We Tested the Best Dog Foods For Picky Eaters, And Here’s Our Top 8

Dogs are often stereotyped as animals willing to eat anything, whether it be their bland kibble and bits or your leather dress shoe, but the truth is, not all dogs are accepting of anything you put in front of them. Sometimes, it can feel impossible to find dog food your pup will eat. 

This can be a tremendous struggle and source of stress as a pet owner, so we decided to investigate why your dog might be picky and test what foods are best for helping your furry friend enjoy mealtimes and get the nutrients they need. 

That’s why we researched and tested a variety of dog foods to find the best choices for you to choose from! We compiled the results of those studies and created this list of dog foods to try depending on your pet’s diagnosis and needs.

Here are our 8 best dog food for picky eaters picks and 2 honorable mentions.

How We Tested the Best Dog Foods for Picky Eaters

For this test, we considered some of the top brands for picky eaters known for their quality and conscious ingredient choices. This started with Purina, a well-known and vet-recommended brand. Their pet food came up often when we asked owners of picky pets what they were using for their pups. 

We also tested several USA-made products like Stella & Chewy’s, Hill’s, Taste of the Wild, and Wellness. These brands had trusted ingredients and a home-grown feel that made us confident they had our furry friends in mind with every decision.

Lastly, we scoured the internet for what online pet owners were buzzing about and found Nulo, Rachael Ray Nutrish, and Solid Gold. Each option was suited well for different dogs, so we broke down what we found was best for your pet.

READ MORE: Best Dog Water Fountains. See what we discovered while testing the top dog water fountains on the market today!

Best Dog Foods For Picky Eaters Reviewed

1. Best Overall Dog Food: Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food

Product Ratings

Cost	4/5
Ingredients	5/5
Enhancements	4.5/5
Mindfulness	4/5

Type: Dry Formula with Complete Essentials | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Beef, Rice Flour, Whole Grain Wheat | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $

We loved this high-protein food from the inimitable Purina from the Pro Plan line. With a good brand reputation and a great price, this is a hard choice to beat! 

We found that even the pickiest among our furry friends loved the variety of textures and tasty ingredients in this blend.

Ingredients

Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food has all-natural ingredients, including actual beef that will hopefully get your picky pet smacking his chomps again. It will also give them the energy they need to stay going all day.

It is good to note that this would not be a great gluten-free or soy-free option for a hypoallergenic pet. For the average pup kicking around his bowl looking for something fresh and tasty, Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food was a hit. 

Enhancements

What Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food boasts as “Complete Essentials” is a huge collection of nutrients great for your dog’s health. These include omega-6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health, probiotics for digestion, and vitamins of almost every letter of the alphabet, it seems. 

This is especially helpful for a picky eater to ensure that your dog is getting all the nourishment they need to thrive! 

Mindfulness

Though Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food might be the best choice for the most restrictive puppy diets, it is the most universal. It’s tailored to be a great, comprehensive formula for any pet, making it the best choice for the average dog owner. It’s mindful of all your concerns with your furry friend’s diet.

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2. Best Add-In Dog Food: Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers

Product Ratings

Cost	3.5/5
Ingredients	5/5
Enhancements	4.5/5
Mindfulness	5/5

Type: Dry Formula with Freeze-Dried Raw Ingredients | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $$

Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers are great for anyone who wants to know exactly what they’re giving their pup and are conscious of how the food got into the bag. We found great success in both adding the Meal Mixers to dog food we were already using and depending on it for our sole food source. 

This raw food turned into tasty treats is very enticing for dogs and will hopefully be just the thing you need to excite your best friend at mealtime.

Ingredients

For the Meal Mixers you can choose between a variety of real meats, including beef, chicken, salmon, pork, lamb, and more — so you can eliminate proteins you don’t want and give your dog extra of the protein you do.

In addition to great quality meat, all vegetables inside are organic. You can’t beat the raw nutrition in this blend with 95% of each batch being dedicated to meat!

Enhancements

Probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants–you name it, and Meal Mixers has got it! 

We loved that sprinkling these treats into the bowl with the kibble we normally use gave us peace of mind that our dogs were receiving all the nutrients needed from a premium source. This choice is great for a dog owner worried about weight loss, dental decay, and other health concerns. 

Mindfulness

It’s difficult to find dog food more attentive to the source of its ingredients. All ingredients are prepared in the USA and handled with the greatest care. 

We were floored to see that the poultry was cage-free, all vegetables were organic, all fish was wild-caught, and all meat was farm-raised. Add to that no processed ingredients, and you have yourself one of the most mindful blends out there! 

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3. Best Dog Food for Gut Health: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food 

Product Ratings

Cost	4/5
Ingredients	4/5
Enhancements	3.5/5
Mindfulness	3/5

Type: Dry Formula with Chicken | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Chicken Meal | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $$

Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food is a great choice for a dog that needs an easily digested blend. We loved this option for our pups who were putting off eating due to tummy troubles related to difficult-to-digest food. 

The added nutrients and carefully selected ingredients from this vet-recommended brand will help your furry friend with their gut health. 

Ingredients

Hill’s is another brand with all-natural ingredients assembled in the USA. Chicken is the base ingredient for this blend, and the rest of the concoction is science-based and guaranteed to provide your furball with the nutrients they need. 

Enhancements

In addition to mindful ingredients, Hill’s also included prebiotic fiber for smooth digestion and a plethora of necessary vitamins. These include Vitamin E and antioxidants that made our pup’s coats gleam!

Mindfulness

We knew that since this dog food came vet-recommended and with all-natural ingredients, our pups were getting the best product possible.

We love knowing there aren’t any fillers or unnatural preservatives clogging our best friend’s gut. We love the USA-made label and are happy to support an American business.  

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4. Best Grain-Free and Real Ingredients Dog Food: Orijen Dry Dog Food 

Product Ratings

Cost	3/5
Ingredients	4.5/5
Enhancements	2.5/5
Mindfulness	3/5

Type: Dry Formula with Chicken | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Chicken Meal | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $$$

This grain-free option is packed with tons of nutrients that are developed specifically for the natural biological needs of your dog. We loved knowing that our pups were gaining the most nutrients possible from the animals used in this blend. 

You may pay a high price for Orijen Dry Dog Food, but the quality we found was worth the money. 

Ingredients

Orijen uses what they call a “WholePrey” formula that includes animal meat and the bones and organs to ensure your pet is getting every bit of nourishment possible.

This high-protein blend we found sometimes was hard on our smaller pups’ digestive systems, but the grain-free, fresh, and raw ingredients were great for our bigger breeds. 

Enhancements

This blend does not come with additional vitamins and probiotics, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a blend with ingredients all so recognizable.

This dog food doesn’t need additional nutrients when it’s jam-packed with healthy ingredients and hardy meats like flounder, turkey, eggs, chickpeas, and so much more. 

Mindfulness

We loved Orijen Dry Dog Food’s support of local suppliers for its meat. This gave us more confidence that these ingredients were raw and fresh. Plus, we all love to support locals while having the assurance of a well-known, established brand. 

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5. Best Dog Food for a Natural, Wild Diet: Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food

Product Ratings

Cost	5/5
Ingredients	4/5
Enhancements	3/5
Mindfulness	4/5

Type: Dry Formula with Sweet Potato | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $

Perhaps if your best friend isn’t eating, it’s because they want something completely different in flavor. Maybe they’re looking for something that caters to their most basic instincts. 

If that is the case, Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food is a great pick. This blend is dense with natural flavors found only in the wilderness like water buffalo, wild boar, and salmon. 

Ingredients

As we stated, this dog food is packed with unique flavors that will satiate your pup’s wild soul. These ingredients are designed to approximate a dog’s natural diet as closely as possible, and we love the idea of giving our dogs the untamed diet they’d receive in the wild. Even better, this blend doesn’t contain any grain, gluten, corn, wheat, or soy. 

Enhancements

Taste of the Wild comes with prebiotics and probiotics to support good digestion and a variety of vitamins to assist with immune health.

We were happy our dogs were not only getting great ingredients, but they were receiving the necessary nutrient support to keep every part of their body healthy! 

Mindfulness

Taste of the Wild nutritionally delivers to all types of picky eaters, whether they have a gluten allergy, digestive issues, or refined taste. That being said, we did find that the rare flavors weren’t for every pup, and some refused it. 

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6. Best Budget-Friendly Dog Food: Solid Gold Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs

Product Ratings

Cost	5/5
Ingredients	4/5
Enhancements	3/5
Mindfulness	4/5

Type: Dry Chicken-Free Formula | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Chickpeas | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $

If your dog suffers from a sensitive stomach, you have our sympathy. The good news is, Solid Gold has a specially designed formula for pups who struggle with digestive issues. This blend is great for all life stages, and the formula is crafted with churning tummies in mind. 

For our dogs refusing to eat due to regularly feeling ill, this was a great alternative to turn those stomach issues around and get our energetic and hungry furry friends back. 

Ingredients

Solid Gold is grain-free and gluten-free to reduce the chance of developing allergies and sensitivities, but it also ditches the chicken and substitutes it with easily-digested salmon.

We loved the single alternative protein to help us narrow down what might be causing our pup the tummy ailments we were seeing. Salmon and other fish are much easier on many dogs’ stomachs. 

Enhancements

With antioxidants, omega-3 and 6, and probiotics, your dog will still receive all the nutrients they need despite the limited palate. Keep it simple is the name of the game with this blend! 

Mindfulness

This Solid Gold blend is focused on sensitive stomachs, and there it delivers well! Each ingredient is specially chosen to serve pups who need something easier to digest.

A 100% satisfaction guarantee also backs this brand and combined with the low price, it makes it a no-brainer for any pet owner working to find the best choice for their picky eater. 

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7. Best Limited Ingredient Dog Food: Nulo Limited Ingredient Dog Food

Product Ratings

Cost	3/5
Ingredients	5/5
Enhancements	2.5/5
Mindfulness	4/5

Type: Dry Grain-Free Formula | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $$$

If you’re dealing with allergies and consistent tummy issues but are struggling to pinpoint the source of the problem, Nulo Limited Ingredient Dog Food could be a great pick for you and your pet! 

Limiting the ingredients will assist in determining which foods need to be cut out, and the food itself might solve all your problems and get your dog chowing down! 

Ingredients

The sole protein in this dog food is salmon, which is easy-to-digest and allergy-friendly. This dog food omits chicken, wheat, corn, soy, peas, eggs, and other ingredients that can cause tummy issues in dogs. 

You will not find a dog food with more carefully selected ingredients that keep your dog healthy and their mouths drooling. 

Enhancements

There aren’t many additions to this formula, but there doesn’t need to be when you’re looking for limited-ingredient options! This blend does include a special probiotic for sensitive stomachs to encourage great digestive health. 

Mindfulness

Nulo is mindful of its target pet and serves that furry friend well! Unfortunately, the high price tag might make this a last resort, but we are glad that there is an option for those struggling to find the right fit.

We love that this best dog food for picky eaters includes no GMOs and is one of the only blends to go low-carbs and low-glycemic. We wish our smaller dogs could indulge, but we found the kibble to be too large for many small breeds.

Nevertheless, we’re glad such allergy-friendly dog food exists for those of us looking to satisfy the pickiest of eaters.

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8. Best for Muscle Growth: Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dry Dog Food

Product Ratings

Cost	4/5
Ingredients	3/5
Enhancements	3/5
Mindfulness	2/5

Type: Dry Formula with Chicken | Design: Adult Dogs | First Three Ingredients: Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Chicken Meal | Best For: All Breeds | Price: $

Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food is great if muscle growth is your concern! The blend uses real chicken and a collection of fiber sources for digestion support that will keep your dog healthy and happy. 

This is also one of the cheapest options on this list, so it’s a great first try when you’re trying out new dog foods before you dig deep in those pockets for higher-priced blends. Additionally, Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Premium Dog Food comes in small 6-pound bags, so you can try it out before committing. 

Ingredients

Rachael Ray’s dog food includes chicken without by-products, and sources of fiber like brown rice and peas. It’s packed with rich vegetables and never includes artificial additives or bulking agents. 

The one downside that we discovered is that Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Premium Dog Food includes whole corn that is not generally regarded as healthy for dogs and can cause digestive issues. 

We also found that there weren’t as many chicken pieces in the mix as we’d thought, and some of our pups would even pick out the chicken and leave the rest. 

Enhancements

This blend includes lots of great vitamins and nutrients to suit all your dog’s needs and supports muscle growth and digestion (despite the corn). Beyond that, this blend is also gluten-free, and the included biotin will make your furry friend’s coat glimmer. 

Mindfulness

Where Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Premium Dog Food loses points in this area is its inclusion of whole corn, but aside from that, this blend ensures it serves all pet owners by removing chicken by-products that can be low quality and not the best choice for our best friends. 

The added focus on muscle growth was great for our pet owners looking to help their picky pets develop healthy bodies. 

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Comparison Chart

Products	Best Overall	Best Add-In	Best For Gut Health	Best Grain-Free and Real Ingredients	Best For Natural, Wild Diet	Best Budget-Friendly	Best Limited Ingredients	Best for Muscle Growth
Overall Rating	4.5/5	4/5	3.5/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	3.6/5	3/5
Cost	4/5	3/5	4/5	3/5	5/5	5/5	3/5	4/5
Ingredients	5/5	5/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	5/5	3/5
Enhancements	4.5/5	4.5/5	3.5/5	5/5	3/5	3/5	2.5/5	3/5
Mindfulness	4/5	5/5	3/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	2/5

The Winner

Overall, our favorite was Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food. The blend was well-liked by all of our pets and was designed for all sorts of picky eaters. With a great price, excellent brand reputation, and stellar ingredients, we hope this will be the solution to your picky-pet problems, too! 

READ MORE: Best Dog Foods With Grains. See which options made our top picks after testing these well-rounded foods on our dogs!

What to Remember When Selecting Your Dog Food

You’ll Need to Experiment

Be prepared to experiment, not only with foods but also with flavors and textures. Consider both canned and dry food, possibly in combination. Try foods with proteins derived from different sources like sweet potato or lamb.

Use mixers or sprinkle some probiotics on their food. Add some small pieces of cooked chicken for an extra taste sensation. If you get creative and keep on persisting, you’ll hit paydirt eventually, and your dog will be wolfing food down once more.

Look for High Fat

There’s more chance a fussy dog will eat foods rich in healthy fats. Not only will this food be more likely to whet Rover’s whistle, but it will also provide them with the energy they need to keep going all day long. Salmon oil, fish oil, and flaxseed are all great sources of healthy fats.

Consider How You’ll Switch Dog Foods

You’ll need to change it slowly and gradually. Making overnight changes can trigger a stomach upset. Instead, start with 25% new food and 75% old food. Over the course of one to two weeks, tweak this ratio upward until they’re eating all-new food and hopefully eating all of the food, too.

Ensure Your Pet’s Picky Eating Isn’t a Medical Concern

If your dog maintains a healthy weight, has a shiny coat, and is full of energy, picky eating is likely nothing to worry about. Check with your vet anyway, but you’ll more than likely simply need to experiment with food until you find one they enjoy. 

When picky eating is accompanied by weight loss, vomiting, or stomach upsets, you should always speak with your vet.

For more on dogs experiencing lack of appetite, stop by our How Long Can a Dog Go Without Eating? canine diet guide.

Developing a Mealtime Routine Can Be Helpful

Give your pet thirty minutes to eat — more than enough time — and then remove their bowl. They need to learn that a mealtime is a fixed event. Do this and they will certainly be hungry later that day and more likely to chow down at dinner time.

Why is Your Dog a Picky Eater?

Understanding why your dog isn’t eating his or her food will help inform what selection is best for you and your best friend. 

These are a few reasons why your pet might be selective about their food: 

Personal Preference

Just like humans, dogs have individual likes and dislikes. So, your dog might simply not enjoy the taste and texture of the current grub you’re pouring into their bowl. You can try to make your dog’s food more appetizing by adding in broth or wet food.

Behavioral Issues

If a dog finds they can hold out on eating the food you offered and receive a better alternative like treats or table scraps, then your pet might use this knowledge and refuse the original meal. 

Additionally, your furry friend might be experiencing separation anxiety from you or simply want your attention and might reject food to gain a specific type of treatment. 

Digestive Issues

Your pup might be struggling to digest certain ingredients that your current dog food is laden with, like beef, chicken, or gluten, to name just a few. Food sensitivities are not uncommon in dogs and contribute to diarrhea or vomiting.

Read More: The Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs. A sensitive stomach might be the cause behind your canine friend not eating. Visit this article for more information.

Dental Issues

If your pup is in pain and food contributes to that pain, eventually, they will start refusing to eat. It’s a good idea to rule-out dental issues as a problem before selecting your new dog food.

Cancer

Depending on the placement, tumors in dogs can also make eating painful. According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, nausea associated with cancer can cause a sharp decrease in appetite as well. 

This could contribute to your dog’s refusal to eat and their concerning weight loss. Even cancer treatment could cause a change in your pup’s appetite or taste. For more on causes of weight loss in dogs, read our What Causes Weight Loss in Dogs guide.

So, if your dog isn’t eating, it’s best to see a vet to understand what the reason might be. Unfortunately, because the reason why your best friend might be struggling with diet could be a variety of issues, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to get your dog chowing down again.

Whether you’re a new or experienced dog owner, stop by our guide on How to Keep a Dog Happy and Healthy for more information on caring for your furry friend!

Honorable Mentions 

Here’s a brief look at 2 best dog food for picky eaters options that didn’t make our best dog food list:

1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dog Food – A Grain-Free Option

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dog Food is another great grain-free source that chooses protein from turkey, and the meat is well-balanced with fats and carbs.

CORE also includes fruits and vegetables chosen specifically to aid in your dog’s development. This blend comes with lots of extra vitamins, minerals, and probiotics for your pup’s gut health as well as omega fatty acids and glucosamine. 

We had better results and our pups loved Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food which is so similar that we chose to recommend it instead. 

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food – A Wild Diet Option

The wild ingredients in Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food include beef, venison, and lamb as well as lots of fruits and veggies that would be in their natural diet! This blend includes “LifeSource” bits that are essentially chunks of berries that are rich in antioxidants. 

Though we loved the notion of the added nutrients, we found some of our furry friends were not a fan of their flavor and ate around them. For that reason, we recommend Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food which was an overwhelming hit during our testing.