The American dog food industry has come a long way from its humble beginnings. What once consisted of table scraps and butcher shop cuts has evolved into a complex, emotional product. Today, dog parents have a deeper connection with what goes in their pup’s bowl.

But how did we get here? Let’s take a walk through the history of dog food in America. We’ll discuss how it’s made, what’s inside, and what’s good versus bad for your furry friend. 

The Early Days of Dog Food

Before commercial pet food existed, American dogs were mostly fed their humans’ leftovers. This includes bones, stale bread, meat trimmings, and anything else leftover from supper. 

Pups living in rural areas mostly lived off farm scraps. In cities, most dogs survived on garbage or whatever was thrown out by a local butcher. Dogs are scavengers by nature and can survive on scraps. But a balanced diet was required to help them thrive, stay healthy, and live longer. 

The Birth of Commercial Dog Food

We can thank an American named James Spratt for helping our pups live longer. In the 1860s, Spratt was living abroad in England when he invented the first commercial dog biscuit. The recipe was made from wheat meals, veggies, beetroot, and beef blood. 

Spratt’s company was truly the first large-scale manufacturer of dog food. He was on a mission to convince people to care more about their dogs’ nutrition. His work paid off, as Spratt’s Dog Cake gained popularity in England and the United States. 

Canned dog food hit the market in the 1920s and was an instant success. Sadly, most canned dog food was made from real horse meat. While controversial today, horsemeat was a nutritious and affordable protein at the time. The ingredients didn’t matter much back then, so long as pups benefited from the product.

How Kibble Changed The Game

During World War I, canned dog food lost its momentum. Metal cans were supposed to be reserved for war efforts. Manufacturers were unsure how to keep dog food fresh without the use of canned packaging. 

A pet food revolution began in the 1950s with the invention of kibble. By borrowing from a cereal manufacturing practice called hot extrusion, brands created shelf-stable pellets of dog food. Kibble didn’t require refrigeration, could be mass-produced, was cheap to produce, and lasted months on store shelves. At the time, it was a win-win for the brands and the consumers. 

Kibble really did change everything for the pet industry. Major players like Purina were dominating the market, and dry dog food became the default diet for American pups. It was marketed as modern, clean, and science-backed. While that may have been true 75 years ago, today we know better. 

Convenient feeding is the standard for modern-day dog parents. You can buy shelf-stable kibble or canned dog food at your local grocery, convenience, or pet store. You can even have it delivered right to your front porch. Today, dog parents seem to care more about the ingredients and nutrition rather than convenience.

How is dog food made? 

Canned food versus kibble is a debate of the past. Now, far more types of dog foods exist. So when you ask, “How is dog food made?”, there’s more than one answer. Here are a few of the most common types of dog foods and their cooking methods:

• Kibble or dry pellets: Made using hot extrusion. The ingredients are mixed into a dough, cooked under extreme heat and pressure, cut into pellets, and dried. Though these types of dog foods are convenient, artificial flavors and supplements are often added since most of the natural nutrition is cooked out. 

• Canned/wet food: Made with fresh or frozen meats, then cooked and sealed in cans. Wet food might seem fresher, but it’s really just dry food with a higher moisture and meat content. 

• Fresh dog food: This type of food is usually gently-cooked and requires refrigeration. But if the brand isn’t using 100% human-grade ingredients, it’s not technically a fresh food diet. 

• Air-dried dog food: Ingredients are combined into a jerky and then slowly air-dried at low temperatures. This kills off any bacteria or pathogens while creating a shelf-stable fresh dog food. Plus, air-drying preserves the natural nutrients and taste of the ingredients. 

• Raw or home-cooked food: Some dog parents choose to buy whole foods and uncooked meat from the store to feed their pup. While this can be beneficial, raw diets are tricky because it requires pet parents to balance nutrient content. 

• Freeze-dried dog food: Retains more nutrients than kibble processing, but still doesn’t compare to fresh and air-dried diets. 

What is dog food made of? 

There are so many different types of dog food. Devoted dog parents could argue for hours about which is the best type of dry dog food. But to know for sure, check the ingredient label. What is dog food made of? It depends on the brand and the recipe. But here’s a general list of good and bad ingredients commonly found in dog food:

Good Ingredients

• Real animal meat (chicken, beef, turkey, etc.): Provides quality protein, essential amino acids, and healthy fats. 

• Whole grains (millet, oats, quinoa): Natural sources of fiber, energy, and B vitamins. Whole grains are far more nutritious than other common dog food fillers like corn, wheat, or rice. 

• Vegetables (carrots, broccoli, spinach, etc.): Safe veggies for dogs provide antioxidants and phytonutrients. 

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish oil, flaxseed oil): “Fatty” sounds bad, but healthy fats are part of a balanced diet. Omega-3s are also great for healthy skin and a shiny coat. 

Bad Ingredients

• Meat by-products and meals: This cheap protein source often contains low-quality, unspecified animal parts with little nutritional value. 

• Artificial flavors or colors: Cooking methods like extrusion are harsh enough to cook out natural flavors from the ingredients. Some brands add artificial flavoring and color to make up for that loss. 

• Excessive fillers (corn, soy, peas): These cost-cutting ingredients offer little nutritional value for dogs and can even lead to long-term health issues. Though we might enjoy peas and corn, they are harder for dogs to digest. 

• Synthetic vitamins and minerals: Similar to adding artificial flavors, synthetic supplements make up for nutrients lost during harsh cooking processes. 

Which types of dog food are best?

We’ve reviewed the history of dog food, along with manufacturing and ingredients. But which option is the best type of dry dog food? The answer varies from dog parent to dog parent. 

Every dog has different taste preferences, food allergies, and health issues. On top of that, dog parents have individual concerns, budgets, and time constraints. The best type of dry dog food is whatever works for you and your pup. 

For busy pet parents, we recommend Sundays for Dogs. It’s the best type of dry dog food because it’s air-dried, shelf-stable, and made with 100% human-grade ingredients. Sundays is free of artificial flavors and synthetic supplements. It’s the easiest way to feed your pup whole food ingredients without prep, refrigeration, or hassle.