Top picks
The best-scoring foods for puppies, seniors, sensitive tummies and more. Each list is a saved search of the foods we’ve checked, ranked by DFR score. Nobody can pay to be on a list, and a food only appears when its label shows it fits.
Best dog food for puppiesFoods declared for puppies or all life stages, ranked by how well the declared recipe scores. Large-breed puppies need a food made for their growth rate, so check the pack’s feeding guide.223 foods →Best dog food for senior dogsFoods declared for senior dogs, ranked by recipe score. Older dogs often need fewer calories, so the cost per day we show uses your dog’s age and activity when you add them.134 foods →Best dog food for sensitive stomachsFoods the maker made for sensitive digestion. A label claim is not a diagnosis: if your dog has ongoing tummy trouble, see your vet before switching food.104 foods →Best dog food for weight controlLight and weight-control recipes, as the maker names them, best score first. Feeding less of any food cuts calories too: weigh the daily amount and check the pack’s guide for your dog’s target weight.97 foods →Best dog food for skin and coatRecipes the maker made for skin and coat. Itching and hair loss have many causes, so if they don’t settle, see your vet before changing food.25 foods →Best dog food for jointsRecipes the maker made for joints and mobility, often with glucosamine or green-lipped mussel. For stiffness or limping, see your vet: food supports, it doesn’t treat.20 foods →Best single-protein dog foodRecipes with one named animal protein and nothing unnamed, useful when you’re trying to rule a meat out. Oils don’t count; fats, stocks and meals do.322 foods →Best grain-free dog foodRecipes with no wheat, maize, rice, barley, oats or other cereals on the label. Grain-free isn’t automatically healthier: read our guide on grain-free diets before deciding.692 foods →Best dog food for working dogsRecipes the maker made for working and active dogs. Energy per 100 g matters most here: it decides how much you’ll feed and what it costs per day.73 foods →Best dog food for small dogsDry and wet foods the maker made for small breeds, usually with smaller kibble or pieces. Best score first.174 foods →Best dog food for large dogsFoods the maker made for large breeds. For large-breed puppies, check the food is made for their growth rate.120 foods →Best raw dog foodComplete raw and freeze-dried raw foods, best score first. Raw food ranks like any other food here: we haven’t checked the makers’ premises, testing or cold chain, so follow each maker’s handling advice. Raw meat can carry bacteria that make dogs and people ill: a 2026 Food Standards Agency survey found them in about a third of UK raw pet food samples. Store and handle it carefully, especially in homes with young children or vulnerable people.244 foods →Best wet dog foodTins, trays and pouches ranked by recipe score. Wet food is mostly water, so compare the cost per day rather than the price per tin.435 foods →Best dry dog foodThe best-scoring kibble, baked and cold-pressed foods. Dry food is cooked at high heat and needs starch to hold together, so even the best scores below the best wet, fresh and raw food on our scale; these are the dry foods with the most meat and the least starch. Bigger bags usually cut the daily cost, and we compare every pack size we find.960 foods →Best dry puppy foodDry foods declared for puppies or all life stages, best score first. Large-breed puppies need a food made for their growth rate, so check the pack’s feeding guide.266 foods →Best dry food for senior dogsDry foods declared for senior dogs, best score first. Older dogs often need fewer calories, so the cost per day uses your dog’s age and activity when you add them.190 foods →Best dry food for small dogsDry foods made for small breeds, usually a smaller kibble. Best score first.149 foods →Best dry food for large dogsDry foods made for large breeds. Best score first; for large-breed puppies, check the food is made for their growth rate.111 foods →