Choosing the right ingredients for your dog can be tricky, especially with vague labels and obscure brands out there. Although dry dog food doesn’t provide the exact ancestral diet that raw dog food does, it is still a great option that can combine convenience with pet health and a tasty diet your pooch will love. But which flavour will suit your dog best?
Explore our full guide to discover more about the most popular dry dog food flavours, from tasty fish to popular beef and chicken, as well as our top brand picks here at Fetch.
Chicken Dry Dog Food
Choosing the right food for your dog can be daunting, especially with so many options available. Chicken dry dog food is a popular choice due to its high-quality protein content, which supports muscle development, energy, and immune health. It's typically leaner than other meats and often enriched with essential nutrients like omega fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Dry food is convenient to store and usually more economical than wet or raw alternatives. However, while chicken is generally well-tolerated and palatable, it can trigger allergies in some dogs. Watch for symptoms like itching or digestive upset and consider hypoallergenic options or alternative proteins if needed.
When selecting a chicken dry food, look for specific named ingredients like whole chicken or chicken meat, along with healthy carbohydrates (e.g. potato, sweet potato), omega oils, probiotics, and joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine. Avoid vague terms like “meat meal” or “animal fat”.
At Fetch, we offer a curated range of high-quality chicken dry dog foods, including brands like Innocent Hound, Nourish Rite, and Alpha Spirit. Each offers a nutritious, balanced option to suit a variety of dogs and dietary needs. You can also book a wellbeing consultation for personalised dietary advice tailored to your dog.
You can find out more in our previous guide here.
Salmon Dry Dog Food
Salmon-flavoured dry dog food has become a popular choice for many dog owners, thanks to its appealing taste and health benefits. Salmon is a high-quality protein rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which support healthy skin, a shiny coat, joint function, and brain health. It’s also often easier to digest than other proteins, making it ideal for dogs with sensitivities or allergies to more common meats like chicken or beef.
Feeding salmon-based dry food daily is safe, provided it is complete and balanced. It’s particularly beneficial for dogs with skin issues, joint problems, or dietary sensitivities. To avoid dietary monotony, consider rotating formulations or adding wet food toppers.
When choosing a salmon dry food, look for real, named ingredients such as salmon and avoid vague terms like “fish derivatives”. Favour foods without artificial additives, and watch out for fillers such as wheat or soy.
Though rare, some dogs can be allergic to salmon. Symptoms include itchy skin, digestive upset, or excessive gas.
We offer a wide selection of high-quality salmon dry dog food, including brands like DARF and Ydolo. With grain-free and cold-
pressed options available, we make it easy to find the right food for your dog’s needs.
Find out more about salmon-flavoured dry dog food here.
Lamb Dry Dog Food
Lamb-flavoured dry dog food is a nutritious, tasty option for many dogs, offering a high-quality protein source that supports muscle development, energy, and overall health. It’s particularly beneficial for dogs with sensitivities or allergies to more common proteins like chicken or beef, and is often featured in hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient diets.
Lamb is rich in essential nutrients, including B vitamins, iron, zinc, and healthy fats, all of which contribute to your dog’s coat condition, immune system, and energy levels. It is also generally easy to digest, making it a suitable choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Compared to chicken or beef, lamb has a richer flavour and lower allergen risk, though some dogs may still develop intolerances over time. Signs of allergy may include itchy skin, chronic ear infections, or digestive upset.
When transitioning your dog to lamb-based dry food, do so gradually over seven days to minimise gastrointestinal issues. Monitor your dog for any adverse reactions during this time; you should also consider a wellbeing consultation with a canine nutrition specialist to ensure they get the very best diet that is suitable for them.
Find out more about lamb-flavoured dog food here .
Turkey Dry Dog Food
Turkey-flavoured dry dog food is a nutritious and versatile option, offering high-quality protein, essential B vitamins, and amino acids. It is easy to digest, making it ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those needing a lighter alternative to beef or lamb. When choosing turkey-based food, ensure that “fresh turkey” is listed as the primary ingredient rather than vague terms like “animal derivatives”.
A quality dry dog food should contain balanced ingredients – protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals – without artificial additives or low-nutrition fillers like soy or wheat. At Fetch, high-grade options such as Nourish Rite and DARF use freshly sourced turkey and avoid harsh processing to preserve nutrients and flavour.
While turkey suits many dogs, it may not be ideal for all. Allergies, over-reliance on a single protein, or concerns about factory farming are valid reasons to consider alternatives. Suitable substitutes include novel proteins like duck or rabbit, or hydrolysed diets for allergy-prone pets.
At Fetch, we stock a wide selection of turkey dry dog food, including grain-free and cold-pressed options, suitable for puppies, seniors, and specific dietary needs. For personalised advice, consult our canine nutrition specialists to find the best diet for your dog’s health and preferences.
Find out more about turkey dry dog food here.
Beef Dry Dog Food
Beef dry dog food is a popular and nutritious choice, offering high-quality protein, essential vitamins like iron and zinc, and healthy fats. It's ideal for supporting muscle development, energy levels, and skin health, especially in active dogs. However, it may not suit all pets, particularly those with sensitivities or lower activity levels due to its higher fat content.
When choosing beef-based dry food, prioritise products with named, high-percentage beef content (ideally over 50%), and avoid vague by-products or fillers like corn and wheat. Opt for options free from artificial additives and tailored to your dog’s life stage. Sweet potato is a preferable carbohydrate over grain fillers.
While beef offers strong nutritional benefits, it may be less digestible than leaner meats like chicken and can pose allergy risks. Chicken is often gentler on digestion and more suitable for puppies and senior dogs, though both proteins are common allergens.
At Fetch, we offer premium beef dry dog food from trusted brands like Whistlers and DARF, including grain-free and cold-pressed options. Overfeeding, especially with palatable beef foods, can lead to obesity, so portion control is key.
Find out more in our previous guide here .
Fish Dry Dog Food
Fish-flavoured dry dog food is a nutritious, tasty option that appeals to many dogs due to its strong aroma and flavour. It offers high-quality, easily digestible protein, making it especially beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or common protein allergies (like chicken or beef). Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish supports healthy skin, a glossy coat, joint health, and cognitive function.
Compared to other proteins, fish is typically lower in fat, less allergenic, and more digestible, particularly white fish varieties. High-quality fish dry dog food should list named fish (e.g., salmon, sardines) as the primary ingredient and avoid vague terms like "fish meal." It should also contain omega-rich oils, complex carbs like sweet potato or oats, and added nutrients such as zinc and selenium.
Dogs prone to allergies, skin conditions, or joint issues, like Labradors, Boxers, and older dogs, may benefit most from fish-based diets. While fish is often used in hypoallergenic formulas, dietary changes should be made gradually and ideally with guidance from a canine nutritionist.
We offer a wide range of premium fish dry dog foods, including options with single or mixed fish sources, as well as wet and raw alternatives to suit your dog’s specific health needs and preferences.
To find out more about fish-flavoured dry dog food, please read our previous guide here.