Top 5 Best Selling Dry Dog Foods Ranked & Roasted – The Plug’s Guide to Feeding All Sizes of the Furry Homies
Choosing dog food is like picking between gas station sushi and a five-star steakhouse, except your dog can’t tell you if it gave them bubble guts. So we did the homework.
This isn’t about trendy branding. We broke it down by:
Main ingredients
Health perks (joints, skin, digestion)
Grain-free vs healthy grains
Allergy triggers
Dog age, breed size, & weight
Any shady history or recalls
Let’s feed these facts to you clean:
1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, chicken meal
Grain-Free? Nope – includes brown rice & oats (aka good grains)
Health Benefits:
Joint support: Glucosamine + Chondroitin
“LifeSource Bits” = antioxidant-rich vitamin clusters
No poultry by-product meals
Allergy Watch:
Contains chicken, grains – not ideal for dogs with sensitivities (does have lamb recipe which is my personal favorite for my goodest boy with a chicken allergy)
Dog Type Breakdown:
Age: Adult (available in Puppy, Senior too)
Breed Size: Small to large breeds
Weight Range: 10–100 lbs
Special Tip: Great all-around choice if your dog tolerates grains well
Negative Press:
2017 lawsuit claimed misleading labeling (“no by-products”). Settled. Reputational dent but product still strong.
2. Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials
Main Ingredients: Chicken, rice, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal
Grain-Free? Nope. It’s got corn, rice, and wheat
Health Benefits:
Probiotics for gut health
Omega-6 & vitamin A for skin and coat
Affordable and easy to find anywhere
Allergy Watch:
Common allergens like corn, soy, wheat, and by-products
Dog Type Breakdown:
Age: Adult, Puppy, and Senior versions available
Breed Size: Toy to giant breeds (comes in breed-size-specific formulas)
Weight Range: 5–100+ lbs
Special Tip: Big win for multi-dog households or dogs with iron stomachs
Negative Press:
Gets shade from “natural-only” folks due to by-products, but no major safety issues
3. Taste of the Wild High Prairie
Main Ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, peas, roasted bison, venison
Grain-Free? Yep
Health Benefits:
Novel proteins = great for allergy-prone pups
Omega 3s & antioxidants galore
No grains, corn, wheat, fillers
Allergy Watch:
Great for chicken or grain-sensitive dogs
Legumes like peas can be controversial
Dog Type Breakdown:
Age: Adult and Puppy versions
Breed Size: Medium to large breeds
Weight Range: 20–100+ lbs
Special Tip: A hit for itchy dogs or those on rotation diets
Negative Press:
Part of FDA’s investigation into grain-free diets & heart disease (DCM). Not proven guilty, but worth keeping an eye on if your pup is predisposed to heart issues
4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult
Main Ingredients: Chicken meal, whole grain wheat, barley, brown rice
Grain-Free? Nope. This is science, not trend-based
Health Benefits:
Designed by vets & nutritionists
Omega-6s and Vitamin E for skin and coat
Available in sensitive skin/stomach options too
Allergy Watch:
Contains wheat and corn. Can cause irritation in some dogs.
Dog Type Breakdown:
Age: Puppy, Adult, Senior lines
Breed Size: Specific formulas for small, medium, and large breeds
Weight Range: 10–90 lbs
Special Tip: Perfect for dogs that need portion control or weight support
Negative Press:
2019 recall due to excess Vitamin D (caused toxicity in some dogs). Since resolved, but not forgotten by some
5. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food
Main Ingredients: Fresh chicken, turkey, cage-free eggs, lentils, wild-caught fish
Grain-Free? Yep
Health Benefits:
Ridiculously high protein (~85% from animal sources)
Joint support: Glucosamine + Chondroitin
Freeze-dried coated for raw flavor boost
Allergy Watch:
No grains, but may be too rich for sensitive stomachs or older dogs
Dog Type Breakdown:
Age: Adult (Puppy & Senior available)
Breed Size: Medium to large breeds
Weight Range: 25–100+ lbs
Special Tip: This is your pup’s Wagyu if they’re working, active, or sporting
Negative Press:
Premium pricing
Some dogs need a slow transition or risk “rocket poop”
🐾 Side-by-Side Bowl Check:
The Plug’s Take
Got a high-performance pup? Orijen is like feeding them the Michilin of dry dog foods.
Want balanced nutrition that won’t break the bank? Blue Buffalo is your weekday warrior.
Need hypoallergenic help or grain-free goodness? Taste of the Wild has entered the chat.
Budget but vet-trusted? Purina Pro Plan hits that sweet spot.
Vet-recommended, science-driven? Hill’s Science Diet is the safe bet.
