Nutritionist Mary Cope Explains How to Choose Dog Food

Choosing a dog food is an overwhelming task for many owners, with hundreds of options all claiming to be the best. In a video interview for Whole Dog Journal, companion animal nutritionist Mary Cope sits down with editor Kate O'Connor to provide a clear, practical guide for making the right choice.

How to Read a Dog Food Label

Cope advises owners to start by ignoring marketing claims on the bag and instead learn to read the label critically. The first thing to check is the nutritional adequacy statement, which confirms the food meets minimum standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Owners should also look for who formulated the food and whether feeding trials were conducted, as this indicates a higher level of testing. Finally, noting where the food is manufactured can be an important factor for some.

The guaranteed analysis on the label lists minimum percentages of protein and fat and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture. Cope cautions that this analysis does not reveal the quality or source of the ingredients. A high protein percentage from a poor source is less beneficial than a moderate percentage from high-quality ingredients.

Understanding Protein and Carbohydrates

Mary Cope uses a simple "building a house" analogy to explain protein quality. She states that proteins are made of amino acids, which are the building blocks. If you are missing certain blocks, you cannot build a complete house, no matter how many blocks you have overall. High-quality, complete proteins provide all the essential amino acids a dog needs.

Regarding carbohydrates and grain-free diets, Cope explains that carbs are a useful energy source for many dogs. The grain-free trend, she suggests, is often more about marketing than canine health. For most dogs, the presence or absence of grains is not a primary health concern unless a specific allergy has been diagnosed by a veterinarian.

Matching Food to Your Dog's Life

The most key step is to look at the dog in front of you. Cope emphasizes that a food must be matched to the individual dog's age, size, and activity level. Calorie needs vary dramatically between a sedentary senior dog and a highly active working breed. She highlights large-breed puppies and active dogs as groups with particularly specific nutritional requirements that owners must carefully address.

Cope also tackles two pervasive myths. The first is that a more expensive food is inherently better. Price, she says, does not always correlate with quality or suitability. The second myth is that dogs should eat like their wolf ancestors. Modern dogs have different nutritional needs and digest foods differently than wolves.

Evaluating and Switching Foods

The interview covers practical advice on feeding routines. Cope discusses the pros and cons of feeding one food consistently versus rotating different foods. If an owner decides to switch, she advises doing so gradually over 7 to 10 days to avoid gastrointestinal upset.

To tell if a food is working, owners should monitor their dog's energy levels, stool quality, skin and coat health, and overall body condition. Cope recommends re-evaluating a dog's food whenever there is a significant change in the dog's life, such as aging, a change in activity, or a health diagnosis. The goal is to find a food that supports the dog's long-term well-being, not only one that it will eat.