Is kibble really good enough? 🐾
I’m not anti-kibble. I feed some kibble myself, but it’s only one part of my dog’s diet. Most of what he eats is fresh/raw food, with a smaller amount of kibble alongside it.
There are some excellent commercial foods available, but some of the very best are simply too expensive for me to feed to a German Shepherd as the main part of his diet. Like most dog owners, I try to find the best balance between quality, practicality and what I can afford.
My concern is that many people assume that if a food says “complete and balanced,” “premium,” or “veterinarian recommended,” it must automatically be a great choice.
It doesn’t necessarily work that way.
And expensive doesn’t automatically mean better. Some of the most expensive kibbles on the market aren’t necessarily the best foods available, while there are less expensive options that I consider a better choice.
Australia does have an Australian Standard for pet food – AS 5812 – covering things such as ingredients, processing, labelling and food safety. However, compliance with this standard is voluntary rather than a mandatory national requirement. So I think it’s worth looking beyond the claims on the front of the bag and understanding what you’re actually feeding.
There is a huge range in the quality of commercial dog foods, and ingredient lists can be surprisingly difficult to interpret. Some foods use clearly identified animal ingredients, while others rely heavily on cheaper ingredients or vague descriptions that tell you very little about what’s actually in the bag.
I’m also fairly neutral on grains. I personally feed grain-free, but I don’t believe every dog needs to avoid grains. Grain-free isn’t automatically better, just as grain-inclusive isn’t automatically better. What matters to me is the overall formulation and quality of the food.
And no, I’m not suggesting everyone should feed raw.
Raw isn’t practical for everyone, and there are legitimate food-safety considerations. If you do choose a raw or BARF-style diet, it should be properly formulated rather than simply throwing some meat in a bowl.
If your dog has suspected food allergies or ongoing digestive, skin or ear problems, that’s another reason to look closely at what you’re feeding rather than simply changing from one bag of kibble to another.
I’m not a veterinary nutritionist, and I’m certainly not suggesting that dog owners need to become one either.
What I do recommend to my clients is to research the food they’re feeding.
One resource I regularly recommend is Pet Food Reviews Australia. Put your dog’s current food into their database and read the review. You may be surprised by what you find.
You don’t have to feed the most expensive food available.
You don’t have to feed raw.
You don’t have to feed kibble exclusively.
But don’t assume that the biggest marketing claims – or the biggest price tag -mean you’ve found the best food for your dog.
Nutrition matters, but so does training. What your dog eats can affect their health, energy and wellbeing, and dietary issues may contribute to behaviour changes in some dogs. But good nutrition won’t teach your dog to walk nicely on lead, come when called, settle in the house or behave around distractions.
If your dog has behaviour issues, that’s where I can help. I offer private, personalised dog training in your home, focusing on the behaviours that matter most to you and your dog.
Get in touch if you’d like help with your dog’s behaviour. 🐾
Know what you’re feeding. Then make the best choice you can for your dog. 🐾