The 7 Best Working Dog Foods Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2023

Working dogs require proper nutrition to give them strength and stamina to fulfil their daily tasks. But with tons of different formulas on the market, choosing the right one can be difficult.

In this article, we’ll cover all the ingredients you should look for in working dog food, as well as what are some of the best recipes on the market nowadays.

To provide you with the most comprehensive information, we teamed up with veterinarians, canine nutritionists and dog parents to form a panel of independent experts. We then spent months researching the most popular working dog food out there, all in an effort to suss out the best from the rest. 

What we learned surprised even us! Let's check out the best working dog food while discussing the nutritional benefits of such canine cuisine.

Australia's Best Working Dog Foods Reviewed

Now you know why working dog food can be the best option for the most active working dogs. Next, let's discover our favourite working dog foods that impressed our independent panel of experts (and our finicky canines!).

If you want to feed your pooch with the best working food on the market (which also happens to be our overall best dog food), you can’t go wrong with Petzyo. This brand has a couple of formulas available, but this kangaroo recipe has the right nutritional value for working dogs.

The number one ingredient is kangaroo meat, which is one of the best options for active canines. Kangaroo is a lean red meat that’s higher in protein than other types of meat. It’s also rich in healthy fats, iron, zinc and B vitamins.

One of the star ingredients everyone on our team of independent experts loved seeing is hemp seed oil. It’s rich in omega fatty acids which are crucial for joint support and overall immune system health. As for veggies, this formula contains sweet potatoes and peas. They’re high in fibre and vitamins such as A, B6 and C. Together, these compounds help support the nervous, digestive and immune systems.

Related: Petzyo Dog Food Review.

I love how there are tons of superfoods included in this recipe, such as kelp, blueberries and turmeric. They are all natural sources of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. And since Petzyo makes dog food in small batches, I've been able to always buy a bag of fresh kibble from my pupper.

This formula by Meals For Mutts is specially created to provide proper nutrition to dogs that are very active, whether it’s racing, pulling sleds or engaging in agility training. The key to an ideal formula for working dogs lies in the proper blend of BCAA's (branch chain amino acids), glutamine and creatine. When each of these compounds is added in a correct ratio, they improve the dog’s muscle development and endurance.

The first ingredient on the list is turkey meat, a named protein. Turkey is lean white meat, and as such it’s great for building muscles. It’s also rich in niacin, which helps in converting proteins, fats and carbs into energy. Turkey is also a natural source of minerals and compounds that improve bone health, such as calcium and glucosamine.

Unlike our number one choice by Petzyo, this formula is grain-free and so great for dogs with allergies. Turkey is hypoallergenic, and so are all the veggies used in the recipe.

Aside from turkey, this recipe also contains lots of plant-based protein from chickpeas and alfalfa. The result is a whopping 32% of crude protein. Is so much protein necessary? Not really. But many working dog owners on our panel of independent experts found it works, especially with very large active dogs.

All recipes by Taste Of The Wild are based on the protein sources from your pet’s ancestral diet. The formula we’ve chosen for this list is High Prairie, which features water buffalo as the number one ingredient. With 28% of protein, you can rest assured this recipe will give your pooch the required energy for performing daily tasks. It’s AAFCO certified, meaning it meets all the nutritional needs of a growing pup.

Related: The Taste Of The Wild Dog Food Review.

Like our second choice, this is a grain-free formula but with different ingredients entirely. It contains sweet potatoes and peas as the main sources of carbs and fibre. These ingredients are also high in vitamins A, B and C, as well as iron and potassium. They’re also high in antioxidants, which boost the immune system and help with healthy growth.

As our team of independent experts notes, a healthy digestive system is crucial for all dogs, but especially for young pups. For that reason, every recipe from this brand contains more than 80 million live probiotic cultures that are native to a dog’s gastrointestinal tract. It also contains yucca schidigera extract, which reduces the smell of your dog’s poo.

Unlike conventional kibble, Ziwi Peak dog food is made through an air-dry process, which kills the bacteria while preserving all the beneficial ingredients of raw meat. And speaking of meat, Ziwi Peak recipes have all their protein sources named. Not just that, the brand also states which part of the body was used for the specific formula.

All proteins are ethically sourced. Lamb is grass-fed and free-roaming the pastures of New Zealand, while blue mackerel is wild-caught from the remote waters of islands.

Aside from having a high protein and fat content, this dog food is ideal for working dogs because it contains green-lipped mussels. This mussel, which can only be found along the coast of New Zealand, is naturally rich in omega fatty acids. They’re also rich in glycosaminoglycans that can help with arthritis pain, something that afflicts my own dog.

Related: Ziwi Peak Dog Food Review.

Everyone on our team of researchers appreciated that this dog food contains no fillers or artificial preservatives. Instead, it’s naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols. This, however, also means its shelf life is about two months, which is shorter than most conventional food. This is something to keep in mind when choosing the packaging size.

Eukanuba is not a super-premium brand, so don’t expect to see fancy ingredients like actual meat or superfoods. What you can expect is kibble with consistently decent quality and reasonable prices.

The Premium Performance Sport 30/20 formula is designed specifically with very active dogs in mind. The first thing you’ll notice about this kibble (it’s even in the name) is its extremely high protein and fat content. The “30/20” stands for the percentages of protein and fat, respectively, and the guaranteed analysis tells us there is even a bit more of it - 32% of crude protein and 22% of crude fat.

For most dogs, this might even be too much, but for dogs that work all day, this kibble can be a great solution. But where does all that protein come from? Well, the first ingredient is dehydrated poultry protein, which is a fancy term for meat meal that comes from poultry. That’s not very specific, but it is a very dense source of protein (since it is dehydrated).

Related: The Eukanuba Dog Food Review.

Unlike the other options on this list, the formula also contains corn gluten meal pretty high up on the list. This is protein rendered from corn. While we don’t know what percentage exactly it takes up, this means that at least some of the protein in the ‘32%’ comes from plant-based sources. Not our favourite option, but generally OK.

Besides these main ingredients, the formula also contains chicken fat and quite a few sources of fibre. It’s all supplemented with added vitamins as well as glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.

Ivory Coat offers a wide range of grain-free recipes that have a high protein and fat content. They’re all great for working dogs, but this formula with lamb and kangaroo meat is the best option for working dogs. All of their dog foods meet the Australian standards and those of the AAFCO, meaning they’re balanced for everyday feeding.

Similar to Taste of the Wild in spot number three, this recipe also contains lots of fibre sources such as sweet potatoes, peas, kale, broccoli and tomato pomace. These veggies are also high in vitamins A, B, C and K, as well as minerals such as magnesium, iron and zinc. All of these are necessary for the proper functioning of a dog’s immune system.

I especially love how it includes blueberries, which are considered superfoods, are also full of vitamins and minerals. They also have more antioxidants than any other fruit, and as such, they help by reducing recovery time after heavy exercise. Thanks to the high level of phytochemicals, blueberries reduce inflammation in chronic diseases.

Related: Ivory Coat Dog Food Review.

This recipe contains no grain, wheat or fillers. It also has no added flavours or artificial preservatives and uses rosemary and green tea extracts instead. This formula works especially well for dogs with sensitive stomachs or gluten sensitivity.

Stockman and Paddock might not have tons of different recipes available. But what it does have is a formula that offers complete and balanced nutrition, specifically designed for active Australian dogs. With 26% protein and 16% fat, this recipe will keep your working pooch in peak condition.

There are no shady ingredients in this formula. First on the list is a named protein, Australian beef meal. But aside from a high protein level, our panel of experts appreciated that this dog food is also rich in carbs and fibre.

This dog food is rich in essential vitamins including vitamin D, whose primary function is to maintain a healthy level of calcium. It also contains B1, which is a vitamin dogs need but don’t produce themselves. B1 helps regulate energy and carbohydrate metabolism, so maintaining a high level of this vitamin is essential for working dogs.

Related: The Stockman & Paddock Dog Food Review.

Flaxseed is also worth mentioning, as it’s high in omega fatty acids. These acids help with reducing inflammation and relieving pain, which is crucial for working dogs. Flaxseed is also high in antioxidants which help in promoting a dog’s long-term health.

Everything You Need To Know About Working Dog Nutrition

Do working dogs need a special diet? The truth is, it depends. The needs of each dog depend on many factors, one of which is the activity level.

Dogs who go through long hours of strenuous exercise such as herding dogs need a diet that will provide enough energy that will support them through the day. Most regular dog food formulas won't cut it in this case. On the other hand, support and therapy dogs might not need an overly caloric diet, even though they perform valuable tasks.

Related: How To Choose The Right Dog Food?

In this guide, we’ll focus on dog food formulas that are designed with high energy requirements. We all know that lots of protein is good for canines, but feeding only meat is not enough, especially in the case of working dogs. Fats and carbohydrates are equally important sources of energy, and it’s crucial to achieve the right balance of all of them to fulfil a working dog's nutritional needs.

Protein

A quality source of protein is a must for any dog food. In the case of working dogs, this is even more important as it will offer the necessary support for maintaining their muscle mass. You’ll ideally want to see meat and organs at the very top of the ingredient list.

According to our team of experts, clearly named ingredients is always a good sign, as opposed to ambiguous listings such as ‘meat meal’. The former is invariably a sign of cutting corners with the quality of the source ingredients.

According to the AAFCO guidelines, the diet of an adult dog should contain at least 18% of protein. Working dogs will need more, so look for feed with higher protein percentages - ideally around 25%. Going any higher than 30% is not necessary, though, as it will not be useful for the dog (1).

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

Fats

Fats contain twice as many calories as proteins or carbs. While we might be inclined to think about too much fat as something ‘bad’, in the case of working dogs, food with generous fat contents will help support prolonged physical activity.

Related: Understanding Guaranteed Analysis Levels in Dog Food.
Related: Real Meat vs Meat Meal.

Many ‘active dog’ formulas follow this logic, so don’t be surprised if you see they contain 20% fat or even more. For very active dogs, this can be quite beneficial.

Carbs

If you’re into fitness at all, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘carb loading’ which is thought to help athletes increase endurance. When it comes to dogs, this does not work. As mentioned above, fat and protein are the main source of energy for canines.

Related: How To Calculate Carbohydrates In Dog Food.

Still, that doesn’t mean that carbs aren’t important. During digestion, they’re broken down to glucose, which is the necessary source of energy for the central nervous system to work properly (3). So while a dog’s body doesn’t need carbs, it needs glucose. That’s why a well-balanced diet for working dogs should include good carbs as well. Look for recipes that feature natural sources of carbs such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.

Check out our YouTube video on How To Choose The Right Dog Food!

My Final Verdict

The best working dog food must have a proper nutritional balance to keep them active and healthy. Our team of independent experts could all agree that Petzyo dog food has the right amount of protein and fat most working dogs need.

It also contains all the essential vitamins and minerals that improve overall health. In case you’re looking for a grain-free option, you can’t go wrong by choosing the Meals For Mutts High-Performance recipe.

References

1. 1) Tupler, T. February 01, 2021. “Dog Nutrition: Guide to Dog Food Nutrients.” PetMD. Retrieved December 6, 2021. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_whats_in_a_balanced_dog_food
2. Coates, J. September 12, 2014. “Dietary Fat is Important for Athletic Dogs”. PetMD. Retrieved December 8, 2021. https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2014/september/dietary-fat-important-athletic-dogs-31984
3. PetMD Editorial. Oct 19, 2011. “Carbohydrates: Key to a Balanced Dog Food.” PetMD. Retrieved December 6, 2021. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_carbohydrates_key_to_balanced_dog_food