10 Best Tasting Dog Food For Picky Eaters (2020)

Imagine having to eat your least favourite food for every meal, every day. Chances are you’re going to be miserable at every mealtime and after a while you may prefer to go hungry instead. 

The same is true for pups! 

If your pup has been picking at their food and you’ve ruled out the most common explanations, it simply be that they dislike the taste of their food. 

We’ve personally tested these kibbles … Just kidding. We’ve done an in-depth analysis of the best tasting dog food for picky eaters, and although we’re focusing on taste here, health is always the most important thing. We’ve made sure they’re not only tasty, but good for your pooch too. 

10 Best Tasting Dog Food For Picky Eaters

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Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation

Criteria 1 – Ingredient Quality

No matter what we’re analysing in a food, the quality of the ingredients that go into it is the number one most important factor. 

What we’re talking about here is the use of real, high-quality animal protein sources that are either real meat or meat meal, healthy carbohydrates for slow-burning energy, gluten-free grains (if there are grains at all), fruits and vegetables, chelated minerals for ease of digestion, and of course a lack of any artificial or synthetic ingredients. 

We’ll be checking out the actual flavouring of the food, to make certain it’s natural and isn’t caused by an artificial flavouring agent. No matter how much of a picky eater your dog is, finding a nicely flavoured food should definitely not come at the expense of their health, so this criterion is at the top of our list. 

Criteria 2 – Protein Source & Flavour

The protein source in your pup’s food will not only contribute quite a bit to the flavour and taste, it will also contribute quite a lot to your pup’s muscle mass and general health and wellbeing. 

As we stated above, the main protein source should be an animal protein, as they’re not only packed with far more amino acids than plant proteins, they’re also naturally more strongly flavoured. We’ve also tried to stick to foods that contain just one or two meat sources – while more sources are not a problem at all, if you have too many different proteins making up the food, flavour can become a bit of a tricky thing. Just one or two sources makes it quite a bit easier to stick to that “chicken” or “salmon” taste without having to add extras into the food to enhance it.

Included in this criteria is the protein count number – although we’re focusing mainly on taste here, it’s still essential that your pup gets the necessary nutrients to keep them strong and healthy. 

Criteria 3 – Added Extras

While the taste may be the thing that gets your pup to happily chew on the kibble, the food needs to provide more than simply a nice flavour. 

Different breeds have different needs, as do different ages and life stages. Many foods out there contain extra additions that are helpful for certain types of dogs. In fact, many of these additions are things that your pup shouldn’t go without, so we’ve made sure the dog foods we’ve reviewed on this list contain all the good stuff. 

These include things like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, high Omega fatty acid levels for a healthy coat and skin, L-carnitine for some extra help regulating energy levels, and DHA and EPA for puppies and seniors. 

While most foods that tailor to certain breeds or ages do contain these, there are still those that don’t, but they should not be sacrificed for taste! 

Criteria 4 – Texture & Size of Kibble

Sometimes the texture and kibble size or shape can contribute to your pup’s disinterest in that particular kibble. Dogs have far more sensitive senses than we do, so it may be that the taste is all right for them but the texture of a specific kibble might not work for them. In the same vein, your pooch might be reluctant to chew their pellets because the kibbles are too big for them and hurt their mouth. 

We’ve added this criteria as it’s worth considering in addition to simply the taste of a food, and it can make a big difference in terms of your dog’s happiness with the food they’re eating. 

You’ll find foods of a few different textures on this list, so there’s something for everyone here. We’ve also had a bit of a word about kibble size, who it’s best for, and if there are any potential issues to look out for.

Criteria 5 – Affordability

Pups and their parents are a team. They make our lives better, and we look after them and make sure they have all they need. That means that it’s up to us to choose a food that will be good for them and improve their health. 

For some of us, this is a pressure decision because there are a whole lot of high-priced dog foods out there. Of course, these are great quality foods, but just a brief look around is enough to make us worry about if we’re going to be afford something healthy and high-quality for our dogs. 

That’s what this criteria is for – to show that it’s totally possible to find super quality food out there for decent prices. We’re all about making pup and human happy, and this one is more for the benefit of the humans, but in turn, a happier pet parent makes for a happier pet. 

You’ll find info about the affordability of each food in the pros and cons, and again – there’s something for everyone here, so no matter where you are most comfortable on the price spectrum, you’ll find something of premium quality right there. 

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Questions & Answers

Dogs can be so similar to humans in some ways, and their reasons for being picky eaters is one of those ways. Some of these reasons can be more serious than others, and some can be quite simple. 

Most pet parents don’t realise that their pup could simply be bored with his food, or not enjoy the taste of it. Remember, pooches eat the same old stuff every day, twice or more a day – it really isn’t hard to understand that they may be a little bored with it! They also don’t really get a say about flavours or textures – we choose what they eat. 

Seeing as they can’t tell us that they aren’t enjoying it, they’re stuck with it, but their displeasure  may show itself in the form of them being very picky about their food. If you feed your pooch tidbits off your plate and they’re quite happy to scoff those but they’re less happy with their kibble, that’s a sign that they probably aren’t enjoying their own food very much. 

Apart from the taste, the food your pet is eating could be upsetting their tummy. Just because they aren’t pooping weirdly it doesn’t mean their stomach isn’t feeling discomfort. This could cause them to be reluctant to eat as they are already anticipating the feeling they know comes after a meal. 

More serious things that could be contributing include food allergies or intolerances, medical conditions, dental issues or injuries to the mouth. It’s important that you observe your pup to figure out what the issue is. 

Other things that are less serious but still could be contributing are if your pup’s routine has changed, or if there’s recently been a big change such as a move. Changes in your dog’s environment or routine can upset their eating habits for a little while, but they’ll get back on track as they get more comfy with the changes. 

One of the easiest things to do if your pooch is reluctant to eat their food is to change their kibble. Choose a different flavour and texture, while making sure that the quality is high. This could be the key to fixing this problem, as it may remove any ingredients that your pet could be allergic to and make it easier on their tummy, or simply give them a new exciting flavour. 

Apart from that, it’s a great idea to stop feeding your pet bits and pieces off your own plate. If you’re giving your dog bits of soft, marinated steak off your table and then expecting them to eat rough, dry kibble later, you’re not helping the problem! 

That’s not to say you shouldn’t give your pup treats. But it’s a good idea to stick to pet treats and avoid giving your pup human food as little snacks. Also, if you can, stick to certain times of day or occasions to give treats. For example, when you arrive home from work, give your  pooch a treat, or when you leave for work in the morning. When training, give a treat when your pet gets something right. Apart from that, don’t just dish them out liberally.

Sticking to a routine with mealtimes as well as treats helps your pet to start getting a feel for when they’re getting food, and not anticipate too many snacky nuggets in between that could disrupt their regular eating schedule.

While there are often external causes for your pup being choosy about their food, sometimes it comes as part and parcel of being a certain breed. 

Anybody who has ever met a Labrador knows that they’ll eat whatever they can get their teeth on. Some dogs are incredibly food motivated, but there are those that are the opposite. Tiny pups like Yorkshire Terriers and the Maltese are known to be fussy eaters and are prone to sensitive stomachs. 

Every single dog is different, though, so don’t assume that your pooch is going to be picky (or not) just because they’re a certain breed. It’s worth doing your research on the breed,

If you feel your pet is a selective eater but their coat is sleek and shiny, they’re active and have plenty of energy, and they have a cheerful disposition, then it’s likely that they are getting more than enough food to support their energy levels and health.

If, however, your pooch is looking listless, is suffering from dry fur and skin, itching and unexplained licking, has low energy levels and seems depressed (all in addition to being a fussy eater), then there could be a problem.

It’s important to pay attention to your pet and their health and notice any changes, both in their physical condition and their personality. If their picky eating habits come with other signs and symptoms, then there could be something more to their fussiness. 

One of the most common things that can cause pups to go off their food is dental problems. They may not seem apparent to us humans, but having a sore mouth can be a huge deterrent when it comes to eating. If your pet’s breath is bad, this could be something that they’re suffering from. It could be gum disease or it could be tooth decay, but either way, a trip to the vet is a good idea to help relieve the pain and fix the problem.

Digestive problems could also be the culprit. Food allergies or intolerances can put your pup off eating, because they’re anticipating the feeling that comes later. It’s worth doing some experimenting to figure out if there are certain ingredients that your dog is sensitive to. Once you have an idea of what they react badly to, it’s relatively easy to avoid these ingredients. 

To narrow down the list of medical conditions that could contribute to a loss of appetite or a change in appetite would be quite a feat. In general, pain or discomfort is a big cause of fussy eating, and that could really come from anything. Only a visit to the vet can really determine any possible health conditions that could be causing this in your pooch. 

The base of all great dog foods should be high-quality, wholesome, real-food ingredients. Just this alone can go a very long way towards keeping your fluff healthy, fit, and happy. 

If you are aware of certain ingredients that your dog doesn’t enjoy or reacts badly to, you should definitely be looking for a food that doesn’t contain those ingredients. Don’t be fooled by the flavour on the front of the packaging – “beef” doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of chicken, for example. You’ll need to check out the ingredient list to be sure it doesn’t contain the suspect ingredient.

What you’ll look for also depends on your dog. Certain breeds are prone to joint problems and need a dose of glucosamine and chondroitin. Others have long, lustrous coats and would benefit from a really nice level of Omega fatty acids. Puppies need DHA and EPA for optimal growth and development. 

The less the food is processed, the better. There should also be no artificial stuff in there, so you’ll be looking for natural preservatives, flavourants, and colouring. By-products are also something you’ll want to stay away from. 

In some cases, this could make a difference, but it’s not an automatic fix. Raw food isn’t processed as kibble is, so the risk of having artificial stuff in there is low. 

If you would like to give it a try, here’s a handy guide to getting started. You will need to remember that food allergies don’t just go away with raw food – if your dog has  an allergy to beef, you’ll need to avoid it even when raw feeding. 

Raw food may also be more naturally flavoursome that kibble, so if your pooch is simply fussy about taste, it could help. The texture is also completely different to kibble, so if that’s a problem for your pet when it comes to eating pellets, a raw diet could entice them to eat. 

You will need to experiment, though, and still keep an eye on your pup’s eating habits even if you do switch them over.