Do you have a dog? If so, you’re probably very familiar with dog food. Even if you don’t have a dog of your own, you probably have a friend or family member who has a dog. Have you ever helped feed a dog?
What types of food do dogs like? Some dogs may prefer crunchy dry food, while others might rather have the soft moist food that comes in a can. Of course, most dogs probably like the food you eat, too!
But what exactly is in that crunchy dry dog food that most dogs seem to like so much? Of course, it depends somewhat on the particular brand and flavor of food you choose. Let’s take a closer look at what goes into dog food and how it’s made.
Dog food is big business. In the United States alone, dog owners spend nearly $9 billion on dog food each year. That consists of about 7 million tons of food from over 300 manufacturers. That’s a lot of kibble!
While the exact composition of dog food varies widely from one manufacturer to another, dog food generally is made up of meats, meat byproducts, cereals, grains, vitamins, and minerals. Modern dog foods got their start as a dry, biscuit-like food created in England in the 1860s.
If you’ve ever seen the dog food aisle in a local supermarket, you probably already know there’s an incredible number and variety of dog foods for owners to choose from. Many companies make special foods for dogs of certain ages (puppies or older dogs, for example), as well as food targeted at dogs with certain lifestyles or sizes (big dogs or active dogs, for example).
Which dog food should an owner choose? Many factors go into making a good decision. If you have questions about what type of food to feed your dog, consult your local veterinarian.
Some people choose the cheapest possible food in order to save money. Others might choose a specialty food formulated for dogs of a particular age, size, or lifestyle. Still others may base their decision on the nutritious ingredients included in the food. Some dog foods contain more of the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that dogs need.
Dog food manufacturers take the basic ingredients — byproducts of meat, poultry, and seafood, along with feed grains and soybean meal — and grind them, cook them, and shape them into the food you see when you open a bag of dog food. Vitamins and minerals are usually added as supplements after processing.
Dry and moist dog foods often contain similar ingredients. The main difference between the two is the amount of moisture in the food. Moist dog foods are 70-80% moisture, while dry dog foods are usually less than 10% moisture.
(20 votes, avg. 3.80 out of 5) 
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Dear wonderopolis,
I still think dog food disgusting.
P.S. I have 5 dogs.
We Wonder what kind of food your dogs like, Rhiannon? Do they all eat the same kind, or does each have its own type of food? Thanks for sharing your WONDERful comment!
Thoughts: I like the creator of the presentation made an interesting slide show. (Duyen) I liked the dog in the beginning because of his wrinkly face. (Maria) Is there a certain amount of food each dog should eat? (Cristian)
Connections: The music sounds like my brother when he’s trying to annoy me. (Jaaron) This reminds me of when my next door neighbor’s dog came to visit me at my house. (Kathy) This reminds me of when I fed a neighbor’s dog. (Andrew) This reminds me of when my friends Isabel and Briahna brought their dog to visit me and she didn’t really like me. (Andrew)
Predictions: What is dryer? (Jake) What is a heat wave? (Briahna) Who invented fire? (Michelle) Why do kids love summer so much? (Gisselle) Why is the sun so bright and hot? (Kathy)
Good afternoon, Mrs. Hess’ Class! Thank you for sharing all your comments with us today! What a fantastic Friday!
We are happy the Wonder piqued Duyen, Maria and Cristian’s interest!
The connections from Jaaron, Kathy and Andrew are awesome! It sounds like this Wonder reminds you of lots of different situations!
We look forward to finding out what tomorrow’s Wonder will be… thanks to Jake, Briahna, Michelle, Gisselle and Kathy, we have some great ideas!
We know some people who have tasted dog food!! Sometimes babies like to get into the dog’s bowl.
We think tomorrow’s wonder will be about summer, lava, fire, sun, or magma.
We think babies are very curious, and they can get into some things that don’t belong to them… like dog food! Thanks for making us smile with your comment, Ms. Bayko’s Class! We think your Wonder guesses are WONDERful and bright!
I used to eat dog food when I was three. We don’t have dogs anymore, they died.
We’re sorry to hear about your dogs, Gabrianna! We bet you have lots of WONDERful memories with them! We are glad you shared your comment with us– we think lots of little kids have tasted their pet’s food by accident! We hope you’re having a fantastic Friday!
Thank you for the video about dog food. We were interested to see chicken feet shown as a possible ingredient! Yuck! We did like to see that there are many healthy ingredients that are added to our dogs’ food.
Only one third of our class does not have a dog at home. That means two thirds of the class have a dog at home!
Some of our guesses for tomorrows wonder:
global warming, heat waves, summer, the equator, asteroids, the center of the earth, the sun and hot lava, lightning
Hip hip HOORAY for Mrs. Lawinger’s Law Enforcers today! Just like it’s important to know what is in our own, human food, we are glad to Wonder about what’s in our pet’s food! It sounds like you have a classroom full of pet owners– how very cool!
We think you’re getting warm with your Wonder guesses! We look forward to finding out what tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day® will be! Have a great weekend, Wonder Friends!
We think tomorrow’s wonder will be about heat index!
You’re getting warm, Ms. Sizemore’s class! We are glad you’re WONDERing with us on this fantastic Friday! Thank you for sharing your comment!
Dear wonderopolis,
I really loved the wonder today because I have 2 dogs that are named Bubba and Marley and it reminded me of them, they are really great dogs. I think tomorrow’s wonder will be about the sun or somthing really hot.
Bubba and Marley sound really awesome, Maddy! We are glad to hear that today’s Wonder reminded you of them… we bet you take WONDERful care of them! We Wonder if you help feed them, and if you and your family members take turns walking them, feeding them and keeping them clean?
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HI!
I have a dog I like dogs they are sometimes
funny, sometimes rough and sometimes lazy and sleepy. I think tommorow’s wonder is going to be about the weather and it being hot.
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Dogs can be funny pets, can’t they, Brady? We think they have their own personalities, just like humans! We look forward to WONDERing with you again tomorrow! We think you’re getting warm…
Dear Wonderopolis,
I like today’s wonder of the day because it shows what kinds of dog food is good for your dog.
I have a big 6 year old yellow lab and he eats a lot! I think tomorrow’s wonder of the day will be about somewhere hot, something hot or heat stroke.
Your wonder friend,
Karsen
Dear Karsen,
Thanks for telling us all about your favorite part of today’s Wonder! We bet your dog is constantly running around, so he probably has a huge appetite! We Wonder if he eats food that is made for dogs his age?
Thanks for sharing your Wonder guesses, Karsen! We’re glad you’re using your imagination!
Hi Wonderopolis,
Today’s wonder was a good learning session for dog owners, because they might buy the cheapest to save money, and they probably just don’t care about the food they give their dogs.
Thanks Wonderopolis,
Ben
Hey Ben, we’re glad you’ve been thinking about the responsibilities of pet owners today! Sometimes certain dogs need special food (perhaps they’re very young or very old), while other dogs do just fine with simple food. We Wonder if you have any pets?
Dear wonderopolis
Today I loved the awesome music but I hate dog food and love my dog. I think tommorow’s wonder will be about the sun or summer.
Hey there, Ashton! Thanks for WONDERing with us about dog food today! While you may not like dog food, we bet your dog sure does! It’s pretty chilly here at Wonderopolis today, so we’re WONDERing about the sun and summer, too! Thanks for sharing your guess!
hi
I have a dog, her name is Dasiy.
I think tomorrow’s wonder is going to be about humidity.
Hey Mason, we bet Daisy loves you to pieces! We Wonder if you are in charge of feeding her, or if you and your family take turns? Thanks for sharing your toasty Wonder– we can’t wait to find out what it will be!
Dear Wonderopolis,
Today’s wonder was pretty awesome because it made me wonder what dog food I should be feeding my dog at home? My dog at home is a black, curly french water dog ( barbet ).
She is about 20 weeks old.
We bet your veterinarian can help answer that question for you, Alexa! It sounds like you have an awesome new puppy to enjoy! How WONDERful!
Hi I don’t think I can shoot like Katniss. I will never eat dog food it is gross. I think tomorrow’s wonder will be about the sun.
We wouldn’t recommend you eating Liam, we think you should stick to food that the rest of your family eats!
We know you’re just kidding, but sometimes children accidentally try dog food when they’re very young! WHOOPS! Thanks for sharing your shining Wonder guess– we can’t wait to find out what it will be! 
Hi wonderopolis
I loved today’s wonder because I love my dog
probably because a dog is man’s best friend.
Dogs are awesome hahahahhahahaha.
I like cats! Dogs are EVIL I had 7 cats now I have only four.
Hello to our Wonder Friends Eiffie, Wonder Friend BM and Wonder Friend S! It sounds like we’ve got two dog lovers and one cat lover… that’s great! Animals are great members of our families and we’re happy you can enjoy them! We think you’re right, Eiffie, dogs are great companions! Cats are WONDERful furry friends, too! We love animals of all kinds! Thanks for WONDERing with us today, Wonder Friends!
I think dog food is pretty great overall.
Wow I never thought there was dog food for certain dogs.
It sounds like you have both learned something new with us, Jusin and Sophie! Dog food keeps our four-legged friends nice and healthy, especially when your dog is eating the right kind of food! Thanks for WONDERing with us today!
We think tomorrow’s wonder will be about humidity.
What a great Wonder guess, Mrs. Witchey’s class! You’ve done a great job of using context clues to form your SUPER guess!
Hey wonderopolis I really liked this wonder.
I have 4 dogs but one of the dogs had 2 puppies. But the girl dog who had babies is going to have more. Is it healthy to give my puppies my milk from cereal?
Hello to our Wonder Friends Kade and Liberty, thanks for sharing your comments with us!
It sounds like both of you are dog lovers, and Liberty’s dog family is growing! We think it’s really cool that you’re thinking of other ways to help feed these new puppies, but the mother’s milk has special vitamins and nutrients that the milk we drink doesn’t have. You can help the mother take care of her new puppies by making sure she’s comfortable and all the puppies are getting enough milk and staying warm.
I liked today’s wonder! I have a beagle named Bella, and she eats a dog food that is really good for her, it’s not like Purina or anything like that, it’s Organix, and it has a meat in it that is good for her and lots of nutrients, so she likes it a lot. When my younger sister Blakeleigh was a baby, she used to get into the dog food all the time! When my family goes to Denver, we drive on I25 and before we pass the Broncos stadium, we pass the Purina factory and it is very stinky. It was interesting to hear that the first dog food started out as a dry biscuit-like food in 1860′s. Thank you for today’s wonder!
I have 1 dog and he did not like to eat his food then when I found this website I looked at all the different kinds of dog food and I found dog food that was right for my dog so he started to eat his food thanks to you guys.
Hi Gabrianna!
Hello to our Wonder Friends Berkleigh and Daniel! It’s so cool that you’re both connecting today’s Wonder to your own lives! WOHOO!
Berkleigh, thank you for telling us all about what kind of food Bella eats and how you remember the dog food factory you passed in Denver! You both have great memories! Thanks for WONDERing with us today!
We’re glad our Wonder Friends are communicating, too!
I don’t have any dogs but I have some of my friends dog and taken care of them so I fed a couple. I loved this wonder and I can’t wait for the next one!!!!!:)
It sounds like you are a very trustworthy friend, Morgan3222! We think it’s awesome that you have taken care of your friends’ dogs! What a great connection to today’s Wonder… we look forward to WONDERing with you tomorrow, Morgan3222!
Thoughts: (Emilee) Since I have a dog, dog food is important to me. Thanks for the advice. (Taylor) I think it is very important to know what is in my dog’s food. (Chris) Dog food is very important because they would starve if they did not have food. (Quinten)I never knew that dog food was made out of seafood and minerals.
Connection:(Keyara) When I was a little girl I remember feeding my dog dog food for the first time. (Nataya) I have a dog and she likes human food better than dog food. (Meghan) I get to feed my aunt’s dog dog food everyday.
Predictions: (Ben) How hot is the sun at it’s core? (Isabelle) How hot is the sun at it’s hottest degree? (Davonta) Is Spring on its way.
Hey there, Wonder Friends in Mrs. Coleman’s class! We’re so glad you’re here today!
Emilee, Taylor, Chris and Quinten: we’re so happy you shared all your thoughts with us! We like that you pointed out how important dog food is, and that it keeps our four-legged friends healthy!
Keyara, Nataya and Meghan: we liked learning about your dog-related comments! It sounds like you’re very helpful when it comes to taking care of pets!
We think you’re getting very warm, Ben, Isabelle and Davonta! Tomorrow’s Wonder is going to be bright!
Thanks for visiting us today, Wonder Friends!
I don’t have a dog but my grandma does and her dog loves to eat. My question is, can a dog have any kind of food? I love this wonder of the day because I am attached to dogs!
We think it’s great that you love dogs, Megan! It sounds like you’re a big help by offering to take care of your grandma’s dog, too! NICE WORK! Some dogs need special food, but the vet can tell you more about the best foods for your grandma’s dog. We bet you’ll enjoy Wonder #818, too!
Can You Teach An Old Dog New Tricks? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/can-you-teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks/
THE SUN OR SUMMER.
Thank you for sharing your awesome guesses, Remington! We think you’ve got some bright ideas! We look forward to WONDERing with you soon!
I got a puppy that is a mixed Chihuahua! He is cute…but bites hard! I have a question. How many types of puppy or dogs are there? How come they grow hair long? I really love <3 my puppy!!! I AM GLAD TO HAVE HIM!!!
!
Thanks for telling us all about your awesome Chihuahua, Crystal! We hope your puppy gets over the biting stage!
We are so glad you’re WONDERing about all kinds of dogs out there! Some have short hair, others have long– but they sure are fun! We bet you can keep WONDERing about dogs with the help of your librarian or you can research different dogs using the Internet! Keep up the great work!
Dear Wonderoplis,
I had four dogs. Harley (I don’t know) Max (King kourso mastif) Sam (English Mastif) Nanook (A sledding dog). We still have one Max.
Ade from Lancaster
Hey there, Ade! We bet you take great care of Max, and it sounds like all your other dogs are WONDERful, too! We Wonder if they all ate the same food, or if certain dogs had certain food?
I loved this wonder it made me remember when I tried dog dog food it didn’t really taste as good as it smelled thank you for having this wonder I learned a lot.
Hey there, Andrea, thanks for sharing your comment with us! Many of our Wonder Friends have told us that they accidentally tried dog food when they were little! We Wonder if your dog has special dog food, or if you share what you are eating?
What time do you make a new wonder just WONDERING ???
Hey there, Yaya, we are always creating Wonders! When we think of a Wonder, we start to research the topic, and then we begin writing! We have Wonder journal so we can keep track of all our Wonders and ideas!
Wonder friend S, you are very sadly mistaken. Dogs are NOT evil and they make good companinons, they don’t mind being on a leash, they will play with you, they are a lot easier to bathe than cats, and they are easy to look after. I know, because my family has had had a collie, a golden retriever, a basset hound, and my family still has our beagle named Bella. Cats climb up trees, they hide from you all the time,they are self-centered, they leave hair everywhere, and they can make areas stink with their litter boxes. I do not really like cats myself unless it is a tiger, a lion or a cougar. But my point is, you should do some reasearch on dogs before you just come out and say something rude about them that you know isn’t true.
Dogs are my favorite animal.
And I love my dog, Bella because when I am mad or sad she always makes me feel better and she is very playful and VERY sweet.
Hey there, Wonder Friend Berkleigh! We really appreciate your awesome comment and we are glad you shared your thoughts with all of us in the Wonderopolis community. We are happy to hear that you love your dogs so much– we feel like we know them from your description!
Wonderopolis is a place where we can all express our thoughts and opinions in a respectful way. It’s great that you have read comments from other Wonder Friends and we’re happy you shared your story about your awesome furry family members! It sounds like Bella is a great and comforting dog… we’d all be lucky to have a companion like her! Thanks for sharing your WONDERful comment, Berkleigh!
Wow that is so much kibble! Our dog Bella LOVES dog food after she eats, she gets on the floor and snorts until we give her belly rubs she is the most sweetest thing ever. Thanks.
We’re so happy you’re here today, Blakeleigh! It sounds like Bella is a rockstar kind of dog! She sounds like an awesome pet, and a funny one, too! Thank you for sharing your comment with us today– we’ll see you soon, Blakeleigh!
I have a dog but he never ever eats dog food all he like to eat is chicken and and other meats humans eat. I really want him to be strong and healthy but how do I get him to eat dog food wonderopolis any suggestions or tips??????
We think lots of dogs enjoy the food we eat, Kimberly! We bet you can talk to your vet about helping your dog to enjoy his very own food! Perhaps you can think of some special treats or activities to celebrate your dog when he does eat his food! Thanks for WONDERing with us!
Thanks for the information, Wonderopolis!!! I love how you respond to questions so fast. I do not have a question today, I just wanted to compliment your website and all of the facts it holds.
Thank you so much for sharing your kind comment, Wonder Friend Amber! We are thrilled to have a Wonder Friend like you! We are lucky to have lots of great friends who share their awesome comments, and we want to make sure everyone can shine here at Wonderopolis! We hope you’re having a marvelous Monday! We’ll see you soon, Amber!
Ewww I have 2 dogs and that’s what they eat, sounds pretty yucky!
Hey there, Nadia! We know that sometimes our dogs’ food doesn’t appeal to us, but we know that it’s good for our pets and that’s what matters! We Wonder if you are in charge of feeding your dogs?
Hey Wonderopolis! I really WONDERed this question, and it’s going to be a report for school. What is the history of origami? Can you please help me? Thanks!
Well you sure are in luck, MaryCutiePie2001! We’re so happy you’ve been WONDERing about dog food… and now we’ve got another Wonder that you’ll enjoy:
Wonder #775– How Old is Origami? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-old-is-origami/
Happy WONDERing!
Dear Wonderopols,
That’s a cool article and that’s how they really make dog food. Oh I have a dog. That’s a cool way to make dog food and is this kind of a blog?
Your friend,
Brandon
Hey there, Wonder Friend Brandon! Thanks for sharing your comment with us! We’re glad you learned all about making dog food today– it sounds like you have an awesome dog who enjoys eating! We are glad you have been thinking about blogs and posts– Wonderopolis posts a new Wonder each day in a blog format! Great question!
Hi you rock.
Hey there, Wonder Friend Darrion! Thanks for your kind comment! We Wonder what you learned from our four-legged food Wonder?
My brother and cousin said dog food was made from dogs is that true?
Hey there, Wonder Friend Brittany! We bet your brother and cousin have great imaginations! Dog food is made from lots of different things, but not dogs! We bet you will learn all about what goes into store-bought dog food if you check out our Wonder!
Why do dogs sometimes catch smaller animals and eat them?!
Hey there, Wonder Friend Kathy! Animals often protect themselves to keep themselves, their young and their territory safe. Some dogs may be house-trained, and others live in nature! If an animal is hungry, they will find a way to eat! You can learn more about the food chain here: Wonder #701– Who’s at the Top of the Food Chain? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/whos-at-the-top-of-the-food-chain/
This video is short but the puppies were cute.
Hey there, Wonder Friend Nicole! We’re glad you enjoyed the puppies in our Wonder video– we learned a lot from this Wonder! Do you have a dog of your own?
I really didn’t know that dry dog food only had 10% of moisture in it I have two dogs and I buy them Iams.
Hey Bellabear, it sounds like you’ve learned something new about your awesome dog! We are glad you’re feeding your dog great food to keep him or her healthy!
I LOVE my Mutt puppy, Teddy, although he gets into a ton of trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We bet Teddy keeps you busy, Katelyn! He sounds like a bundle of fun and fur! Thanks for sharing your comment!
My dog Hershey is a lot of work.
We bet, Wonder Friend L! From walking to feeding to cleaning up after Hershey, we bet you are dog-tired!
My friend has a dog with no eyes it is really sad but it still knows it way around the house.
We are impressed to know that your friend’s dog has stronger senses, even if he can’t see! We bet his ears and nose work extra well to help guide him around the house, Wonder Friend L! Thanks for sharing your connection to this dog-riffic Wonder!