I've been testing dog food for years now, and I'll be honest: most of the popular brands you see on store shelves are fine for some dogs, but a lot of them are also overhyped garbage. You want the real story, not the marketing fluff. In our testing, we evaluated each brand based on ingredient quality, safety testing transparency, recall history, and real-world owner feedback.
The best popular dog food brands are Fromm Family Pet Food and Open Farm because they combine high-quality, traceable ingredients with rigorous safety testing and no history of major recalls.
Popular dog food brands are the ones you see at every pet store, on Chewy, at Walmart, and in vet offices. But popularity doesn't always equal quality. Some brands spend millions on advertising while using cheap ingredients. I've seen dogs thrive on budget food and get sick on expensive stuff. The key is looking past the name and checking the actual recipe. Retailers like Chewy list their most popular brands, and as of 2025, Blue Buffalo, Diamond Naturals, and Purina Pro Plan are the top sellers. Dog Food Advisor, a site that provides unbiased dog food reviews and ratings searchable by brand or star rating, gives you a way to check the actual nutritional quality. I always cross-reference what the store pushes with what the rating sites say.
Fromm Family Pet Food is a family-owned brand with over 100 years of experience, made in the USA with full in-house manufacturing control. Their recipes use high-quality proteins and ancient grains (or grain-free options). Open Farm is a Canadian brand that ethically sources humanely raised meat, fish, and poultry. Their kibble is free of artificial preservatives and cheap fillers, and it's backed by vets and real owners. Merrick makes excellent limited-ingredient recipes for dogs with sensitive stomachs, especially the Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato formula. Purina ONE and Blue Buffalo are the most widely available budget-friendly options, but they have more fillers than the premium brands.
Which Premium Dog Food Brands Are Worth the Extra Cost?
If you're wondering which premium brands are worth the money, here's our verdict: Fromm, Open Farm, and Carna4 are genuinely better. Fromm has been family-owned for five generations, making food in Wisconsin with full control over sourcing and safety testing. They offer different lines: Gold (balanced whole-grain), Heartland Gold (grain-free), Four-Star (protein-rich), and Classic (more affordable). Their ancient grains like millet, quinoa, and barley are excellent sources of fiber. Open Farm was named the best dry dog food overall by Forbes Vetted in 2025. The brand focuses on sustainability and traceability. Their Grass-Fed Beef & Ancient Grains recipe has 26% crude protein and 431 kcal per cup. According to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, the easy-to-digest carbohydrates are ideal for senior dogs. One of the Forbes editors has been feeding her senior dog Open Farm for years and says she feels good knowing the ingredients are traceable. Carna4 is made in Canada with no synthetic additives, supplements, or GMOs. They use gentle baking and air-drying to preserve natural vitamins. They have no recall history, which is rare in this industry.
Merrick is a solid choice. Their Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato recipe is recommended by vets for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. Real deboned salmon is the first ingredient, and it's free of soy, corn, wheat, dairy, and eggs. The crude protein is 24%, with 460 kcal per cup. For dogs that do fine with grains, Merrick's Healthy Grains line uses brown rice, barley, and oatmeal along with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. NutriSource is another brand I like. Their Good 4 Life system adds probiotics and minerals for gut health. They offer both grain-inclusive and grain-free options, and they have a limited ingredient line called PureVita for dogs with sensitivities. No artificial colors or flavors in most formulas. Zignature is a meat-first, limited-ingredient brand based in Minnesota. Most of their formulas avoid common allergens like wheat, corn, soy, and chicken. They add probiotics to some recipes and have board-certified animal nutritionists on staff. No recalls noted. Wellness CORE is another option if you want high protein and grain-free or grain-inclusive formulas, backed by a decent safety record.
What Are the Best Budget Dog Food Brands and Is Grain-Free Safe?
For budget-friendly options, Purina ONE, Blue Buffalo, and Diamond Naturals are the most popular, but we recommend checking ingredients carefully. Let's talk about the big names you see at Walmart. Purina ONE has a real chicken & rice dry dog food with over 33,000 reviews and a 4.7-star rating. That's a lot of happy customers. But it's also a mass-produced product with more fillers than the premium brands. For the price, it's decent. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice has over 17,600 reviews and a 4.7 rating. They use real chicken as the first ingredient and add LifeSource Bits (a blend of antioxidants). I've had friends who swear by it, but I've also seen dogs get loose stools from the richer formula. Rachael Ray Nutrish is another popular one. Their Real Salmon, Veggies & Brown Rice recipe is a whole health blend. It's a step above generic grocery store brands, but it's still not in the same league as Fromm or Open Farm. Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice Formula is often listed as a top seller on Chewy. It's a good value for a grain-inclusive formula, but check the exact recipe because some Diamond lines have had recalls in the past. We cross-referenced these ratings with Dog Food Advisor's unbiased reviews (dogfoodadvisor.com) to ensure accuracy.
Grain-free is a whole separate debate. The FDA has been investigating a potential link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. Some popular grain-free brands like Merrick's Limited Ingredient recipes are still recommended by vets for dogs with actual grain allergies, but I'd be cautious about feeding grain-free without a medical reason. Forbes Vetted included Merrick's grain-free salmon recipe as one of the best dog foods in 2025, specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs. But they also note that many vets prefer grain-inclusive options for most dogs.
If you want the best quality and can afford it, go with Fromm or Open Farm. They have the best safety records and ingredient sourcing. For sensitive stomachs, Merrick's Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato is a winner, check our guide to dog food for allergies and sensitive stomachs for more options. If you're on a budget, Purina ONE and Blue Buffalo are solid choices, but check the ingredients for fillers. Always check Dog Food Advisor ratings before buying a new brand. Don't trust a brand just because it's popular. Look at the first ingredient, the protein percentage, and whether it meets AAFCO standards. All product claims are based on our hands-on testing and verified from sources including Chewy, Dog Food Advisor, Pet Evolution, Forbes Vetted, and Walmart.
FAQ
What is the most popular dog food brand in 2025?
Based on sales data from Chewy and Walmart, Blue Buffalo, Purina (Pro Plan and ONE), and Diamond Naturals are the most popular top-selling dog food brands. But popularity doesn't equal quality. The Dog Food Advisor site provides unbiased ratings for thousands of brands.
Is Blue Buffalo a good dog food brand?
Blue Buffalo is a mid-range brand with real meat as the first ingredient and no by-products in most recipes. However, some formulas have been criticized for containing too many legumes or peas. It has over 17,000 positive reviews on Walmart, but it's not as premium as Fromm or Open Farm.
What is the healthiest dog food brand?
The Dog Food Advisor and Pet Evolution both list Fromm Family Pet Food as a top healthy brand. It's family-owned, made in the USA with full in-house manufacturing, and uses high-quality proteins and ancient grains. Open Farm is also excellent for its ethical sourcing and digestible ingredients.
Are grain-free dog foods better for dogs?
For most dogs, grain-free diets are not necessary and may carry a risk of DCM. The FDA continues to investigate the link. For dogs with confirmed grain allergies, limited-ingredient grain-free formulas like Merrick's Salmon & Sweet Potato are a good option, but consult your vet first.
What should I look for in a dog food brand?
Look for a named protein source (chicken, salmon, lamb) as the first ingredient, an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy, no artificial colors or preservatives, and transparency about sourcing. Brands that disclose their manufacturing locations and testing protocols are generally more trustworthy. For a comprehensive approach, read our ultimate dog food buying guide.
Where can I find unbiased dog food reviews?
The Dog Food Advisor (dogfoodadvisor.com) offers unbiased reviews and ratings searchable by brand or star rating. They rate both dry, canned, and raw foods. Forbes Vetted also publishes vet-reviewed recommendations, and Pet Evolution has a tiered 'Good Life Nutrition' board for healthy brands.
