Pet Barn Dog Foods Review:
The Best & Worst Options
Written By Vedrana Nikolic | Canine Coach, B.A Ethnology & Anthropology, M.A Semiotics.
Last Updated: 8th January 2024
Pet Barn is a convenient spot for getting your pet supplies, and they do offer quite a varied range of dog food. So, the team at Gentle Dog Trainers gathered together to dig into the details of the food available at this store, and determined which are the best and worst options for dog food stocked at Pet Barn.
We’ve selected a few top-of-the-line foods as well as some more affordable (but still good) options to help you find a dog food to suit your needs.
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Related: How Is Australia’s Dog Food Industry Regulated?
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Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
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Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 38% |
Fat | 30% |
Fibre | 3% |
Ziwi Peak - 4.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Lamb, Lamb Tripe, Lamb Lung, Lamb Heart, Lamb Liver, Lamb Bone, New Zealand Green Mussel, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Spleen, Lecithin, Lamb Cartilage, Parsley, Dried Apple Pomace, Inulin (from Chicory Root), Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Dried Organic Kelp, Salt, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Air-dried raw
- Recipe Range: Chicken or Mackerel & Lamb or Beef + more
- Suitable For: All life stages
- Cost: $$$$$
- Australian Owned: No (but NZ owned)
Ziwi Peak earns our recommendation for its high-quality, hormone-free, free-range New Zealand lamb and a special low-heat air drying method that preserves vital nutrients. They prioritise quality over efficiency, providing superior nutrition for your dog.
Related: The Ziwi Peak Dog Food Review.
In my research, I discovered that Ziwi Peak stands out by avoiding common fillers found in commercial dog food. It is grain-free, without legumes, potatoes, sugars, rendered meats, by-products, or artificial preservatives.
Ziwi Peak Dog Food being tested by our independent expert team
The only downside of Ziwi Peak is the price. However, these tasty air-dried bits also work great as a topper for kibble or a raw food supplement.
Pros | Cons |
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#2: Providore Beef Adult Dog Food
Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 33% |
Fat | 27% |
Fibre | 2% |
Providore - 4 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Lung, Green Lipped Mussel, Peas, Vegetable Glycerine, Fish Oil, Parsley, Chicory Extract, Vitamins & Minerals (Calcium, Choline, Iron, Zinc, E, Copper, Selenium, B1, B3, B5, Manganese, B2, Biotin, A, B12, B6, D3, Folic Acid), Sea Salt, Kelp, Flaxseeds, Natural Antioxidants.
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Air-dried raw
- Recipe Range: Chicken; Beef; Lamb & Venison; Chicken & Mackerel; Beef & Hoki; Lamb & Mackerel + treats
- Suitable For: Adult and senior dogs
- Cost: $$$$$
- Australian Owned: No (but NZ owned)
Providore is another New Zealand based high-end dog food brand. Their recipes are very similar to the more well-known Ziwi Peak, with some variations in protein combinations.
Related: The Providore Dog Food Review.
Just like Ziwi Peak, Providore uses gently air-dried high-quality meat, organs, and not much else. In this recipe, the superfood additions are green lipped mussels and fish oil.
While this really is top-notch feed, there are two ingredients that have some downsides. One of them is peas, but this can be avoided because some Providore formulas skip this ingredient. The other one is vegetable glycerine, which is a bit controversial but still widely used in dog food and treats.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cell |
Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 28% |
Fat | 19% |
Fibre | 11% |
Fur Fresh - 4 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Salmon fillet, whole salmon gutted (skin, bone, head, tail), carrots, spinach, linseeds (flax), king island kelp, spirulina, vitamin supplements (A, D, E, C, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, Biotin), trace mineral supplements - chelated (Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Iodine, Selenium), L-Carnitine, Taurine.
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Freeze-dried
- Recipe Range: Chicken, Beef, Salmon + treats and meal boosters
- Suitable For: Dogs of all ages
- Cost: $$$$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
FurFresh is a small Australian dog food brand on a mission to change the pet food industry for the better. They offer three single-protein formulas which are all freeze-dried. When it comes to preserving the nutrients from raw food, freeze-drying is the best option that exists, so that’s immediately a plus point.
Related: The FurFresh Dog Food Review.
The ingredient list is a bit different from other feed in this category. While the recipes are based on high-quality meat, they do contain considerable amounts of veggies and kelp. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, as this makes the formula easier on a dog’s stomach and hence more suitable for pooches who are sensitive in that regard.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cell | |
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Pet Barn Budget-Friendly Dog Foods
Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 25% |
Fat | 12% |
Fibre | 5% |
Savour Life - 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Kangaroo Meal, Chicken Meal, Sorghum, Field Peas, Brown Rice, Chickpeas, Poultry Oil, Natural Flavouring, Alfalfa, Fish Oil, Vitamins & Minerals & Amino Acids, Linseed, Salt, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Chicory Root (Natural Prebiotic), Tomato Pomace, Kelp, Carrot, Broccoli, Blueberries, Glucosamine, Natural Antioxidants (including Rosemary Extract and Green Tea).
- Named Protein First: No (but Kangaroo meal is OK).
- Dog Food Type: Dry god food- grain-inclusive and grain free versions
- Recipe Range: Chicken; Kangaroo; Lamb; Ocean Fish + more. Dedicated recipes for puppies and large breeds
- Suitable For: SavourLife's recipe range can be suitable for puppy, adult and senior dogs depending on the recipe.
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Savourlife is not the best dog food you’ll find out there but honestly, I do add it into the rotation occasionally and my dog loves it and thrives on it. The opinions seem to be split, many Aussie pet parents are faithful fans of Savourlife as a budget-friendlier option, while others say the food didn’t agree with their dogs.
Related: The Savour Life Dog Food Review.
If your dog does like it, Savourlife is a good reliable mid-range option. The ingredient list is OK - the first ingredient is not meat, but it is meat meal, which is basically a highly processed concentrated version of meat. There is a wide variety of recipes to choose from, and the food is made locally in Australia.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cell | |
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Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 25% |
Fat | 17% |
Fibre | 4.5% |
Black Hawk - 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Lamb Meal, Rice, Chicken Meal, Oats, Field Peas, Poultry Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [source of Vitamin E], Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract), Beet Pulp, Chicken Digest, Fish Meal, Essential Vitamins & Minerals (see tables), Canola Oil, Kelp Meal, Brewer's Yeast, Egg Powder, Chicory Root, Salt, Natural Antioxidants, Emu Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Tomato Powder, Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Cranberries.
- Named Protein First: No (but lamb meal is OK)
- Dog Food Type: Dry dog food
- Recipe Range: Chicken & Rice; Fish & Potato; Lamb & Rice + Grain-free: Chicken; Ocean Fish; Salmon; Kangaroo
- Suitable For: Dogs of all ages
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Black Hawk is an Australian dog food brand that offers a range of recipes. They use locally sourced ingredients and pride themselves on providing affordable, quality dog food. Their Lamb formula contains 25% protein from meat and vegetables, along with healthy additions like emu oil, kelp, and dried blueberries for essential nutrients. The first ingredient is lamb meal which is an acceptable source of protein, even if not the fanciest.
Related: The Blackhawk Dog Food Review.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cell |
Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 30% |
Fat | 10% |
Fibre | 5% |
Feed For Thought - 3 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Black soldier fly larvae, wholegrain sorghum, rolled oats, field peas, yeast, omega 3 and 6 poly-unsaturated fatty acids, natural flavours (non-meat), essential vitamins and minerals.
- Named Protein First: Yes (insects)
- Dog Food Type: Dry dog food
- Recipe Range: Only one recipe
- Suitable For: Adult dogs
- Cost: $$$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
We didn’t get a chance to test Feed for Thought yet, but I couldn’t resist listing it here because it’s definitely food for thought! The catch? The protein in this formula comes from insects. You’ve read that right, it’s black soldier fly larvae. The rest of the ingredient list is OK, considering that the brand’s mission is to prove that dogs can thrive without any meat. Will they succeed? I’m excited to find out.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cell |
Pet Barn Dog Foods to Avoid
Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 21% |
Fat | 10% |
Fibre | 4.5% |
Drover - 1.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Whole grain cereals and cereal by-products (Rice, Wheat and/or Sorghum), Meat and meat by-products (Beef and Chicken), Salt, Calcium carbonate, Vitamins (A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B6, C, Biotin, Pantothenate, Folic acid, Niacin, B12), Trace minerals (Copper, Iodine, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Zinc), Kelp, Yucca schidigera extract, Garlic, Natural antioxidant, Mixed organic acids.
- Named Protein First: No
- Dog Food Type: Dry dog food
- Recipe Range: Limited
- Suitable For: Adult healthy dogs
- Cost: $
- Australian Owned: Yes.
The bag of Drover is a good example of how dog food should NOT be labelled. The packaging clearly states “beef & chicken”. But what’s the first ingredient? Whole grain cereals and cereal by-products. Enough said.
Related: The Drover Dog Food Review.
Related: What Ingredients Should I Avoid In Dog Food?
Nutritional Analysis: | |
|---|---|
Protein | 22% |
Fat | 10% |
Fibre | 2% |
Pedigree - 2 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Cereals &/or cereal by-products, Meat & meat by-products (poultry, beef &/or lamb), Poultry palatant, Beet pulp, Iodised salt, Minerals (Iron, Zinc, Copper, Potassium and Selenium), Sunflower oil, Vitamins (A, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12 and choline), Amino acid, Antioxidants
- Named Protein First: No
- Dog Food Type: Dry dog food
- Recipe Range: Various flavours with almost identical ingredient lists
- Suitable For: Adult healthy dogs
- Cost: $
- Australian Owned: No
This is another kibble that has cereals as the main ingredient. Even worse, it states cereal AND/OR cereal by-products, meaning there might not even be any actual cereal in there. According to the ingredient list, there might not necessarily be any beef in there either, even though the packaging says “with real beef”. Only consider feeding this kibble if it’s an emergency and your dog has nothing else to eat.
Related: The Pedigree Dog Food Review.
Final Thoughts
In our analysis, we’ve considered various factors including ingredient lists as well as processing methods and the origin of the ingredients. Ultimately, though, every dog is unique and not all of them will respond the same with any type of food. As long as you stay away from the lowest-quality brands, don’t be afraid to let your dog try different options. This way, you’ll be able to see first-hand what the best option for your canine companion is.
