Feeding my dogs, Yuna and Nami, has been quite the journey. I’ve always believed in giving them the best quality food possible, and over the years, I’ve tried just about everything—from fresh, gently cooked meals to raw, freeze-dried, wet, and dry foods. Each type of food comes with its own benefits and challenges, especially when you have picky eaters like mine!
If you’re wondering what the best diet is for your dog, I’ll walk you through what I’ve learned from firsthand experience with some of the most popular brands out there.
Why I Prefer Fresh, Gently Cooked Dog Food
I love feeding my dogs fresh foods because they’re made with real, high-quality ingredients and don’t contain unnecessary fillers or preservatives. It gives me peace of mind knowing exactly what they’re eating, and I’ve noticed a difference in their coat health, digestion, and overall energy levels.
Over the years, I’ve tried several fresh and frozen gently cooked brands, including:
- Pet Plate
- Whole Hearted
- Just Food for Dogs
- Nom Nom
- Ollie (which my dogs were on for a long time, and they absolutely loved!)
- Simply Nourish
- Freshpet
Each of these brands offers nutritionally balanced meals that are easy to serve and store. After a long stretch on Ollie, we recently decided to try The Farmer’s Dog this week. I’m curious to see how Yuna and Nami like it and whether it will become a new favorite.
Why I Steer Clear of Kibble
While I’ve tried high-quality dry food in the past, I generally avoid kibble because so many brands are low quality, full of fillers, and just not ideal for dogs with specific needs like mine.
Nami has dry skin, and many kibbles don’t provide the necessary hydration or high-quality fats to support her coat health. Yuna is an extremely picky eater, and she turns her nose up at most dry foods. Because of these reasons, I stick to fresh, gently cooked, and wet food options instead.
Our Experience with Raw and Freeze-Dried Dog Food
I also experimented with raw feeding because of the many benefits it offers—shinier coats, healthier skin, and improved digestion. However, raw feeding wasn’t the easiest for us. My dogs are extremely picky eaters with irregular feeding times, which made raw feeding a challenge. Sometimes, the food would sit out longer than recommended, and I’d have to throw it away for safety reasons. It ended up being more waste than actual meals!
Some of the raw frozen and freeze-dried brands we tried include:
- Instinct
- Stella & Chewy’s
- Maev
- Primal
- Purpose
While they’re all great brands with high-quality ingredients, raw just didn’t fit well with our lifestyle. I still incorporate some freeze-dried options occasionally as treats, but as a full diet, it wasn’t sustainable for us.
High-Quality Wet & Dry Dog Food We’ve Tried
While I prefer fresh food, I have also tried high-quality wet and dry food over the years. Some of these options worked well for my picky eaters, while others didn’t make the cut.
Brands I Like for Quality & Ingredients (That My Picky Dogs Ate at Some Point)
Finding a dry or wet food that meets my quality standards and that my dogs will actually eat has been tough, but these brands have worked at different times:
- Ziwi
- Wellness Core
- Weruva
- Zignature
- Tiki Dog
- Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red – A good grain-free option that my dogs loved.
- Merrick
Brands I’ve Tried But Didn’t Like
Not all dog foods are created equal, and I’ve definitely come across brands that didn’t meet my expectations—mostly due to ingredient quality or my dogs refusing to eat them.
- Royal Canin
- Purina
- Blue Buffalo
- Nutro
My Experience with Home
For a little while, I even tried cooking my own dog food at home using recipes I found online. I loved the idea of knowing exactly what was going into their meals and being able to customize ingredients based on their preferences. However, as I did more research, I started to worry that the meals weren’t nutritionally balanced enough. Without the right mix of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, I wasn’t confident that I could provide everything Yuna and Nami needed for optimal health, so I decided to stick with high-quality commercial fresh and gently cooked options that were formulated by experts to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. If you want to try this route, consult with your vet or find a good veterinary nutritionist to help create a diet that’s balanced and nutrient-rich for your babies.
Finding the Right Food for Your Dog
Every dog is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Through trial and error, I’ve realized that fresh, gently cooked meals are the best fit for Yuna and Nami. When I am considering a new food, I go to dogfoodadvisor.com for valuable insights into ingredient quality and recalls. If you’re considering switching your dog’s food, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Consider Your Dog’s Preferences
Some dogs love raw food, while others (like mine) are super picky about taste and texture. Start with a small sample before committing to a full subscription or large bag of food.
2. Look at Their Eating Habits
If your dog grazes throughout the day rather than finishing meals in one sitting, raw food might not be the best choice due to safety concerns. Gently cooked or freeze-dried options might be easier to manage.
3. Check for Allergies and Sensitivities
Yuna has severe allergies, food intolerances and a very sensitive tummy, so I have to be careful about what I feed her. Some brands offer limited-ingredient or hypoallergenic formulas that might work better for sensitive dogs.
4. Storage and Convenience
Fresh food needs refrigeration, raw requires careful handling, and freeze-dried is the easiest to store. Think about what works best for your routine.
5. Transition Slowly
If you’re switching foods, do it gradually to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach. Mixing a little of the new food with their current diet and slowly increasing the portion over a week or two helps prevent digestive issues.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right food for Yuna and Nami has taken a lot of trial and error, but I feel good knowing I’m giving them high-quality meals that support their health. I’m excited to see how they like The Farmer’s Dog, and who knows—it might become their new favorite!
Have you tried any of these brands for your dog? What’s your experience with fresh, raw, freeze-dried, wet, or dry diets? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what works best for your pup!