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Finding the best premium dog food for your pup can feel overwhelming, especially when so many brands promise high-quality ingredients and better nutrition. But what actually makes a dog food “premium”? Depending on your dog’s needs and your preferences, veterinarians say it could mean fresh, gently cooked meals, high-protein kibble, limited-ingredient recipes, or carefully formulated options designed for specific dietary needs. The most important thing is choosing a food that’s complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage, while keeping in mind ingredients, formulation, quality control, and your dog’s individual nutritional needs.

Whether you’re looking for the best fresh dog food, a premium dry food for everyday meals, a formula for a picky eater, or a food designed for a certain life stage, keep reading to learn what makes a dog food premium, the types of food you should feed your dogs, and the best brands to bring home for your furry best friend.

Best Overall: The Farmer’s Dog, $4+/daily
Best for Vet-Formulated Fresh Food: JustFoodForDogs, $7+/per meal
Best Fresh Dog Food Subscription: Ollie, $2+/per meal
Best Dehydrated Dog Food: The Honest Kitchen, $2+/per meal
Freshest Ingredients: Open Farm, $2+/per meal
Best Premium Dry Dog Food: Spot & Tango, $2+/per meal

According to Thomas Dock, director of communications and public information at Noah’s Animal Hospitals, “premium” and “high quality” have no legal definition when it comes to pet foods. “These terms, along with ‘veterinary approved, ‘used by top breeders,’ etc., are used as a marketing ploy to encourage the purchase of the brand,” he explains. “The food that you feed your pet should be complete and balanced when it comes to essential nutrients as well as being acceptable and palatable to the pet.”

Dock says pet parents should look for companies with a trusted industry reputation that routinely test their diets through animal feeding trials. “Look for companies and brands that are based on science and not marketing hype,” he adds.

Before deciding what food is best for your four-legged best friend, Dr. Liza Cahn, a veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, says to make sure the diet is complete and balanced. “Look for an AAFCO claim on the label to ensure that the diet contains appropriate amounts of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.”

Instead of focusing on the type of food, Dr. Cahn says to consider foods that are age-appropriate for your dog’s stage of life. “Whether your dog is a puppy or a senior, their nutritional requirements will change over time,” she explains. “Be sure to find a food that is labeled for their current life stage. Your veterinarian is the best resource for what food is best for your dog. If a dog has an underlying medical condition, a veterinary prescription diet is usually the best option.”

Ahead, shop the best premium dog food brands approved by veterinarians and dog experts for all breeds, life stages, and dietary needs.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. The Farmer’s Dog is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Taylor Lane is a contributing commerce writer at SheKnows, covering beauty, style, and lifestyle. With over eight years of media experience, she previously served as a beauty writer at The Zoe Report and a fashion assistant at Glamour. Her work has appeared in StyleCaster, The FlowSpace, WWD, Forbes Vetted, Teen Vogue, InStyle, and more, where she’s tested hundreds of products — from top-performing mascaras to the most functional strollers. She’s also a mom of two girls, an 11-year-old and a 9-month-old. And when she’s not online, she’s usually at Pilates.

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