The 17 Best Places to Buy Dog Food, According to 407 Real Dog Guardians (2024)

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Chewy is the place to go for a massive selection of dog food. During a recent search, there were more than 3,000 options in dry food and over 1,500 in wet food, as well as veterinary diets, raw food, fresh meals, and dehydrated food. Chewy fans love that delivery is quick and Chewy rarely runs out of stock like some retailers. There’s great customer service via email or chat and lots of regular sales on wet foods and other pet supplies.

If you sign up for autoship, you get a discount on every order, plus you choose the frequency so unwanted food doesn’t pile up. Autoship customers also get free access to veterinarians via video or chat to answer health and behavioral questions in nearly every state.

Shipping is free on orders over $49 to most places in the United States and typically only takes one to three days. If you need to return food, most of the time the company will just ask you to donate the food to a shelter or rescue.

You can stock up on dog food of choice when you’re ordering everything from books to phone chargers at this giant retailer. You’ll find everything from high-end, hard-to-find brands to more budget-friendly mainstream alternatives. Shipping is free and takes about two days if you’re a Prime member. If you're not a member, shipping free for orders over $25 (and takes four to five days). You can save by setting up a subscription for regular food delivery from once every two weeks to once every six months, and can cancel at any time.

If you’re browsing for a new food, Amazon makes it very easy to find a product by flavor, health benefits, food feature, or lifestage. The site also often carries foods in a range of package sizes. Some specialty natural and organic foods are only available to Prime members through Whole Foods Market, similar to your homemade dog food.

Note that some shoppers have had issues with fake or expired dog food products sold by third-party sellers. Amazon doesn’t accept returns for items fulfilled by third-party sellers, it's smart to buy food sold directly by Amazon or the manufacturer.

The largest brick and mortar pet retailer, PetSmart operates about 1,650 pet stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico and has a large online presence. There’s a broad selection of dry, canned, and veterinary diets, as well as food toppers, fresh food, and frozen food.

PetSmart offers free shipping to most places in the United States on orders over $49, and most items arrive within two to three days. If you need something sooner, same-day delivery is available via DoorDash or you can shop online and use curbside pickup. You can sign up for autoship with the frequency you want and a discount on products.

You can return online orders to a local store. There’s a loyalty program where you can redeem points for products and services. Many locations have grooming salons, daycare, and training classes. PetSmart Charities partners with nearly 4,000 nonprofits and government groups to support animal-related causes like adoption partners and spay/neuter clinics.

Petco has more than 1,500 stores across the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and throughout Mexico. That includes more than 100 in-store vet clinics. There’s a huge online selection of dog food ranging from dry and canned to freeze-dried, fresh, and veterinary diets. The brand offerings run the gamut from mainstream to high-end premium.

Petco has free same-day delivery with no order minimum on many in-stock products, as well as curbside pickup in certain locations. When you enroll in repeat delivery, food is delivered free, however frequently you want it and always with a discount.

Items ordered online can be returned to a store to avoid shipping costs and early Black Friday Deals save you even more. Petco’s rewards program lets frequent shoppers get perks like discounts and birthday gifts for their pets. Many stores also have grooming, training classes, and self-serve dog washes.

With more than 4,600 stores in the United States, there’s a very good chance there is a Walmart near you. In stores and online, you can find popular, more cost-friendly brands like Purina, Pedigree, and Iams. And online only, there’s also a larger selection that includes premium brands such as Merrick and Canidae.

Walmart usually has free two-day delivery on orders over $35 and free curbside pickup if you need something more quickly. Items purchased online or in-store can be returned to a store.

Walmart Pet Care offers other pet perks like pet prescriptions filled in-store and online, and access to discounts on pet insurance and links to dog walking and dog sitting services.

Target carries many popular dog food brands like Blue Buffalo, Iams, and Halo, as well as the company’s own Kindfull brand, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. You won’t find veterinarian diets or high-end premium foods, but there are more than two dozen well-known brands that are easy to find and well-priced.

There are lots of shopping options at Target. You can buy products at one of the 1,800-plus stores in the United States, or have them shipped traditionally. Shipping is free when you spend $35 or use your Target credit card. Or you can buy online and use curbside pickup or sign up for same-day delivery on many items.

You can return items purchased online to a Target store.

Pet Flow is an online retailer where you can find a vast collection of products for dogs, cats, small pets (like hamsters and guinea pigs), reptiles, fish, and birds. They offer free shipping on orders of $49 or more, and 10 percent off orders with auto-ship activated.

The shop carries speciality brands, like Fromm Family Pet Food, as well as larger brands, like Hill's Science Diet and Purina Pro Plan. Pet Flow can also fill prescriptions issued by your veterinarian, and they carry many prescription required foods for pets.

Their customer service is available through online chat, text, or over the phone to help with product information and ordering, but most returns are not free and there are no physical locations to visit.

Hollywood Feed specializes in natural dog food brands like Fromm, Orijen, and Acana. Selections range from dry and frozen to freeze-dried and dehydrated, including meal toppers and nutritional supplements like goat’s milk.

This regional chain has over 160 locations across 19 states and counting, with a robust online site. You can take advantage of same-day curbside pickup, free shipping on orders over $49, and same-day delivery on some items. The store has a price-match guarantee and a satisfaction guarantee. There’s an autoship program and an in-store Frequent Feeders rewards program.

The store also carries interesting leashes, collars, and other pet products and offers a house brand for items like crates.

A massive franchise chain, Pet Supplies Plus has more than 675 stores in 40 states. The stores carry a broad selection of dry, wet, frozen, fresh, and freeze-dried foods from popular manufacturers like Purina Pro Plan and Science Diet to Merrick and Stella & Chewy’s. On a recent search, the online store carried more than 1,000 different dry foods and 500 wet foods, but some were low stock or out of stock. The stores offer curbside pickup in an hour or free same-day delivery from local stores for orders over $35.

Pet Supplies Plus has an online pharmacy where you can get prescription medications like heartworm prevention and veterinarian-recommended prescription diets with free shipping over $35. Some stores offer grooming, a bakery, and self-service dog wash. You can also stock up on treats, toys, apparel, grooming supplies, and sort for items made in the U.S. There’s a rewards program where you can earn points toward free products and discounts.

This family-owned and operated company says they do homework on every product, only offering those that they feel are healthy for pets. They carry natural bands like Farmina, Fromm, Nulo, and Primal. There’s no shipping, but you can shop online and pick up at your local store. The stores are purposefully small in order to have personalized service. There are about 30 locations in six states.

There’s a loyalty rewards program and grooming and self-wash in some locations. The stores carry a selection of toys, natural treats, and supplies like collars, leashes, and beds. There are promotions that change regularly and discounts for first responders and veterans.

Based in California, Pet Food Express has 64 locations throughout the state. There’s free same-day delivery for orders over $50 if you’re near a local store. There’s a good selection of dry and wet dog food, as well as gently cooked, raw frozen, and freeze-dried and dehydrated. Brands including The Honest Kitchen, Kiwi Kitchens, and Just Food for Dogs and the store suggests they sell no foods with fillers or “suspect” ingredients.

There are toppers too, like bone broth, frozen goat milk, and freeze-dried meal mixers. And there’s a good selection of interesting toys, beds, grooming supplies, and other dog accessories. Some of the stores have wellness centers, dog training classes, and pet wash facilities. There’s auto delivery and a program when you shop in stores where you can buy three, get the fourth free on many products.

BaxterBoo is an online retailer offering a vast selection of products for dogs and cats with an emphasis on organic, sustainable, and earth-friendly products. From small boutique brands to larger pet brands, BaxterBoo offers pet food, healthcare, treats, clothing, grooming tools, and more. The company's headquarters are in Illinois, but there are no physical locations. For help with orders, custom service is available via email, chat, and over the phone.

With auto-ship activated, you'll save 10 percent on each reoccurring order of your pet's favorite food. Within the United States, orders of $49 or more qualify for free shipping, and select products even qualify for same day shipping. Plus, BaxterBoo offers new deals each week and membership rewards.

With more than 200 stores, primarily in the southeast and Texas, Pet Supermarket carries more than 30 brands of food from Purina and Blue Buffalo to Instinct and Performatrin. The company offers dry, wet, and freeze-dried foods, as well as all sorts of meal toppers. There’s a good array of treats, too, including biscuits, jerky, and dental chews.

If you’re near one of the locations, you can order online and pickup in store or you can have food shipped to your home in 48 states. They have autoship and a loyalty program and there are plenty of other items from collars to crates, beds to bowls and there are lots of cute gifts for pet lovers.

Mud Bay is a regional chain with more than 50 stores in Washington state and Oregon. If you’re in the area, they offer free local delivery for orders over $30, as well as curbside pickup. The stores stock about 50 dog food brands including some that are harder to find like Portland Pet Food Company and Farmina. They don’t carry more basic brands, but specialize in natural foods with fewer ingredients.

The stores have a generous return policy and can special order some 2,000 pet-related items. There are grooming salons in some locations and a green pet waste removal service where you can have your dog’s deposits removed and composted, saving you work and helping the environment.

Just like you can have your dinner brought to your home, you can order your pup’s food on the DoorDash app. Just search under “pets” to see which retailers are nearby and in a short time, the food will be dropped off on your stoop.

DoorDash items for pets are limited to the stores in the area where you are searching. A recent check in the San Diego area, for example, found delivery available from PetSmart, two smaller pet stores, and a grocery store. Sometimes prices seem higher through the app than what you might pay at the store, and don’t forget to tip the driver. If you value convenience first, this is a good choice. You can order your dog’s lunch along with your own.

The Farmer’s Dog delivers fresh dog food made with fresh ingredients. Plans are customized for your pet, after you answer questions about your dog’s age, health, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Food is individually packaged and made with meat and vegetables. There are no preservatives and less processing than most traditional dog food.

Food comes frozen and is easy to thaw. It ships free to 48 states and it’s easy to change your order or delivery timing. Fresh dog food is typically more expensive than store-bought food and can run from $2 to $12 per day based on the size and activity level of your pup.

Only found in a few places, Chuck & Don’s focuses on holistic wellness for pets. In addition to wet and canned food, there’s air-dried, freeze-dried, and raw selections from natural brands like Acana, Solid Gold, and Open Farm. There’s a huge selection of healthy treats, as well as supplies like leashes, crates, and feeders.

The company has about 50 stores in four states: Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Stores have grooming, daycare, training classes, and veterinary care. The loyalty program includes reward rebates, receipt tracking, and a frequent buyer program. Same-day delivery is available within 15 miles of any store or you can buy online and pick up at the store or ship for free nationwide with orders over $49.

FAQ

• How do I find the best deals on dog food?

  Try not to wait until you’re out of food to shop. That way, you can buy food when you find a sale. If you find a good price but there’s another retailer that’s more convenient or can get the food to you faster, see if they’ll match the price. Some retailers have regular sales on dog food and other supplies, so keep an eye out.

  Tip: Larger quantities are cheaper than smaller, but always store dry food in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place. That preserves the nutritional value and keeps it from spoiling.

• Is it cheaper to buy dog food online?

  Not necessarily, but it’s smart to shop around. Many retailers will price match with other stores and sometimes the price you see online doesn’t match the price in the store. We have found premium brand dog food that was cheaper in a local independent store, but other food that was definitely cheaper to order online. Like anything, do a little research before you buy.

• How can I avoid counterfeit or expired dog food?

  When shopping on Amazon, look for items that are sold and shipped by Amazon or directly by the dog food manufacturer. Shoppers have reported instances of counterfeit products with nearly identical packaging. If you buy directly from Amazon, you are also able to return food if it is expired or there is a problem with it.

The 9 Best Dog Food Brands, According To More Than 400 Dogs And Their Guardians