Is air-dried dog food worth the cost?

A professional dog trainer breaks down whether air-dried dog food is worth the cost, and how it replaces treats, toppers and full meals in one product.

Air-dried dog food costs more upfront. As a professional dog trainer who's fed raw, kibble, and everything in between over two decades, here's my honest take on whether it's worth it, and why one bag ends up doing the job of four different products.

These days, everything seems to be getting more expensive, so paying attention to where every dollar goes is more important than ever. But for me, investing in my dogs’ health is one area where I’m happy to spend a little more if it helps keep them in great condition and may reduce the likelihood of unnecessary vet visits down the track.

When it comes to feeding your dog, there are so many different opinions. Depending on which company or influencer you listen to, you’ll hear completely different advice.

As a professional dog trainer and dog mum, I’ve tried just about every feeding option over the past couple of decades, and here’s what I’ve found.

Raw feeding can be fantastic. It’s nutrient rich and works really well for many dogs. But it’s also messy, takes a lot of preparation, and can make your fridge smell pretty ordinary. For some owners, it’s absolutely worth it. For me personally, I wouldn’t choose to feed a completely raw diet all the time.

Processed foods are often the most affordable option and they’re certainly convenient. However, some are more heavily processed than others, so I prefer to be mindful of the ingredient quality when choosing what my dogs eat.

Kibble is also a perfectly acceptable option, and plenty of dogs do well on it. I simply prefer not to feed it as my dogs’ entire diet. I like to include plenty of high quality animal protein in their meals.

Over the last few years I’ve found myself using air dried dog food more & not just because it’s convenient, but because it’s incredibly versatile.

I’ve tried quite a few Australian brands, and the one I’ve consistently come back to is Eureka.

I wanted something that didn’t turn into dust in my pocket, wasn’t rock hard to chew, and still provided a high level of quality protein.

At first glance, air dried food can seem expensive compared to processed supermarket dog food. But when you really break it down, it’s more versatile than people realise.

I use it as training treats, I sprinkle it over meals as a food topper, I put it into enrichment toys, and sometimes I feed it as a complete meal. So one product ends up doing the job of several different products.

It's also important to call out dogs with sensitive tummies, they are restricted on what they can have. Most can still tolerate air-dried, once you've isolated the right protein. Eureka has two single protein recipes worth a try: Single Protein Chicken and Single Protein Wild Kangaroo.

As a dog trainer, I’ve looked at countless training treats over the years. Many of them contain extra ingredients that I’d simply rather not feed every day. If you read the back of the packet, quite a few even recommend limiting how much your dog should have.

I don’t want to be adding unnecessary calories every day just because I’m training my dogs.

Using a simple, high protein air dried food means I know exactly what I’m rewarding them with. It makes training easier, enrichment easier, and feeding easier.

For me, that’s worth paying a little extra for.

At the end of the day, every owner has to choose what works for their budget and their dog. This is simply what’s worked best for me, both as a professional dog trainer and as a dog mum.

Jazz
The Everyday Dog Trainer