2026 marks a whopping 14 years of Pet Food Reviews being run by me, not an AI bot – which is pretty impressive if I say so myself!
This list of dog food recommendations has changed significantly over the years, and below you’ll find it’s been refreshed especially for 2026!
We’ll start with the best-of-the-best. Compared to kibble these may feel pricey, but they’re fabulous, and you can feed them as part of your dogs diet to really boost their nutrition and health!
After that we’ll cover dry dog foods (aka kibble or “biscuits”), as for most of us this will be a go-to diet which helps keep things affordable.
Wet dog foods aren’t covered, but any highly rated dry dog food will have an equally as good wet food option (unless otherwise stated).
Lastly we’ll cover BARF (biologically appropriate raw foods) which are an excellent – and natural – addition to your dog’s diet – which I’m sure they’ll love!
If this guide to the best Aussie dog foods helps – please help me by telling others!
Thanks to this wonderful community which you’re a big part of, pet food in Australia is much better today than it was when I started this website. We have better brands, better options, and healthier pets.
This is very much a community, so please comment on reviews, give feedback (positive and negative), and share the reviews with your social media communities.
Special offers! With some pet food companies I’ve managed to arrange a special introductory offer or money off – check the full reviews where mentioned.
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The Best of the Best Dog Foods in Australia (2026)
The recommendations below are what I consider the best available in Australia today for the health and wellbeing of your dog.
If these are affordable for you, that’s fantastic, but if you’re a “normie” like me you’ll probably need to balance the cost with a kibble, wet food, homemade, or raw as well – variety is a good thing, right?
It’s not just me who recommends these dog foods. I’ve had amazing feedback from other dog owners as well, so consider them highly recommended!
Lyka
I’m a huge fan of Lyka as one of the few top quality “fresh dog foods” in Australia.
At the time of updating this page, they’re also offering a whopping 50% off your first order – well worth taking advantage of (you can use the link above).
Lyka is like Hello Fresh, but for your dog, and it’s a much healthier way of feeding them compared to kibble (which is essentially a processed convenience food) or even wet/canned (which usually isn’t as glamourous as the marketing makes out).
The downside of Lyka is you’ll need freezer space, but if that’s not an issue you’ll be able to feed your dog fresh meals packed with raw meats, organs, bones, and veggies – all the healthy stuff which will truly benefit them as a facultative carnivore rather than a junk food disposal unit.
Lyka is very slightly cooked (which you may prefer to full raw), and delivered right to your door. Easy!
Read the full Lyka review here.
Frontier Pets
If you’re short on freezer space, then Frontier Pets is another superbly healthy option for your dog.
Frontier Pets are a wonderful company to deal with, and it’s understandable why their range of freeze dried dog foods have gained such a loyal following over the years.
Freeze dried offers two perks – a long shelf-life and convenience of kibble, just far healthier nutritionally as the manufacturing process keeps nutrition intact.
Frontier Pets is simply fantastic, and Diana and her team in Evans Head are absolute pioneers in Australian dog food (and cat food).
You just add water and let the freeze-dried pieces soak a while before feeding your dog. Easy!
Read the full Frontier Pets review here.
Eureka
Most pet owners have heard of ZIWI Peak, one of the most notable air-dried raw dog foods sold in Australia. As a flagship New Zealand brand it’s really good, but here in Australia we have another brand equally as good (if not better) – Eureka.
Our dogs are more carnivorous than the pet food industry like to admit. Most kibbles are high in carbs (and fillers) which your dog doesn’t really need, whereas they thrive more off a diet mostly of raw meat, organs, and bones. That’s exactly what Eureka is.
Eureka is essentially a raw diet combined with really beneficial superfoods, but with the convenience of being air-dried. You can feed it as easily as kibble, but it’s far more digestible, and far healthier for your dog.
Read the full Eureka review here (you’ll also find a link which gives you money off your first purchase).
The Best Dry Dog Foods in Australia (2026)
Most dog owners feed kibble. I do too, for the simple reason I couldn’t afford to feed the above super premium brands all the time – I have a mortgage, and I need to eat myself.
A good approach I take is variety, something I consider very important in our dog’s diet, and of course our own.
Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in Australian in 2026 based on formulation (are they meat based, high protein, quality ingredients and so forth), and also based on manufacturer reputation and feedback from Aussie dog owners like us.
If you want a recommendation for a good retailer with good prices, Vet Supply and Pet Circle have been very proactive in selling the dog foods I recommend. They also have regular offers, so always worth checking to save a few bucks!
Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in Australian in 2026:
Best Big Brand Australian – Black Hawk
Having invested a whopping $80+ million on a brand new Australian manufacturing facility, Black Hawk dog food has proven to be a great Aussie option over the past couple of years.
Being readily available, you’ll find regular deals at Vet Supply or Pet Circle which makes Black Hawk a very sensible choice indeed.
Whether you want a regular formula, grain free, high meat protein, or even air dried (at a reasonable price), Black Hawk seems to have an option for you.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a decent, reliable Aussie dry dog food.
Read the full Black Hawk dog food review.
Best Affordable Australian – Petzyo
The Petzyo dry dog food doesn’t have the same astounding animal content of Orijen (below), but it doesn’t have the crazy price tag either.
For many this would be a much more realistic choice.
I find Petzyo great value for money, a great company to deal with, and they’re Australian made and owned, made from local produce.
The recent addition of raw dog food (BARF) shows they’re moving in the right direction for the health of our dogs, so it’s worth checking out the patties as well as the dry food.
You can only buy Petzyo direct from their website, and that benefits us because they cut out the cost of the “middle man” retailer (some retailers take a 40% cut!)
If subscription isn’t your thing, you may prefer the next pick below – Taste of the Wild.
Best All-Rounder – Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild dog food is sold worldwide, with an excellent reputation worldwide.
As a dry dog food you have a range of grain and grain-free formulas to choose from, with assurances in quality, and decent formulas to boot. It’s a brand I’ve recommended for many years, and I’ve know many itchy scratchy dogs to have a fantastic turnaround in health when switched from many brands of kibble to this.
All formulas are a balance of meat and other ingredients, and considering the affordability makes Taste of the Wild a very good choice for most dog owners.
When it comes to hypoallergenic diets, for when your dog seems to react to other dry dog foods, then also take a look at Taste of the Wild PREY which is a limited ingredient dry dog food of great quality.
Read the full Taste of the Wild dry dog food review.
Best Premium – Orijen
Orijen is very expensive and can be hard to get hold of in Australia, but it’s the absolute benchmark in dry dog food.
It may suit you if you have a smaller breed, or if you feed some kibble alongside other types of food like fresh or raw. If you have a large or hungry breed of dog you may find feeding Orijen can get a bit pricey, but read the ingredients and you’ll see what you’re getting for your money.
Read the full Orijen dog food review.
If the above dry dog foods are still too much for your budget then don’t worry, as the guide to more affordable dog foods in Australia may help, and a guide to the best budget dog foods in Australia.
The Best BARF Dog Foods in Australia (2026)
BARF has been a sensation worldwide as a way of feeding our dogs raw with the convenience of little meaty patties.
BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding and was invented by a true blue Australian veterinarian Dr Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog a Bone.
As great as BARF is for your dog, I see it as having one flaw. It’s a flaw of most dog food in general, including dry dog food, air/freeze-dried dog food, rolls, and especially wet mushy dog food – it does very little for dental health.
I consider raw meaty bones the best in preventing poor dental health, plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease in dogs, or if you’re not keen on feeding your dog raw bones then choose a decent chewable dried meat treat as an alternative.
I also highly recommend the book Work Wonders : Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones by Australian vet Dr Tom Lonsdale – if you read one book about dog nutrition, for the sake of your dog’s health, then let that book be it.
Back on track, here are what I consider the best BARF dog foods in Australia, in 2026, in no particular order:
Big Dog BARF
Big Dog BARF has been around almost quarter of a century – how crazy is that! As one of the original BARF patties in Australia it continues to be a brilliant option.
The other original BARF patty was Dr B’s BARF (originally made by Dr Ian Billinghurst himself, but later sold to Aussie pet food manufacturing giant The Real Petfood Co). The difference between the two is Big Dog uses human grade ingredients, which is far better than pet grade in terms of quality.
You will find Big Dog in most pet food retail stores. If you can’t find it, you’ll likely find the next option instead – Proudi.
Proudi
Like Big Dog BARF, the Proudi BARF patties also use human grade ingredients. That’s a great thing.
The small different between Big Dog and Proudi is Big Dog have a small amount of veggies included, whereas Proudi is full carnivore – meat, organs, bones.
Personally I consider both of brands of BARF very good, so will leave it up to you to decide. BARF patties are well worth considering as part of your dog’s diet, such as alongside a dry dog food, and you could always rotate between Big Dog and Proudi.
Featured dog foods
If you haven’t found your perfect dog food as yet, then here are some more great options:
Click here for all dog food reviews.
Some of these brands are available direct from the manufacturer. You should find many of them in good pet stores on independent pet shops. I know Pet Circle are very proactive in stocking decent dog foods, as are My Pet Warehouse – both competitive on price.
Are dog foods really that different?
The difference in quality between some dog foods and others in Australia is astounding. Some dog foods tell you exactly what they’re made from, usually because they’re made from ingredients which are good for your dog.
But…
*Most* dog foods sold in Australia do their best not to tell you the truth.
I have a copy of the Australian standards for Manufacturing and marketing of pet food (AS 5812:20127) which is available here, but you’ll have to pay $118.76 AUD for the privilege. How’s that for transparency?
The standards, if you do read them, will give you the impression they were written by the pet food industry, for the pet food industry.
On in other words, not for the benefit of you or me as the consumer.
Seasoned Australian vet Dr Tom Lonsdale, author of Raw Meaty Bones and Work Wonders, refers to it as “the junk pet food industry”, having witnessed first hand the harm caused to our dogs from commercial pet food, for decades.
Dr Lonsdale, unlike most vets, records data on what dog foods were fed to the sick dogs and cats who go through his veterinary practice daily. He attributes most conditions, such as itchy skin, rotting teeth and gums, and other serious illnesses to commercial pet foods.
Needless to say, he has a great deal of credibility on the subject, and those two books are eye-opening.
I’ve found the marketing of many brands of dog food so skewed it’s amazing it’s legal. I find highly questionable brands benefit from 5 star ratings on various websites, simply because the owner thinks it’s good because their dog eats it.
Many of those people will readily say it’s the best dog food in Australia to any social media group who’ll listen or ask for recommendations!
How often do people recommend Supercoat as the best dog food, ever? Lot’s of cereal by-products, wheat, corn, sorghum, or barley in that food for essentially meat-eating dogs.
Just saying.
Your dog will eat a Big Mac – they’ll probably love it – but is that good for your dog? Should Big Macs be rated 5 stars as a dog food?
Alternatively, would you rate broccoli 1 star because your baby refuses to eat it?
Nope.
Hopefully my experience with dog food over many years, combined with gathering so much information and feedback from other dog owners, will help you make a better decision when choosing a dog food in Australia.
Lastly, before I get to some interesting misconceptions about dog food, I want you to take part in helping other dog lovers learn.
We’re in this together.
What dog food do you feed? What experiences have you had? What have you learned from others?
Every review has a comments section, and it’s totally free to use!
Misconceptions about dog food which will change your mind forever!
If you’ve got this far, thank you – it’s clear you really want to know what’s best for your dog!
Here’s not one, but two misconceptions about dog food in the world today! In fact, they’ve been misconceptions for decades.
When searching for the best food for your dog, always keep these misconceptions in mind. They’ll guide you towards the right decision.
#1 misconception about dog food
You’ll be forgiven if this surprises you. We fall victim to clever marketing, and pet food marketers are up there with magicians – they know how to trick us.
Most commercial dog foods are grain-based, not meat-based.
Walk down the dog food aisle in any supermarket across the world, and spend time looking at every packet of dog food. What pictures are on the front? What claims do they make?
Ask yourself – how many say “Rich in Wheat!”, “Grain is the first ingredient!”, “Packed with rice your dog will love!”, or “Made with real corn!”.
Any of them?
Now turn those bags around and read the ingredients. Most commercial dog foods are made from grains!
Don’t be fooled by grain-free slogans either. They usually swap grains for potatoes, tapioca, or other starchy high-carbohydrate ingredients. They’ll still market it as meaty.
When you read my reviews you’ll find that’s not the only trickery they use to make a dog food appear like the best dog food in the aisle.
Even claims like “meat first ingredient” doesn’t mean there’s much of it in the product, so don’t be fooled by that one either.
#2 misconception about dog food
If you’ve read the first misconception about dog food, then this second misconception might not come as a shock.
But sit down, and take a deep breath.
Most commercial dog food is, quite likely, unhealthy.
This may sound like a crazy thing to say, and I hope you don’t think I’m crazy for saying it.
People have said to me, many times, “If it wasn’t healthy, they wouldn’t sell it”.
Personally I think that’s crazy, especially given the amount of junk food you can buy.
In 2021, a leaked document from Nestlé claimed the majority of it’s portfolio is unhealthy.
The document, meant for internal use only, was a presentation acknowledging more than 60% of products did not meet ‘recognised definition of health’ – cited from an FT article here.
Did you know Purina is a brand of Nestlé? They’re one of the biggest sellers of pet food in Australia!
Nestlé brands in Australia include Supercoat, Purina One, Felix, Fancy Feast, Pro Plan, Friskies, Lucky Dog, Bonnie, Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Dentalife!
In fact, according to Statista, Nestlé made an incredible US $15,422,000,000 with their Purina range of pet foods in 2021.
That’s around 30% of all pet food sold worldwide.
Nestlé aren’t the biggest pet food manufacturer either. The biggest player, making a whopping US $18,085,000,000 in 2021, was Mars.
How many dog foods have you seen with “Mars” in big letters on the packaging, like you get with the Mars bar?
None?
Fascinating, isn’t it?
Yet most of the dog foods in the supermarket aisles are brands by Nestlé or Mars.
Go to your local vets and look at the dog foods they recommend. Read the ingredients. Do you think they’re much better?
Most of those brands are also Mars, or Colgate-Palmolive.
When you read my reviews for many of these brands, and others, you can decide for yourself if you’re feeding the best dog food.
Oh, and before you turn to an Australian brand instead of one of those big American brands, just keep in mind Australia’s regulations for pet food are worse, with even less guarantees of honesty, quality, or even safety.
Why choosing the right dog food is vital for the health of your dog
You’ve probably got the gist of it already, but what we feed our dogs is vital for their health.
Let me give you some examples…
I’ve spoken to hundreds of dog owners over the years who didn’t realise their dog’s itchy skin or rashes were related to diet. It’s actually very common, but not really considered.
Most of the time those dogs will be taken to the vet and prescribed some form of medication or expensive “prescription diet” – usually Hills Science Diet, Hills Prescription Diet, or Royal Canin.
Those prescription diets work because they don’t contain common allergens – namely wheat or cereals. If you don’t believe me, compare the ingredients between a dermocare formula and another formula of the same brand.
Those medications merely cover up the issues without addressing the real problem.
In most of those cases any grain free dog food would do the trick, and these are often cheaper.
There are many diet-related illnesses our dogs suffer, and it’s rarely considered cheap dog foods are the culprit.
Cancer, arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, IBS, allergies, dermatitis, ear infections, urinary crystals, pancreatitis…
All of these can be attributed to diet, which is why choosing a decent dog food is vital for the long term health of our dogs.
How the list of best dog food in Australia is chosen
All the dog food reviews are written firstly as an overview of the ingredients and analysis, but there are many other factors taken into account. Many brands of Australian dog foods actually come from the same manufacturer. There are many Australian brands of dog food, yet only a handful of manufacturers.
I monitor trends with each manufacturer, so if you find your dog has a reaction to a dog food, or you have any issues, then make sure you say so in the comments.
Australian Pet Owners Group (APOG) have an issue log for most brands of dog and cat food sold in Australia, and it’s well worth researching any pet food you feed on their website.
With some leading Australian manufacturers I’ve gathered many reports of sickness or diarrhoea. For other pet food manufacturers, hardly any at all.
The dog foods on the “Best Dog Food in Australia” list will change over time, either as formulas change, or feedback and other factors change.
Dog foods I have rated highly in the past have at times been bought up or switched manufacturers and shown drastic changes in quality – very sad considering the consumer loyalty which has been built up.
If you’ve had a positive or negative experience on a dog food in Australia then let me know, add a comment, or through the Facebook page.
Varying your dog’s diet is something I see as a good thing, so keep that in mind as well.
Your dog doesn’t need to be fed a single brand of dry dog food any more than we would eat a single brand of breakfast cereal for every meal day after day.
In fact, my guide on how to feed a dog (or cat) may offer some guidance!
What about the worst dog food brands?
Some of the worst dog food brands in Australia are actually the most well known. What ads have you seen recently on TV featuring a cute dog apparently “loving” some brand of dog food?
The reason for this is the big players in dog food make the some of the worst foods. It’s why they make so much profit – selling a cheap formula with impeccable marketing is a business strategy which works.
Those companies have huge budgets for marketing their products, and not just for ads either – by influencing breeder communities, dog shows, University sponsorships and endorsements.
If you’re feeding one of those best-selling dog food brands, then read the review on this website, or at the very least look at the ingredients – what does it really say about the product?
Don’t stick to dry dog food
There’s such a belief a dog should eat the same food from the day he’s weened until the day he dies.
Why?
Imagine if we were told to eat a commercial dry biscuit for the rest of our lives?
Always keep in mind dry dog food is a processed product. Yes, it’s designed to meet the insanely complex nutritional needs of our dogs as one complete package, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.
Rotate, add variety, and mix in some wet, BARF, or fresh ingredients. These reviews are mostly dry dog foods, but if you want the best wet dog food in Australia then many of the top rated dry foods have a corresponding wet food.
There isn’t a best supermarket dry dog food page on this website, but there’s a list of more affordable dog foods which is a balance of price and quality.
Nutrition analysis of the best dog foods
All the foods on the best dog food in Australia list must meet my stringent criteria.
In a nutshell, here are a few:
- Must have sufficient protein and fat.
- Must have sufficient meat ingredients.
- Must not contain any nasty or ambiguous ingredients.
- Must avoid allergenic or problematic ingredients.
- Must have a long standing reputation and good consumer feedback.
- Must conform to AAFCO standards to offer a complete & balanced diet (only applicable to dry/wet dog foods, not applicable to raw dog foods/patties).
I care what you think!
It’s taken me a great deal of time, and huge amounts of research to put these reviews together. I’ve spent a great deal of time finding research studies, picking through them, and doing my best to ensure they’re not biased, not influenced, and provide valuable facts.
Pet Food Reviews takes up more of my life than I care to admit, but the ultimate goal is for us to have happier, healthier pets, who have the best chance of living a long life.
I can’t do that alone. I encourage you to be involved, to add comments, discuss, get in touch, and share the knowledge you’ve learned with friends, family, and social media groups.
If your dog’s allergies clear up, they become more buoyant, more active, or show a new lease of life based on the information on these reviews, then let me know!
And let others know!
The “Best dog food in Australia” list depends on your ongoing feedback.
The links on the reviews to pet food retailers are also affiliate links, so any time you click and buy a dog food a small percentage will help keep Pet Food Reviews up, running, and up to date – thank you!
“What is the Best Dog Food in Australia?”, updated 2026.
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