Dog Food Advisor: An Online Guide to Smarter Food Choices

When it comes to feeding our dogs, most of us start in the same place: staring at crowded shelves, comparing bags with colorful labels, and wondering if we’re really making the best choice. Marketing buzzwords like “all-natural” or “premium” are everywhere, but how do we know which foods are truly healthy — and which ones might not be as good as they look?

That exact question inspired Dog Food Advisor (DFA), one of the most widely used independent dog food review sites in the world. Founded in 2008, it has grown into a trusted tool for millions of dog parents, including right here in Las Vegas.  This site was brought to our attention in a recent vet visit as our Roadie has stomach issues.

How Dog Food Advisor Started

Dog Food Advisor was created by Dr. Mike Sagman, not a veterinarian, but a dentist from Virginia. His motivation was deeply personal. After the death of his dog Penny, Sagman realized how confusing — and sometimes misleading — pet food labeling could be. He wanted to make sure no other pet parent had to make choices in the dark, so he used his research background and professional skills to dig into ingredient lists, nutritional standards, and safety data.

The result was DogFoodAdvisor.com, a site dedicated to helping everyday owners evaluate foods in plain language. What started as one person’s passion project has since become a resource visited by millions of pet parents each year.

How It Works: Ratings, Recalls, and Research

Dog Food Advisor reviews dog foods based on a few key factors:

• Ingredient quality and transparency – Whole meats and clearly named ingredients score higher than vague terms like “meat by-products.”
• Nutritional content – DFA examines protein, fat, and carbohydrate ratios to ensure foods meet AAFCO standards.
• Processing methods – Kibble, canned, raw, and freeze-dried foods are all assessed differently.
• Safety alerts – One of DFA’s most valuable features is its dog food recall list, updated as soon as new recalls are announced. Pet parents can even sign up for free email alerts.

Unlike advertising-driven reviews, DFA discloses when manufacturers provide product samples but emphasizes that no brand can “buy” a good rating. Each food is graded on a 1-to-5 star system, making it easy for dog parents to compare options at a glance.

Why This Matters for Dog Parents

The U.S. pet food industry is massive — worth over $58 billion in 2024 alone (APPA). With that scale comes both variety and risk. Recalls for contamination, mislabeling, or unsafe additives are unfortunately not rare.

For the average dog parent, Dog Food Advisor helps cut through the noise:

• Confidence at the store – Instead of relying on front-of-bag claims, owners can cross-check foods before buying.
• Peace of mind – Recall alerts ensure you won’t miss critical safety news.
• Better health outcomes – Choosing quality food can improve coat condition, digestion, energy, and even longevity for dogs.

The Las Vegas Connection

Here in Las Vegas, where summer heat limits exercise and hydration plays a huge role in pet wellness, nutrition becomes even more important. Thankfully, several local shops stock highly rated DFA-approved foods, giving dog parents plenty of options beyond the big-box chains:

• Dog Supplies Outlet – Multiple locations across the valley, carrying premium foods like Orijen, Acana, and Farmina.
• Lazy Dog Barkery – A boutique offering healthy treats and specialty foods, plus a chance to talk one-on-one with knowledgeable staff.
• Bone Appétit Natural Pet Pantry – Known for raw and freeze-dried diets that often score well on DFA.
• Paws In Charge – Credited for their specially selected options focused on pure ingredients and premium options.

Pairing these local resources with Dog Food Advisor’s research helps Las Vegas dog parents make confident, informed decisions.

Beyond the Bag: A Tool for Everyday Dog Parents

Dog Food Advisor isn’t about chasing trends or making pet parents feel guilty about past choices. Instead, it’s about empowerment. By making ingredient analysis, recall alerts, and clear star ratings accessible, it gives everyday owners the ability to ask better questions and choose foods that support their dogs’ individual needs.

As pet parents in Las Vegas, where our pups face unique challenges like scorching summers and limited safe outdoor spaces, diet is one of the easiest and most impactful ways we can support long, happy, healthy lives.

Our Thoughts

What we appreciated about Dog Food Advisor and the veterinarian that spoke to us about it, was that the resource is not there to make the decision for you, but to help you make an informed decision.  Armed with the unique needs of our Roadie and a firm understanding of what we do. . . and don’t want in his food, the tool allows us to find the right fit for us.  The tool allows for pet parents of all means to find the choices that best fit their pet, their financial means, their access and other factors.  Not to mention, it’s solid, unbiased research that doesn’t cost anything but time and attention. 

Dr. Mike Sagman’s journey from grieving dog owner to founder of Dog Food Advisor reminds us that sometimes the best resources come from people just like us — pet parents who wanted answers and worked to make them available for everyone.

So next time you’re standing in front of an overwhelming wall of dog food bags, remember you don’t have to guess. Dog Food Advisor is a resource to help turn labels into knowledge, and knowledge into better health for your pup.