Best Wholesome Grain Dog Food*
Discover some of the best dog food with grains most popular with Petco’s pet parent customers.
What to look for in dog food with grains
The best dog food for your pup will largely depend on their breed, size, age and health status. You’ll want to look for food with high-quality grain sources, protein ingredients, great taste and good value.
Ingredients
Choose nutritious dog food with grains that supply carbohydrates and fiber to support healthy digestion. Some common grains include wheat, corn, barley, oats, rye, rice and soy. And look for recipes that have the right balance of protein and essential fatty acids in the formula.
Quality
You’ll want to choose food from trusted brands that include high-quality grains, protein and fat. You might prefer recipes with whole grains such as whole wheat or brown rice that haven’t been overly milled or stripped of their nutritional properties.
Value
You’ll want to choose the best grain dog food for your pup that offers a taste they enjoy in an easy-to-store, long-lasting package available at a price you feel comfortable paying.
Pet parent faves
From canned wet food with lamb and rice to dry dog food loaded with chicken and barley, you’ll find dog food with grains that your hungry canine will love with this list of best-sellers.
WholeHearted
All Life Stages Beef and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Thanks to a great blend of chicken and brown rice, this tasty dry dog food is packed with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Features:
- Real chicken as the first ingredient
- Wholesome grains and fiber with no corn or wheat
- Canine probiotics help maintain digestive health
- Omega-3 fatty acids help support supple skin and coat
- Antioxidant formula for a strong immune system
- Contains vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition with guaranteed levels of Vitamin E, Selenium and Zinc
- Good for all life stages
- Available in 3 bag sizes: 5 lbs., 30 lbs. and 45 lbs.
Best Dog Food With Grain for Large Dogs
Hill’s Science Diet
Adult Large Breed Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food
Formulated to fuel your large dog’s energy levels, this mixture uses high-quality and easy-to-digest ingredients.
Features:
- Promotes lean muscle in large breed dogs
- Includes whole grain wheat, cracked pearled barley and whole grain corn
- Supports joint health using natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin
- Helps maintain your grown dog’s skin and coat with Omega-6 fatty acids and Vitamin E
- Made with natural ingredients and high-quality protein
- Made in the USA using global ingredients you can trust
- Available in 2 bag sizes: 15lbs. and 35 lbs.
Best Dog Food With Grain for Small Dogs
Hill’s Bioactive Recipe
Fit + Radiant Chicken & Barley Adult Dry Dog Food
This formula was specifically made to build a lean muscle physique in your small breed adult dog with chicken and whole grains including cracked pearled barley and brown rice.
Features:
- A blend of ingredients to help activate a healthy metabolism for natural playfulness
- Chicken is the first ingredient for rich protein and essential amino acids
- Contains coconut oil for nourishing fatty acids
- Made with carrots, antioxidants and phytonutrients
- Contains no corn, wheat or soy, and no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors
- Available in 3 bag sizes: 3.5 lbs., 11 lbs. and 21.5 lbs.
Best Dog Food With Grain for Labrador Retrievers
Royal Canin
Breed Health Nutrition Labrador Retriever Adult Dry Dog Food
Give your Labrador Retriever the tailor-made nutrition they deserve. In this whole grain dog food, your lab gets the precise amount of calories and fat that can help them maintain a healthy weight.
Features:
- Designed to meet the specific needs of pure-bred Labrador Retrievers 15 months and older
- Donut-shaped kibble designed specifically to help labs chew and eat slowly
- Essential nutrients help reinforce the skin barrier and support healthy skin and dense undercoats
- EPA, DHA and glucosamine help support large, strong bodies and support bones and joints
- Available in 2 bag sizes: 17 lbs. and 30 lbs.
Instinct
Be Natural Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food
Each piece of this delicious dog food with grain is tumbled with crushed freeze-dried raw chicken bits.
Features:
- Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient
- Made with no fillers, artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, poultry by-product meals, brewer’s rice, soy, corn or wheat
- Loaded with hearty whole grains including brown rice, oatmeal and barley
- Added vitamins and minerals
- Contains raw real natural protein-packed, minimally processed meat on every piece
- All life stages
- Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world
- Available in 3 bag sizes: 4.5 lbs., 12 lbs. and 25 lbs.
Whole Earth Farms
Adult Dry Dog Food
Treat your pup to natural kibble that’s cooked with some of Whole Earth Farms’ best ingredients including high-quality chicken and turkey plus nutritious whole grains like barley and brown rice.
Features:
- Blend of chicken, turkey and white fish for a nice balance of amino acids
- Probiotics to support digestive health
- Barley and brown rice help give your dog quality carbohydrates for energy
- No by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- Available in 3 bag sizes: 4 lbs., 12 lbs. and 25 lbs.
Best Salmon Dog Food With Grain
Purina
Pro Plan High Protein, Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
Put your dog’s sensitive skin and stomach in good hands with this salmon-based, nutrient-rich dog food made with rice and oatmeal to provide easily digestible sources of carbohydrates. It’s rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to help support healthy joints and mobility plus Omega-6 fatty acids and Vitamin A to help nourish your dog’s skin and coat.
Features:
- Antioxidants help boost your dog’s immune system
- A protein-packed recipe with real salmon as the first ingredient
- Rich in omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat
- The oatmeal ingredient is easily digestible and gentle on the digestive system
- Natural prebiotic fiber nourishes specific intestinal bacteria for digestive health
- Available in 4 bag sizes: 5 lbs., 16 lbs., 30 lbs. and 41 lbs.
Blue Buffalo
Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Dog
Designed especially for large breeds and their needs, you’ll love feeding this dry dog food to your pup as much as they’ll enjoy eating it. High-quality protein helps build and maintain strong muscles and wholesome whole grains, garden veggies and fruit round out the recipe.
Features:
- Includes real chicken as the first ingredient
- Contains wholesome whole grains, vegetables and fruit
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health in bigger dogs
- Uses BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help support immune system health, life stage requirements and a healthy oxidative balance
- Available in 2 bag sizes: 15 lbs. and 30 lbs.
Solid Gold
Wolf King Bison, Brown Rice & Sweet Potatoes Adult Dog Food
Pasture-raised, USA bison is the first ingredient in this tasty formula so you can feed your dog’s inner beast and unleash the wolf within. It includes healthy fats, whole grains, living probiotics and a unique blend of functional superfoods to help build and maintain muscles and support gut, immune, skin and coat health.
Features:
- This recipe is boosted with a unique blend of functional superfoods
- Brown rice and pearled barley help provide a rich source of fiber, B vitamins and minerals to keep your dog happy
- No corn, wheat, soy or artificial preservatives
- Helps optimize your dog’s sharp mind and energy levels
- Combined with fiber-rich prebiotics, patented living probiotics stay alive and viable until consumed
- Living probiotics and omega fatty acids help cleanse, balance and fuel your pet’s gut health and overall immune support
- Available in 2 bag sizes: 12 lbs. and 24 lbs.
Best Wet Dog Food With Grain
CANIDAE
ALL Life Stages Lamb & Rice Wet Dog Food, 13 oz.
Whether you’re raising a small puppy or your dog is fully grown, this all life stages dog food can be an excellent choice for your pet.
Features:
- Ideal protein and wholesome grains for all dogs, all ages and all sizes
- Includes lamb, fish and wholesome brown rice
- Vet-formulated wet dog food
- Premium canned dog food crafted for multi-dog homes
- A variety of different flavors are simmered in broth
- Available in 2 sizes: 13 oz. can and 12-pack x 13 oz. cans
Best Limited Ingredient Dog Food With Grain
Natural Balance L.I.D.
Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
Skip unwanted additives and help bring out the best in your dog with premium ingredients from this highly-recommended Natural Balance L.I.D. chicken and rice dry dog food blend.
Features:
- Grain-inclusive yet gluten-free
- Great for all adult dogs of all breeds
- Made with real, U.S.A. farm-raised chicken as the top ingredient
- Produced in the USA with the world’s finest ingredients
- Helps maintain strong muscles with essential amino acids
- Brown rice contains fiber to help support healthy digestion
- No added potatoes, chicken by-product meal, corn, fillers, wheat or soy
- Available in 1 bag size: 4 lbs.
Best Dry Puppy Food With Grain
Blue Buffalo
Baby Blue Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Puppy Food
Help give your puppy the nourishment they need in order to grow up big and strong with this wholegrain puppy food containing real chicken, brown rice, oatmeal, barley and vegetables.
Features:
- Specifically formulated for puppies of any breed
- Real chicken as the first ingredients to help build and maintain healthy muscles
- Contains BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to help support immune system health, life stage requirements and healthy oxidative balance
- Baby BLUE dry puppy food is made with the finest natural ingredients with no by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
- Available in 3 bag sizes: 4 lbs., 11 lbs. and 24 lbs.
Best Dry Dog Food With Grain
Merrick
Full Source Raw-Cooked Kibble Real Lamb & Venison with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food
Being full source means full nutrition. Around 90% of the protein is from animal source and it’s made with nutrient-rich organs and cartilage to provide a concentrated mix of vitamins, minerals, fats and amino acids and support joints.
Features:
- Made with nutrient-rich organs and cartilage to support strong joints
- Provides a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and healthy fats
- Includes the wholesome grains of brown rice, oatmeal and barley
- Freeze-dried raw-coated kibble
- No peas or lentils
- Crafted in Merrick’s kitchen in Hereford, TX
- Available in 3 bag sizes: 4 lbs., 10 lbs. and 20 lbs.
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Learn More About Nutritious Dog Food with Grains
The best dog food for your canine friend depends on their breed, size, age and health status. No one diet works for every single pet. A few good general rules to follow is to choose a food that has high-quality protein sources like chicken, one from a reputable company and one that fits with your dog’s age and well-being. You might also prefer formulas that include whole grains that are unprocessed.
You can learn more with our Guide to Finding the Right Dog Food for Your Pet. And consult your veterinarian about which top rated dog food will work well for your pup.
Grains can be an excellent source of nutrients for your dog. Along with providing your pup with the proper amounts of protein and essential fatty acids, they can also provide carbohydrates and supply fiber in order to support good digestion.
Some of the more common grains that you might find in dog food grain recipes include:
- Wheat or whole wheat
- Corn
- Barley
- Rice or brown rice
- Oats or whole oats
- Rye
- Soy
There are many high-quality brands of minimally processed, whole grain dog food you can give your pup. Petco’s best-selling grain dog foods list above contain some of the top brands with whole grain formulas. Find the one that suits your dog best and pick up a bag at your neighborhood Petco Pet Care Center or online. You can choose Repeat Delivery when applicable to save.
Grains are complex carbohydrates made up of starch and fiber. When your dog eats and digests grains, the starches are broken down into sugars like glucose to use as fuel for their body’s energy. Some grains contain gluten while others are gluten-free, and whole grains can help provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Dietary grains for dogs can also be a good source of fiber which may help regulate their digestive system, feed good gut bacteria and eliminate toxins from their body. Soluble fiber can also help stabilize blood glucose levels, enhance nutrient absorption and control cholesterol. Examples of soluble fiber in your pet’s diet might be rice bran, oats, barley, dried peas, beans, flaxseed or beet pulp. Grains can also sometimes help reduce your dog’s calorie consumption due to the satiating fiber when putting your pet on a diet to lose weight.
In addition to the carbohydrate-based energy your dog can get from grains, choosing grain dog food can sometimes also benefit pet parents with an economical energy source when you run out of kibble or forget to bring dog food for your pup on the camping trip.
If your dog has certain medical conditions—like liver or kidney disease which need a low-protein diet or pancreatitis and intestinal bowl disease requiring a low-fat diet—dog food with healthy grains can be an excellent choice.
*Based on petco.com sales data.
