Walmart vs PetSmart for October 2022

Item: Walmart vs PetSmart
Rating: 3.5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Monday, October 3rd

2022 Dog Food Store Reviews

Walmart

Thousands of options for dog food
Can get orders through pickup, home delivery, or shipping
Everyday low prices on popular brands
Return policy depends on fulfillment

Of course Walmart sells dog food. Is there anything they don't offer? There are thousands of choices here, but the widest range of options is from basic brands like Purina and ALPO - not specialty manufacturers or raw-food plans. If you find the kibble or cans you need, delivery possibilities are the same as most things you might buy: order online and pick up in store, same-day delivery, or regular shipping. Walmart is a convenient place to buy most household brands of dog food.

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PetSmart

Over 1,200 options in dog food
Price match guarantee
60-day return policy on unopened products
Complimentary loyalty program
Options for same-day delivery via DoorDash

PetSmart does a lot of good in the animal rescue world, facilitating nearly 10 million adoptions. For that reason alone, we want to love this retailer as a place to buy dog food - but it doesn't keep pace with most of the other options you have. The return policy only allows for refunds on unopened products, and customer feedback is disappointing at best. Get your next furry friend at a PetSmart adoption event, but buy your dog food somewhere different.

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The 12 Best Dog Food Stores

Where Can You Buy the Best Dog Food?

If your dogs are like ours, you probably spot a furry little face at your bedside right on cue every morning, telling you it's time for breakfast. You go to scoop out their meal and - oh no - you're almost out of kibble! You already know that "people food" is a bad choice, because it can upset their stomachs (and encourage them to beg at the table too). What if you don't have time to run to the store? Or your local pet supply store is out of your pet's preferred dog food?

Online ordering to the rescue. From familiar brands to specialty manufacturers, most types of dog food are easily ordered over the internet. Better yet, some stores have ways of getting it delivered right to your home within a day - or even a few hours. Also, if you've got options near you and just don't have the energy to run inside, lots of dog food stores let you order online for curbside pickup.

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Dog Food Store FAQ

What are the main nutrients dogs need?

Like a normal person, dogs require a healthy balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in their diets. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins provide your pooch the essential energy they need to do daily activities. Dogs rely on the protein in their diet to receive the 10 essential amino acids that they are unable to produce. Fats are the main source of fatty acids which provide not only an important part of the development of tissues, muscles, and nerves. Fatty acids allow your pets body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Carbohydrates come in various forms and provide your pooch the energy it needs to do the normal daily activities. Along with a healthy diet, dogs need fresh water and regular exercise.

What types of dog food is there?

Dog food types vary greatly depending on the customer and pooches wants. There are vet authorized diets (prescription required), canned, dry, wet, specialized breed specific, premium, raw, human-grade, frozen, freeze-dried, dehydrated, and food toppings.

How customizable is dog food?

Very, most companies have dog food that can be refined to type of food, breed, age, vitamins, and allergies. You can get a brand that is breed and age specific for your puppy. Having an older dog means their dog food should have joint and muscle vitamins to provide support for an aging body. There are many options to choose from to keep your pooch happy and healthy.

How often should I purchase dog food? How fast is the delivery?

Depending on the size of your pooch, your dog may need a new bag weekly or every 3 months. Some companies even offer a membership where you can sign up to receive deliveries (i.e., weekly, monthly, or quarterly) and even lower dog food prices. If you do not have a membership, delivery can fluctuate depending on the type of delivery options available and can range from 1 to 5 business days. To help with calculating how much you need, per every pound of dog food, there is 4 cups. So for a 5lb bag there is 20 cups and in a normal 20lb bag there is 80 cups.

How do I know if the food is grain free?

Most dog foods will put grain free in the title or description of the dog food bag. If you are still hesitant make sure the dog food ingredients do not contain grains, which can be found in corn, soy, barley, rye, rice, or wheat. There are lots of grain free substitutes for your pooch such as tapioca, green peas, beans, legumes, sweet potatoes, and more.

How do I switch my dog's food without upsetting their stomach?

Experts have recommended that it is best to transition slowly to the new pet food. When you first begin you should have the pet's food contain 25% of the new food and 75% of the old food. After a few days, without any stomach problems, you can start giving your pet 50% new and 50% old food ratios. Then for a few days use 75% new and 25% old food. After that you can fully transition over to the new food. This total process will take around 2 weeks.

My dog does not like his new food, can I return it?

Yes! Many companies have a 30-to-60-day return policy that allows the customer to return the unused food portions in the original bag with a guaranteed refund. Prescription food products require more of a process to return and in some cases, refund is not available. Be sure to read the small print if you are worried your furry friend might not like his or her new dinner.

Is there a customer satisfaction guarantee?

Of course, if your pet decides they do not like the new food, or you receive a damaged bag, a refund is often allowed. Many companies offer excellent customer service through email, phone call, or on-site messaging. Be sure to read the policies of each company before placing your online order.

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Want to take your life to the next level of convenience? Look for a dog food retailer that offers autoship on your purchases: you can set up your account to have your wet and dry dog food delivered automatically on your preferred schedule. You'll never run out of dog food again.

What if you're trying a new type of dog food and you're not sure your persnickety pooch will be a fan? The best dog food stores make it risk-free by allowing for returns, refunds and exchanges on packages you've opened already.

There are lots of stores where you can buy your pet's food, and it's not always necessary to get it from a specialty retailer. So, which one should you choose the next time those hungry eyes are looking at you from the side of the bed? Here are some things to look for when you're deciding where to shop:

Variety of options. The more brands, formulas and sizes a dog food store carries, the more likely it is to have the ones you want in stock.
Speed of delivery. How fast can you expect your dog food to arrive? Are there options for same- or next-day delivery if you need it?
Return/refund policy. Dogs can be picky. If your vet recommends trying something new and your dog says "absolutely not" when you put it in her bowl, will the retailer let you get a refund or an exchange?
Customer feedback. Are there reviews on the products you can use to help decide what to buy? What do shoppers say about how the company treated them when there was a problem with an order? Have there been any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau?

TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the best online retailers of dog food on the market today. We're confident that this information will help you find the right store to get all of your kibble and cans delivered to your doorstep. Your dog will thank you!