What Is “Natural Dog Food” in Australia?

Unlike “organic”, the term natural dog food is more about the style of formulation than a strict certification. In practice, most Australian pet owners use “natural” to describe foods that:

• Use named meats like chicken, lamb, beef or kangaroo instead of vague “meat by-products”.
• Limit artificial colours, flavours and preservatives wherever possible.
• Rely on whole-food ingredients (meat, organs, vegetables, healthy oils) rather than heavy fillers.
• Provide complete & balanced nutrition for dogs when fed as directed.

In Australia, prepared pet foods are expected to follow the Australian Standard AS 5812 for the manufacture and marketing of pet food, which covers production, safety and labelling for dog and cat foods. This standard is backed by the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA), the Australian Veterinary Association, RSPCA and others, and is viewed as best practice for safety and nutritional adequacy.

When you’re choosing natural dog food, it’s a good sign if the brand is transparent about ingredients and states that its recipes are formulated to meet or exceed recognised nutritional guidelines (such as AAFCO or FEDIAF), in addition to following AS 5812.

Types of Natural Dog Food in Australia

Not all natural dog foods look the same in your bowl. In 2025, Australian pet parents typically choose from four main categories:

• Natural dry food (kibble)
• Natural wet food (cans, pouches, rolls)
• Raw dog food / BARF (frozen raw meat, bones and organs)
• Freeze-dried & air-dried foods (raw-style diets that have been gently dried)

1. Natural Dry Dog Food (Kibble)

Natural kibble is still the backbone of many Aussie households because it is convenient, shelf-stable and easier to budget for than some raw or freeze-dried diets. Brands like Black Hawk, LifeWise, Addiction, Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Open Farm and Scratch focus on:

• Real meat as the first ingredient.
• Clear ingredient lists with fewer or no artificial additives.
• Complete & Balanced recipes for different life stages and sizes.

If you want the benefits of natural dog food but need something practical and consistent, high-quality kibble is often the logical starting point.

2. Natural Wet Dog Food (Cans, Pouches & Rolls)

Natural wet food uses real meat and broth to deliver a higher moisture, highly palatable meal. It can be fed as a primary diet (if complete & balanced) or mixed with dry food. Quality brands include: K9 Natural canned recipes, Ziwi Peak wet foods, and Prime100 rolls and slow-cooked diets.

Wet food is especially useful for dogs who:

• Are fussy eaters and need a flavour boost.
• Benefit from higher water intake, such as some senior dogs.
• Struggle with chewing very hard kibble.

3. Raw Dog Food / BARF (Frozen)

Raw diets – sometimes called BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or RMBDs (Raw Meat-Based Diets) – are based on raw meat, organs and edible bone, often with vegetables, fruits and supplements. Popular Australian raw brands include Big Dog, Proudi and Organic Paws.

Many owners like raw dog food because it is minimally processed and often very high in animal protein. However, raw feeding also comes with real risks: bacterial contamination (e.g. Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria), nutrient imbalances in poorly formulated diets, and hygiene concerns for people in the home. These risks are highlighted by veterinary organisations and multiple scientific reviews.

If you choose to feed a raw dog food diet, it’s important to:

• Select commercial raw foods that are complete, balanced and produced under strict safety controls.
• Follow safe food handling practices (wash hands, clean surfaces, separate raw pet food from human food).
• Talk to your vet, especially if your dog is a puppy, senior, pregnant, immunocompromised or has medical issues.

4. Freeze-Dried & Air-Dried Natural Dog Food

Freeze-dried and air-dried foods start as raw or gently cooked recipes which are then dried to remove water. This creates a nutrient-dense food that is often higher in meat and calories than kibble, while staying shelf-stable.

Examples include:

• Freeze-dried: K9 Natural, WOOF by The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co., Frontier Pets.
• Air-dried: Prime100 air-dried, Ziwi Peak, Bugsy, Eureka.

These diets are popular with owners who want a raw-style natural dog food without managing big boxes of frozen patties. They can be fed as complete meals (if labelled as such) or used as toppers and high-value treats.

How to Read Australian Dog Food Labels Like a Pro

Natural or not, a dog food label is your best window into what you’re actually feeding. In Australia, pet food labels should comply with consumer law and be guided by the AS 5812 standard for manufacturing and marketing pet food.

Ingredients: Named Meats vs. Vague Terms

Start with the ingredients list:

• Look for named animal ingredients (chicken, lamb, salmon, kangaroo) rather than vague terms like “meat by product” or “animal derivatives”.
• The first few ingredients should usually be animal-based in a natural or high-meat formula.
• Watch for excessive added sugars, artificial colours and flavours – natural dog foods typically avoid these.

Guaranteed Analysis & Nutritional Adequacy

Most quality brands will list a “guaranteed analysis” or typical analysis with minimum protein and fat, and maximum fibre and moisture. You should also see a statement such as:

• “Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs”, or
• “Complete and balanced for all life stages” or “for growth including growth of large size dogs”.

This tells you the food is designed as a complete diet, not just a treat or supplemental topper.

Marketing Words: “Natural”, “Holistic”, “Grain Free”, “Human Grade”

Words like “natural”, “holistic” and “human grade” sound appealing but are not guarantees on their own. Treat them as a starting point, then check:

• Does the recipe still look balanced and appropriate for your dog?
• Is there a clear nutritional adequacy statement?
• Does the brand provide transparent information about sourcing and manufacturing?

Similarly, grain free dog food isn’t automatically better – some dogs do well on carefully chosen grains, others thrive on grain free. The best choice depends on your dog’s health, not just the label slogan.

Is Natural Dog Food Better? Pros, Cons & Vet Perspective

Potential Advantages of Natural Dog Food

• Higher quality proteins: Many natural brands prioritise named meats and organs over by-products.
• Simpler ingredient lists: Easier for you and your vet to identify potential triggers in sensitive dogs.
• Less reliance on artificial additives: A plus for owners who prefer a “cleaner” ingredient deck.
• More options for special needs: Single-protein and functional diets for skin, gut and joint support.

Limitations & Risks to Consider

• Raw diets: May be higher risk for bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalances if not carefully formulated and handled.
• Rich formulas: High-meat freeze-dried, air-dried or Orijen-style kibbles can be too rich for some dogs without a slow transition.
• Cost: Premium natural dog food often costs more per day than standard supermarket kibble.
• Storage: Raw and some fresh foods require freezer or fridge space and strict hygiene.

Most veterinary bodies emphasise that the basis of a dog’s diet should be a balanced commercial dog food appropriate for their life stage and health status. From there, you can choose the natural style (kibble, wet, raw, freeze-dried or air-dried) that fits your dog and lifestyle best.

How to Choose the Right Natural Dog Food for Your Dog

Step 1 – Start with Your Dog, Not the Bag

Before getting lost in marketing claims, think about your dog:

• Life stage: Puppy, adult, senior?
• Size & activity: Tiny lap dog or high-drive working breed?
• Health profile: Any history of skin allergies, ear infections, gut issues, pancreatitis, kidney disease?
• Body condition: Underweight, ideal or overweight?

Step 2 – Pick a Natural Food Type That Fits Your Lifestyle

• Natural kibble – ideal if you want convenience, value and stable nutrition. Consider Black Hawk, LifeWise, Addiction, Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Open Farm or Scratch.
• Freeze-dried & air-dried – suits owners wanting a high-meat, raw-inspired natural dog food with less mess. See K9 Natural, Ziwi Peak, Prime100 air-dried, Bugsy, Eureka, WOOF, Frontier Pets.
• Raw diets – for experienced owners who can manage freezer storage and safe handling, and who want a BARF or raw-style diet from brands like Big Dog, Proudi and Organic Paws.

Step 3 – Consider Sensitivities & Functional Needs

Dogs with skin or gut issues may benefit from:

• Single-protein diets such as Prime100 SPD.
• Biotic or sensitive formulas like LifeWise Biotic or Black Hawk Sensitive Skin & Gut.
• Novel proteins from brands such as Addiction, Taste of the Wild, or venison-based and kangaroo-based diets.

Step 4 – Transition Gradually

When switching to any new natural dog food (especially richer diets), go slowly:

• Days 1–3: 25% new food, 75% old food.
• Days 4–6: 50% new, 50% old.
• Days 7–10: 75% new, 25% old, then move to 100% new food if your dog is comfortable.

Watch for any changes in stool, appetite, skin or behaviour. If problems persist, check with your vet and consider a different style of natural dog food.

Natural Dog Food Brands & Products We Recommend (Australia 2025)

The Australian natural dog food landscape is varied, from frozen raw patties to freeze-dried nuggets and high-meat kibbles. This section gives a quick overview of well-known natural brands grouped by their signature food type, so you can quickly understand their strengths, potential drawbacks and which dogs they tend to suit best.

Freeze-Dried Natural Dog Food

Freeze-dried dog foods start as raw, high-meat recipes that are gently dried to remove moisture while preserving flavour and nutrients. They’re popular with pet parents who want a raw-style diet plus pantry convenience.

K9 Natural (New Zealand)

• Signature food type: Freeze-dried complete meals & toppers, plus high-meat canned food.
• Key strengths: Very high meat inclusion, grass-fed New Zealand proteins, grain free, strong palatability.
• Potential drawbacks: Premium price point; rich formulas may require a slower transition for sensitive dogs.

WOOF by The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co.

• Signature food type: Freeze-dried raw bites & patties.
• Key strengths: highest-quality ingredient lists, high-meat recipes with novel proteins and superfood inclusions.
• Potential drawbacks: Protein options and pack sizes can be more limited than bigger global brands.

Frontier Pets

• Signature food type: Freeze-dried raw “nuggets”.
• Key strengths: Ethically sourced ingredients, strong focus on animal welfare and sustainable farming, convenient to rehydrate.
• Potential drawbacks: availability can vary by region and stockists, relatively expensive compared with other brands.

Air-Dried Natural Dog Food

Air-dried diets are slowly dried at low temperatures to create a dense, jerky-like food that’s usually fed as a complete meal or high-value topper. They’re often higher in meat and calories than regular kibble.

Prime100

• Signature food type: Single-protein air-dried and slow-cooked diets.
• Key strengths: Single protein focus, Australian meats, functional recipes for skin, gut and allergy support.
• Potential drawbacks: Texture is quite rich and dense; careful portion control is important.

Ziwi Peak

• Signature food type: Air-dried whole-prey inspired recipes and canned food.
• Key strengths: Very high meat content, low carbohydrate, includes ingredients like New Zealand green-lipped mussel.
• Potential drawbacks: One of the more expensive options per kilo; can be too calorie-dense for some dogs if overfed.

Bugsy

• Signature food type: Air-dried wholefood recipes & training treats.
• Key strengths: Australian-made, real meat and wholefood ingredients, often used as both food and high-value rewards.
• Potential drawbacks: Limited protein range compared with large global brands; needs airtight storage to stay fresh.

Eureka

• Signature food type: Air-dried Australian meat recipes.
• Key strengths: Uses Aussie proteins, higher meat levels than standard kibble, convenient alternative to raw.
• Potential drawbacks: Less widely known outside enthusiast circles; calorie density can surprise owners new to air-dried foods.

Raw Diets (BARF & Raw Meaty Bones)

Raw diets aim to mimic a more ancestral style of feeding using raw meat, edible bone and organ, often with vegetables and other whole foods. They require freezer space and careful handling but are very popular with pet parents who want minimally processed food.

Big Dog Pet Food

• Signature food type: Frozen BARF patties.
• Key strengths: Complete raw recipes, easy portioning, wide range including puppy, sensitive, and single-protein options.
• Potential drawbacks: Needs freezer space and safe raw-meat handling; not ideal for households unable to manage raw storage.

Proudi

• Signature food type: High-meat frozen raw patties.
• Key strengths: Very high meat inclusion, clear labelling, grain free and often limited ingredients.
• Potential drawbacks: Must remain frozen; not as convenient for travel or boarding situations.

Organic Paws

• Signature food type: Certified organic raw blends.
• Key strengths: Focus on organic and ethically sourced ingredients; simple, biologically appropriate recipes.
• Potential drawbacks: More niche and may be harder to source; organic focus usually means a higher price point.

Natural Kibble (Premium Dry Dog Food)

Natural kibble combines the convenience of dry food with more transparent ingredient lists, higher-quality animal proteins and fewer artificial additives than many supermarket options.

Black Hawk

• Signature food type: Everyday natural kibble (Original 20KG & Grain Free ranges).
• Key strengths: Real meat as the first ingredient, Australian-made, good balance of quality and value.
• Potential drawbacks: Meat levels are lower than raw, freeze-dried or air-dried diets.

LifeWise

• Signature food type: Scientifically formulated natural kibble, including Biotic functional recipes.
• Key strengths: Formulated for digestive health and nutrient balance, targeted solutions for skin, gut and joint concerns.
• Potential drawbacks: Not a raw or semi-raw product; some owners seeking “unprocessed” food may prefer freeze-dried or raw options.

Addiction

• Signature food type: Grain-free natural kibble and air-dried recipes.
• Key strengths: Uses novel proteins like venison and salmon, appealing for sensitive or picky dogs.
• Potential drawbacks: Some diets use starchy ingredients to bind, so carbohydrate levels vary by recipe.

Taste of the Wild

• Signature food type: Grain-free high-meat kibble with novel proteins.
• Key strengths: Good value for a grain-free diet, strong palatability, multiple protein blends.
• Potential drawbacks: US-made rather than Australian; not every formula will suit very sensitive stomachs.

Orijen

• Signature food type: High-protein, wholeprey-inspired kibble.
• Key strengths: Very high animal-ingredient content, low in simple carbohydrates, nutrient-dense.
• Potential drawbacks: Richness can be too much for some dogs without a slow transition; premium pricing.

Open Farm

• Signature food type: Ethically sourced natural kibble & toppers.
• Key strengths: Transparency around sourcing, humanely raised and sustainable ingredients, wide variety of formats.
• Potential drawbacks: Not all ranges are widely available in every region; sits at the higher end of the dry food price range.

Scratch

• Signature food type: Direct-to-consumer Australian natural kibble.
• Key strengths: Simple ingredient lists, transparent labelling, subscription model for convenience.
• Potential drawbacks: Online-only model doesn’t suit everyone; limited to dry food rather than a full raw/freeze-dried range.

Quick Brand Comparison: Signature Food Types & Best Uses

Sample Feeding Strategies with Natural Dog Food

There’s no single “right” way to feed natural dog food. Many families use a combination of dry, wet, raw or freeze-dried diets to balance practicality, budget and their dog’s preferences.

Option 1 – 100% Natural Kibble

Keep it simple with a high-quality natural kibble from Black Hawk, LifeWise, Addiction or similar, and add variety using natural treats, chews and occasional wet food. This suits busy households who still want a clear ingredient list and consistent nutrition.

Option 2 – Kibble + Wet or Freeze-Dried Topper

Add a spoonful of K9 Natural, Ziwi Peak, Prime100 slow cooked or similar over natural kibble to boost flavour and variety. Just remember:

• Adjust total daily calories so you’re not effectively feeding two full diets.
• Introduce new toppers gradually to avoid upset tummies.

Option 3 – Raw or Air-Dried as Main, Kibble as Backup

Some owners use Big Dog, Proudi, Organic Paws or Eureka/Bugsy air-dried as their dog’s primary food, with natural kibble as a backup for travel, sitters or busy periods. If you do this:

• Work with your vet, especially if your dog has any health conditions.
• Stick to complete & balanced formulas rather than only meaty bones or meat-only mixes.
• Be extra strict with hygiene when handling raw products.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Natural Dog Food

• Switching too fast: Moving abruptly from supermarket kibble to rich natural dog food or raw diets can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
• Overfeeding high-meat foods: Freeze-dried, air-dried and some premium kibbles are very calorie-dense; follow the feeding guide and adjust by body condition.
• DIY raw without expert input: Home-made raw diets can easily be deficient in calcium, essential fatty acids, vitamins and trace minerals if not professionally formulated.
• Ignoring safety: Handling raw meat without proper hygiene can expose both pets and humans to harmful bacteria.
• Focusing only on marketing: “Grain free”, “natural” or “holistic” sound good, but you still need to check the actual ingredients, analysis and nutritional adequacy.

Where to Buy Natural Dog Food in Australia (Online & Melbourne Local)

You’ll find natural dog food in independent pet stores, some vet clinics, boutique brands online and larger specialty chains. Supermarkets usually only stock a small selection and may not carry the more advanced freeze-dried, air-dried or raw brands.

If you’re in Victoria, shopping with a specialist like ADS Pet Store in Moorabbin gives you:

• A carefully curated range of natural dog food, raw dog food, freeze-dried and air-dried diets.
• Brands such as Prime100, K9 Natural, Ziwi Peak, Big Dog, Proudi, Organic Paws, LifeWise, Black Hawk, Addiction and more.
• Fast Melbourne metro delivery on dry, wet and raw dog food.
• Click & Collect from a warehouse-style store in Moorabbin – handy if you’re stocking up on heavy 15–20kg bags or frozen patties.

Wherever you live in Australia, look for retailers who:

• Provide clear product information and feeding guides.
• Handle frozen and chilled products correctly during transport.
• Can help you troubleshoot if your dog doesn’t tolerate a particular natural diet.