We need proper dog food because they can’t exactly wander into the kitchen and cook themselves a meal. They rely on us to ensure their meals keep them well-fed. The right formula means fewer mystery tummy troubles and stronger bones. Whether you have puppies, seniors, big dogs, or little floofs, everyone has their own dietary drama, and the best food meets them where they’re at.


Nutrition is one of the most important criteria for dog food. Dogs need the right mix of protein, fat, and vitamins, and we want proof the brand actually thought this through. We check labels for real meat, whole grains, and recognizable veggies. Bonus points if the food comes with options for different life stages, because a puppy doesn’t eat like a senior chihuahua.

Price is essential for most dog owners. We check if the bag is priced fairly for what you get, because no one wants to be ripped off. We compare serving sizes, cost per meal, and whether the food keeps the dog full or leaves them begging for meal. A good deal is one where the bowl is licked clean and doesn’t cost a fortune.

Taste is surprisingly important to dog food. Yes, dogs can’t write Yelp reviews, but their tails do the talking. Look for brands that get consistent praise from pet parents about taste and doggy approval. If your pet run to the bowl before every meal, that brand’s a winner. If the food sits untouched until bribed with cheese, the brand gets a poor review from us.

Best Dog Food in Canada
Acana was born in Alberta back in 1985, thanks to Champion Petfoods and one very determined feed mill. What started small in Barrhead now has big shiny kitchens in Edmonton and even Auburn, Kentucky. Nowadays, Acana dog food is now sold in more than 90 countries.
Acana dog food loads up recipes with fresh or raw meat, fish, or poultry, plus organs and cartilage for good measure. Their recipes go heavy on animal ingredients, anywhere from 50% to 90%. The rest is fruits, veggies, botanicals, and natural preservatives. Corn, soy, wheat, tapioca? Not invited to this party. They’ve got trace-and-track systems, safety protocols, and supplier audits so every bag contains the proper ingredients.

Best Dog Food in Canada
Orijen launched in 2005 under Champion Petfoods, the Alberta company Reinhard Mühlenfeld started back in 1985. The idea was to make a pet food line that actually feels like a dog’s wild diet. Edmonton is still home base, with a second stage in Kentucky to keep production steady. In 2022, Mars Petcare swooped in and bought Champion Petfoods, bringing Orijen into one of the biggest pet-care families in the world. Now, Orijen has a global presence, hitting shelves in more than 90 countries.
Orijen dog food is stacked with muscle meat, organs, and bone to mimic what wolves used to chow down on. They go heavy on premium picks like free-run poultry, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs, all kept fresh by refrigeration or freezing instead of weird additives. The Orijen Original formula is 85% animal ingredients, with free-run chicken and turkey, wild fish, and yes, organs and bone.
Their wet food is even more intense at 95% animal content, basically dog fine dining with minimal fruit, veg, and the nutrients needed for balance. Immune health, shiny coats, and strong digestion are all part of the package.

Best Dog Food in Canada
Open Farm is proudly Canadian, running its operations from Toronto and sourcing heavily from Canada and the United States. In 2014, they became the first Canadian dog food brand to earn the Certified Humane label. Open Farm began with two rescued pugs, Maddie and Bella. Their owners could not find food that matched their ethics, so they made it themselves. The result was a brand built on the idea that pet food should nourish animals while doing some good in the world.
From their Toronto headquarters, they serve up options galore: gently cooked meals, ancient-grains or grain-free kibble, air-dried recipes loaded with 90% meat, freeze-dried raw bites at 95% animal content, and rustic wet stews.
The company is passionate about traceability. Every ingredient is mapped back to its origin. Proteins are humanely raised, fish are sustainably caught, and produce is non-GMO. Corn, wheat, soy, and fake colours never make the ingredient list. They even publish safety tests and carbon data.

Best Dog Food in Canada
Go! Solutions was born from Petcurean, a Canadian family-owned pet health company. They’ve got actual nutrition experts, including Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, who has a PhD in Companion Animal Nutrition. Their kibble is made in Elmira, Ontario, while the HQ chills out in Chilliwack, BC.
Go! Solutions has multiple dog food collections: Skin + Coat Care, Sensitivities, Carnivore, Digestion + Gut Health, and Weight Management + Joint Care. One recipe even combines turkey, salmon oil, and cranberries for that shiny-coat glow. Dogs basically get a spa day in every bowl. They also offer wet food, toppers, and treats.
The company’s big thing is “solutions-based” nutrition. Translation: they make recipes that deal with real pet issues like tummy troubles, weight gain, or skin sensitivities. Everything is science-backed. They keep it clean with no sketchy by-products and no fake preservatives.

Dog Food in Canada
FirstMate Pet Foods started in 1989 when Mike Florian decided British Columbia needed premium pet food. Still family-owned, still based in Chilliwack, they run everything themselves. Unlike companies that outsource everything, FirstMate makes its own kibble and canned food. Full vertical integration sounds very technical, but really it just means they control the whole process. The result? Quality and consistency in their Canadian made dog food.
FirstMate works under veterinary guidance, keeping the focus on animal proteins, low carbs, and functional ingredients. Their lineup is pretty extensive: Grain-Friendly, Limited-Ingredient Grain-Free, KASIKS, Skoki, canned food, and treats. Basically, if your dog has a picky stomach, there’s a bag with their name on it. The dog food itself is where they really flex. There are Grain-Friendly options like New Zealand Beef Meal & Oats, and Limited-Ingredient Grain-Free stars like Pacific Ocean Fish Meal, Cage-Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin, and Free-Range Australian Lamb Meal.

Dog Food in Canada
Now Fresh is part of Petcurean, a Canadian family-owned company from British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. Launched in 2007, it’s their fresh-forward line, promising minimally processed meals full of actual ingredients instead of mystery powders. Now Fresh wears its Canadian badge proudly, leaning on Petcurean’s roots in BC. They keep it transparent, quality-focused, and dedicated to fresh whole foods.
Now Fresh doesn’t mess with by-products, meat meals, fillers, or fake preservatives. Everything is 100% real meat and whole produce. Less processing, more nutrients, actual flavour. They’ve got Dry Food, Wet Food, and even something called Good Gravy. This is a bone-broth coated kibble that can be served crunchy or soaked into a proper doggy stew. Their food is suitable for puppies, adults, seniors, small breeds, or big breeds.

Dog Food in Canada
Inukshuk is made by Corey Nutrition Company in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They’ve been in the pet and fish food game for over 40 years, still family-owned, and still running everything themselves in their own facility. Total Canadian control, from recipe to kibble.
This brand was created for sled dogs racing a thousand miles through snowstorms. Today, it’s also used by working dogs, service teams, breeders, and kennels. Their formulas rely on CoreyTEC™ wizardry. First, vacuum fat infusion, which means oils get locked inside kibble instead of greasing up your hands. Then, fine grinding for dense, digestible pellets. Finally, a freshness valve on the bag that keeps oxygen out and nutrients in.
The lineup includes 26/16, 30/25, 32/32, plus Marine formulas. Numbers are protein-to-fat ratios, and the 32/32 packs a whopping 720 calories per cup. The 26/16 works for puppies but also doubles as adult maintenance food, so one bag can last through multiple dog life chapters.

Dog Food in Canada
Performatrin is the dog food brand of Pet Valu Canada. They focus on quality, natural ingredients, and science-backed nutrition. There are four main ranges: Naturals, Prime, Ultra, and Culinary. Together, they cover everything from straightforward dry and wet meals to fancy raw and gently cooked options. Ingredients are kept recognizable, which means less “mystery powder” and more “oh hey, that’s chicken.”
In 2024, Performatrin gave its Culinary line a makeover with frozen raw and gently cooked meals. The gently cooked stuff is designed to help digestion, skin, immunity, and even teeth. The raw meals are about 90% meat, bone, and organs, plus a sprinkling of fruits, veggies, and vitamins. All are free from gluten, corn, soy, and fake preservatives. Basically, your dog is eating like a health influencer.
From Ultra to Prime, their dog-food recipes span wholesome grains, grain-free picks, limited-ingredient diets, and sensitive formulas. One highlight is the Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Oatmeal. Proteins include lamb, chicken, salmon, and venison, mixed with veggies and functional nutrients.

Dog Food in Canada
Nutrience comes from a Canadian family business since 1955. The Nutrience brand launched in 1988, blending “nutrient” and “science” into one word. Over 30 years later, it still means balanced food for dogs and cats. Production is proudly Canadian. The Care line is made in Ontario, while Original, Grain Free, Infusion, and SubZero are crafted in small batches in British Columbia. Ingredients are pulled from Canadian farms, ranches, and fisheries across the prairies, Fraser Valley, and Pacific Northwest.
Their dog food range is broad: dry, wet, freeze-dried raw, toppers, and targeted Care formulas. SubZero brings raw-inspired recipes, Grain Free covers sensitive pups, and Trattoria. Proteins include beef, chicken, turkey, duck, and herring, with fruits, veggies, oils, and botanicals thrown in. Nutrience sticks to their “No Bad Anything” rule. That means no corn, wheat, soy, fake colours, or preservatives.

Dog Food in Canada
Carna4 was founded in 2010 by David Stauble and Maria Ringo, who decided raw diets were too messy for modern kitchens. The name comes from Carna, Roman goddess of internal health. Carna4 is big on synthetic-free nutrition. They use real ingredients like human-grade meats, organic sprouted seeds, fruits, veggies, and herbs. Their dog food comes in “whole food nuggets.” Recipes include Chicken, Duck (grain-free), Fish, Lamb, Venison, and Goat. No meat meals, no artificial anything.
Based in Toronto, they work with Bio Biscuit in Quebec for manufacturing. Every batch is tested for 64 nutrients and safety by independent labs before it hits shelves. Carna4 doesn’t do big-box stores. You’ll find them in specialty pet shops, vet clinics, and even health-food stores.

Dog Food in Canada
Smack Pet Food was founded in 2007 in Winnipeg after the founders’ dog Zorro was diagnosed with cancer. His story inspired a shift toward nutrient-rich raw food. Even though Zorro passed, Smack became his crunchy legacy.
Their secret is air-drying raw food at low temperatures, keeping nutrients alive while still giving you the convenience of shelf-stable bags. Smack recipes are meat-heavy (between 65% and 92%). They're rounded out with organic fruits, veggies, and superfood botanicals. The result is low-carb, nutrient-dense meals that keep digestion smooth and energy steady. Bonus: they’ve never tested positive for pathogens.
Flavours include Lip-Smacking Lamb, Very Berry Chicken, Caribbean-Salmon Fusion, Prairie Harvest Pork, Rockin’ Rockfish, and Chunky Chicken. They come in crunchy niblets that you can serve dry or hydrate into a stew.

Dog Food in Canada
TLC Pet Food started in Ontario back in 1994. Headquarters are split between Canada and New York, but the vibe is the same: consistency, quality, and no nonsense. From the start, TLC made sure meat proteins were front and centre, with the first two ingredients being concentrated meats. All batches are made fresh using never-frozen ingredients from North American farms and fisheries.
Their Whole Life Dog Food is designed for all breeds and life stages. Recipes hit AAFCO nutrient standards, built by trained nutritionists. Expect quality meat, whole grains, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids for shiny coats. They skip retail shelves entirely and sell only online, with free delivery across the US and Canada. Plus, there’s autoship options and an actual Pet Service Team to answer questions.

Dog Food in Canada
Grand Cru is made by CaniSource, a family-owned company in Québec. They only use human-grade ingredients and keep SQF-level safety standards. Each batch is handcrafted by cooks and nutritionists. Ingredients are finely chopped, mixed, and shaped. Then, they're dehydrated for hours until almost all moisture is gone.
Every package is tested in labs and stamped with a lot number, so you know exactly which artisanal batch your dog just devoured. Options include Red Meat, Fish, Pork and Lamb, Turkey, Chicken and Duck, and Terre et Mer. All use fresh meats, eggs, apples, carrots, flaxseed, herbs, and grains.

Dog Food in Canada
Vetdiet has been around since 1993, created by Jules and Philippe Legault, as part of a fourth-generation Canadian family business. Their goal was to make pet food with real science and real ingredients. Vetdiet doesn’t just wing it. They have a Health & Nutrition Advisory Board stacked with vets, formulators, and certified nutritionists. These professionals keep every recipe current with the latest science so your dog gets food that’s both tasty and medically approved.
Their dog food lineup covers puppies, adults, and seniors, with formats like kibble, wet food, and treats. Options include the Complete Well-Being Line for everyday health and the Care Line for dogs with specific needs. Think digestion, shiny coats, joint support, weight management, and even special kibble shapes for breed sizes.
You can’t grab Vetdiet just anywhere. It’s sold through specialty retailers, including Ren’s Pets, which partnered with them in 2022. That means whether you’re shopping in-store or online, you can snag the Wellness and Care lines across Ontario and the Maritimes.

Dog Food in Canada
Hurraw launched in 2003 thanks to Cyril Lemyre, who started with pet accessories before shifting gears into food. He wanted to make premium pet nutrition practical and affordable. Hurraw stands out because it uses a hybrid dehydration method. This keeps nutrients intact while keeping costs low, meaning servings are priced about the same as boring kibble. The food also looks like kibble pieces, so it’s easy to store, scoop, and serve.
Everything is made at Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. They use human-grade, locally sourced ingredients that are mostly from Québec farms. That means quality is high, and your dog’s dinner is about as farm-to-bowl as it gets.

Dog Food in Canada
Canadian Naturals is a 100% family-owned pet food company with over fifty years in the business. Everything is made in their own West Coast Kitchen in Abbotsford, BC, with SQF3 and HACCP certifications. They run a safe, tightly managed Canadian kitchen.
Canadian Naturals makes food for both cats and dogs. Options include grain-free recipes, limited-ingredient diets for sensitive pups, and budget-friendly classics like chicken & brown rice or lamb & brown rice. They love local sourcing. Recipes feature Fraser Valley chicken and turkey, Pacific fish like salmon and cod, Alberta beef and pork, New Zealand lamb, plus fruits and veggies from BC’s Okanagan. Toss in peas, lentils, herbs, probiotics, and garlic.
Their products are available coast to coast in pet stores and specialty retailers. They’re community-focused, easy to find, and proud of being family-run and Canadian through and through.

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