Top 13 best dog food brands: loved by pets, recommended by us and approved by vets

Help your pooch get their weight down while making sure they're full and satisfied with this Royal Canin Veterinary Health Nutrition Satiety dry food. It's full of natural fibres to help reduce begging in between meals and has a high protein content to help your hound maintain muscle mass.

Our Senior Home & Pets Product Writer, Rosie Floyd, discovered that this food was incredibly effective in helping her Labrador, Barney, shed 12kg in about four months, which was crucial for his upcoming surgery. However, please be aware that this food contains wheat and maize. If your dog has any allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities to these ingredients, you might want to explore alternative options.

Reviewed by Rosie Floyd and her formerly obese Labrador cross, Barney: "As we all know, Labradors are notoriously greedy when it comes to food and because of this our black lab, Barney, had begun to pile on the pounds. We'd tried extra walks, reducing, and changing food to get his weight down but nothing had worked. He then needed to lose a significant amount of weight to be able to have surgery and that's when our vet recommended this Royal Canin food. We introduced it slowly at first with his regular food before switching completely to it within a month. After a few months, Barney had lost the 12kg he needed to, was able to have his surgery and had a spring back in his step once more. The packaging has a really handy chart on it to show the amount of food your dog needs in relation to their ideal weight, so you know exactly how much your pooch needs.”

To find out more about what we think of Royal Canin as a brand and what recipes our doggy testers love, check out our Royal Canin dog food reviews.

The Pooch & Mutt Small Dog Complete Superfood is great for any tiny, mini and small breed, with an adapted kibble size that's just right for their tiny mouths and teeth to chomp on. It provides great nutritional value from natural ingredients, with a good overall percentage of chicken and plenty of vegetables as well as superfoods like turmeric.

It's rich in antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals so this dry dog food will benefit your super-cute and tiny pup as it grows up (not any bigger, though). It's available in bag sizes of 1.5kg and 7.5kg, but some customers wished it was available in a slightly bigger bag so they didn't have to repurchase so often.

Reviewed by Hannah Mellin and Waffle the Daschund: "I feed my dachshund a mixture of wet and dry food and Pooch & Mutt Grain-Free Small Dog Complete Superfood is the only one I have found that she doesn't turn her nose up at. I would definitely say she grazes on her dry food throughout the day, but it doesn't take her long to polish it off. Considering it is just one flavour, it must be super yummy. I love the fact that Pooch & Mutt's food is junk-free, packed full of vitamins and minerals that she may not get in her wet food and is hypoallergenic and gentle on her tummy. Given that she's a small breed, the kibble is just the right size for her little mouth. Can't wait to try her on more of Pooch & Mutt's fantastic range."

Butternut Box is a leading subscription brand, whose fresh recipes are made from human-quality meat and vegetables, gently cooked to create the right balance of vitamins and minerals for your dog. As part of the service, you have to give them information about your dog's breed, calorie needs, age and lifestyle.

Butternut Box dog food is classed as 'All Life Stages' which means it's appropriate food to feed your puppy as they develop. Just let them know their age and weight as they grow and the recipe will be adapted to your pup's nutritional needs at whatever stage of life they are at. As Butternut Box is a tailored food to your hound's age, weight, breed and needs, the price of the food varies from dog to dog so that's something to bear in mind if you've got multiple dogs to consider. It also arrives frozen so you can defrost the food as and when you need it, just make sure you've got plenty of space to store it.

Reviewed by Hannah Mellin and miniature sausage dog, Waffle: "I signed up to Butternut Box when my miniature dachshund Waffle, who was about 9 months old at the time, started to turn her nose up at the dry Royal Canin kibble that I had been feeding her since she was a little puppy. Even though she did graze on her kibble, I knew she needed more and she was a little underweight so I knew she needed something different, especially as she would gulp down every single type of human food we gave her. With that in mind, I tried a few wet foods, but she didn't touch them either. My friend then recommended Butternut Box (they tend to offer codes to new customers) so I got a discount on her first order. Getting the delivery was honestly so exciting, she even got a little bandana and welcome pack! The pack then suggested warming her new food up a little in the microwave to make it smell exciting and she gulped it down and has done ever since. I've never seen her wag her tail so much and her coat is so smooth and shiny, there is no doubt in my mind that she isn't getting everything she needs in her food. I would say it is pricey, though, and if I owned a larger dog, I would definitely struggle to afford it. It currently costs me about £44 a month."

Read our full Butternut Box review to find out more about this doggy diet plan.

Next, we have James Wellbeloved Grain-Free Dry Adult Food, which is packed full of nutritional goodies for your pooch. These include Yucca extract for less smelly poos and Linseed which is a great source of Omega 3 that is beneficial for skin and coat condition as well as joint care. Not only will your pup's stomach be settled, but its skin and coat will glow. Made with high-source turkey, you can't go wrong.

Customers online appreciate the quality of the food you get for the cost of this James Wellbeloved Turkey flavoured food and some pet owners have also reported seeing a significant difference in their dog's coat condition since feeding them this food. Some reviews mention the kibble size is quite large in this particular recipe so smaller dogs may struggle to get their mouth around it but the brand does do recipes tailored to smaller breeds with an adapted kibble size.

A James Wellbeloved food with an adapted kibble size that’s perfect for small mouths is this Senior Small Breed Turkey and Rice recipe. It has a tailored energy and calorie content compared to the adult version of this food that ensures your senior pooch stays fit and well as they enter their twilight years, without gaining too much weight now that they’re less active than they once were. It includes essential amino acids to help keep a dog’s heart nice and healthy plus added Vitamin E and minerals to give their immune system all the support it needs as they age.

Pet owners who have left reviews online for this senior recipe rate it highly for the quality of ingredients it’s made with, particularly the use of natural turkey and the fact the recipe excludes common allergens such as beef, pork, soya, eggs, dairy and wheat. This recipe mainly comes in a Turkey & Rice formulation, so may not be the favourite food for a fussy pup who likes a bit of variation in their diet.

Reviewed for Take a Break Pets by Digital Business Manager, Jo Cooper and her Bichon Frise, Coco: "I’ve been feeding my Bichon Frise James Wellbeloved kibble since he was a puppy and it’s been brilliant. He’s never poorly, his joints are great and his fur is superb. He’s always loved the Turkey, a small breed variety, so that’s what I’ve stuck with for all these years. Now he’s twelve years old (human years) I’ve switched to the Senior variety, which is fewer calories compared to the regular adult recipe, so he can still have his full bowl without getting overweight now that he's getting older. I give him a very tiny amount of dry kibble in the morning for breakfast, which he sometimes doesn’t eat as he’s not hungry. He has a full bowl in the evenings, and I splash a couple of tablespoons of hot water onto the kibble to release the gravy and aroma, then he tucks in and eats it all."

The Lily's Kitchen Classic Wet Dog Food Selection will have your dog's mouth-watering, with recipes such as ‎Slow-cooked Lamb Hotpot, Cottage Pie and Chicken and Turkey Casserole. Lily’s Kitchen is known for using whole, natural ingredients in every one of their recipes and this wet food multipack is no exception to that. There’s at least 60 per cent freshly prepared or fresh meat in each tin, plus a blend of vegetables, fruits and herbs to make them utterly irresistible to your pooch.

One of our favourite things about Lily’s Kitchen is they offer a Subscribe and Save service that is super easy to set up, saves you money and means you’ll never forget to buy dog food again – how good is that? While you can regularly sign up for deliveries, the biggest multipack that these 400g tins come is 12 so it’s harder to buy in bulk compared to other brands on our list.

While we think Lily's Kitchen is the top dog when it comes to wet dog food, their dry food is also something to shout out. The Lily’s Kitchen Lamb Dry Food aka Lily’s Kitchen Shepherd’s Pie is super scrumptious and is made with proper meat and offal and natural ingredients so you know they’re getting mouthfuls of goodness with every bite.

It also happens to be Lily’s lowest food dry recipe so a good option if your pooch needs to be mindful of what they eat. Our reviewer Lisa actually chose this food for her hound, Lola, as she needed a food that had less than 10 per cent fat after her Pancreatitis diagnosis. This recipe is 9 per cent fat so fits the bill perfectly for Lola’s requirements. The recipe is also made without grains, but just be mindful that it is made in a factory that handles grains so there is a very small chance that traces may be present.

Reviewed by Senior Rewards Programme Executive, Lisa Coleman, and her two pooches, Lola & Rosie: "I feed both my dogs Lola and Rosie Lily's Kitchen Shepherd’s Pie Dry Food, I have done a lot of research on low-fat quality dog food as Lola was diagnosed with pancreatitis so her food and treats have to be below 10 per cent fat. Lily’s Kitchen is 9 per cent fat, has a good quality meat content with no added cereals and also has a joint care mix and prebiotics to help support their joints. Both dogs love it! I do find I need to add either scrambled eggs for breakfast or a bit of cooked chicken and vegetables on top for them to really enjoy it, although this may be me spoiling them!"

Consider, the Harringtons Grain Free Meaty Selection. It consists of sixteen delicious tray-cooked dinners to help your dog live its best life by providing them with a healthy diet. It's made using natural, healthy ingredients, with each tray packed with freshly prepared meat, vegetables and botanicals as well as essential vitamins and minerals. The ingredients are then gently cooked as a way of sealing in the freshness and locking in all the nutritional value.

These meaty meals have been carefully formulated to provide wholesome nutrition as they contain no artificial colours or flavours, as well as no dairy, soya or added wheat. It's also made without grains but is processed on a line handling grain so it may not be completely clear of traces.

You'll get unique recipes delivered to your door based on what you tell them about your canine companion when you sign up for a tails.com subscription. You fill in their age, size, breed, any ingredient allergies or sensitivities and health goals you'd like to achieve and tails.com does the hard work of picking you a recipe that's tailored to your hound's needs.

Our tester Jade loves the flexibility that the brand offers as you can tweak your subscription at any time, pressing pause, adding in extras or taking off what you don't need. She also likes that tails will alter the recipe you're feeding your pooch as they age or if their tastes or needs change so you can give them the best nutrition throughout every stage of their life. Like other subscription-based dog foods, as it is tailored to the needs of your pooch, the price per dog will vary so those with smaller dogs will pay less than those with larger breeds.

Reviewed by Jade Moscrop and her Alaskan Malamute, Frankie: "As Frankie is food driven, he'll eat almost anything, but it's clear that tails.com is on another level for him. Alaskan Malamutes are a vocal breed, so when they really love something, you'll know about it. Dinner time has now become an almighty song and dance. He leaps around the room, barking and howling at us until we're done dishing up, and he can dig in, wolfing it down in just a few minutes. He's never been this vocal about any previous food brands, so I know he loves it.

"Having never felt truly comfortable that supermarket dog food was ticking all the right boxes for Frankie's health, but without the budget to spend on the top-of-the-range brands, I finally feel happy that he's getting all the essential minerals and vitamins he needs, with gentle and responsibly sourced ingredients that taste delicious."

The Pedigree Adult Wet Dog Food Mixed Selection pouches come in a jelly mix and gravy mix, so there will be a version that your dog will love. Whether you opt for the gravy mix or the jelly mix that we've linked to, there are no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives added to this vet and nutritionist-developed budget recipe. They come in a bumper value pack of 40 100g pouches so it's easy to stock up.

Instead of tins, the food comes in pouches, which reviewers say are easy to open and help with portion control. However, some customers online feel that you may get through these quickly with larger dogs as they may need at least three per day to make sure they're eating enough for their size. There could also be more clarity in the ingredients as to what meats are included in each recipe and have a higher overall percentage of meat per pouch too.

Give your playful pooch the best and see its tail start wagging. For large breed dogs under 18 months, healthy growth and development are important to make sure they get the best start in life. This delicious Hill's Science Plan Large Breed Dry Puppy Food provides high-quality protein for building lean muscles, DHA from fish oil for healthy brain and eye development, and balanced minerals for strong bones and teeth.

Just as their powerful personality is developing, your dog's body needs the right building blocks to grow too, and Hill's Science gets our paw of approval, as well as online reviewers. Customers like that the food contains everything their large breed puppy needs to grow up big and strong. Maize is listed as the first ingredient, which means it has the highest percentage in the overall composition of the food. We think it could have a higher percentage of meat included and maize could be lower down in the ingredient list.

Coming in rather a large pack size, the Wagg Complete Chicken and Rice Dry Food is a great option if you like to plan ahead and bulk-buy your pup's meals. It's a dry dog food containing chicken and rice that is also completely free from wheat to aid digestion which makes it perfect for dogs with a tricky tummy. This blend also contains no added dairy, soya or artificial colours. Perfect for supporting your pooch's digestion, immune support and overall health, we like Wagg's no-nonsense, no-nasties approach.

Customers believe this food is great value for money as you get a huge bag for the price, but you do need to make sure you've got somewhere to store it properly, such as an air-tight food bin, to stop it from going stale before your hound has had the chance to munch their way through it.

The Turkey, Chicken & Chicken With Liver Wet Dog Food Variety Pack offers grain-free meals for your dog, promoting balanced nutrition and gentle digestion. Free from artificial additives, it features three hypoallergenic recipes: chicken, turkey, and chicken with liver & vegetables: natural goodness for even sensitive tummies. It stands out for us for having a high protein content with at least 75 per cent protein, which is vital for muscle strength, growth and repair.

Customers online appreciate the high quality, natural ingredients used to make this food and many have also stated that they’ve seen an improvement in their hound’s coat condition, energy levels and stool consistency since switching to these Forthglade meals. However, some pet owners have reported that their fussy pup didn’t like the texture of this food.

Packed with all the protein, vitamins and minerals your hound needs to be happy and healthy and formulated with easily digestible ingredients, AVA Optimum Health Sensitive Wet Adult Dog Food is nutrient-rich while also being gentle on tummies. A hypoallergenic pate-style food with no added wheat or wheat gluten, the recipe has been formulated with AVA's unique combination of natural botanical extracts, vitamins, and selected minerals called +Imuvita to support your pup's vitality, immunity and general well-being.

As you’d expect from fish-based recipes, this food is a rich source of Omega 3 and 6 which will have your hound’s skin and coat looking nice and shiny and it also supports kidney health and function as well as brain development. The white fish and salmon meals included in this pack of six may have a strong fishy smell when you open them, which your hound will love but you not so much.

For a tailored raw dog food subscription delivered straight to your door, consider Bella and Duke. You just need to fill in a little bit of information about your pooch such as their breed, age, weight and health issues and Bella and Duke will expertly craft to your canine companion's individual requirements with the perfect blend of essential proteins, vitamins and minerals to ensure they stay happy and healthy.

Customers on Trustpilot rave about the convenience and quality of this service and appreciate the quality of the ingredients used. The raw meals are made up of at least 80 per cent meat, bone and offal, promoting strong muscles and more, and enriched with superfoods that deliver essential nutrients as well as seasonal vegetables and berries to add extra nourishment. Meals are delivered frozen directly to your door to maintain freshness until you're ready to thaw and serve to your mutt, so you'll need plenty of freezer space for storage.