A lot of dog owners are starting to move towards a raw diet for their dogs, believing that it is more biologically appropriate than the commercial kibble that most canines today are fed. Perhaps the most popular raw diet for dogs is the BARF diet which stands for biologically appropriate raw food (and bones.) Basically, the diet attempts to provide dogs with foods more similar to what they would be eating in the wild, believing this is better for the dog, and frankly a heck of a lot tastier than commercial kibble.

Of course, there are proponents for and against the BARF raw diet for dogs, with critics pointing out that domesticated dogs are not wolves, and do not have the same protein and meat requirements due to more sedated lifestyle. As we know too much protein in any species can be potentially damaging to the kidneys, resulting in serious health complications up to and including death. Also, there are those that would worry about bacteria in raw food, as while dogs do have a shorter digestive track and can usually ingest raw food without harm, should the raw meat not be stored properly it could become a potential bacteria danger.

Those are are for the raw diet would cite that many dogs these days are dying from cancer, as well as other diseases that may be attributed to the commercial dog food (further studies will need to confirm or deny this) that most dogs today are fed as their main food source. Furthermore, many who have fed a raw diet to their dogs have noted improvements in the skin, coat, energy level, and breath of their dogs, as well as a decrease in amount of stools. It is well known that higher quality foods tend to decrease the amount of bowel movements that a dog needs to have, as they also need to eat less food to meet their nutritional requirements. Another consideration is that many commercial dog kibbles contain corn and/or wheat, ingredients that many dogs are allergic to. Corn has no nutritional value to a dog and is unfortunately the chief ingredient in many lower grade dog kibble brands.

What exactly does the BARF raw diet for dogs consist of? The BARF diet suggest feeding dogs a diet that closely resembles that of what their wolf ancestors would have been eating in the wild. Raw meat including meat from muscles and organs, as well as raw animal bones (never give a dog cooked bones as they could splinter and cause internal damage and even death), and some amount of raw vegetables are generally incorporated into the raw diet for dogs. NOTE: When implementing a raw diet for dogs it’s important not to overlook the importance of adding raw bones into the dog’s diet as chewing bones is a great natural way to keep your dog’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.

NB: GoodDogBreeds.com does not endorse any specific canine diet and suggests that all dog owners do adequate research before deciding if a raw diet for dogs is best for their pets.

Of course, many will say that dogs descend from wolves and so they then should eat an amount of protein similar to what a wolf would receive from their natural diets. However, most dogs now have lifestyles that are very different from their wolf ancestors, and while most good dog owners take their pet on a daily walk, they do not receive the kind of exercise that would warrant a very high protein diet. In fact, there have been many reports of supposed high quality, high protein dog kibbles contributing to kidney issues in dogs, as the protein found in such foods is too high to be compatible with the lifestyles of dogs today.

Others would say that dogs who experience kidney issues on a high protein diet must have had a preexisting condition in the first place, and that said diets should be fine for dogs in good health. The truth of the matter is that there is no consensus and much debate over which of these points of view is true. However, few would debate that foods found at the top of any dog food ratings should contain high quality ingredients free of byproducts, fillers and allergens (many dogs are allergic to ingredients like corn and wheat, which are major ingredients in many low grade dog foods).

We at GoodDogBreeds.com tend to take a more conservative approach in our dog food ratings, and prefer to give top marks to foods containing top quality ingredients (human grade is best), with a protein level that is adequate without being likely too high for the lifestyles of most family dogs. We note that working dogs may be able to process higher protein diets effectively, however our dog food ratings are designed with the family dog in mind. With all that said, here are our dog food ratings:

Halo Spot’s Stew Dry Formula – This is the dog food brand affiliated with Ellen Degeneres, and if you watch her show you may have even seen her sample some herself. We place Halo high on our Dog Food Ratings because they use high quality human grade ingredients, no fillers or by-products, and provide an overall well balanced formula for dogs to enjoy.

Wellness Super5Mix Small Breed – A great option for small breeds. While Wellness in general uses good quality ingredients in their dog foods, we are weary of  many of their formulas due to their inclusion of canola oil. However, the small breed Super5Mix is free of canola oil and features high quality meat ingredients without overdoing it on the protein content, so it warrants a high placement in many dog food ratings.

Timberwolf Organics Southwest Chicken Canid Formula – Timberwolf Organics Southwest Chicken Canid Formula is another well balanced kibble that uses high quality ingredients such as chicken, turkey and salmon. This formula lists meat as the first three ingredients, however does not go into too high of a protein amount for the average dog. Our Dog Food Ratings team likes that salmon oil as well as flax seed are included in the Timberwolf Organics Southwest Chicken Canid Formula, as those ingredients provide for healthy Omega 6 and Omega 3 properties in the kibble.

Chicken Soup For The Dog Lover’s Soul – This is a great choice for families on a budget, as Chicken Soup For The Dog Lover’s Soul is a higher quality food with a price comparative to many low grade foods. So, instead of trying to save money by compromising your dog’s health with brands like Pedigree,  Purina Beneful or Dog Chow, you can keep your budget in check while feeding your dog a higher quality food like Chicken Soup for The Dog Lover’s Soul.

Artemis Fresh Mix Adult – Artemis Fresh Mix provides one of the most well balanced, high quality kibbles on the market. They use quality ingredients like real chicken and turkey, and have meat listed at the top four ingredients in their food. Add in a variety of fruit and vegetables and our Dog Food Ratings team is confident in giving this kibble high marks.

The common culprits in dog food allergies: Frequently dog food allergies are caused by three main sources: corn, wheat and soy. Thankfully, these foods are not required by dogs and they can and should be feed a diet exclusive of these ingredients. Corn appears to be the biggest irritating of the three, and unfortunately is a frequent filler in  many low grade dog foods, often appearing at or near the top of the list of ingredients. If you’re seeking a quality dog food brand, feel free to check out our dog food ratings page for some suggestions. As well, if you are considering the move to raw feeding we have listed some of the triumphs and pit falls of a raw diet for dogs.

While corn, wheat and soy are the most common dog food allergies, in some cases a dog may even be allergic to a specific kind of meat, such as chicken or beef. While it’s important to note that meat should be the main ingredient in any dog’s diet, you may need to swap out one type of meat entirely if their are allergies present. When switching dog food brands it’s important to make the switch slowly, which is done by mixing in the new food with the previously used brand. This is done in order to minimize upset to the dog’s stomach, as a switch which is done cold turkey result in loose stools and potentially even diarrhea or vomit ting could occur.