Walk into the dog food aisle and you will see dry kibble, wet trays, air-dried mince and raw-style mixes all claiming to be the best option. None of them is universally right. The best format for your dog depends on their size, activity level, teeth, budget and how much freezer or pantry space you have. Here is a plain-language look at each format, matched to what we actually stock, so you can make a call that suits your dog rather than the marketing on the bag.
Dry food (kibble)
Dry kibble is the most common everyday feeding format for a reason: it is cost-effective per feed, keeps well once the bag is sealed, and most large-breed and multi-dog households find it the simplest to portion and store. We carry big dry ranges from Advance, Black Hawk, Hills and Cherish, spanning puppy, adult and senior formulas in small, medium and large breed cuts. The Advance Adult Large Breed Chicken with Rice and Black Hawk Adult Chicken & Rice are good examples of the everyday dry staples in the range, available in bag sizes from a few kilos up to bulk 20kg for bigger households.
Wet food (trays, pouches and cans)
Wet food is higher in moisture, generally more palatable to fussy eaters, and useful for dogs who need extra hydration or find dry kibble hard to chew. It is rarely fed as the sole diet for a whole dog's life in our range; most owners use it as a topper over kibble, a treat-meal, or the main format for a dog who genuinely prefers it. Advance's wet trays and Hills' wet stew pouches (like the Hills Adult 7+ Chicken & Carrot Stew) are the ones we see picked up most often for senior dogs or fussy eaters.
Air-dried food
Air-dried food is gently dehydrated rather than cooked at high heat, which keeps more of the meat content intact while still being shelf-stable at room temperature until opened. It costs more per kilo than kibble but goes further because it is fed in smaller portions. We stock air-dried ranges from AirProudi, Black Hawk (their Air Dried range) and Bugsys, in beef, chicken, lamb and kangaroo varieties. The Airproudi Air-Dried Beef is a straightforward single-protein option if you want to try the format without committing to a big bag.
Raw-style diets
Raw-style feeding uses minimally processed meat-based mixes, usually kept frozen or refrigerated until use. It needs more planning than kibble (freezer space, thawing ahead, hygienic handling) and is not the right fit for every household, but some owners prefer it for the ingredient simplicity. Our range includes Animals Like Us Rawmix grass-fed beef and lamb blends, and Ivory Coat's raw puppy range for owners wanting to start a young dog on a raw-style diet from the outset. If you are new to raw feeding, start with a small pack size and watch how your dog handles the transition before buying in bulk.
Matching format to your dog
- Busy household, multiple dogs, or a large breed: dry kibble is usually the most practical and cost-effective everyday choice.
- Senior dog or fussy eater: a wet tray or pouch, or wet mixed through dry, often gets better results than dry alone.
- Want more meat content without the freezer commitment: air-dried is a solid middle ground.
- Comfortable with meal prep and freezer space: a raw-style mix is worth trying, starting small.
- Puppy: stick to a puppy-specific formula in whichever format you choose. Puppies have different energy and calcium needs to adult dogs, and our puppy food range covers dry, wet and raw-style options built for growth.
Making the switch without upsetting your dog's stomach
Whatever format you land on, change food gradually. A commonly used approach is mixing the new food in over 7 to 10 days: roughly a quarter new food for the first couple of days, half for the next few, three-quarters after that, then fully switched over by the end of the week. Watch stool consistency and appetite as you go, and slow the transition down if your dog seems unsettled. This applies whether you are moving between two dry foods or switching formats entirely, such as dry to raw-style.
This guide covers general feeding basics only. If your dog has an existing health condition, allergy or a vet-prescribed diet, always consult your vet before changing their food.
Browse the full range in our dog food collection, or check out dog treats & chews for training and reward options alongside your dog's regular meals.