The 7 Best Dog Foods Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2023

Did you know Australia’s pet food industry is largely unregulated?

This can make it challenging for pet owners who want to give their faithful companion excellent nutrition for a fair price.

That's why our expert team got together with veterinarians and other authorities on canine nutrition and diets to research and test over 32 different dog foods. After 6 months research and testing, we finally agreed on this list of best dog foods in Australia.

In addition, you'll find information on how to read a dog food label, what to look for in quality feed, and our top choices in several categories of food on the market.

It is important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all formula for the best kibble. Instead, different dogs have different nutritional needs. We made this guide to include top choices in a variety of different categories. Ready? Let's dive in!

Quick Picks - The Top 3

 Australia's Best Dog Food Options Reviewed

The cream of the crop in terms of the best dry dog food in Australia is this option from Petzyo. Their number one listed ingredient is Australia's own ethically sourced Kangaroo, Chicken or Salmon meaning our dog's are getting the best of the best.

Petzyo uses specially-formulated ingredients in their dog food ranges. Each features a single meat protein with added herbs, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. Their formulas contain super foods such as sweet potato, turmeric and blueberries to help with inflammation, and chondroitin for joint & cartilage support.

Related: Petzyo Dog Food Review

I found it is an excellent choice for overall nutrition and health, that also doesn't burn a hole in my pocket every week.

They also have a fantastic raw food range that my dog LOVED.

I chose Petzyo in the top position as it’s just as nutritious, however, more affordable than the second place Eureka Pet Food, making it a suitable option for the everyday, budget-conscious Australian.

Ziwi is third place purely because their price point will make it too hard on many Australian households. That said, if you can afford it then we highly recommend it.

It all starts with careful domestic sourcing of hormone free New Zealand beef which comes in as the first ingredient.

One of the things you should know about Ziwi is that they use a low heat air dry technique to preserve the meat in their formulas. Heat destroys delicate micronutrients and vitamins in whole foods. They trade efficiency for quality, so you can trust your lucky dog is getting superior nutrition here. 

Related: Ziwi Peak Dog Food Review

I thoroughly researched their formula and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. They avoid fillers found in most commercial dog food. It contains no grains, legumes, potatoes, sugars, rendered meats, by-products, or artificial preservatives.

This food is a bit on the pricey side, but it depends how you look at it. It turns out, because the food is so much more nutrient dense than other commercial dog feed on the market, you can feed far less volume per serving. Therefore your money stretches further - how about that!

I found I was using this nutrient dense recipe to supplement raw food diets as a dog food topper. Got to love a multi-purpose product.

The name Frontier Pets might not be as well-known as some other brands in the Australian dog food market, but they have been receiving more attention lately due to loads of positive reviews. So, what's it all about?

Well, Frontier Pets has made it their mission to create high-quality dog food using only ethically sourced ingredients. Dogs are carnivores by nature, but does that mean that in the modern world they have to rely on meat that comes from factory farms? Frontier Pets is proving it doesn't.

Their Free-Range Grass Fed Beef recipe contains exactly what the name suggests. The livestock used for this feed is allowed to roam free and grown without the use of artificial growth hormones and antibiotics which are all too common these days in cattle farming.

The first ingredient on this feed’s ingredient list is beef, followed by offal and tripe from the same beef. Both offal and tripe are great for dogs offering many necessary nutrients. Besides the meat, this feed includes free-range eggs, organic fruit & veggies, as well as a couple of superfood additions like turmeric and green-lipped mussel.

Related: Frontier Pets Dog Food Review.

The result is a recipe that is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and rich in nutrients that my dog needs to be healthy, like Omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to this, no preservatives are needed because the food is freeze-dried! Top quality all round from manufacturing to ingredient list to taste.

As a bonus, my dog loved the taste.

What could strike the perfect balance between high quality ingredients, domestic sourcing, and a fair asking price? Our top choice for Australian dry dog food the Working Dog formula by Stockman & Paddock, of course!

The number one ingredient is real Australian beef. No mystery ingredients here. The total protein of 26% is well above the industry average. And, the recipe includes whole grains to help to support the fibre, prebiotic, and energy needs for even the most active dogs.

Related: The Stockman & Paddock Dog Food Review.

The major downside of this brand is that they do not offer specialty formulas for toy and giant breeds, or puppy and senior formulas.

So while my dog loved it and was full of energy, this is going to be a very good choice for many dog owners, as not everyone will find the right formula for their individual dog.

In line with our top pick for kibble, the canned dog food selection offered by Ziwi comes in as our top pick for the best wet dog food.

Again, the choice is easy because of Ziwi’s superior ingredient sourcing with a focus on developing relationships with New Zealand farmers. They also stand out by using low heat preservation techniques to make sure the natural benefits of their whole food ingredients shine through in the finished product.

Like their dry formulas, you just won’t find the typical fillers used to bulk up most commercial feeds. Instead, you will find a short but all natural ingredient list focused on whole food nutrition.

My picky pup scoffed this down straight away, meaning I didn't have guard it from the ants that are constantly marching toward his dog bowl, if you have a picky eater you simply must give Ziwi wet a try. Most dogs simply go nuts for these flavourful recipes.

Also, if you have a dog who does better with novel proteins and/or needs a limited ingredient formula, you are likely to find the selection of Ziwi canned foods to be ideal for your pooch.

Taste of the Wild has been a well-known grain-free dog food brand for about 15 years. While they offer a line of dog food that includes grains, the grain-free range is still a big part of the TOTW brand.

The Taste of the Wild grain-free line includes various creatively named recipes such as High Prairie, Southwest Canyon, and Pacific Stream. Common to all these recipes is that they feature meat or fish as the first ingredients and mix different types of protein. While this might not be ideal for pups with food sensitivities, combining various protein sources isn’t bad, and many dogs seem to love the taste of this food.

Related: Taste Of The Wild Dog Food Review.

As expected, the TOTW formulas don’t contain any grains and are free from typical fillers like corn or soy. They do include potatoes which aren’t bad but not too great either.

My dog loved the High Prairie formula the most during the trials but happily chowed down on all all the formula types.

Overall, Taste of the Wild is one of the best choices for grain-free kibble.

When it comes to the best dog food that’s made in Australia, Eureka Pet Co is definitely among the top contenders. So what’s so cool about this dog food?

Well, for starters, besides being made right here in Australia, it’s also made with locally-sourced ingredients. I've chosen to feature the Wild Boar & Chicken formula here, but each of their recipes features a combination of wild and free-range meats. Wild boar, venison, and roo are on the menu along with free-range chicken and grass-fed lamb.

Does it get any better than that? It really doesn’t, considering that each of the Eureka recipes contains over 90% of meat, bone, and organs. On top of that, each part of the animal is clearly named on the ingredient list, so I knew exactly what went into my canine companion's dinner bowl.

Related: Eureka Dog Food Review.

Moreover, this is not your regular old kibble. Instead, the dog food is gently air-dried to preserve the nutrients as much as possible while keeping the pathogens away. The process does lend a unique texture to the food, but dogs certainly don’t seem to mind.

I've chosen this option in our my best dog food guide due to it's high nutritional value, my dog loved the taste and it's another Australian made dog food.

How I Choose The Right Dog Food

Nutrition Considerations

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for your pooch, you have to first understand a few basics about how ingredients are labelled. One word of difference in the ingredient list can make a huge difference in terms of the quality of the source ingredients.

Here are the main tips to reading a dog food label:

Related: What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials
Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
Related: AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison Australia

Age & Size Factors

There is no one-size-fits all formula for the best Australian dog food. Dogs of different sizes, ages, and activity levels have different nutritional needs. For example, large breed dogs can develop serious skeletal problems if they are fed too much protein as puppies. Essentially they grow too quickly, and it wears in their growing bones. Puppies should be fed specific food too.

Finding the right feed for your pet does include accommodating their individual needs. That is why our recommendations for the best dog food include specific mentions to help you find the best choice for your pup.

Special Diet Dog Food Formulas

Speaking of unique diets for individual dogs, some dogs do need special diets to address specific health concerns. Here is a quick primer on the most common special dog diets:

My Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, Australia’s lack of regulation on dog food can make purchasing a high quality food for dogs a challenge.

However, there are some shining beacons of light that put the nutritional needs of our dogs first.
As discussed, Petzyo dog food is our leading option, and Ziwi peak a close second, one Australian and one New Zealand dog food brands that are leading the way.

We hope this article has helped you to make decisions about the best dog food for your faithful furry bestie.