TLDR:
Choosing the right animal protein for your dog is essential for their health, energy, and overall well-being. This post breaks down the most common proteins used in dog food, including beef, chicken, lamb, fish, duck, rabbit, pork, and turkey, discussing the benefits and drawbacks of each. We also highlight the importance of high-quality, ethically sourced proteins and the role of variety in your dog’s diet. Brands like Smallbatch, Bones & Co., Acana, Orijen, Ziwi, and others offer excellent protein-rich options for dogs with different dietary needs. Remember, diversity in protein sources can help support your dog’s overall health and vitality.

Why Understanding Dog Food Matters

When we opened our own dog shop, we quickly realized that most dog owners, even the most loving and well-intentioned, had no idea what they were actually feeding their dogs. Not because they didn’t care, but because the pet food industry is overwhelming, misleading, and full of marketing jargon that makes it difficult to understand what’s truly best for our pets. Honestly, even I was surprised by how much I didn’t know. Running the shop has forced me to dive deep into the world of canine nutrition, learning everything from species-appropriate diets to the hidden fillers in many commercial foods. What I found was eye-opening, and it became clear that most people are just doing their best with the information available to them—which, unfortunately, isn’t always accurate or complete.

This is where understanding the ingredients in your dog’s food becomes so important. Feeding your dog a nutrient-dense, animal protein-forward diet is crucial because it aligns with what dogs are biologically designed to eat. Dogs thrive on animal-based proteins, which provide essential amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins that support everything from muscle health to skin and coat condition. When you understand what goes into your dog’s food, you can make sure it’s not packed with unnecessary fillers or low-quality meat sources that can lead to health issues like allergies or digestive problems. For example, whole, named animal proteins like chicken, beef, and lamb promote digestion, lean muscle mass, and immune strength, while poorly sourced ingredients like by-products or excessive grains may do the opposite. That’s why I decided to create this blog series—to share what I’ve learned and help dog owners make informed choices about their pets’ food. In this first post, we’ll break down the different types of dog food, from raw diets to kibble, discussing their benefits, drawbacks, and real-life applications. Along the way, I’ll incorporate personal insights from my own dogs, Scout and Jasper, whose diet is carefully crafted to optimize their health and longevity.

Types of Dog Food: Understanding the Spectrum

Dog food exists on a spectrum, ranging from completely raw, species-appropriate meals to highly processed kibble, with several options in between. Generally, the less processed the food, the closer it is to what dogs evolved to eat, but convenience, safety, and individual needs also play a role in choosing the right diet. Below, we’ll break down the most common types of dog food, their pros and cons, and where they might fit into your dog’s lifestyle.

🐾 Raw Feeding (BARF & Prey Model Raw)

At one end of the spectrum, you have raw feeding, often considered the most natural approach. Raw diets—whether following the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) model or the Prey Model Raw (PMR) approach—consist of uncooked meats, organs, bones, and, in some cases, plant-based ingredients. Supporters of raw feeding argue that it’s the closest thing to what dogs would eat in the wild, offering benefits like improved digestion, better dental health, shinier coats, and lean muscle mass. However, raw diets also require careful nutrient balancing, proper food handling, and often, more time and effort than other feeding options.

✅ Pros:

• Mimics a dog’s ancestral diet, providing natural nutrition
• Supports healthy digestion, a shiny coat, and increased energy levels
• Reduces allergies and inflammation, especially for dogs sensitive to processed foods
• High moisture content helps keep dogs hydrated
• Minimal processing retains the full nutrient profile of ingredients

❌ Cons:

• Requires careful nutritional balance to prevent deficiencies
• Can be time-consuming and costly to prepare
• Some owners are concerned about bacteria risks
• Not all dogs transition easily, especially if they have sensitive stomachs

My Dogs' Take: While Scout and Jasper don’t eat a fully raw diet, I incorporate raw elements into their meals—like frozen raw chicken hearts for taurine, an essential amino acid for heart health, freeze-dried beef liver for essential vitamins such as A, B12, and iron, which support immune function and overall vitality, bone broth for joint support, and raw goat milk for digestive enzymes and probiotics, which help maintain a healthy gut and boost nutrient absorption. This gives them the benefits of raw nutrition without requiring a full raw commitment.

To be clear, I do advocate for feeding as close to a raw diet as possible. If feeding a completely raw diet isn't feasible for you, the more raw components you can add to your dog’s diet, the better.

Although a raw food diet can be costly and time-consuming to prepare, there are brands that offer frozen raw diets, such as Smallbatch and Bones & Co., making feeding raw much more convenient while still providing high-quality, biologically appropriate nutrition.

Suggested Raw Food Brands:

• Smallbatch – A high-quality raw option offering complete, balanced meals
• Bones & Co. – Convenient, nutritionally complete frozen raw diets
• Ziwi – Provides air-dried raw food that retains raw benefits with added convenience

🥩 Fresh & Lightly Cooked Dog Food

For those who want the benefits of raw food without the risks, lightly cooked or fresh-frozen diets offer an excellent alternative. These meals are made from human-grade ingredients, gently cooked to preserve nutrients, and then frozen or refrigerated for freshness. Brands like Smallbatch offer a lightly cooked product (which my dogs eat) that focuses on minimally processed whole-food ingredients without artificial additives or fillers.

Fresh diets are highly digestible, packed with natural vitamins, and free from unnecessary preservatives. They also eliminate the risk of bacterial contamination that raw diets can sometimes carry. The main downside is that fresh food requires freezer or fridge space and can be more expensive than traditional kibble.

✅ Pros:

• Gently cooked to retain nutrients
• Easier to digest for dogs with sensitive stomachs
• Minimally processed, avoiding artificial preservatives

❌ Cons:

• Requires refrigeration and has a shorter shelf life
• More expensive than kibble

My Dogs' Take: Scout and Jasper thrive on a Smallbatch Lightly Cooked diet—Scout enjoys the beef formula, while Jasper prefers the chicken formula. As mentioned earlier, I enhance their meals with goat’s milk for probiotics, bone broth for hydration and joint support, and freeze-dried liver for added nutrients. I also rotate their meal additions to keep things balanced. One meal might include a chicken heart and goat's milk, while the next could feature a sardine and bone broth. This variety ensures they get a well-rounded diet without overloading on any single macro or micronutrient.

Suggested Fresh Dog Food Brands:

• Smallbatch – Offers a lightly cooked (sous vide) balanced option with whole-food ingredients
• Portland Pet Food Company – Offers limited-ingredient, fresh-cooked meals

🦴 Freeze-Dried & Dehydrated Raw Food

Freeze-dried and dehydrated raw foods provide many of the same benefits as a raw diet but in a more convenient, shelf-stable form. The freeze-drying process removes moisture while preserving nutrients, allowing you to simply rehydrate the food with water or broth before feeding. Dehydrated foods work similarly, but they use low-heat air drying instead of freezing.

This type of food is a great middle ground for pet owners who want raw nutrition but need convenience. However, it can sometimes be expensive, and some dogs may not like the texture when rehydrated.

✅ Pros:

• Maintains more natural nutrients compared to kibble due to minimal processing
• Long shelf life, no refrigeration needed, and easy to store and travel with
• Often made with whole-food, species-appropriate ingredients without artificial fillers

❌ Cons:

• Higher cost per meal than kibble or even fresh and raw food
• Feeding dry can lead to dehydration, so water, bone broth, or goat’s milk is recommended

My Dogs' Take: While freeze-dried food isn’t a primary meal for Scout and Jasper, I use Smallbatch’s Super Boosters (specifically pork) as a freeze-dried topper packed with essential nutrients like thiamine, zinc, and selenium. If pork weren’t available, I’d opt for beef, as it also provides key minerals that support overall health. Freeze-dried treats are also a great addition to your dog’s diet. Smallbatch, Orijen, and Vital Essentials all offer high-quality options that complement a balanced meal plan.

Suggested Freeze-dried and Dehydrated Dog Food Brands:

• Vital Essentials – Offers high-quality freeze-dried raw food options
• Ziwi – Known for premium air-dried products that retain nutrient integrity

🐟 Canned & Wet Food

Canned and wet foods are often more palatable and digestible than kibble, making them a popular choice for picky eaters or senior dogs. They contain more moisture, which helps with hydration, but some brands still include unnecessary fillers or lower-quality meat sources. If choosing canned food, look for grain-free, high-protein options with real meat as the first ingredient.

✅ Pros:

• High moisture content, helping with hydration, especially for dogs that don't drink enough water
• More palatable for picky eaters or dogs with dental issues
• Easier to digest for senior dogs or dogs with sensitive stomachs
• Often made with higher-quality meat than lower-end kibbles

❌ Cons:

• Can be more expensive than dry food
• Shorter shelf life once opened, requiring refrigeration
• Some canned foods may still contain fillers or lower-quality meats
• May have higher fat content, which isn't ideal for all dogs (especially less active or overweight dogs)

My Dogs' Take: While I don’t use canned food in Scout and Jasper’s diet, I would recommend high-quality wet food as a supplement for dogs who need extra hydration or have difficulty chewing.

🥣 Kibble (Dry Dog Food)

Kibble is the most common dog food due to its affordability and convenience. However, not all kibble is created equal. Traditional kibble is highly processed and cooked at extreme temperatures, which can strip away vital nutrients. However, air-dried and baked kibbles offer a better alternative. These are made with higher-quality ingredients and cooked at lower temperatures to retain more nutrients while maintaining convenience.

High-quality kibble brands focus on whole meats, digestible carbohydrates, and added nutrients like omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. Even the best kibble, however, lacks the moisture and bioavailability of fresh or raw food, which is why I recommend adding hydration (like bone broth or goat’s milk) to kibble-based diets.

✅ Pros:

• Convenient and budget-friendly
• No refrigeration needed, making storage easy
• Some high-quality kibbles use real meat and whole ingredients

❌ Cons:

• Highly processed, which can strip nutrients
• Often contains fillers and artificial preservatives
• Low moisture content, increasing the risk of dehydration

My Dogs' Take: Although I don't include kibble in Scout and Jasper's diet, I do understand that many dog owners rely on a kibble-based diet. In such cases, I highly recommend choosing a high-quality kibble and supplementing it with as many raw components as possible. Moisture-rich toppers, like sardines for omega-3s, bone broth for hydration, or raw freeze-dried meats for extra protein and digestive support, are all excellent options to enhance the nutritional value of a kibble diet.

Suggested High-Quality Kibble Brands:

• Open Farm – Offers ethically sourced, high-quality ingredients in their kibble
• Orijen – Known for nutrient-dense, protein-rich kibble
• Honest Kitchen – Offers high-quality, minimally processed kibble options

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Food for Your Dog

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to dog food. The best choice depends on your dog’s health, lifestyle, and nutritional needs. While I’ve personally seen the benefits of a fresh, lightly cooked diet with raw supplements, some dogs may do just as well on high-quality oven-baked kibble, freeze-dried raw, or even a hybrid approach.

One important note I want to leave you with is that feeding your dog a vegan diet is not advisable. While plant-based diets may work for some humans, they are not suitable for dogs in any way, shape, or form. Yes, dogs are omnivores, but they still require specific nutrients that are best sourced from animal proteins, such as taurine, vitamin B12, and certain essential fatty acids. A vegan diet lacks these key nutrients in a bioavailable form and can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies, impacting your dog’s health, energy levels, and overall well-being. It is crucial to understand that a dog’s nutritional needs are complex and inherently tied to animal-based foods. Therefore, it’s essential to provide a balanced, protein-rich diet for your dog, ensuring they get the nutrients they need to thrive. Always prioritize the health of your dog by choosing the right diet for their species-specific needs.

In the next post in this series, we’ll dive into the different protein sources available for dogs—including beef, chicken, pork, lamb, duck, rabbit, and fish—and how to choose the right one based on your dog’s individual needs.

Until then, feed with intention, stay informed, and always put your dog’s health first!

Hail to the Hound.™