Different types of dog food: what each one is and which suits your dog

The main types of dog food are dry, wet, and raw, plus gently processed formats like cold-pressed, air-dried, and freeze-dried. No type is best for every dog, and the word that matters most on any pack is "complete".

Here's what each type is, how they compare, and how to choose between them.

The short answer

• Dry food (kibble): cooked, low in moisture, and easy to store.

• Wet food: sealed in tins, trays, or pouches, and high in moisture.

• Raw food: uncooked meat, usually sold frozen.

• Cold-pressed, air-dried, and freeze-dried: dry formats made with less heat or by removing water in other ways.

• Semi-moist and fresh-cooked: somewhere between dry and wet, often kept chilled or sealed.

Whatever the type, check the label says "complete" before feeding it on its own.

Three ways to sort dog food

Much of the confusion around dog food types comes from mixing up three different things:

• How it's made (the format). Dry, wet, raw, cold-pressed, and so on. This affects moisture, storage, and texture.

• What's in it (recipe features). Grain-free, high-meat, or single protein. Any format can have these features.

• What it's for (the purpose). Complete or complementary, the life stage it suits, or a diet prescribed by your vet.

So "grain-free" isn't a type of dog food in the way that "wet" is. A grain-free recipe can be dry, wet, or raw. Thinking in these three layers makes it much easier to compare foods side by side.

What UK owners feed in 2026

A 2025 survey of UK pet owners covered 567 dogs. Of those (Hunter & Murison, 2025):

• 28.2% ate a mix of wet and dry food.

• 27.0% ate dry food only.

• 19.4% were fed raw.

Owners chose whether to take part in the survey online, so it probably over-represents people who think carefully about feeding. It still shows how common it is to combine types rather than stick to one, and how far raw feeding has grown in the UK.

The main formats at a glance

Moisture figures come from UK Pet Food and processing temperatures from All About Dog Food. Individual recipes vary, so check the pack.

Dry, wet, raw, and other formats, briefly

Dry food is the most convenient format to store and measure. Most kibble is extruded, meaning the mix is cooked under heat and pressure and shaped through a die, then dried. Some is baked instead. Our guide to what 80/20 dog food means explains how meat content is counted in dry recipes.

Wet food contains far more water, which changes how you portion it: a bowl of wet food weighs much more than the dry food it replaces. Once opened, wet food should be covered and refrigerated, and used within the time on the pack (UK Pet Food).

Raw food is uncooked meat, often with bone, offal, and vegetables. It can be complete or complementary, so the label matters here too. For more, see what is raw dog food? and is raw dog food good for dogs?

Cold-pressed food is pressed into shape at lower temperatures than standard kibble. It tends to be denser and breaks down differently in water.

Air-dried and freeze-dried food have most of their water removed, with little or no cooking. Freeze-dried raw food is usually still raw, so it's worth handling it with the same care as frozen raw.

Semi-moist and fresh-cooked food sit between dry and wet. Fresh-cooked meals are gently cooked, then chilled or frozen, and are often sold by subscription.

Wet or dry: which is better?

Neither is better by default. A complete wet food and a complete dry food can both meet your dog's needs. The differences are practical:

• Moisture: wet food adds water to the diet, which can help dogs who don't drink much.

• Aroma and texture: wet food tends to smell stronger and is softer to eat.

• Convenience and cost per day: dry food is easier to store, portion, and leave in the cupboard.

• Teeth: don't choose dry food for dental care alone. Global veterinary dental guidelines put daily toothbrushing at the heart of home dental care (Niemiec et al., 2020).

Many owners use both. Our guide to mixing wet and dry dog food explains how to split portions so your dog isn't overfed.

Recipe features: grain-free, high-meat, and single protein

These describe what's in a recipe rather than how it's made:

• Grain-free means no cereal grains such as wheat, rice, or oats. Whether it's better depends on the dog, and our guide grain free better for dogs? sets out the evidence, including the research on heart health.

• High-meat recipes put meat and fish first. Explore our high protein dog food collection to see how this works in practice.

• Single protein recipes use one named meat or fish, which makes it easier to spot a food sensitivity. Our guide to the best hypoallergenic dog food explains why.

Complete, complementary, and veterinary diets

• Complete food is designed to be enough for a daily ration on its own (FEDIAF, 2019).

• Complementary food only works alongside other food. Toppers, mixers, and many treats fall into this group.

• Life stage labels tell you who a food is made for, such as puppy, adult, senior, or all life stages. Puppies need a recipe made for growth, so check the label before choosing any format.

• Veterinary diets are prescribed by your vet for specific health conditions and are best fed exactly as directed.

Which type suits your dog?

• Fussy eaters: wet food or a wet topper can make a meal more appealing. Keep the routine consistent once you find something that works.

• Dogs who don't drink much: wet or raw food adds moisture, though fresh water should always be available.

• Older dogs: softer textures can be easier to manage. Our guide to the healthiest food for senior dogs covers older dogs' needs.

• Limited freezer or fridge space: dry, air-dried, or freeze-dried formats store most easily.

• Dogs on a food trial: if your vet is investigating a food sensitivity, stick to one diet and nothing else. In dogs with food reactions, signs settled in more than 95% by eight weeks (Olivry et al., 2015).

• Raw feeding households: store raw food separately from human food, defrost it safely, clean surfaces thoroughly, and wash hands, bowls, and utensils with soap and hot water after handling (UK Pet Food, 2026).

Switching between types

UK Pet Food recommends a gradual switch over seven to 10 days when moving to raw (UK Pet Food), and the same pace works well for any change of type:

1. Days one to three: about a quarter new food mixed with three quarters old.

2. Days four to six: half and half.

3. Days seven to nine: three quarters new food.

4. Day 10 onwards: all new food.

Weigh portions in grams using the new pack's feeding guide, and slow down if your dog's stools change. Our guide to why dogs get gassy has more on supporting digestion through a switch.

How AATU fits in

We craft dry and wet recipes inspired by the benefits of raw feeding, served simply:

• 80/20 dry recipes: 80% Meat and Fish Ingredients and 20% Superfood Blend™, cooked in small batches using our Low and Slow™ method. Explore our dry recipes, such as Free Run Chicken and Salmon.

• Wet recipes: up to 90% Meat and Fish Ingredients. Browse our wet recipes or try the wet variety pack.

• Puppy recipes: made for growing dogs. See our puppy food collection.

Every AATU recipe is grain-free and built around named meat or fish, and AATU is rated in the top 2% of foods by All About Dog Food.

FAQs

What are the different types of fresh dog food?

Fresh dog food usually means gently cooked meals that are chilled or frozen, as well as raw food. Some owners also cook at home, though home-made diets can be hard to balance without help from a vet or qualified pet nutritionist.

Is cold-pressed dog food better than kibble?

Not automatically. Cold-pressed food is made at lower temperatures and has a different texture, but how good a food is depends far more on its recipe and whether it's complete than on how it's shaped.

Is freeze-dried dog food raw?

Usually, yes. Freeze-drying removes water without cooking, so freeze-dried raw food is still raw and is best handled with the same hygiene as frozen raw food. Check the pack, as some freeze-dried foods are cooked first.

What is semi-moist dog food?

Semi-moist food has more moisture than kibble but less than wet food, giving it a soft, chewy texture. It's often sold as treats or soft-bite meals, so check whether it's labelled complete or complementary.

How long does wet dog food last?

Open wet food should be covered and kept in the fridge. UK Pet Food advises it can be kept for up to five to seven days if stored correctly, but always follow the time given on your pack.

Can dogs eat a vegetarian diet?

Dogs can digest plant ingredients, and some owners do feed vegetarian diets. If you're considering it, choose a recipe labelled complete and talk to your vet first, as getting the balance right matters more when meat is left out.