What Should I Feed My Dog?

I am not a scientist. I am not a veterinary nutritionist. I am a dog owner who has spent a frankly embarrassing amount of time researching what goes in my dog's bowl — and made some expensive mistakes along the way. This is my honest account of what I've learned, what I'd do differently, and what I've decided to feed my sixteen-week-old English Springer Spaniel puppy.

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The Atticus Years — And Why Raw Didn't Work For Us

My previous dog was Atticus, a Rottweiler, and the reason Enid Blythe exists. His breeder fed raw, which is common in working and large breeds, so we followed suit. In theory, raw feeding is excellent — high protein, no fillers, biologically appropriate. In practice, for us, it was a different story entirely.

Rottweilers have notoriously sensitive stomachs. There were digestive issues, constant adjustments, and the reality that a raw diet requires additional minerals and supplements to be properly balanced — something many people overlook when they start. It was also genuinely messy and time-consuming. With a baby now in the house, it simply isn't something I can sustain.

When Atticus was diagnosed with lymphoma, his oncologist told us to stop raw immediately. The bacterial risk in an immunocompromised dog is too significant. We moved him to JustFoodForDogs, which is a reputable brand — but at around $250 a month for a large Rottweiler, it was considerable. He also didn't particularly enjoy it, and the recipes leaned heavily on quinoa rather than the protein-led diet I'd always wanted for him.

Atticus is the reason five percent of every Enid Blythe sale goes to canine cancer research. If there's anything useful that can come from losing him, it's that other dog owners might catch the signs earlier — and make more informed decisions about their dog's health from the very beginning.

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Starting Over With a Puppy

Which brings me to now — a sixteen-week-old Springer Spaniel, a new chapter, and the question I've been researching obsessively: what is the best food for a puppy that will serve her equally well as a senior dog?

The fundamentals don't change dramatically across life stages. At any age, you're looking for real, named animal protein as the first ingredient, no corn, wheat or soy fillers, no artificial preservatives, and no vague by-products. For puppies specifically, you need a formula that meets AAFCO standards for growth, with appropriate calcium and phosphorus ratios for developing bones. For senior dogs, the priority shifts to digestibility, joint support, and higher protein to maintain muscle mass as they age. A good fresh food diet covers all of it without you having to switch products at every life stage.

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What to Avoid in Any Dog Food

Before comparing brands, know what you're looking out for. Corn syrup, BHA, BHT, artificial colouring, and vague terms like "meat meal" or "animal digest" are all red flags. Grain-free isn't automatically the answer either — the FDA has investigated a potential link between grain-free diets high in legumes and dilated cardiomyopathy in certain breeds, so it's worth a conversation with your vet before going fully grain-free, particularly if you have a breed with any cardiac predisposition.

The Full Comparison

For a mid-range budget with subscription delivery, here is my honest breakdown across every category worth knowing about:

*Prices are estimates and subject to change. Always verify directly with the brand. DM = dry matter basis.

Fresh Food: What the Science Says

All three fresh services — Farmer's Dog, Ollie, and Nom Nom — are human-grade, vet-formulated, and meet AAFCO standards for all life stages including puppies. None contain fillers, by-products, or artificial preservatives. The protein figures above are calculated on a dry matter basis, which strips out moisture for a fair comparison — fresh food looks lower in protein on the label because it contains 70–80% water.

A Cornell University study published in 2025 found that dogs switched from kibble to fresh food experienced meaningful improvements in muscle health, antioxidant defence, and metabolic markers within a month of switching. The science is beginning to catch up with what dog owners have observed for years.

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We Feed Raw — For Those Who Want Raw Without the DIY

If Atticus taught me anything, it's that DIY raw feeding is not for the faint-hearted — or the time-poor. But for those who want the benefits of raw without building meals from scratch, We Feed Raw is worth knowing about.

It is the highest protein option in this comparison at 44–49% dry matter, delivered frozen in pre-portioned patties made from USDA-sourced muscle meat, organ meat, and ground bone — with a targeted vitamin and mineral blend for nutritional balance. Critically, it uses high-pressure processing to eliminate pathogens including salmonella, listeria, and E. coli, which directly addresses the primary safety concern with raw feeding. It meets AAFCO standards for all life stages including puppies.

Please note: We Feed Raw is not suitable for immunocompromised dogs. Atticus's oncologist was unequivocal on this. For a healthy, active dog it is an excellent option. For a dog undergoing any kind of treatment, please speak to your vet first.

The honest caveats: it requires meaningful freezer space, costs around $150–200 a month for a 40lb dog, and the high fat content in some recipes may not suit less active or senior dogs.

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Badlands Ranch — Exceptional Ingredients, Best Used as a Topper

Founded in 2022 by actress and animal advocate Katherine Heigl — who has rescued over 16,000 dogs through her non-profit, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation — Badlands Ranch has quickly earned a serious reputation in the premium dog food space.

The Superfood Complete range is air-dried at low temperatures, preserving nutrients that high-heat processing destroys. It contains 87% animal protein from beef, organ meat, and salmon, alongside superfoods including turmeric, lion's mane mushroom, chia seeds, and blueberries. No corn, soy, wheat, grains, lentils, or legumes. The ingredient list is genuinely exceptional.

Important note for puppy owners: Badlands Ranch meets AAFCO guidelines for adult maintenance only. It is not formulated for puppies and cannot serve as their primary food. This is confirmed across multiple sources including Chewy's own product listing.

At around $99.99 for a 20lb bag, feeding it as a complete meal runs approximately $130–160 a month for a 40lb dog. The smarter and more budget-friendly approach is to use it as a topper — a few tablespoons over a quality kibble like Orijen, or mixed into a fresh food subscription. Several owners report significant improvements in coat quality, digestion, and energy using it this way. I intend to do exactly this once my puppy is fully grown.

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For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs or Skin

If your dog has skin issues or digestive sensitivity — both common in Springer Spaniels, who are also predisposed to ear infections and chronic hepatitis — a cleaner fresh diet frequently reduces all of them. These conditions are often diet-related, triggered by fillers and low-quality proteins. A single-protein fresh food diet is the most straightforward way to identify triggers without committing to a full elimination diet, and far easier to manage than a raw diet when you're trying to isolate the problem.

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Best Dry Dog Food for Puppies

If fresh food isn't within budget, Orijen is the standout dry food option for puppies — 43% dry matter protein, 85% high-quality animal ingredients, available on Chewy at around $90–110 a month for a medium-sized dog. Note the ongoing FDA grain-free investigation and discuss with your vet. For grain-inclusive options with sensitive stomachs in mind, Royal Canin breed-specific formulas are a reliable choice. Avoid anything with corn or soy as a primary ingredient, and never choose a brand whose first listed ingredient isn't a clearly named protein.

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My Decision

After everything — the Atticus years, the raw feeding experiment, the JustFoodForDogs chapter, and a rather significant amount of research — I've decided to start my puppy on The Farmer's Dog.

At around $120–150 a month for her size, it's meaningfully better than anything kibble-based at a similar price point, and considerably less than what I was spending on Atticus. The meals arrive pre-portioned to her specific weight and age, the ingredients are genuinely clean, and it meets AAFCO standards for puppy growth from eight weeks. For a new mother with a new puppy and considerably less time than I'd like, the subscription delivery and zero prep requirement is, frankly, the difference between it happening consistently and it not.

I'll transition her gradually over seven to ten days — never switch cold turkey with a puppy, regardless of how good the new food is. Puppies have sensitive digestive systems and an abrupt change causes stomach upset in even the healthiest of dogs.

When she's an adult, I intend to add Badlands Ranch as a topper. The ingredients are too good to ignore entirely — I just won't be using it as her primary food until she's fully grown.

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Disclaimer: I am not a veterinary professional. This post is based on personal research and experience only. Prices, formulations, and brand information are subject to change — always verify directly with the brand and consult your vet before changing your dog's diet.

Enid Blythe makes luxury orthopedic dog beds designed to support your dog throughout every stage of life. Five percent of every sale goes to canine cancer research — in memory of Atticus, and for every dog who deserves more time.