Since the dog food industry in Australia is not well-regulated, finding a safe and healthy diet for your pup can be a daunting task. Even if you know you want your dog to eat dry food rather than canned, your options are still extensive. To help you make the right pick, we’ve rounded up reviews of what we think are the best dry dog foods in Australia. Check out our picks and our handy buyer’s guide before you make your final decision on your dog’s next food.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners in 2024

The 10 Best Dry Dog Foods In Australia

1. Stockman And Paddock Dry Beef Dog Food – Best Overall

Our choice of the best overall dry dog food in Australia is Stockman and Paddock High-Performance Dy Beef Food for Working Dogs. This diet features Australian beef as the number one ingredient and is high in protein to keep active pups properly fueled. Stockman and Paddock features added fatty acid supplementation and prebiotics to help maintain the dog’s digestion.

Most users found this food to be a good value for the money, although they did note that the kibble is quite large and might be hard for smaller dogs to eat. Because it’s designed to feed working dogs, you’ll need to monitor the amount less active dogs eat carefully to avoid excessive weight gain.

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2. Purina ONE Natural Dry Dog Food – Best Value

Our choice for the best dry dog food in Australia for the money is Purina One Natural Dry Dog Food SmartBlend Small Bites. Made by an American-based company, this diet conforms to nutrition standards set in that country. With beef as the main ingredient, this food is high in protein and contains fatty acids and antioxidants to support the immune system and coat health. Added glucosamine helps maintain healthy joints as well.

Purina One SmartBlends receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from users, who appreciate the quality of the food they get for the money with this brand. However, some did report concerns with inconsistent quality, including the presence of bugs, in food received via mail order.

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3. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food – Premium Choice

Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Real Meat Recipe Appalachian Valley Dry Dog Food is made according to the regulations of the American pet food industry. It features a high protein content thanks to the venison it uses as a primary meat source. This food is highly digestible and features a blend of live probiotics and prebiotic fiber to help keep the dog’s digestive system balanced and healthy. This product does contain legumes, including peas, which are currently being studied to determine whether they are linked to heart issues in pets.

While many dog owners believe grain-free diets like this one are best for their dogs, they are not necessary for all pets and are not proven to be healthier. Consult your vet to determine if a grain-free diet is a good choice for your dog.

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4. Ivory Coat Puppy Grain-Free Dog Food – Best for Puppies

This Australian-made puppy food features chicken sourced in the country as the first ingredient. Ivory Coat Puppy Chicken Grain Free Dog Food is extra-high in protein, ideal for fueling the rapid growth of active baby dogs. Although it’s made in Australia, this diet conforms to the AAFCO American nutrition standards for pet food. Ivory Coat contains fatty acids and antioxidants from superfood ingredients and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

It is grain-free and does contain peas, which we discussed as a potential point of concern in the last review. Users report that their puppies seemed to enjoy the taste of this food, and they were satisfied with the quality and value of Ivory Coat.

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5. Optimum Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Also made in Australia, Optimum Adult Large Breed Chicken And Rice Dry Dog Food meets AAFCO standards for nutrition. This food contains antioxidants and prebiotics. It’s made with large pieces to encourage chewing which helps strengthen teeth and improve digestion as well. Optimum is designed to allow the maximum amount of nutrients to be absorbed by the dog. This food is conveniently available both online and in retail stores. It does contain by-products, which are an approved source of nutrition but some owners still wish to avoid them.

The kibble is quite large but this formula is meant for large-breed dogs. Users most appreciated that this food offered good quality at a reasonable price.

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6. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food is manufactured by an American-based company, using AAFCO nutrition standards. The company prioritizes using real meat, in this case, chicken, as its primary protein source, along with other whole food ingredients like brown rice, fruits, and vegetables. Enhanced with fatty acids and antioxidants, this diet is free from artificial flavors or preservatives.

According to user reviews, this food has some issues with quality control specifically in products purchased online rather than in stores. However, Blue Buffalo Life Protection receives high ratings overall, especially for taste and ingredient quality. Unlike many Blue Buffalo diets, this one is not grain-free which purchasers should be aware of to avoid confusion.

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7. Purina ProPlan With Probiotics Dry Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan with Probiotics Dry Dog Food, Shredded Blend is manufactured by a well-known, experienced American pet food company. It offers complete and balanced nutrition with beneficial additives like probiotics and antioxidants. The texture of this food is appealing to dogs, with tender chicken morsels mixed in with the crunchy kibble. Similar to other foods on our list, users reported some concerns regarding the quality of the product purchased online, including receiving bags infested with bugs.

Overall, users were generally pleased with Purina ProPlan, with many reporting being long-time purchasers of the brand. Some reported that a recent formula change did not agree with their dogs, however.

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8. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food, Advanced Fitness is another quality option from an experienced American pet food manufacturer. Like all American dog foods, it meets basic nutrition standards and is completely balanced. This particular formulation contains vitamin E, fatty acids, and antioxidants designed to keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy. It also features added antioxidants to support the immune system. This diet has a lower fat and protein content than most of the others on our list, which may suit the dietary needs of some dogs more closely.

Hill’s is among the brands most commonly recommended by veterinarians due to its consistent nutrition and quality. Globally, nearly 90% of reviewers gave this product 5 stars, making it one of the highest-rated foods we covered for our list. Some users reported that their dogs didn’t care for the taste.

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9. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Dog Food

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Natural Adult Dry Dog Food is made without GMOs, making it a good choice for those who prefer to avoid such ingredients. The company also sources directly from farmers and suppliers, allowing them more control over the quality of their ingredients. This diet contains fiber to maintain regular digestion and antioxidants for overall immune health. Regular purchasers of Nutro report some differences in quality with bags they received via shipment versus those bought at a retail store.

Overall, most users felt this food was a good value and healthy for their dogs. The kibble is quite small, something to be aware of if you decide to purchase this for a bigger dog.

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10. Iams ProActive Health Dry Dog Food

Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks Dry Dog Food is another extremely well-reviewed dog food, manufactured in America. The Iams company has been making dog food for decades and has picked up some extremely loyal customers along the way. This food is made with real chicken and whole grains, featuring a good protein and fat ratio to help build muscle.

The kibble is designed to scrub the dog’s teeth as they chew, helping to minimize tartar buildup. Fiber, antioxidants, and prebiotics are all included to promote proper digestion and immune system health. This food does contain by-products, which is a deal-breaker for some food buyers.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dry Dog Food in Australia

Now that you have an idea of what brands of dry dog food are available in Australia, here are some specifics to keep in mind as you narrow down your purchase options.

Does the Food Meet AAFCO Standards?

As we mentioned, the Australian pet food industry is a bit of a free-for-all in terms of regulations and quality standards. In contrast, all American dog foods must meet the same basic minimum nutrition requirements, set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO. If you purchase an American-manufactured diet, you can rest assured it meets the AAFCO standard. If you prefer a brand made in Australia, try to find one that also follows AAFCO standards.

Decoding the Label

Given the competitive nature of the global pet food industry, advertising plays a major role in what ends up printed on a pet food bag, especially on the front. Because of that, you’ll see a lot of buzzwords like “natural,” “premium” and “human-grade.” However, it’s important to remember that there’s no established standard to determine what makes a dog food natural or premium, nor are they inherently healthier than other foods. You may also notice an over-representation of “grain-free” diets, again as the result of trends in what people want to buy, rather than what’s actually the healthiest for your pup.

Availability

Ordering dog food online can be a convenient option, especially as the world continues to deal with the global pandemic. However, as we noted, several dry foods displayed consistent concerns with the quality of online shipments versus in-store purchases. Because of this, you might be wary of buying online and prefer to shop for dog food in an actual store. If that’s the case, you may not find all of these foods widely available. Others may only be found in specialty pet stores and require a separate trip to purchase. How highly you value convenience may end up being a deciding factor as you select your new dog food.

Conclusion

As our best overall dry dog food in Australia, Stockman and Paddock High-Performance Dy Beef Food for Working Dogs is locally sourced and produced, featuring high-quality protein for active dogs. Our best value pick, Purina One Natural Dry Dog Food SmartBlend Small Bites features American nutritional standards and quality in a reasonably priced diet. We hope these 10 reviews have been educational and informative as you shop for dry dog food in Australia. If you decide to switch foods as a result of your research, remember to transition your dog to any new diet slowly to avoid an upset stomach.

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Featured Image Credit: Sergey Fatin, Shutterstock