Top 10 Best Soft Dog Foods for senior dogs

Top 10 Best Soft Dog Foods

Choosing any type of dog food for your dog can feel like a daunting task. There are so many different things to consider, from ingredients to texture.

Soft dry dog food contains soft pieces to give your dog a chewy dog food that’s not wet or canned. It also stores easily and doesn’t need to be refrigerated. We picked ten soft dry dog foods with reviews of each to help you decide which one is the best.

Browse our top choices here to see what these foods have to offer your pup.

The 10 Best Soft Dry Dog Foods

Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies

Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy

With 28% crude protein content, Rachael Ray Nutrish Bright Puppy Dry Dog Food is our pick as the best for puppies. It contains chicken as its first ingredient and chicken byproduct as it’s second, so you know your puppy is getting plenty of the essential protein it needs to develop healthy muscles and organs. It also contains brown rice, carrots, peas, and beet pulp, which adds several vitamins and minerals important for a growing puppy. It’s also fortified with omega fats for healthy eyesight and a shiny coat, and there are no harmful preservatives.

The biggest complaint we had while using Rachael Ray was that many of our puppies wouldn’t eat it, and often held out until we replaced it with a different brand. Also, the kibble is very tiny, even for a puppy brand.

Cons
  • Some dogs don’t like it
  • Tiny pieces
Pros
  • Added vitamins and minerals
  • Contains brown rice, carrots, peas, and beet pulp
  • Chicken is the first ingredient
  • 28% crude protein
  • Fortified with omega fats

Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Dry Dog Food – Best Value

Kibbles 'n Bits Original Savory

Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Dry Dog Food is our pick for the best soft dry dog food for the money. This brand has been around for many years, and most of our dogs will come running to get some. It’s a dual texture brand featuring hard kibble as well as soft, meaty bits. It has beef as well as chicken flavoring and contains carrots and green beans to help supply fiber and antioxidants. It’s also enhanced with vitamins and minerals to provide a complete meal.

Though our dogs really enjoy Kibbles ‘n Bits Original and it fit well within our budget, we don’t make it a part of their steady diet because it has a lower protein content (19%), higher fat content (12%), and it contains BHA – a chemical preservative that may produce harmful side effects in your pet.

Cons
  • Contains BHA
Pros
  • Enhanced with vitamins and minerals
  • Fortified with antioxidants
  • Beef and chicken flavor
  • Crunchy and soft
  • Contains carrots and green beans

Moist & Meaty Dry Dog Food – Best Overall

Moist & Meaty Dry Dog Food

Moist & Meaty Dry Dog Food is our pick for the best overall soft dry dog food. This food uses real beef and has a cheddar cheese flavor that many dogs love. There are also other flavors available, including bacon and eggs, and steak. It provides your pet with complete balanced nutrition and comes in handy single-serve pouches that eliminate mess and the risk of overfeeding.

Our dogs like Moist & Meaty, and the only thing we can complain about is that there is no burger in the product. Instead, it uses meat byproduct, and while not necessarily bad, it’s not as good as a whole meat. Perhaps this is why the crude protein content is 18%, which is a bit low for an everyday dog food. The upside is your dog will eat more of it!

If you’re looking for the best soft dry dog food, we think this is it.

Cons
  • No whole meat
Pros
  • Complete and balanced nutrition
  • No mess pouches
  • Made with real beef
  • Cheddar cheese flavor

Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food

Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy

Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food is another brand manufactured by a popular company that has stood the test of time. This food contains hard and soft bits and three sizes of kibble to help clean teeth better and make it easier for different size dogs to eat. With a crude protein-to-fat ratio of 21/10%, it provides a complete and balanced meal with 23 important vitamins and minerals and no harmful preservatives. It’s highly digestible and shouldn’t give your dog stomach cramps or diarrhea.

We didn’t like that Purina Dog Chow doesn’t have chicken listed as its first ingredient. In fact, several other ingredients come before any meat is listed. While most of our dogs did eat this food, they would pick out the bits they wanted and leave the rest behind. This left behind food would inevitably go in the garbage, which added up to quite a bit of waste in the short time we reviewed it.

Cons
  • Corn is the first ingredient
  • Dogs pick out the parts they like
Pros
  • A complete and balanced meal
  • 23 vitamins and minerals
  • Soft and crunchy bits
  • Three kibble sizes
  • Highly digestible

Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Formula Dry Dog Food

Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult

Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Formula Dry Dog Food features lamb as its first ingredient. Lamb is high in protein and is also a natural source of glucosamine, which can help with inflammation and joint pain. It also contains omega fats, which help with brain and eye development and promotes a soft, shiny coat.

The biggest problem we had with Purina ONE SmartBlend was that more than one bag contained moths that got into our home after opening the package. It also caused a few of our dogs to begin itching and scratching, and the remainder of our dogs would not eat it and preferred to go hungry.

Cons
  • Some dogs don’t like it
  • May cause itching
  • Moths in bag
Pros
  • Lamb is the first ingredient
  • Omega fats
  • Glucosamine

Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Cesar Small Breed Dry

Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food features beef as its first ingredient. It also contains 26 different nutrients specially designed for small breeds. Each package has a blend of crunchy soft and crunchy kibble, and it includes H shaped pieces that are perfect for scrubbing tarter and helping to clean teeth. It’s a highly digestible food source with a resealable zipper that helps keep the food fresh much longer.

Its 26% crude protein is exactly what we want to see in a dry dog food. The primary downside to Cesar Small Breed is that it contains corn, which some dogs have difficulty digesting and contains very little in the way of helpful nutrients.

Cons
  • Contains corn
  • Some dogs won’t eat
Pros
  • Blend of crunchy and soft kibble
  • Resealable zipper maintains freshness
  • Beef is the first ingredient
  • 26 nutrients
  • Highly digestible

Wellness Core Air Dried Grain Free Natural Dry Dog Food

Wellness Core Air Dried

Wellness Core Air Dried Grain Free Natural Dry Dog Food Supports full-body health and provides plenty of vitamins and minerals from nutrient rich greens, including broccoli, spinach, and kale. It also contains other high-quality ingredients, like carrots, peas, blueberries, apples, and more. But what really makes this mixture of hard and soft kibble great is that it features turkey as its first ingredient, and chicken has its second. The soft bits contain up to 70% lean protein, making it one of the most protein rich foods on this list. It’s green free for owners who require it, and it contains no wheat corn or soy. There are also no artificial preservatives or colors.

What we didn’t like about Wellness Core Air was that there are not a lot of soft pieces in the food, and none of our dogs like the hard kibble. Each dog would pick out the few soft bits and leave the remaining food and it’s quite expensive to have that much waste.

Cons
  • Not a lot of soft bits
  • Some dogs don’t like it
  • Expensive
Pros
  • No wheat, corn, or soy
  • No artificial preservatives or colors
  • Supports whole-body health
  • Protein-rich
  • Grain-free
  • Turkey is the first ingredient chicken is the second

Purina Beneful Simple Goodness Adult Dry Dog Food

Purina Beneful Simple Goodness

Purina Beneful Simple Goodness Adult Dry Dog Food is a healthy brand of dog food that features chicken as its first ingredient. It’s high in protein, so it’s great for developing puppies, and its soft texture is perfect for senior dogs that may find it difficult to chew the hard kibble, and missing teeth can make it impossible. The protein comes from whole chicken, and there is no meat byproduct in this brand. There are also no artificial colors or flavors and no harmful chemical preservatives.

The reason Purina Beneful Simple Goodness didn’t rank higher on the list is because it’s very expensive for the amount you get, and it has a bad odor. It didn’t smell up the room, but it did cause bad breath. Also, most of our dogs preferred less healthy food, and they wouldn’t eat this brand.

Cons
  • Smells bad
  • Some dogs won’t eat it
Pros
  • Chicken is the first ingredient
  • No artificial colors or flavors
  • No chicken byproduct

Bil-Jac Picky No More Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Bil-Jac Picky No More Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Chicken, chicken by-products, corn meal, chicken by-product meal, dried beet pulp
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 15%
Calories: 397 per cup

Farm-raised chicken and chicken liver are combined in Bil-Jac Picky No More Small Breed Dry Dog Food. This food is nutritionally balanced and includes omega fatty acids to nourish the skin. This food has been made in the U.S. since 1947 and doesn’t have any fillers, wheat, or soy.

Bil-Jac uses a Nutri-Lock cooking method that enables it to use more fresh chicken in every package without exposing it to high temperatures and high pressure. The texture of the food is soft and spongy. This is suitable for all small breed adult dogs and good for those with missing teeth or dental problems.

Cons
  • Some picky eaters don’t like the taste
  • Food can harden and clump together over time
Pros
  • Made with a Nutri-Lock cooking method
  • Soft texture for dogs with teeth issues
  • Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health

Yumwoof Perfect Kibble Artisanal Dog Food

Yumwoof Perfect Kibble Artisanal Dog Food
Main ingredients: Chicken, eggs, organic coconut oil, organic coconut glycerin, organic flaxseed
Protein content: 28%
Fat content: 28%
Calories: 375 per cup

The soft and chewy texture of Yumwoof Perfect Kibble Artisanal Dog Food is sure to entice any dog. The food is made in small batches and baked at 170°F to retain its flavor and texture. Using just 14 ingredients, this food contains no artificial fillers or preservatives.

Real, fresh chicken is the first ingredient for a high protein content. Antioxidants and healthy fats are added for immune and skin health. Blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, and seaweed provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber for easy digestion. The recipe was crafted by a chef and a veterinary nutritionist, so you know that your dog is getting the nutrients that they need in a soft dry food that is enjoyable to eat.

Unfortunately, the soft texture can cause this food to crumble inside the bag. The food is easily smashed and turns into crumbs.

Cons
  • Food crumbles inside the bag
  • Expensive for the package size
Pros
  • Uses 14 healthy ingredients
  • Crafted by a veterinary nutritionist and a chef
  • No artificial preservatives

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Soft Dry Dog Foods

What are the benefits of soft dry dog food?

  • Soft dry dog food is convenient because it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and stores easily, just like dry kibble. You don’t have to make a mess with cans and spoons trying to fill your dog’s dish. You can just pour the food into the bowl from the bag.
  • Soft dry dog food is more flavorful than dry kibble. If your dog loves wet food because of the flavor and texture, they might also enjoy soft dry dog food, which may be more convenient for you.
  • Soft dry dog food also lasts for a longer time on the shelf than wet food. Just be sure to pay attention to the expiration date on the packaging. The food is also less expensive than wet food, making it more cost effective.
  • Senior dogs, puppies, and dogs with dental issues may benefit from soft dry dog food because it’s easier to chew than just hard kibble. If you prefer not to feed your dog canned food, soft dry dog food is a good option.
  • This food can also be mixed with canned food or added as a topper to kibble to entice picky dogs to eat.

Choosing the Right Food

  • When you’re looking for the best soft dry food for your dog, read the ingredient list. Many foods have fruits and vegetables that are great sources of vitamins and minerals. Fruits like blueberries, cranberries, and apples have antioxidants to boost immune systems and prevent diseases.
  • The protein content should be the highest percentage on the package. Protein helps build strong, lean muscles and improves nerve function. High-quality protein sources include chicken, lamb, beef, and turkey.
  • Omega fatty acids are beneficial ingredients that promote healthy brain and eye development. You can find these acids in ingredients like fish oil and flaxseed. They help improve coat and skin health and can reduce arthritis symptoms.

What is soft dry dog food?

  • Soft dry dog food is ready to eat and is neither wet nor completely hard kibble. It contains various flavors and textures to entice your dog to eat. The soft dry food can either be made of completely tender pieces or mixed with dry kibble to offer a texture combination.
  • Tender pieces resemble real meat pieces and are easier for dogs to eat, so many dogs prefer soft dry food.

Final Thoughts

When choosing your next brand of South dry dog food, we recommend our top choice. Moist & Meaty Dry Dog Food uses real beef, is cheese flavored, provides a complete meal, and single-serve packaged for freshness. Our dogs are also extremely fond of it. Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Dry Dog Food Is there a pick for the best value, and it provides a mix of soft and hard kibble for those that like the teeth cleaning ability of hard food.

We hope you have enjoyed reading over our reviews and have found a brand of food suitable for your pet. If you think it can be helpful to others, please share this guide to the best soft dry dog food on Facebook and Twitter.

Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.