How to choose dry dog food

Food is not just a set of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It is the basic foundation of a healthy and happy life for your pet. When choosing it, a lot is at stake — health, activity, well-being, and even the lifespan of your dog. That is why it is so important to pay proper attention to choosing food, so as not only to avoid making a mistake, but also to select the optimal diet for your four-legged friend, taking into account all its characteristics.

 

When and why dry dog food appeared

The first commercial dog foods began to appear at the end of the 19th century. In 1860, the Englishman James Spratt created the world’s first dry “biscuits” for dogs — a hard nutritious product that resembled crackers. The impetus for this was a simple idea: dog owners in cities needed convenient, long-lasting, and balanced nutrition for their pets.

With the development of urbanization, dogs increasingly lived not in yards, but in homes with people, so traditional “homemade” food scraps ceased to be the optimal option. In the 20th century, especially after World War II, extrusion technologies (producing granules under high temperature and pressure) made it possible to produce dry food in its modern form — crunchy granules that retain nutritional value, taste, and are convenient to store.

This is how dry foods turned from experimental food tiles into a complete, balanced daily diet for dogs, which millions of owners use today.

 

How high-quality dry food is created: the path from science to the finished granule

Creating a complete food is a complex, multi-level process involving zoologists, veterinarians, technologists, nutritionists, and quality control laboratories. High-quality dry food does not begin at production — it begins with science.

1. Studying the physiological needs of a specific group of dogs

The first stage is analyzing exactly who the food is being developed for. The team of specialists studies:

It is from this that the future formula will depend: energy value, amount of proteins, fats, fiber, micro- and macroelements.

2. Formulating the diet in accordance with FEDIAF and AAFCO standards

After determining the animals’ needs, a basic diet is formulated.
Specialists are guided by:

These organizations set minimum and maximum standards for proteins, fats, vitamins, microelements, amino acids, and energy value. The formula must comply with nutritional standards, not just look balanced.

3. Calculating the technological map using “feed programs”

Specialized programs are used for precise recipe creation, which:

This creates a technological map of the food — a clear formula that can be produced stably and reproducibly.

4. Calculating the premix: vitamins and minerals

No quality food is complete without a premix — a complex of vitamins, microelements, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Since some nutrients are lost during processing, they are added with a reserve calculated in the same feed programs.

5. Evaluation and verification of ingredients

Before ingredients reach production, they undergo:

The quality of raw materials is half the success.

6. Production and laboratory testing of the food

After creating a test batch, the food undergoes comprehensive checks:

Some manufacturers send samples to independent European or American laboratories for additional control.

7. “Feeding test” — testing on dogs

The next stage is test protocols where the following is checked:

This is an important point, because the formula must work not only “on paper” but also in real life.

8. Market launch of the food and quality system

After successful testing, the food can be certified in a certain quality system:

These standards guarantee safety, stability, and control at every stage — from raw materials to packaging.

Only after this does the food reach store shelves as a product that has gone the full path from scientific standards to real tests on dogs.

 

Size, shape, and texture of granules: how it affects food choice

When it comes to dry dog food, it is important to remember that not all granules are the same. The size, shape, and texture of the food affect not only taste preferences, but also dental health, digestion, and the ease of consuming the food.

1. Granule size

Granule size is selected according to the breed size and age of the dog:

2. Granule shape

The shape of the food also matters:

3. Granule texture

Texture affects taste sensations and digestibility:

 

How to choose correctly

When choosing food, focus on the size and strength of your dog’s jaws. For example, a small Bichon is unlikely to be able to chew a 15 mm granule, while a large Labrador may quickly swallow small round kibbles, which will not benefit the teeth.

Also consider the texture: if the dog has dental problems or age-related changes, soft granules will be a safer and more comfortable choice.

 

 

Dogs of different ages have completely different nutritional needs. Choosing food according to the age category helps maintain health, activity, and longevity of your pet.

1. Puppies (puppy)

Puppies grow quickly, so they need food with a high content of protein and energy.

 

 

2. Adult dogs (adult)

For adult dogs, the balance of energy and nutrients is important to avoid excess weight and health problems.

 

 

3. Senior dogs (senior)

With age, dogs’ bodies become less active, metabolism slows down, and teeth and digestion become more sensitive.

 

 

How to choose food by calorie content for a senior or neutered dog

1. Checking energy value (calories)

2. Pay attention to the composition: proteins, fats, fiber

3. Focus on the approximate feeding rate

4. Preference should be given to “everyday / standard” rations, not “energy / for active dogs”

5. Transition to new food — gradually and with monitoring

 

Dry food for dogs with special needs: general overview

Some dogs require a special approach to nutrition due to diseases, allergies, or physiological characteristics. There are several main categories of “dietary” foods in feed lines that help maintain health:

These rations are formulated taking into account the dog’s age, size, and activity, and their purpose is always best coordinated with a veterinarian.

After we have figured out how high-quality food is created and by what criteria to choose it, it is also worth understanding why different foods differ so much from each other. This will help avoid mistakes and choose the optimal option specifically for your dog.

 

How do economy, premium, and super-premium foods differ?

The gradation of foods is determined primarily by the quality of ingredients, the balance of the recipe, and the bioavailability of nutrients.

Economy class

Premium class

 

 

Super-premium and holistic

 

 

The higher the class of food, the higher the quality and more precisely formulated its recipe. But you should choose not only by class, but also by how well a particular food suits your dog in terms of age, activity, sensitivity, and special needs.