Pedigree Dog Food Review Australia

Black Hawk & Coles get tails wagging in dog food ratings

Some dogs like to eat pretty much everything, such as your new shoes or even the contents of a bin. So, is it really such a big deal which pet food they eat? And the answer is, yes ─ dogs do actually require particular dietary care. Whether it’s down to their breed, age, or health status, or whether they’re a fussy eater, there’s always more to pet food than cost and flavour. It’s also very important to have a chat with your vet to make sure your furry best friend is filling up on the right food.

To offer some guidance, Canstar Blue surveyed nearly 800 Aussie pet owners to find out how they and their four-legged pals rate the dog food they’ve purchased in the last three months. Respondents reviewed brands on pet enjoyment, range variety, packaging, value for money and overall satisfaction. Brands which received the minimum required survey sample size (30 responses) are compared in this report.

This year, it was Black Hawk and Coles sharing the top spot, rating five stars in multiple categories, including overall satisfaction.

Best Dog Food

Here are the best dog food brands in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s 2021 review:

1. Black Hawk & Coles
2. Supercoat (Purina)
3. Royal Canin
4. ALDI Julius
5. My Dog
6. Pedigree
7. Hill’s Science Diet
8. Optimum

Black Hawk and Coles were both barking up the right tree when it came to digging up the paw-fect meal for Aussie pooches, earning five-star ratings in multiple categories, including overall satisfaction. Supercoat, Royal Canin and ALDI Julius were all rated four stars for overall satisfaction, while My Dog, Pedigree, Hill’s Science Diet and Optimum were all rated three stars.

While Black Hawk and Coles each scored multiple five star ratings, Royal Canin was the top dog for variety and range, with the only five star in the category. However, it was only these three brands who were rated five stars in any category, with all other brands sharing in four or three star ratings.

Read on for a brief overview of some of the major pet food brands available in Australia, before going into further detail about how to choose the right food for your dog.

Dog Food Brands in Australia

We love our dogs, which is why it’s no surprise that there’s an incredibly long list of different dog food brands available here in Australia. Here, we cover the most prominent and widely available brands, but any brand’s exclusion from this list doesn’t indicate that it’s not worth looking into. Many brands are also produced by the same company, so we’ve mentioned the parent company for those. There’s quite a lot of diversity within each group, so each brand should be weighed up individually on its own terms.

Black Hawk

Started by a breeder to produce a pet food solution that uses only nutritionally beneficial ingredients, Black Hawk claims to be part of the ‘real food movement’. The brand was founded in Australia and uses locally-made ingredients, without wheat, corn, soy, gluten, artificial preservatives and flavours, or unnecessary fillers. Uniquely, Black Hawk pet food contains emu oil which provides omega 3, 6 and 9. Its product range covers both puppy and adult dog food, and can be purchased from pet stores.

• • Black Hawk ate up the competition when it came to pet enjoyment, earning five stars in the category, alongside joint top spot for packaging and overall satisfaction. It also got four stars for value for money and variety.

Coles

Your local Coles can offer some food types you might not find in every name-brand line – in addition to the expected dry food offerings. Coles covers tinned meals, as well as chewy treats and even dog rolls, with options for both adult dogs and small breed pups.

There’s plenty of flavour variety among these wet food options, with a number of different casserole and beef recipes. The dog rolls range covers chicken and rice as well as lamb and veggies. Canned varieties include beef or lamb pasta with vegetables. Buying dog food on a budget doesn’t have to be boring for your best bud!

• Supermarket Coles dug up multiple five star ratings, including value for money, packaging and overall satisfaction. It was also rated four stars for pet enjoyment and variety and range.

Supercoat

One of the members of the Purina family, Supercoat offers dry dog food made from ‘wholesome, natural and well-balanced ingredients’ without the use of artificial colours or flavours, according to the brand. The range includes foods for puppies, adults, and mature dogs, as well as specialised options for active dogs, or targeting specific needs for sensitive skin and stomachs, and weight management. As well as dry food, there’s also a large range of wet food pouches, with recipes such as casserole, mince, and loaf.

• • Supercoat received a solid four stars across the board, including for value for money and overall satisfaction.

Royal Canin

Since 1968 Royal Canin has aimed to make nutrition a priority for both cats and dogs. You can categorise its ranges by breed, age, or size of your furry friend. Specialising in dry foods, Royal Canin also features products such as ‘Beauty Adults’, which are designed to support small dog breeds’ skin and coat health.

It also caters to puppies with a range of formulas claimed to help build their natural defences, and support healthy growth and digestive system development. The adult range is said to meet specific nutritional needs according to size, breed, and sensitivities while its mature range (7yrs+) features formulas tailored to meet the specific nutritional needs of mature dogs.

• • Royal Canin rolled over the competition for variety and range, being the only brand to earn five stars in this category, with four stars for all categories, including overall satisfaction.

ALDI Julius

ALDI is well known for being budget-friendly with human food, but it also offers some cheap options for your pet. ALDI Julius dry dog food is Australian-made and is said to include natural prebiotics to help your dog’s digestion and immune system, along with high protein for healthy growth.

There’s also a Julius ‘Gold Puppy’ range available for dogs in their early stage of life, as well as Julius ‘Gold Lite’ for pets on a weight management program. You can also find Julius canned food, for those looking to buy wet meals for their dog.

• ALDI Julius was rated four stars in the majority of categories, including packaging, value for money, pet enjoyment and overall satisfaction, but was rated three stars for variety and range.

My Dog

International corporation Mars Petcare owns a huge range of pet food brands, including My Dog. Most of the range is focussed on wet meals, but there are four different dry dog food recipes on offer. The wet food range covers a staggering number of options, including beef and veal, chicken and turkey or country lamb and liver with special ranges for senior dogs and puppies also available. My Dog wet meals come in trays (sold individually and in multipacks) and cans. Its dry food varieties feature a roast chicken flavour as well as gourmet beef.

• • My Dog got four stars for pet enjoyment and variety and range, with three stars for value for money, packaging and overall satisfaction.

Pedigree

Owned by Mars Petcare, Pedigree is one of Australia’s longest-running major dog food brands and stands out on the shelf with its bright yellow packaging. The range covers dry and canned food for all life stages and breed sizes, as well as puppy milk, dental treats, and dry food for working dogs who need that extra boost of nutrition.

The wet food range covers multiple meat and veg combos in casserole, loaf, and other meals. There are also multiple flavours of dry food to choose from, to keep dinnertime even more exciting for your dog. This includes casserole with beef and gravy, loaf with five kinds of meat and homestyle with chicken, rice and veggies.

• • Pedigree sniffed up four stars for value for money, but was rated three stars in all remaining categories, including pet enjoyment and overall satisfaction.

Hill’s Science Diet

Hill’s Science Diet approaches pet food using biology-based nutrition. Similarly to other brands, it offers something to suit dogs of different sizes, ages and needs. The entire range includes a variety of can & tray meals, dry food, pouches, stews and treats. For specific health conditions, Hill’s Science Diet targets a large range of concerns. Some include digestive care, dental care, food sensitivity, glucose management, joint care, liver care, skin care and weight management.

A few of the flavours to expect include lamb meat & brown rice, chicken & barley, and savoury stew with chicken & vegetables.

• Hill’s Science Diet scored four stars for pet enjoyment and variety, with three stars for overall satisfaction and the remaining categories.

Optimum

Optimum – owned by Mars Petcare and endorsed by celebrity vet Dr. Chris Brown – offers a pretty wide range of nutrition solutions for puppies, adults, and senior dogs of all sizes. The menu covers a variety of different recipes for all categories, in dry, tinned, and tray serves.

Its adult range features grain-free options for dogs who aren’t at their very best when fed a grain-based diet. This range is available in a chicken & vegetable combo in 2.5kg, 6.5kg or beef & vegetables in 2.5kg. Wet foods are offered in 400g and 680g cans while dry food goes up to 15kg packs.

• • Optimum rounded up our review, with three stars across all categories, including pet enjoyment, value for money and overall satisfaction.

Other Dog Food Brands

The brands featured in this year’s ratings aren’t the only ones worth considering. Here are a few more options you might want to check out.

Advance

Under the wide and wonderful Mars Petcare umbrella, Advance works hard to cater to Australian pets by taking into account the unique Aussie climate and lifestyle. The Advance dog food range covers both wet and dry varieties for puppies, adults and mature dogs. It also creates recipes targeting certain concerns, including weight control, sensitive skin and dental care.

Wet food comes in various tin sizes (400g to 700g), while dry food comes in bags of varying sizes, up to 8kg so you can keep well-stocked for a hungry dog. Flavour options include your standard chicken, lamb & turkey, plus seafood alternatives containing salmon and ocean fish.

Purina

One of the biggest players in the pet food market, Purina manufactures a wide variety of pet food ranges including Supercoat, Pro Plan and Bonnie just to name a few. Flavours include chicken, beef, lamb & pork as well as salmon and tuna for sensitive stomachs. Its Beyond range also features added vitamins, minerals and amino acids. There are also daily oral care dog treats designed to clean your dog’s teeth down to the gumline.

As each range manufactured by Purina has quite an extensive line-up within it, we thought to add an overview of each one:

• Purina Pro Plan is a ‘super-premium’ brand of dog foods designed to support dogs’ immune and digestive systems, as well as help keep their coats shiny. The dry food range caters to puppies, adults, and senior dogs, with each age category offering options for different-sized dogs. The brand also sells several alternatives for dogs with different conditions, such as sensitive digestion or weight problems. In addition, there are a variety of tinned meals of meat and vegetable mixes for a tasty treat.
• Lucky Dog offers affordable dog food for that lucky (and licky) family member in your life. The dry dog food range covers two different options – Lucky Dog Adult, and Lucky Dog Minis, in smaller pieces for smaller dogs. The two adult flavours are minced beef, vegetables and marrowbone, and roast chicken, vegetables and pasta. The two Minis flavours are minced beef, vegetables and pasta, as well as oven-baked chicken and vegetables. There are also oven-baked bone and meaty chews treats for rewarding your very good dog.
• Bonnie is a specialty brand for working dogs. Hard work requires lots of energy, including a higher fat intake to sustain endurance work, carbohydrates for rapid bursts, and protein for muscle repair and recovery. Bonnie comes in four different varieties – Puppy, Adult Complete, Lite (for overweight or less active dogs) and Working Dog.
• Beyond produces recipes claimed to contain selected natural ingredients that provide dogs with 100% complete and balanced nutrition. The combinations include chicken with whole barley, lamb with whole barley as well as salmon with tuna. Purina owns and runs the Australian factory where Purina Beyond dry dog food is made. According to the brand, this means it takes full responsibility for monitoring every step in the preparation of this range.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Founded by a vet in New Jersey, USA, to help provide better nutrition to guide dogs suffering from severe kidney problems, Hill’s now is a major producer of specialised pet food for those suffering from injury or ailment. Hill’s started with its Prescription Diet product line, followed by the Science Diet range, with both options available in a choice of dry or canned food.

Hill’s Prescription Diet foods are targeted towards dogs managing or recovering from chronic or severe health issues, or recovering from surgery or any other medical intervention. Some of these include urinary tract care, brain aging care, liver care, weight loss, joint care, and weight reduction. The product range covers life stages from puppy through senior, with specialised options for different breed types, active dogs, mobility problems, weight management, and sensitive stomachs.

Nature’s Gift

Nature’s Gift claims to offer food designed specifically for your dog’s health and wellbeing, using Australian meat as well as added vitamins and minerals. It offers a varied range of products including chilled deli rolls, easy-to-serve trays & cans, dry food, semi-moist dry food, plus treats, meaning your dog can get a variety of flavours and textures during mealtimes.

Some of the dry food combinations include kangaroo and mixed vegetables, chicken and fish or beef. For deli rolls expect combos like beef, potato, carrots and peas or kangaroo, sweet potato and peas just to name a few. You can find food for both pups and adult dogs with treats featuring a ‘Joint Care’ variety for your dog’s joint health and function.

Applaws

Taking a simplicity-focussed approach, Applaws dog food is grain-free and claimed to use a minimum of 50% animal protein in every product. Applaws is stated to be free from artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and promises to never use cheap and unnecessary fillers. The independent company produces a diverse range of recipes, in single-serve tins and pouches, as well as dry food. Recipes range from simple chicken breast pieces, to more complex dishes such as chicken with salmon and kelp.

Chum

Chum, with packaging featuring the iconic black Scottie dog, is an affordable favourite for canned dog food in lamb, chicken, three meats, and beef varieties. The brand is also owned by Mars Petcare and additionally offers dry food. You can sort the range by added health benefits including for dog’s skin, wellbeing, healthy development and for dogs who have active lifestyles. Canned varieties come in 700g cans with dry food available in 15kg bags.

Petzyo

Petzyo describes itself as the first direct-to-consumer dog food company that allows paw-rents to adjust their order size to suit their pooch’s individual needs, based on age, size, and activity level. To ensure there are no unwanted chemicals, the brand claims it creates smaller batches (based on the number of subscription orders) to avoid using artificial preservatives, which are supposedly often added by some companies to increase the shelf life of mass-produced pet food. Petzyo also says it uses premium ingredients and sources most of these locally, so there’s no artificial flavours or colouring.

When you’re purchasing a box of raw food, or a hefty 8kg or 16kg bag of grain-free dry food from the Petzyo website, you can use the toggles on the website to get a serving suggestion and see an estimate of how long one bag will last before it runs out.

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What to consider when buying pet food

Feeding our four-legged family members can take a hefty bite out of the ol’ wallet, with our research showing the average monthly spend on dog food increasing slightly from $94 to $99 in the past year.

And it looks like our pooches’ tastebuds are partly to blame. 44% of survey respondents have tried multiple brands of pet food, with 30% also buying different flavours, brands or types of food so their four-legged friends don’t get bored with the food. 12% of respondents generally buy the cheapest brand available, while 33% always buy the same.

Here’s how different drivers of customer satisfaction ranked in our survey:

• Pet enjoyment: 37%
• Value for money: 29%
• Packaging: 17%
• Range variety: 16%

Is all dog food safe and healthy?

Not all dog food is created equal – there can be a drastic difference between brands and their product lines. Unfortunately, it can be the case that cheaper dog food is riskier, as it may contain cheaper nutritionally-deficient fillers or it may not be compliant with Australian standards. This can happen at any end of the price range though, so it’s important to read the label.

The Australian pet food industry is largely self-regulated. In 2011, industry representatives, the RSPCA and various other relevant stakeholders developed the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food (AS 5812-2011) which sets out the basic standards for pet food nutrition, safety and marketing. However, adherence to this standard is voluntary – so check the packaging to see whether or not it states to be compliant with AS 5812-2011. Also, according to the RSPCA, the regulation of ‘pet meat’ products is seriously lacking.

One longstanding issue with pet food safety in Australia is the use of sulphur dioxide, sodium sulphite, and potassium sulphite as food preservatives. These can cause potentially fatal thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiencies in both cats and dogs. AS 5812 includes a requirement that any pet food product containing any of these preservatives must contain sufficient thiamine, to prevent a deficiency.

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How do I choose the best dog food?

Dogs have different dietary needs at different stages in their life – that’s why you’ll see different foods labelled for different kinds of dogs.

• Puppies are very active and need lots of energy to grow and strengthen their bones, teeth, and muscles. Puppy food is high in protein, fat, and particular nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development.
• Adult dogs have lower energy needs than puppies, as they no longer need to fuel rapid growth. Excess body weight can lead to chronic health issues, much the same as with humans. Some dogs are more active than others, which is reflected by some brands targeting particular breeds or lifestyles.
• Senior or mature dogs are more sedentary as they spend their retirement relaxing. Senior dog food is low-fat and contains easily digestible proteins to ease the burden on their aging body.

There are also specialised food products available for dogs with particular needs. If your dog has any chronic health issues, you should consult your vet about the appropriate diet to keep them healthy and happy.

The following ingredients should be avoided in dog food products:

• Meat labelled as ‘by-products’, ‘animal digest’ or ‘meal’ – these are all the lowest-grade portions of the meat
• Added sugars

Unlike with cats, ‘fillers’ in dog food aren’t automatically bad – in fact, they’re nutritionally important (depending of course on the ingredients). For example, corn and rice are good, but corn syrup and MSG are bad. It’s also important to note that product names can be misleading. A product ‘with chicken’, for example, may contain chicken fat but no actual chicken meat. Reading the ingredients list is important to make the best choice for your dog. One useful thing to remember is that ingredients must be listed in order of the proportion present in the product – so look for dog foods with filler ingredients lower down on the list and real meat or other healthy ingredients listed first.

Dry vs wet dog food

Wet food is commonly viewed as a treat, yet we don’t exactly know how good wet food is for dogs. In some circumstances, wet food can be a greater source of nutrition for dogs. The most common approach is to provide a mix of both wet and dry dog food – keeping dry food as the staple and wet food for a special meal once or twice per week. The ideal balance between the two varies depending on your dog’s age, health status, and preferences. Consult your vet for specific advice.

When asked what type of food they give their dogs, respondents to our survey said the following:

• Dry food: 89%
• Wet or tinned food: 62%
• Leftovers from meals: 49%
• Other: 14%

Dry dog food (aka kibble, biscuits)

The two biggest benefits of dry dog food are simply its price and convenience. Generally, dry dog food is cheaper than wet dog foods, which can mean more money in the budget to buy treats and toys. It’s also very convenient because it stores well and can be more easily purchased in bulk. Unlike wet food, which spoils quickly after opening, dry dog food can be left out all day without compromising on safety. It can also be used with a timed automatic feeder device – handy for dog parents who sometimes aren’t home for every meal. Dry food is also good for teeth, as the shapes are designed to help clean the teeth as they’re chewed up.

Wet dog food (tins, packets, pouches)

Sometimes dogs can get fussy. That’s where wet dog food can come in handy. Dogs that are unwell, aging, or can’t smell very well may need a little extra help to get an appetite for dinner. Wet foods have a stronger smell (a very tasty smell to dogs) making them more appealing to eat, with wet food also easier to eat for dogs with teeth or jaw problems. In terms of nutrition, wet food can be a source of hydration for dogs that aren’t quite drinking enough water. It can also contain a higher proportion of animal protein and lower carbohydrate content.

However, wet food isn’t great for dogs prone to dental problems unless they’re given alternative dental care – such as cleaning those chompers yourself with a toothbrush. Wet food spoils very quickly once opened, and is generally more expensive to buy than dry food, with only smaller quantities available on supermarket shelves, making them ideal for the occasional meal rather than a dietary staple.

Can dogs be vegetarian or vegan?

Dogs are actually omnivores, not carnivores – so it is quite possible for dogs to be vegetarian or vegan. That being said, as they have different dietary needs to us humans, you should take particular care to make sure that you meet their nutritional needs. It can be tricky, and not all dogs will take to it.

The easiest way to feed your dog a plant-based diet is by purchasing commercially produced vegetarian or vegan dog food. Be careful, however, that you choose a reputable brand that is vet-approved and compliant with nutrition standards. One example is Australian brand ‘Veganpet’, which meets AAFCO standards. You can also feed your dog food prepared yourself from vegetables – just make sure you choose suitably nutritious and safe veggies.

• If your dog isn’t suited to a fully vegan diet, you may need to compromise by offering a mix of vegan and meat-based meals.

Where can I buy dog food?

While the supermarket may naturally be considered the go-to for feeding your lovable pet, as it is for humans, you should consider going beyond supermarket shelves. As with many products, supermarkets don’t necessarily stock the highest end or even the greatest range, although it is convenient to do your dog’s grocery shopping at the same time as the human grocery shopping.

Dog food can be purchased from pet supply stores, online retailers, and sometimes direct from the manufacturers themselves. From our survey, 58% of respondents said they buy their pet food from the supermarket, while 34% buy from a pet store and 3% buy from their vet.

It can be cheaper in the long term to buy bulk dog food online, particularly if you’re buying from pricier brands. A fifth (20%) of pet owners said they generally buy the largest capacity of pet food available. Just make sure that you’re buying a reputable brand – do your research. If you’re considering an unfamiliar brand, it’s well worth your time looking for reviews and pet care forums to see what other dog carers’ experience has been with the product. After all, your pup’s health and wellbeing are well worth your time.

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