Australia's independent dog food value index.
We exist to answer one question for Australian dog owners: are you actually getting good value? Not the marketing, not the loudest brand — the real cost of feeding your dog well.
By the Dog Food Reviews Editorial Team
Independent scoring · Not pay-to-rank · Last updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
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The hidden cost in the dog food aisle.
Dog food pricing in Australia is confusing by design. Bag sizes differ, member prices obscure everyday costs, and retailer-owned ranges sit beside independent ones without obvious labels. Each of these is a small point of leakage — a few dollars here, a hidden margin there — and over a year of feeding, they compound into real money lost.
Most owners never see it, because the comparison is hard to do at the shelf. The cheapest bag is almost never the cheapest feed. So we built one transparent model that strips away the noise: a true price per kg, a real cost per day, and a consistent read on ingredients and transparency — applied identically to every brand and every retailer, including Petbarn.
Petbarn is a genuinely convenient, well-ranged retailer — the widest range, stores nationwide and strong member and Repeat Delivery pricing. We simply show, fairly and product-by-product, the price per kg and cost per day at every store, so you can find the best value wherever you prefer to shop.
“The cheapest bag is almost never the cheapest feed.”
Three rules we never bend.
Value, measured honestly
We compare dog food by what it actually costs to feed — price per kg and per day — not the sticker price on the bag.
The same model for everyone
Every brand and retailer runs through one published 100-point methodology. No exceptions, no pay-to-play.
Fair, never alarmist
Low scores mean poor value or weaker transparency — never that a product is unsafe. We stay fair and supportive of every retailer, including Petbarn.
Zero paid placements
In our 100-point index. Ever.
Not pay-to-play. Ever.
Independence only matters if it shows up in the work. Here is exactly how we keep the index honest.
No brand owns us
Dog Food Reviews is not owned by a pet food manufacturer or retailer. We answer to dog owners, not a parent company.
Scores can't be bought
There is no paid placement inside a score or a ranking. Sponsored content, where it appears, is labelled and sits outside the model.
Commissions stay separate
Some outbound links may earn a commission to fund the research — but they never move a brand up or down our index.
Our editorial process.
Every brand in our index is assessed the same way, start to finish. Here is exactly what we do — and what we don't.
Gather public data
We collect ingredient panels, nutritional analysis, manufacturer details, country of manufacture, retail pricing and available recall history — all from publicly available product information.
Apply the 100-point model
Every brand runs through the same six-pillar scorecard: Price & Value (25 pts), Ingredient Quality (25 pts), Nutrition & Suitability (20 pts), Transparency (15 pts), Availability (10 pts) and Customer Sentiment (5 pts). No exceptions.
Score independently — never pay-to-rank
Scores are determined solely by the methodology. No brand, manufacturer or retailer has paid to influence a score or a ranking position. Affiliate commissions, where they exist, are disclosed and never move a result.
Publish with sources
We cite the product information and standards we relied on (AAFCO, PFIAA guidelines, manufacturer data). Our full methodology is published at /methodology so you can verify every pillar and weight.
Review and refresh
Prices, formulas and retailer availability change. We revisit scores when product information changes materially and publish the date each review was last updated.
Want the full scoring detail? Our published methodology explains every pillar, weight and rating band.
Written and reviewed by people.
Every score and verdict on Dog Food Reviews is produced and signed off by our editorial team — analysts who read the ingredient lists, track the prices and apply the same published 100-point checks to every brand. We don't invent scores, pad rankings or accept payment to change a result.
We are a value and comparison resource, not veterinary advice. Our picks are based on publicly available product information, pricing and standards — not laboratory testing. Always speak to your vet before changing your dog's diet, particularly for puppies, seniors or dogs with health conditions.
By the Dog Food Reviews Editorial Team
Independent scoring · Not pay-to-rank · Last updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice