While there's a growing trend toward fresh foods, the vast majority of people buy commercial food for their dogs, and most dogs do fine on these. When it comes to commercial food, there's a dizzying array of choices. Most people feed dry kibble, but canned food is popular as well. In addition, there's semimoist and freeze-dried food, as well as commercially prepared frozen diets.

Even among the individual categories of food, especially dry and canned, the variety available is astounding. Choosing among them can be challenging, so take some time to learn what to look for, and then compare your options carefully.

Dry Food

The majority of dogs in this country are fed dry kibble. This food generally is made out of protein from meat and plant sources, extra vitamins and minerals, and maybe some dairy products. The source of the meat in commercial food is a concern for some dog owners. To avoid food made from diseased animals, buy kibble whose manufacturers say they use human-grade ingredients. To make the food more palatable, fats are sprayed on after the manufacturing process is complete.

The high-temperature processing that must take place when kibble is made means that the natural vitamins and enzymes in the foods are destroyed. Thus vitamins are added to commercial food. You can help make up for the destroyed enzymes by giving your dog digestive enzymes to supplement those her own body supplies.

Canned Food

Canned pet food has a higher moisture content and a higher proportion of meat to grains than dry food. It's therefore more expensive to feed. As with dry food, the meat sources included in the food vary in quality from brand to brand. Learn to read the label and identify higher-quality protein sources.

Dogs tend to prefer canned food to dry, which isn't surprising. It's meatier and more aromatic. Since it contains fewer grains, it's more likely to be closer to a dog's natural diet.

Semimoist Food

Semimoist food has a moisture content between 25 and 40 percent, which is not as wet, or as messy, as canned food. It is also softer than dry food, so dogs tend to find it more palatable than kibble.

However, semimoist food is not a great option as far as nutrition is concerned. Take a look at the label, and you'll see that these foods are kept semimoist with preservatives and sugars, things you should avoid feeding your dog. If you're going to feed a commercial food, stick to high-quality dry or canned.

Commercially Prepared Raw Food

Raw diets are popular for their health benefits, but shopping for and preparing your dog's food is less convenient than measuring out kibble or opening a can. Because of this, a number of companies have made raw, frozen dog food available. Feeding this food is as simple as thawing and serving. You lose control over some of the ingredients by not preparing the food yourself, but if you buy from a trusted company you can be comfortable you're getting human-grade, or even organic, ingredients.

Freeze-dried food is a popular travel alternative for people who ordinarily feed a fresh diet. This type of food, which usually comes in patties, is a dehydrated version of a raw meat, bone, and vegetable diet. Since it doesn't require refrigeration, freeze-dried food is handy for traveling. It can be eaten dry (as long as your poodle has access to plenty of water) or rehydrated before serving.