Best Dog Food in Australia
Independent reviews of dry, wet, raw and air-dried dog food — ranked by ingredients, value, transparency and suitability for different dogs.
Top of the index
81What is the best dog food in Australia?
How we review dog food
We compare dog food using ingredient quality, named meat content, transparency, value per kg, availability and suitability for different dogs. Every brand goes through the same model — and no one can pay to move a score.
- 01
Ingredient Quality
Named meat first, real wholefoods, minimal fillers.
- 02
Protein Source
Single-source named protein over by-products.
- 03
Transparency
Clear labels, sourcing and country of manufacture.
- 04
Value per kg
Real cost per day, not just the sticker price.
- 05
Availability
Easy to buy and restock across Australia.
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Brands reviewed
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Scoring criteria
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Points possible
Every brand goes through the same independent scorecard. No pay-to-play. No sponsored ranks.
Three awards, three different dogs.
Not a strict 1-2-3 — these are the brands we'd actually recommend, each for a different kind of dog and budget.
Best OverallZIWI Peak
Best for owners who put ingredients first
8.1/ 10- Highest named-meat air-dried panel in our index
- Best ingredient transparency of any brand we scored
- Trade-off: premium price per serve and small bags
Best ValueBlack Hawk
Best for everyday feeding on a budget
7.6/ 10- Named-meat-first on the stronger recipes in the range
- Widely stocked and regularly discounted in big bags
- Trade-off: quality varies across the range, so read the recipe
Best PremiumPrime100
Best for sensitive stomachs & elimination diets
7.8/ 10- Single named protein, honest limited-ingredient labels
- Australian-made air-dried, fresh and dry options
- Trade-off: the rolls are pricey per kg
Strong runners-up.
- 04
Dry · Wet · TreatsSavourLife
Mid-premium value with a cause — 50% of profits to rescue
- 05
Dry · WetAdvance
Vet-recommended Australian everyday all-rounder
- 06
Dry · WetTaste of the Wild
Grain-free novel proteins (salmon, venison)
- 07
Dry · WetIvory Coat
Grain-free everyday all-rounder
- 08
Dry · Wet · PrescriptionRoyal Canin
Vet & therapeutic, research-led ranges
Compare the best dog food.
The award winners and runners-up on the attributes that decide a purchase — award, best-for, food type, price tier and score.
- Award
- Best Overall
- Best for
- Ingredient-first feeders
- Food type
- Air-dried · Wet
- Price tier
- $$$$
- Score
- 8.1
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Best Premium
- Best for
- Sensitive stomachs
- Food type
- Air-dried · Fresh · Dry
- Price tier
- $$$
- Score
- 7.8
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Best Value
- Best for
- Everyday big-bag feeding
- Food type
- Dry · Wet
- Price tier
- $$$
- Score
- 7.6
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Best mid-range
- Best for
- Value with a cause
- Food type
- Dry · Wet · Treats
- Price tier
- $$$
- Score
- 7.5
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Vet-recommended
- Best for
- Everyday all-rounder
- Food type
- Dry · Wet
- Price tier
- $$$
- Score
- 7.4
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Best grain-free
- Best for
- Novel-protein grain-free
- Food type
- Dry · Wet
- Price tier
- $$$
- Score
- 7.3
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Grain-free value
- Best for
- Grain-free everyday
- Food type
- Dry · Wet
- Price tier
- $$$
- Score
- 7.1
- Review
- Read →
- Award
- Vet & therapeutic
- Best for
- Clinical / prescription
- Food type
- Dry · Wet · Prescription
- Price tier
- $$$$
- Score
- 6.8
- Review
- Read →
Scores are set by our independent review board against our published 100-point method, using publicly available ingredient, pricing and transparency information. Prices are a guide and can change. Not veterinary advice.
One insight worth knowing
The cheapest bag per kg is almost never the cheapest feed per day. Divide the price by the recommended daily portion, not by the weight of the bag.
How we score brandsAll dog food we've reviewed.
Every brand in our index, ranked by overall score, with value, ingredients and the cheapest price per kg we found. Sort it your way.
| Brand | Rating | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  LykaLykaAustraliaTop 1 | 87/100 | 66 | 90 | $8.95/kg | Strong | |
| 2 |  ScratchScratchAustralia (dry kibble made in NSW; raw made in Australia)Top 2 | 86/100 | 72 | 84 | $10.62/kg | Strong | |
| 3 |  K9 NaturalK9 NaturalNew ZealandTop 3 | 86/100 | 62 | 91 | $81.90/kg | Strong | |
| 04 |  PetzyoPetzyoAustralia | 83/100 | 70 | 85 | $7.74/kg | Strong | |
| 05 |  CanidaeCanidaeUnited States (dry food made at Canidae's own Brownwood, Texas plant) | 82/100 | 72 | 85 | $11.92/kg | Strong | |
| 06 | ZIWI PeakZIWI PeakNew Zealand | 81/100 | 64 | 88 | $34.29/kg | Strong | |
| 07 |  EukanubaEukanubaAustralia (dry food made in Bathurst, NSW since late 2021; wet diets sourced from the USA) | 80/100 | 78 | 74 | $9/kg | Strong | |
| 08 | Prime100Prime100Australia | 78/100 | 72 | 83 | $11/kg | Good | |
| 09 | Black HawkBlack HawkAustralia | 76/100 | 74 | 76 | $8.15/kg | Good | |
| 10 |  AcanaAcanaCanada / USA | 76/100 | 68 | 85 | $14.82/kg | Good |
Get the best value at Petbarn.
Petbarn is Australia's biggest pet retailer. You get a huge range, stores nationwide, strong delivery and competitive member and Repeat Delivery pricing. The trick to getting the best value: compare price-per-kg and cost-per-day across every brand on the shelf.
Evidence-led value comparison · not veterinary advice · prices are a guide and can change.
A transparent score out of 100
Every brand and product runs through the same six-part model. Sponsored placements never change a score.
Price & Value
Price per kg, cost per day, subscription discount, sale frequency and value vs similar formulas.
Ingredient Quality
Named meat first, protein source quality, wholefoods, fillers, artificial colours/flavours, grain quality.
Nutrition & Suitability
Complete & balanced claim, life-stage suitability, protein/fat levels, sensitive-stomach and vet use cases.
Transparency
Clear ingredient list, country of manufacture, ownership, feeding-guide clarity, recall visibility.
Availability & Convenience
Stock availability, delivery options, repeat delivery and retailer availability.
Customer Sentiment
Review sentiment, repeat complaints and product consistency feedback.
Six pillars · 100 points total · no pay-to-rank
Full methodology →Frequently asked questions
In our 2026 ranking, ZIWI Peak scores highest overall (8.1/10) on ingredient quality and transparency, so it's our Best Overall pick. But the best food is really the one that suits your dog — Black Hawk (7.6) is our everyday big-bag value pick and Prime100 (7.8) suits single-protein and sensitive-stomach feeding. If you're not sure, try our dog food finder to match a food to your dog. Not veterinary advice.
Vet clinics commonly stock Royal Canin and Hill's Science Diet, whose therapeutic and prescription ranges are research-led and genuinely earn their place for specific clinical needs. Everyday value is a separate question from clinical suitability, and the right choice depends on your individual dog — always confirm with your own vet before changing food for a health reason.
Not automatically. Grain-free suits some dogs, while grain-inclusive food is perfectly fine for most — it comes down to the specific recipe and your individual dog, not the label on the bag. Ivory Coat is our grain-free all-rounder if you've decided grain-free is right for you. See our best grain-free dog food guide for the full picks. Not veterinary advice.
Prime100's single-protein, limited-ingredient range (7.8/10) is the one we lean on for sensitive stomachs, because fewer named ingredients make it easier to see what your dog is reacting to. Elimination diets are best done with vet guidance. Our best dog food for sensitive stomachs guide has the full comparison.
Every brand runs through the same published 100-point framework across six weighted pillars — ingredient quality, named-meat content, transparency, value per kg, availability and suitability for different dogs. Scores are set by our independent review board and can't be bought; there's no pay-to-play and no sponsored ranks. Read the full method on our methodology page.
No. A higher price tag doesn't guarantee a higher score, and the cheapest bag per kg is almost never the cheapest feed per day once you account for feeding amounts. Mid-premium Australian brands like Black Hawk and SavourLife often offer the best real value. Compare cost per day, not just price per bag. Prices are a guide and can change.