Recently there has been a big push for large chain pet stores to carry higher quality dog food. It’s great for the average consumer and makes it easier to find food that’s actually healthy for your pet, but bear in mind that you’ll still often get much better service in smaller boutique stores. Also, check prices! Often local pet shops are actually cheaper than their big-box competitors!

Remember, if you’re not sure, read the back of the bag and check those ingredients! You also want to make sure that the food is not made in China, and is out of the U.S. or Canada.

Petco

• AvoDerm – This food is formulated to improve a dog’s skin and coat, but a few of their formulas do have grain so if your dog has dry, itchy skin, it might be a grain allergy. Some are grain free. 5lb bag = about $14.
• Blue Buffalo – A very commonly available, quality food that comes in a variety of formulas, including lite, large breed, and puppy. They also have a high protein, low carb version called Blue Buffalo Wilderness. 5lb bag = about $18.
• By Nature – Quality ingredients, but only a small variety so far. The single source of protein and added yogurt makes it good for dogs with allergies and digestive issues. 5lb bag = about $13.
• Castor & Pollux – Large variety including weight management, large breed, and puppy. Weight management formula does have beet pulp as filler, but good protein sources. They also offer an organic-focused version called Organix, and many options for treats. 5lb bag = about $13.
• Grandma Lucy’s Artisan – Grandma Lucy’s makes some very popular human grade dog treats and had branched out into foods. Their Artisan formula is grain free and uses hormone and antibiotic free, human grade protein sources – making it a very expensive food, but a nice choice for the organically-minded. The limited ingredients and single protein source make it good for dogs with allergies, and their formulas are for all life stages. 3lb bag = about $35.
• Halo – Fun trivia, Halo is co-owned by Ellen Degeneres. A very readily available, affordable food that comes in limited variety, but does have a puppy formula. They also make great dog treats. 5lb bag = about $12.
• Holistic Select – This is an interesting food. They make several varieties with unusual proteins which is a good thing, but they do include a lot of grain. 5lb bag = about $16.
• Merrick - My dog loves Merrick’s foods! They have a big variety of proteins and flavors and their wet food selection is huge. They also have a grain free brand call Before Grain (BG) and a less expensive brand called Whole Earth Farms. 5lb bag = about $15.
• Natural Balance – Very easy to find, and they have a big variety of formulas. There is not always a protein source as the first ingredient, but it is a little less expensive and has good limited-ingredient options for dogs with allergies. They also make treats, and dog food rolls that are great for training. 5lb bag = about $12.
• Nature’s Variety Prairie & Instinct –  These are generally considered high quality foods with a little variety. Prairie is their basic brand and Instinct is grain free. 5lb bag = about $13.
• Pinnacle - I don’t know what their formula was before, but looking at them now they’re pretty decent foods. There’s a lot of grain in the holistic formulas, but they offer a grain-free option as well that is actually cheaper. I would not recommend the holistic formula based on the very high price. 5lb bag = between $13-$20.
• Solid Gold – They manufacture food as well as popular treats. Their formulas are completely grain free, and not quite as expensive as some of the other grain free foods. They make adult and puppy formulas, as well as specific formulas for small and large breeds. 5lb bag = about $16.
• Wellness - Wellness is a little more pricey, but has a huge variety of quality foods with different protein sources, including weight management, senior, and puppy. They also make a grain free formula called Wellness Core. 5lb bag = about $16.

PetSmart

• AvoDerm – This food is formulated to improve a dog’s skin and coat, but their Natural Triple Protein formula does have grain so if your dog has dry, itchy skin, it might be a grain allergy. The other formulas they carr do not have grain. 5lb bag = about $14.
• Blue Buffalo – A very commonly available, quality food that comes in a variety of formulas, including lite, large breed, and puppy. They also have a high protein, low carb version called Blue Buffalo Wilderness. 5lb bag = about $18.
• By Nature – Quality ingredients, but only a small variety so far. The single source of protein and added yogurt makes it good for dogs with allergies and digestive issues. 5lb bag = about $13.
• Castor & Pollux – Large variety including weight management, large breed, and puppy. Weight management formula does have beet pulp as filler, but good protein sources. They also offer an organic-focused version called Organix, and many options for treats. 5lb bag = about $13.
• Innova – Previously sold only in small boutique stores, the Naturapet brand has recently moved into big-box stores after being purchased by Procter&Gamble. Their ingredients are still high quality, but I’d keep an eye on the back of the bag just in case. There’s a wide range of formulas with different flavors and nutritional balances. 5lb bag = about $15.
• Nutro Natural Grain Free - Nutro has apparently stepped up its game and brought out a quality grain free formula. It has a regular formula, easy digest, and venison. 5lb bag = about $15.
• Simply Nourish – This looks like a decent food, but a protein is not the first listed ingredient so that’s something to keep in mind. They have several different flavors for adult dogs and a puppy formula. 5lb bag = about $15.
• Wellness - Wellness is a little more pricey, but has a huge variety of quality foods with different protein sources, including weight management, senior, and puppy. They also make a grain free formula called Wellness Core. 5lb bag = about $16.

WalMart

• FreshPet Select – This is not actually a dry food, but comes in refrigerated rolls or individual meals. It gets expensive to do it this way, but is definitely one of the healthier choices in some chains. They also make refrigerated treats, and dog food rolls are always good for training treats.
• Newman’s Own – Yes, they make a dog food, and treats too! Usually inexpensive, but they sometimes have fillers in their formulas. One of the best, cost-effective choices in some big-box stores if you do not have a pet store nearby.
• Three Dog Bakery – Okay, their bakery blend isn’t that great on the dog food scale. The first ingredient is wheat, which is bad news for dogs with allergies (and they can indeed develop an allergy later) but WalMart carries such extremely low quality pet food that this one is better than the other options. 5lb bag = about $12.

Target

• LifeSpan - This appears to be a surprisingly high quality dog food to be sold in a big box store. No variety, but there are no by products and no wheat, corn, or soy. Good alternative if you can’t make it to your local pet store or there isn’t one near you.

There are a lot of amazing quality dog foods out there that aren’t available in big-box pet stores, but are readily available at small boutiques – and if they don’t have them, usually they’ll be happy to order. Orijen, Acana, Great Life, The Honest Kitchen, Stella & Chewy’s, Evanger’s, Fromm’s, and Taste of the Wild are just a few of the other super high quality foods that are out there. Check your locally owned shops, including feed stores!

I very strongly do not recommend giving any store, large or small, any of your business if they are selling puppies or kittens. There are always alternatives!