Dog size, breed, age and health status influence the pet food styles that owners choose to feed their companion animals. In a cross-sectional analysis of more than 40,000 U.S. dog owners participating in the Dog Aging Project, scientists at Texas A&M University and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine noted correlations between dog food diet choices and various dog characteristics. Although dry kibble was the most common dog food choice, the prevalence of other formats varied according to dog demographic group.
Dogs eating diets other than kibble
Smaller dogs were significantly more likely to consume diets such as canned, freeze-dried, commercial raw, semidry or home-cooked foods. Conversely, the popularity of home raw diets increased with the size of the dog, making it the only diet type that showed a positive correlation with larger breeds.
“This may be due to economic reasons, since it is likely more cost prohibitive to feed a large dog primarily canned food as compared to a small dog,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “However, owner income was not associated with diet choice, making this at least appear to be a less important factor in the decision to feed canned diets. Another potential reason may be that health-related issues more commonly diagnosed in small dogs, such as periodontal disease or urolithiasis, compel owners to select foods with a higher moisture content. Further studies are necessary to clarify what factors influence this trend.”
Purebred dogs were disproportionately represented among those fed raw diets, whether commercial or home-prepared. Among the 2,163 dogs consuming raw diets in the study, 1,391 were purebred, making purebreds 1.8 times more common in this dietary group compared to mixed breeds. In contrast, mixed-breed dogs were more likely to be fed kibble than purebreds.
Neutered and intact dogs also exhibited distinct dietary trends. Neutered dogs were more frequently fed kibble or canned diets, while intact dogs showed a preference for raw diets.
Age and health-driven dietary trends
The study also highlighted life-stage-specific feeding practices. Puppies were overwhelmingly fed kibble (89%), while senior dogs and those in poorer health were more likely to consume canned, semidry, or home-cooked diets. These choices may reflect a need for easier-to-digest or softer food textures as dogs age or experience health challenges.
Activity levels further influenced dietary choices, with active dogs being more likely to consume home-prepared raw diets and sedentary dogs tending toward canned or home-cooked options. Purpose-driven feeding patterns emerged as another important trend. Dogs primarily used for agility or breeding were more likely to consume raw diets (15% for both commercial and home raw). Working dogs favored home raw diets (6%), while service dogs leaned toward commercial raw options (8%). However, kibble remained the most common diet across all purposes.
The analysis also revealed insights into secondary dietary trends. Organic diets were more commonly reported for freeze-dried, raw (both commercial and home), home-cooked, and semidry diets. Meanwhile, grain-free diets were more prevalent among freeze-dried, raw, and home-cooked options compared to kibble or canned varieties.
Implications for the pet food industry
Diverse factors influence dog owners' dietary choices and the opportunity for pet food manufacturers to cater to niche markets. The correlation between smaller dogs and alternative diets like freeze-dried or canned products may suggest growth potential in these segments. Similarly, the preference for raw diets among purebred, intact, and active dogs highlights a market for formulations targeted at performance-focused owners.
