Adolescent Husky near food bowl.

The Coles Dog Foods Review:
Tested & Evaluated 2025

Written By Vedrana Nikolic | Canine Coach, B.A Ethnology & Anthropology, M.A Semiotics.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science. 
Last Updated: 6th January 2025

When it comes to choosing the right dog food for our beloved pets, convenience and accessibility play a significant role. For dog owners who frequent Coles supermarkets, the good news is that there are several options available that can provide balanced nutrition and meet the dietary needs of their furry friends.

In this article, we will explore some of the best dog food choices that can be found at Coles, ensuring that both quality and convenience are at the forefront of your decision making process.

Related: How Is Australia’s Dog Food Industry Regulated?
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

Related: Understanding Guaranteed Analysis Levels in Dog Food.

Check out our Aussie Supermarket Dog Food Guides:

Related: The Best Supermarket Dog Food.
Related: Woolworths Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options.

Related: IGA Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options.
Related: Aldi Dog Food Review.

Check out our Aussie Pet Store Dog Food Guides:

Related: Pet Barn Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options.
Related: PetO Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options.
Related: Petstock Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options.


Best Coles Dog Food

#1: Nood Dry Dog Food Cage Free Chicken Recipe With Superfoods

Nood Dry Dog Food Cage Free Chicken Recipe With Superfoods
  • Formulated to meet the AAFCO guidelines
  • Real meat as first ingredient
  • Rich in Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids
  • No artificial preservatives

Nutritional Analysis:

Protein

26%

Fat

12%

Fibre

4%

Nood - 3.5 Star Rating

  • Ingredients: Chicken, Poultry meal, Rice, Tapioca, Chicken fat, Digested animal protein (Poultry liver and Fish), Sweet potato, Salmon oil, Vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Nicotinic acid, Pantothenic acid, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Folic acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12), Minerals (Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Iodine, Selenium), Salt, Dicalcium phosphate, Choline Chloride, Mixed berries (Blueberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Mulberry), Green pea, Potassium chloride, Taurine, Methionine, Pumpkin, Carrot, Probiotic (Bacillus subtilis), Spinach, Natural mixed tocopherols.
  • Named Protein First: Yes.
  • Dog Food Type: Dry kibble + wet food range
  • Recipe Range: Chicken, salmon, lamb + specialised formulas for healthy weight and small breeds
  • Suitable For: All life stages
  • Cost: $$
  • Australian Owned: No (but NZ owned)

Nood is a pleasant surprise and one of the best supermarket dog food brands. The claim that it contains superfoods might be a tad exaggerated, but we still found their kibble features a solid selection of ingredients (and so does their new line of wet food).

Related: Meat Meal vs Real Meat in Dog Food.

The main ingredient is chicken, followed by poultry meal. The poultry meal is not the fanciest protein source, but it is rich in protein and we have two protein-first ingredients at the top of the list, which is always a plus.

Pros

Cons

  • Formulated to meet the AAFCO guidelines
  • Ingredients not locally sourced
  • Real meat as first ingredient
  • Made in Thailand
  • Rich in Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids
Cell
  • No artificial preservatives
Cell

#2: 4 Legs Slow Cooked Chicken Sweet Potato Green Beans & Barley Dog Food

4 Legs Slow Cooked Chicken Sweet Potato Green Beans & Barley Dog Food
  • Great as a topper
  • Highly palatable
  • Simple recipes
  • Protein first

4 Legs Slow Cooked Chicken - 3 Star Rating

  • Ingredients: Meat (chicken), vegetables (sweet potato, green beans & barley), vinegar, vitamins & minerals, pea fibre, natural gelling agent, flaxseed oil, fish oil, green lipped mussel meal, natural colour.
  • Named Protein First: Yes.
  • Dog Food Type: Chilled, cooked food.
  • Recipe Range: A variety of cooked dog food recipes in 3 ranges: meatballs, slow cooked, and gourmet recipe
  • Suitable For: Adult dogs
  • Cost: $$$
  • Australian Owned: Yes.

The 4 Legs dog food is available in the refrigerated dog food section at Coles and some other supermarkets. They offer a variety of different recipes, some of which have better ingredients than others - so we recommend checking the list each time.

We’ve taken the Slow Cooked Chicken recipe as an example for testing. We can say that the ingredient list looks quite good! However, there are some minor issues, like the vague terms in the ingredient list: vitamins & minerals are not clearly specified and neither are the “natural gelling agent” and “natural colour”.

While our team would prefer to see what exactly is in the food when reading the label, this is still a decent option, especially if you are in a pinch and need a quick fix from the supermarket.

Pros

Cons

  • Great as a topper
  • Vague terms in the ingredient list
  • Highly palatable
  • Simple recipes
Cell
  • Protein first
Cell

#3: Applaws Grain Free Dry Dog Food Chicken & Turkey

Applaws Grain Free Chicken & Turkey Dry Dog Food
  • Contains 50% meat
  • Grain-free
  • Complete & balanced
  • Made in Australia

Nutritional Analysis:

Protein

33%

Fat

15%

Fibre

6%

Applaws - 2.5 Star Rating

  • Ingredients: Chicken Meal (A natural source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin), Turkey Meal, Pea Starch, Potato, Tapioca Starch, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and citric acid), Flaxseed (source of natural pre-biotic, Omega 3&6), Fish Oil, Natural Chicken flavour, Salt, Rosemary extract, dried tomato, apples, blackberries, sweet potato, cranberries, pumpkin, spinach, Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Yucca, Beet Pulp, glucosamine, chondroitin, olive oil, Lysine, Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, D, E), Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Mauri Mos and Calcium Propionate
  • Named Protein First: Yes.
  • Dog Food Type: Grain Free
  • Recipe Range: Chicken & Turkey; Duck (kibble) + various wet food recipes.
  • Suitable For: Adult dogs
  • Cost: $$
  • Australian Owned: No

Applaws is the quiet hero of supermarket dog foods. It’s not amazing, but it’s pretty good, and it has been getting consistently good reviews over the years.

The main ingredient in this formula, for example, is chicken meal followed by turkey meal. While chicken & turkey meal might not be the highest quality source of protein, it is still acceptable and we have two protein-based ingredients at the top of the list! That’s confirmed by the guaranteed analysis which shows a minimum of 33% protein.

And, for dogs who don’t agree with chicken, there is now a “Duck” formula where the main ingredients are duck meal and venison meal.

Pros

Cons

  • Contains 50% meat
  • Almost all formulas include chicken (with one exception)
  • Grain-free
  • Complete & balanced
Cell
  • Made in Australia
Cell

#4: Farmers Market Adult Dry Dog Food Chicken With Farm Vegetables

  • First 2 ingredients are protein-based
  • Dogs seem to love it
  • Rich in healthy fatty acids

Nutritional Analysis:

Protein

28%

Fat

12%

Fibre

3%

Farmer's Market - 3 Star Rating

  • Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Meat Meal, Carrots, Wholegrain Wheat, Peas, Chicken Fat Stabilised with Natural Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E) Vegetable Protein, Oats, Chicken Protein, Beef Liver, Beet Pulp, Chicken Gravy, Parsley, Whole Linseed (source of Omega 3 & 6), Garlic, Kelp Meal, Salt, Canola Oil Stabilised with Natural Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Chicory Root Inulin (Prebiotic), Yucca Extract, Essential Vitamins and Minerals, Natural Antioxidants.
  • Named Protein First: Yes.
  • Dog Food Type: Grain Inclusive.
  • Recipe Range: Chicken & Vegetables or Beef & Vegetables + wet food options & snacks
  • Suitable For: Farmers Market's recipe range can be suitable for adult dogs only.
  • Cost: $$$
  • Australian Owned: Yes.

The Farmers Market Dog Food is a reasonably-priced option found in supermarkets. While it may not have top-tier ingredients, it provides decent quality. It contains ample animal-based protein and includes healthy fruits and veggies like carrots for vitamins. 

However, there is a drawback with the protein source, as it is listed as "meat meal," which could be any meat. If your dog has protein sensitivities, it's best to avoid this food. Additionally, this recipe includes wheat, which is not the optimal cereal for dog food.

On the positive side, it does contain beef liver, beet pulp (a natural prebiotic), and linseed (a source of healthy fatty acids).

Pros

Cons

  • First 2 ingredients are protein-based
  • Contains “meat meal”
  • Dogs seem to love it
  • Rich in healthy fatty acids
Cell

Coles Dog Food to Avoid

#1: My Dog With Gourmet Beef And Roast Vegetable Flavour Dry Dog Food

My Dog With Gourmet Beef And Roast Vegetable Flavour Dry Dog Food

Nutritional Analysis:

Protein

25%

Fat

10%

My Dog with Gourmet Beef and Roast Vegetable Flavour- 1.5 Star Rating

  • Ingredients: Wholegrain cereals; meat & meat by-products (poultry, beef); rice; chicken flavour; beet pulp; glycerol; salt; vitamins & minerals; vegetables; vegetable oil; amino acid; flavours; colours and antioxidants.
  • Named Protein First: No
  • Dog Food Type: Dry dog food, grain inclusive.
  • Recipe Range: Dry and wet food in a variety of flavours
  • Suitable For: Adult dogs
  • Cost: $
  • Australian Owned: No

This semi-moist kibble is made with real meat and is 100% complete and balanced, at least according to the packaging. Also Australian-made.

But do you really want to feed your dog something based on unidentified wholegrain cereals? Not to mention the vaguely named ingredients like “meat & meat by-products”, “vegetables”, “flavours”, and “colours”. We have no idea what exactly any of those things are, so we recommend you skip My Dog when choosing kibble for your canine companion. 


#2: Coles Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food With Chicken

Coles Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food With Chicken

Nutritional Analysis:

Protein

22%

Fat

10%

Coles Adult Small Breed- 1.5 Star Rating

  • Ingredients: Meat Meals (Beef and Poultry), Whole Wheat, Barley, Cereal By-products, Tallow, Natural Flavour, Peas, Vitamins and Minerals, Preservatives, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Choline Chloride, Natural Antioxidants.
  • Named Protein First: No.
  • Dog Food Type: Kibble, grain inclusive.
  • Recipe Range: Dry and wet food, different flavours
  • Suitable For: Adult dogs
  • Cost: $$
  • Australian Owned: Yes.

OK, maybe the Coles brand dog food is not the worst dog food in the world, but it’s not the best choice. Now, it seems they’ve actually improved the recipe compared to some of the previous iterations which used to have cereals as the main ingredient. The first ingredient is now a combination of beef and poultry meal.

However, there are still many questionable things about these recipes. Besides the meat meal, there are wheat, barley, and cereal by-products on the list, which sounds like a lot of grains. There are also mystery ingredients like “natural flavour” and “preservatives”, so we’d rather skip this kibble.


Final Thoughts

Coles tends to have a better offering of dog food than most supermarkets, with the Nood brand being at the forefront. However, that doesn’t mean everything on the shelves is good. There are decent options, and there are ones definitely to be avoided. We hope this guide has helped you see the difference!

Vedrana Nikolic


Vedrana Nikolić is Gentle Dog Trainers Canine Coach, Professional Writer, Anthropologist & dog lover.

With a Masters Degree in Semiotics & Bachelors Degree in Anthropology, studying the communication between animals and humans, Vedrana is able to use her expertise to analyse and review dog products and write informative posts on canine behaviour and training.

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