Best dog food picks in Australia
Every best-of guide on Dog Food Reviews, in one place: by life stage, dietary need, budget and where to buy. All of them rank the same index on the same published model, and none of the places are for sale.
Reviewed by the Dog Food Reviews editorial team
Independent scoringUpdated August 2026Not veterinary advice
Not veterinary advice. Always confirm live pricing with the retailer before you buy.
The index, ranked
What is actually leading right now
Our highest-scored food brands, on the same 100-point model every shortlist below applies. Everything that did not make this cut is still in the full ranking.
Top of the index
The 8 highest-scored brands, out of 100
Each bar is that brand's overall score on our published model. Colour follows the score bands and the numeral is printed on every row, so the reading survives a screenshot.
| Brand | Overall score | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Lyka | 87 | Super-premium · Fresh |
| Scratch | 86 | Premium · Dry |
| Frontier Pets | 84 | Super-premium · Air-dried |
| Petzyo | 83 | Premium · Dry |
| ZIWI Peak | 81 | Super-premium · Air-dried |
| Prime100 | 78 | Premium · Air-dried |
| Black Hawk | 76 | Premium · Dry |
| SavourLife | 75 | Premium · Dry |
Dog Food Reviews index · checked August 2026
Dog food
Best dog food guides
Each one applies the same scoring model to the same index, then filters it for a specific job: a life stage, a breed size, a dietary need or a weekly budget.
20 brands ranked
Best dog food in Australia
Our full index: every brand scored out of 100 on value, ingredients, nutrition and transparency.
- Highest score
- 87
- Median score
- 70
- At 80 or above
- 5
Sortable index · Score bands · The competition
Best dog food for small dogs
Smaller kibble, higher calorie density and the ingredient story that matters for toy and small breeds.
- Top overall score
- 81
- Lowest price per kg
- $8.45/kg
Ranked table · Why it suits small dogs · Price per kg
Read guide5 brands shortlistedBest dog food for large dogs
Joint-support nutrients, controlled energy density and the portion maths for big-breed adults.
- Top overall score
- 76
- Lowest price per kg
- $7.27/kg
Ranked table · Cost per day at 30kg · Price per kg
Read guide5 brands shortlistedBest puppy food in Australia
High protein, DHA, calcium ratios: what actually matters in a puppy food versus marketing.
- Top overall score
- 78
- Lowest price per kg
- $8.45/kg
Ranked table · Nutrition scores · Price per kg
Read guide5 brands shortlistedBest budget dog food
The lowest-cost picks that still pass our ingredient quality floor: no filler-first bargains.
- Top overall score
- 75
- Lowest price per kg
- $2.72/kg
Ranked table · Value scores · Cost per day
Read guide5 brands shortlistedBest grain-free dog food
Grain-free options ranked on ingredient quality, with honest context on the grain-free debate.
- Top overall score
- 81
- Lowest price per kg
- $8.06/kg
Ranked table · Grain-free formats · Price per kg
Read guide3 brands shortlistedBest for sensitive stomachs
Single-protein, limited-ingredient options for dogs with food sensitivities or elimination diet needs.
- Top overall score
- 81
- Lowest price per kg
- $11/kg
Ranked table · Ingredient scores · Cost per day
Read guide39 products pricedCheapest dog food online
Where to find the lowest price per kg across Australia's major online pet food retailers.
- Retailers priced
- 10
- Lowest price per kg
- $2.25/kg
Price table · Cost per day · Retailer spread
Read guideComparisons
Two brands, side by side
When the shortlist is down to two, the head-to-head pages score both on the same six pillars and print the pillar wins row by row.
All brand comparisons
Head-to-head pages that score both brands on the same six pillars, with the pillar wins printed row by row.
- Pairs published
- 14
- Pillars scored
- 6
Featured head to heads · The full pair index · Scores on both sides
Read guideDog Food Finder
Answer a few questions about your dog and we shortlist three brands from the same index, and show our working.
- Brands in the pool
- 20
- Pillars scored
- 6
Three matched brands · Pillar scores · Cost per day
Read guide“The cheapest bag on the shelf is rarely the cheapest way to feed a dog.”
A bag's sticker price says nothing until you divide it by the weight, and then by the days it lasts. That is why every shortlist on this page prints cost per kg or cost per day beside the score, rather than the shelf price on its own.
Compare price per kg
Licensed stock photography
Retailers and compare
Where to buy
Retailer reviews and the full store-by-store price comparison are published on PetReviews, our parent title. What stays here is the brand scoring, and the spread below: one standardised basket, priced at every retailer in our index.
The spread
One standardised basket, priced at 10 retailers
Every tick is one retailer. The shaded band is the middle half of the market and the heavy rule is the median, so the distance between the two ends is what a price comparison is worth on a single order.
- MinMin
- $160
- Q1Lower quartile
- $165.75
- MedianMedian
- $183
- Q3Upper quartile
- $188.75
- MaxMax
- $205
| Retailer | Sample basket |
|---|---|
| Aldi | $160 |
| Woolworths | $163 |
| Coles | $165 |
| IGA | $168 |
| Budget Pet Products | $178 |
| Pet Circle | $188 |
| PETO | $188 |
| Petbarn | $189 |
| Habitat | $198 |
| Petstock | $205 |
Dog Food Reviews retailer index · checked August 2026
Compare online pet food stores
Side-by-side pricing, delivery, subscription discounts and range across Australia's top online retailers.
Published on petreviews.com.au
Read on petreviews.com.auPet food retailer reviews
Full independent reviews of every major Australian pet food retailer, scored and ranked.
Published on petreviews.com.au
Read on petreviews.com.auNot sure where to start
Let the index do the narrowing
Answer twelve quick questions about your dog and we will shortlist three brands from the same scored index these guides rank, and show our working. Under a minute, no sign-up.
- 20
- Food brands scored on the same model
- 39
- Products priced by hand across those brands
- 6
- Weighted pillars behind every 100-point score
Before you choose
Common questions
In our current index, Lyka ranks highest overall (87/100), followed by Scratch (86) and Frontier Pets (84). The best pick for your dog depends on breed, life stage and budget, so use our full ranking or Dog Food Finder to narrow it down.
Online-only retailers like Pet Circle and Budget Pet Products typically offer the lowest everyday price per kg. Petbarn is the strongest all-rounder for range and in-store access. Our Compare Online Dog Food Stores guide has a current side-by-side breakdown.
No. Dog Food Reviews is an independent value and comparison resource, not veterinary advice. Always speak to your vet before changing your dog's diet, especially for puppies, seniors or dogs with health conditions.
Every brand is scored out of 100 across 6 weighted areas: Price & Value (25), Ingredient Quality (25), Nutrition & Suitability (20), Transparency (15), Availability & Convenience (10), Customer Sentiment (5). The same methodology applies to every brand: no sponsored placements, no pay-to-play.