easier for dogs to eat and digest than dry foods. They also have a rich and attractive odor (at least for dogs) that can help entice fussy eaters.

    As with all Science Diet products, this chicken and vegetable-flavored canned food has been formulated to provide a complete and well-balanced diet for adult dogs.

    Pros
    • Premium brand
    • Quality product
    Cons
    • Price

    5. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe Dog Food

    5Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe Dog Food

    If price is no object, this limited-run, air-dried premium dog food from New Zealand pet food manufacturer Ziwi Peak is a fantastic choice of dog food.

    Providing a complete and well-balanced diet in a tasty product made mostly from lamb meat, organs, and bones with the added goodness of New Zealand green muscles, Ziwi Peak has produced a completely grain-free formula that is suitable both as complete dog food or as a nutritious dog food topper.

    The quality of this dog food can’t be questioned; it is exceptionally good, and if the many online reviews are to be believed, it is loved by even the fussiest of eaters. Be warned, though: You could probably feed your dog fresh premium-grade lamb from your local butcher for the price that you’ll pay for this product.

    Pros
    • High-quality premium product
    • Contains no grain
    • 96% meat-based
    • High protein content
    Cons
    • Price

    6. Meat Mates Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

    6Meat Mates Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food

    Meat Mates is a New Zealand-based ultra-premium dog food that comes with an ultra-premium price tag. This 100% meat-based product is not a food that most people would consider giving their pet as a complete meal every day and is better suited (due to its price) as a tasty dog food topper or treat. The product is freeze-dried and contains nothing but meat, New Zealand fish oil, and a few added vitamins and minerals.

    Pros
    • High-quality premium product
    • Contains no grain
    • 100% meat-based
    • 100% ethically sourced
    • High protein content
    Cons
    • Price

    7. OPTIMUM Adult Dry Dog Food

    7OPTIMUM Adult Chicken Vegetables & Rice Dry Dog Food 15kg Bag

    Optimum Adult Chicken Vegetables and Rice Dry Dog Food is a reasonably priced premium brand of dog food that is formulated to provide a complete and well-balanced diet for all adult dogs between the age of 18 months and 7 years.

    If you are the type of person who wants a “set and forget” option for the life of your dog, this product could be a good choice. Optimum has several different formulas and flavors that will provide a nutritious meal for any dog, regardless of its size, breed, or life stage.

    Pros
    • Premium brand
    • Reasonably priced
    • Quality product
    Cons
    • Contains grains

    8. MY DOG Gourmet Beef Wet Dog Food

    8MY DOG Gourmet Beef Wet Dog Food 100g Tray

    My Dog is one of the better-known dog food companies in Australia, and it produces a range of products that will provide a complete and well-balanced diet for dogs of all ages, but due to their packaging sizes, their dog foods are best suited for toy and small dogs.

    Their Gourmet Beef canned dog food is an Australian-made product that contains real meat proteins and no added preservatives. Unlike some other wet foods, their product comes in loaf form in small 100g cans. This small size makes the product easy to serve but also ensures that this product is, by weight, quite expensive compared to most dry foods.

    Pros
    • Popular brand
    • A complete and well-balanced diet
    • Handy single-serve cans
    Cons
    • Price
    • Not suited to large dogs

    9. Holistic Select Dry Dog Food

    9Holistic Select Dry Dog Food

    Holistic Select dog foods are made in the U.S. and meet the requirements of both the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and Australian pet food standards. They are, however, not a common brand, and you may find it difficult to buy this product locally other than through online suppliers.

    This product is suitable for adult dogs of all sizes and has been formulated with digestive health in mind. In this regard, it might be a good choice if your dog has an easily upset stomach. For a relatively unknown brand, this product is, by weight, quite expensive, and you may find locally manufactured products to be better in this regard.

    Pros
    • A complete and balanced diet
    • High in protein
    • Formulated with digestive health in mind
    Cons
    • Price
    • High in fat
    • Not readily found in local stores

    10. Black Hawk Adult Dry Dog Food

    10Black Hawk - Dry Dog Adult and Senior Food

    Black Hawk dog foods are made in Australia specifically for the Australian and New Zealand markets. They are owned by Masterpet, a company that owns several pet food brands.

    While not one of the more well-known dog food brands in Australia, Black Hawk’s adult dry dog food is marketed as a premium product that is made with all “real” ingredients, in this case, lamb and rice. The product contains no artificial flavors or colors and will provide your dog with a complete, well-balanced diet.

    Pros
    • Australian-made and owned
    • Premium quality
    • High in protein
    Cons
    • Relatively unknown brand
    • Price
    • High in fat
    • Contains grain products

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    Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Dog Food in Australia

    In preparing our list of product reviews, we’ve tried to find a good mix of the best commercially manufactured dog foods currently available on the Australian market. But you’ll see that many of the products we have recommended won’t be suitable for all dogs. This is because many of the best dog food brands have a variety of products formulated to meet the specific needs of dogs based on their age, energy levels, or size.

    There is a huge range of dog foods to choose from, and picking the best one for your dog can be a little tricky. However, here are a few things to keep in mind.

    • Australia has a pet food standard that requires any pet food product that is described as being “complete and balanced” or uses words to that effect to meet the requirements of AAFCO and thus, meet all the nutritional needs of your dog. While this standard is voluntary and self-regulating, most pet food companies have signed up for it.
    • From a nutritional point of view, there is no real difference between wet (canned) and dry (kibble) dog food. The real difference is in the price of the product (canned food is more expensive by weight), as well as its water content and how easy it is for your dog to eat. Most dogs will be perfectly fine with dry food, but some fussy eaters or dogs with a health condition that impacts their ability to chew may be better off with wet food.
    • It is a good idea to choose a dog food brand that has a variety of products that have been formulated to the needs of dogs of varying ages, sizes, and energy levels. This will make changing foods easier as your pet goes through its various life stages.
    • More expensive brands may be tastier and more inviting for your pet but provided that you buy dog food that is “complete and balanced,” a cheaper brand will still provide your dog with the same level of health benefits.
    • It is important to remember that you can’t interchange dog and cat food. While it looks similar, cats have specific nutritional needs that dogs don’t. Also, cat food is typically higher in both fat and protein and may cause your dog to put on excessive weight.

    Divider 1Final Verdict

    Choosing the right dog food for your pet can be a challenge, yet if you keep in mind the few simple points that we’ve covered above, you will have no problem choosing the right food for your dog.

    To recap, our top three best dog foods in Australia are:

    See also:


    Featured Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock

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