The Best Dog Food Stores

Wednesday, March 3rd

2021 Dog Food Store Reviews

Petco

• Brands: 35+

If you're looking for the lowest possible prices, reasonable shipping costs, and a wide variety of dog foods to choose from, Petco should be your first stop. With 35+ brands - including all of the standard brand names as well as a number of specialty brands - you're sure to find what you need, from basic kibble to special diet formulas.

We were happy to see that Petco's regular prices are the same as or better than their competition, and the site was easy to navigate as we looked for the dog food we needed. You can easily search by typing the name of the food into the search box, or use the options on the left-hand side of the page. There, you can sort the available products by the following characteristics:

• Category: Dry, Wet, Natural, Grain-Free, High Protein, Weight Management, Freeze Dried and Dehydrated, Frozen and Raw, Puppy, Senior, and Veterinary Diet
• Price
• Brand: more than 30 to choose from
• Average customer rating
• Primary flavor: from Bacon to Wild Game and many more
• Lifestage
• Special needs
• Dog breed

If you need any help with your dog food purchase, there's a helpful Live Chat feature on the Petco website; it popped up for us when we visited the site, but you can also access it using the blue box on the right-hand side of the screen.

Petco has one of the best return policies of all of the Dog Food retailers we surveyed: if you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can return it to a brick-and-mortar Petco store or via mail to a Petco warehouse within 60 days. So, if you try that fancy new kibble for Spot and it turns out he's allergic, you can return the opened bag with no problem. Better yet, after the 60-day period, you can still return the product; rather than a refund, you'll get a merchandise credit or an exchange.

Shipping costs are also very reasonable at Petco: free shipping on orders of $49+, and a flat rate depending on item weight for smaller orders. For example, a 6-lb. bag of kibble was listed as having a shipping cost of $5.99. However, if you know that you need your dog food on a fairly regular basis, it's worth it to sign up for the Repeat Delivery program, where shipping is always free regardless of the total price of your order. And, at the time of our review, there was a promotion at the top of the Petco page advertising a discount of 20% off the first order with the Repeat Delivery program.

Want to save even more money? Sign up for Petco's free Pals Rewards program, which earns you $5 in rewards for every $100 that you spend. You'll also get an introductory savings book, bonus offers for earning more points, and personalized discounts. And, if you take the extra step of completing your pet's profile, he or she will get a free birthday treat!

With an easy-to-use website, everyday low prices, and customer-friendly policies like a rewards program and generous return period, Petco is the obvious choice when it comes to buying Dog Food online. We're confident that you'll have a pleasant shopping experience - and your dog will thank you for it! Petco earns our highest rating.

Chewy

• Brands: 100+

Headquartered in Florida, Chewy prides itself on providing low prices and friendly service. And, when it comes to product selection, Chewy leads the pack with over 100 brands of dog food to choose from.

You should have an easy time finding what you're looking for on the Chewy website. Either enter the name of the food you're looking for in the search bar at the top of the page, or use the options on the left side of the page to narrow down the results according to the type of food, brand name, packaging type, food texture, and many more options. Once you've selected the dog food you need, be sure to scroll down on the page - you'll find a helpful Q&A section showing you what other owners have asked about the product, as well as an impressive number of customer reviews.

Pricing at Chewy is competitive with most other dog food retailers, typically differing only by a dollar or two on larger items. Shipping costs at Chewy are also very reasonable: free on any order over $49, and a flat rate of $4.95 on orders less than $49. At the top of the site, it says that the free shipping provides delivery within 1-2 days; shoppers should be aware that many customers report that it usually takes longer than that for packages to arrive.

You can save additional money on both the dog food and shipping costs by signing up for Chewy's autoship program. Any orders in the autoship program are discounted by 5% and the shipping is free. At the time of our review, Chewy was also offering a 20% discount on all first-time autoship orders.

Chewy does advertise a 100% Unconditional Satisfaction guarantee within 365 days of purchase. However, the wording of the guarantee says that products have to be unused in order to be eligible, which means that you won't get a refund if your dog winds up not liking the food you bought. We'd have liked to see different wording on their guarantee, because there definitely are some conditions on their return policy!

On a positive note, though, we were able to use the handy Live Chat feature to speak with a Chewy representative. He told us that they absolutely do accept returns on opened Dog Food, stating that it's always "case by case" but that food can definitely be returned even if it's been opened - and that Chewy will even pay the return shipping costs. It's unfortunate their written language doesn't match.

With an "A-" rating at the Better Business Bureau and thousands of positive reviews, we're confident that Chewy offers a trustworthy shopping experience when it comes to feeding your favorite four-legged friend.

PetSmart

• Brands: 50+

People love their dogs, and the food their dogs eat is important for increasing longevity, improving coat shine, helping the dog's digestive system, and a lot of other health factors too numerous to list. PetSmart has a plethora of choices for the most budget-conscious or choosiest pet owner. They list 1,500 different items of dog food and dietary supplements.

Prices range from a very reasonable $5 or less up to $125 for elite brands preferred by dog breeders and dog show enthusiasts. It is easy to find a product that will meet your dog's need, and your budget, by selecting the appropriate checkboxes down the left-hand side of the dog food category page. Here is a list of all the options available to refine the search for the perfect dog food.

• Food Type: Canned, Dry, Food Toppers, Fresh, Frozen, Milk Replacers, and Veterinary Diets
• Brand: 50+ brands
• Price: Ranging from $5 up to $125.
• Availability: In Store vs Online
• Ways to Shop: Clearance, Featured, Halloween, Holiday, New, Sale, and Web Only
• Product Rating: 1 to 4+
• Lifestage: Puppy, Adult, and Senior
• Flavor: 11 different flavors
• Nutritional Options: Gluten Free, Grain Free, Limited Ingredient, Natural, Non-GMO, Organic, and Raw
• Health Considerations: 36 health factors
• Kibble Size: Large Breed, Medium Breed, and Small Breed

Customer support, help with your order, and returns are a little less obvious than with other sites we reviewed that had automatic popups and clear labels. On PetSmart you need to click the help menu item and there isn't a live chat option available there - just a phone number and a contact button leading to an online form. Despite the frequently asked questions menu on the left-hand side of the help page, we would have appreciated a live chat feature for in-the-moment questions that can often arise with a purchase of this nature.

To return a dog food purchase online and get a refund on the purchase price (less shipping or other charges), you simply ship it back to PetSmart in its original packaging. To return dog food to the store, bring it in its original packaging along with a packing slip, shipping confirmation email, and the credit card used to purchase it. Receipts are only valid for 60 days from the date of purchase. If your receipt is older than 60 days, PetSmart will accept a valid ID and will return the most recent sale amount or exchange it for a different product.

Shipping is free on orders over $49 (prior to taxes and after discounts) up to a maximum of $75. For dog food, free shipping is not available for canned, fresh, or frozen foods. You can also choose to sign up for PetSmart's Auto Ship so you can have dog food delivered to you at your preferred interval. With Auto Ship you'll also save 20% on your first order and 5% on all recurring orders.

With such a huge variety of dog food brands, types, and flavors, it's a sure bet that you'll find exactly the food your dog needs or prefers. The savings of Auto Ship is pretty great and the shipping is reasonable. PetSmart is a great place to shop online for your dog food needs.

Nom Nom Now

• Brands: Their own

Created by Dr. Justin Shmalberg, a board-certified specialist with the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, NomNomNow offers a "care-grade" approach to Dog Food. Similar to meal delivery kits you've already seen for people, this service takes fresh ingredients and makes your pet's meals to order, based on their age, weight, activity level, and any health problems. The Dog Food comes perfectly portioned in individual bags that can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer until feeding time.

Because NomNomNow is so confident that your pet will not only love their fresh Dog Food but also experience significant benefits, they offer a 30-day "care-grade guarantee": if you don't see a difference in their excitement at meal time, the shine of their coat, even smaller stools and more energy, NomNomNow will buy your pet's next kibble or canned food, up to $40.

So, how do you get started? Although we're not sure if it was a limited-time offer or an always-available promotion, there was a 20% off trial featured on the top right corner of the page when we went to order from NomNomNow. We had to enter our name, email address, pet's name and type (dog or cat). We then were able to select from four recipes:

• Heartland Beef Mash: ground beef, eggs, potatoes, carrots, peas, fish oil, and the NomNomNutrient Mix
• Chicken Chow-Wow: diced chicken, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, fish oil, and NomNomNutrient Mix
• Tasty Turkey Fare: ground turkey, eggs, brown rice, carrots, spinach, fish oil, and NomNomNutrient Mix
• Porkalicious Potluck: pork potatoes, green beans, yellow squash, mushrooms, kale, fish oil, and NomNomNutrient Mix

The price you pay for your Dog Food delivery will depend on the weight of your pet, the delivery schedule you choose, and the flavor profile. For our pet (27 lbs., aiming for a weight of 24 lbs.), we were given the following trial price for our first order:

• Heartland Beef Mash: $28.15/week
• Chicken Chow-Wow: $30.14/week
• Tasty Turkey Fare: $27.02/week
• Porkalicious Potluck: $27.12/week

This was with a delivery of 56 meals every 4 weeks (which could take up a considerable amount of space in a freezer or refrigerator), with no charge for shipping.

NomNomNow has one of the strongest reputations in the Dog Food industry: an "A+" at the Better Business Bureau with zero registered complaints, and customer reviews that are almost entirely five stars. This provider's clients say that one of the best parts is the customer service, where representatives send personal, friendly emails or offer helpful advice over the phone. Even when issues arise, you can trust that NomNomNow's reps will handle your concerns quickly and pleasantly until you're satisfied with the outcome.

The only negative aspect of NomNomNow's Dog Food is the obvious one: the price. If you're used to spending $50 every 3 months for a bag of kibble, paying more than double that amount per month may be a non-starter for you. On the other hand, if your dog is experiencing significant health issues, food allergies, or weight gain, NomNomNow's approach could literally change your pet's life.

We love NomNomNow's approach to taking care of pets from the inside out, with freshly-made Dog and Cat Food that is tailored to each animal's needs. We strongly recommend them for people who want that individualized kind of care for their dog, going beyond the typical kibble and canned food to help their four-legged friends get optimal nutrition and health.

TruDog

• Brands: Their own

Trudog is a website specializing in high quality raw dog food. Because of that, their selection is small when compared to warehouse-style websites that sell dozens of brand names.

In place of a wide range of products in all styles of dog food, Trudog offers a refined selection. Its own line of 10 and 14 oz. bags of freeze dried, raw beef or turkey dog food along with several styles of treats and boosters. Trudog uses only premium cuts of meat and adds no salt, sugar, chemicals, or grains. Water is removed during the freeze drying process, preserving the natural nutrition of their food until it arrives at your home. Just add water, based on the provided guidelines, before feeding time.

We found the Trudog website very clean and user friendly without the clutter found on other sites. Food and Treats, as well as other product categories, are at the top of the screen no matter which page you happen to be on. Lists, which drop down from these categories, make quick work of refining your search criteria. Also, the FAQ section is full of useful information about their products, much of which, like nutritional facts, preparation directions, and feeding instructions can also be found of the backs of Trudog packages.

Real meat, with no filler ingredients, makes Trudog one of the more expensive dog food brands on the market but that is to be expected. The bottom line though, isn't the whole story. The cost of a raw diet, and more specifically, a Trudog diet, is said to be offset by its added benefits. One advantage includes having a healthier dog, which potentially translates into lower bills for medication and vet visits. And if having a healthy dog isn't enough, other benefits you can expect from feeding your dog a Trudog diet are less shedding and less time spent picking up poop, per the Trudog website. Unfortunately though, with the exception of a one-time 20% discount when selecting the auto-ship option at checkout, the higher costs are not brought down with discounts for bulk purchases. This option has a set order delivered at an interval of your choosing.

Trudog even backs their products with a 60 day return policy. That is limited to unused and unopened products in sellable condition but does provide some peace of mind. Also, shipping is affordable at $4.95 for purchases up to $49.95 and free, thereafter. If you can afford the prices and are looking for a high quality raw diet for your pooch, Trudog offers online shoppers an excellent shopping experience.

Only Natural Pet

• Brands: 45

Only Natural Pet has established their market place by providing only natural pet supplies for dogs and cats. They offer products that are carcinogenic free and healthily to the environment. Products are closely screened and reviewed with a board of veterinarians before being offered on their website. You'll find natural dog food, pet care products, vitamins, supplements, medicine, treats, bones, flea control, cleaning supplies, and more at Only Natural Pet.

With over 45 brands of pet food available at Only Natural Pet you're sure to find the dog food that suits your pet needs. We found their website layout to be busy and a little overwhelming but easy to search once we began shopping specific brands. You may select from manufacture, beef, lamb liver, and more, package size, dry or canned, and customer rating. It's not pretty but it works and got us to what we were looking for.

Through our comparison, we found that Only Natural Pet offers middle of the road pricing but with free shipping on purchases over $60 there is savings opportunity if you are willing to buy in bulk. If you are not satisfied with your purchase you may return any unopened products within 30 days for a full refund minus shipping.

If caring for your pet with a holistic approach is a top priority than Only Natural Pet is the place for you. We liked their long list of natural pet food and those hard to find items that many customer have to shop several stores before finding. While the website was a little awkward we appreciated the selection and free shipping on items over $60 at Only Natural Pet.

Dog

• Brands: 57

If you own a dog, then Dog is a good place to shop. Dog is owned by a subsidiary of large online retailers of pet specific websites. In business for over 40 years this company has created a very user friendly shopping experience and offers the products that dog lovers are looking for such as dog food, toys, health care, treats and accessories.

Some of the customer friendly aspects of Dog include their $4.99 flat rate shipping on orders over $49 up. The limit on weight is 20 lbs offer for economy shipping. The website is also easy to maneuver across the 57 different brands of dog food they offer. You may choose from canned, dry or natural dog food. Dog allows the shopper to narrow their search by product brand, protein flavor, age, size, any health conditions, and price.

if you aren't happy with your purchase you may return it within 30 days of purchase unopened and in new condition. You must call for an RMA number prior to returning.

In our price comparisons we found Dog to a little higher across the brands and specific dog foods that we compared. However, they do offer low shipping rates and that needs to be considered when purchasing any products. We did not see an auto ship program at Dog if you are looking for additional convenience with your dog food purchases.

Dog offers a strong shopping experience from a trusted company. While prices were on the higher side low cost shipping rates help to bring them back into the range of a good value. The website is easy to maneuver and shopping was enjoyable at Dog without much work.

Whole Life Pets

• Brands: 10-12

The people behind Whole Life Pets consider themselves pet lovers, tree huggers, and health freaks. Their website fits the bill exactly with the look and layout. They cater to cats, dogs and birds with food, treats, vitamins, cleaning supplies and more. Whole Life Pets originally started as a small retail shop and has expanded to the internet.

Whole Life Pets provides 10-12 brands of dog food to choose from that have no by-products, artificial ingredients, or chemicals. They also pursue product manufacturers that utilize environmentally friendly production and packaging processes. The brands they offer are generally not wallet friendly.

Upon shopping Whole Life Pets we were frustrated at times with managing the website. We found cat food in our dog food results and felt the effort was unprofessional at times. On the upside, Whole Life Pets does offer a nice autoship program with a corresponding 10% discount. Should you not be happy with your purchase, you may return unopened and unused items within 30 days of receipt for a full refund minus shipping and taxes.

Whole Life Pets failed to wow us with their unorganized website and search functionality. While some may find their selection meets their needs we couldn't find any great reasons to shop from Whole Life Pets. Their smaller, high cost list of dog food brands left us wanting much more.

Wysong

• Brands: 1

Wysong has been in business for over 30 years with the mission to help people and pets achieve better health. Founded by veterinarian Dr. Wysong, this family owned company prides themselves on their commitment to health .The Wysong brand is manufactured using their True Non-Thermal technology, and is stated by Wysong as the safest food on the market. Wysong products include dog, cat, ferret, and horse food along with supplements. You may choose from raw, dry, and canned dog food at Wysong.

While functional, the Wysong website lacks the organization and focus of several companies higher ranked. We found ourselves apparently moving too fast for the website and as we were trying to search dog food we kept getting cat food. After slowing down a bit we were able to successful search their dog food options. We found several Wysong products but a non existent ability to further define our search by specific pet needs. The website requires you look and read through all dog food products to find what you're looking for.

Prices at Wysong were higher than many of the companies that sell the same product. Wysong does offer an auto ship option with a respective 10% discount that might help offset some of the higher cost. Wysong does offer a full refund on unopened products within 30 days of the shipping date, minus shipping.

The Wysong website seems to cater one population of pet owners. We preferred those companies that offer a larger brand list of pet food as well as better search functionality and pricing. If you are shopping for pet food, either the Wysong brand or something else, we recommend you choose a higher ranked company to better meet your needs.

Pet Well Being

• Brands: Limited

Pet Well Being offers dog, cat and owner holistic supplements for better health. They also dabble in pet food. Much of their dog food is geared toward specific ailments such as joint pain, fleas, skin care, anxiety, cancel and other ailments.

If you are looking for well priced dog food and a large selection of dog food brands to choose from, Pet Well Being is not the website for you. Their awkward search functionality eventually found us a smattering of dog food from Embark, Force, Keen,Verve and a few others. However, we quickly became turned off when we selected dog food and received supplements, multi-vitamins, treats, and a few brands of dog food. Additional search functionality to narrow the product list to what we were actually searching for was not available.

Pet Well Being does offer a nice 90 day return policy on products but that's where the customer friendly aspects of Pet Well Being end. They do not offer an auto ship program and their dog food selection is not only very limited but very expensive. Overall, we didn't feel this would cater to wide base of shoppers.

If you are in the market for dog food and want to save time and money Pet Well Being is not the place for you. This website is geared toward holistic supplements and would not meet the dog food needs of most shoppers.

Greg Robert Pet Supplies

• Brands: 10

Greg Robert Pet Supplies has been in business for nearly 10 years and provides pet, horse and garden supply products. We also found a selection of reptile, bird and aquarium products. They boost a large inventory and fair prices but we were quickly disappointed.

With 20,000 available products we were not only disappointed to see they only offered 10 dog food brands but within those brands they only offered a small and intermittent selection of dog food. For example, in one brand we reviewed we found a 5 lb bag of puppy food. We had no option to choose the adult variety and the larger size we were looking for.

We found this same issue on other brands where they offered 1 or 2 sizes of food from only 1 or 2 available varieties. Also, we noticed the search functionality needed more development. We choose Dog food and puppy food came up as the category. However, the selection was not limited to puppy food. We were have preferred to narrow our search down by canned and dry food as well as brand, size, cost, etc. We felt that shoppers would quickly become frustrated at Greg Robert Pet Supplies.

If you're willing to buy large quantities, Greg Robert Pet Supplies offers free shipping on $100 purchases or more. While it was a challenge to find selection to compare and contrast we found their prices to be middle of the road.

As online shoppers today we expect an efficient shopping experience with solid selection at a fair price. Greg Robert Pet Supplies didn't deliver in website functionality or selection. You can anticipate frustration while shopping at this website - we recommend you choose a higher ranked company.