Should You Feed Wet or Dry Food?
An Honest, Practical Guide for Real-Life Dog Owners
If you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle (or scrolled endlessly online) wondering “Should I be feeding wet or dry dog food?” — you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common questions dog owners ask, and it’s also one of the most emotionally loaded. Marketing, social media, and even well-meaning advice can make it feel like there’s a right answer — and that choosing the “wrong” one means you’re letting your dog down.
Let’s clear this up properly.
There is no universally superior option between wet and dry dog food.
What matters is what works for your dog, your household, your budget, and your capacity — without guilt, shame, or unrealistic expectations.
This guide will walk you through:
The real pros and cons of wet and dry dog food
How each affects nutrition, hydration, cost, storage, and feeding behaviour
When one may be more suitable than the other
How to make either option work better for your dog
How to compare foods properly, without being misled by labels or price alone
Most importantly, this article is written with financial sensitivity in mind.
Because feeding your dog should never come at the expense of your wellbeing.
Why the Wet vs Dry Debate Is So Confusing
The wet versus dry conversation is rarely honest.
It’s often framed like this:
Wet food = fresh, natural, premium, caring
Dry food = processed, cheap, lazy, inferior
But this narrative ignores:
Nutritional balance
Energy density
Long-term consistency
Accessibility and affordability
The reality that millions of dogs are fed dry food and live healthy lives
Dog food is not good or bad based on texture alone.
It’s about formulation, suitability, and sustainability.
What Do We Actually Mean by Wet and Dry Dog Food?
Before comparing the two, we need to define them properly.
Dry Dog Food (Kibble)
Moisture content: around 8–10%
High energy density
Shelf stable once opened (when stored correctly)
Typically lower cost per calorie
Wet Dog Food
Moisture content: around 70–80%
Lower calorie density per gram
Sold in tins, trays, or pouches
Higher cost per calorie
That difference in moisture content alone explains most of the practical differences you’ll experience day to day.
The Pros of Feeding Dry Dog Food
Dry dog food has sustained dogs nutritionally for decades and continues to be a reliable option for many households.
1. More Cost-Effective Per Day
Dry food provides more calories in a smaller weight of food, which means:
Lower daily feeding cost
Smaller portions with sufficient energy
Easier budgeting long term
A bag of kibble may feel expensive upfront, but when broken down per day or per meal, it often works out far cheaper than feeding wet food alone.
This is why it’s important to compare foods using cost per day, not cost per bag or tin.
You can do this using the Good Paw Project Dog Food Cost Calculator, which helps owners understand what they’re actually spending to feed their dog.
2. Easier Storage and Feeding
Dry food:
Stores easily
Doesn’t require refrigeration
Is quick to measure and serve
Produces less food waste
For owners juggling work, caregiving, illness, or limited energy, this matters.
Feeding your dog should not become another source of stress.
3. Useful for Training and Enrichment
Dry food works well for:
Food puzzles
Training rewards
Scatter feeding and enrichment games
This allows owners to use part of their dog’s daily food allowance for training, helping avoid excess treat calories.
4. Nutritional Consistency
Most complete dry foods are:
Carefully formulated
Consistent from batch to batch
Easy to balance over time
This consistency is particularly important for:
Puppies
Large breed dogs
Dogs needing steady nutrient intake
Multi-dog households
The Cons of Feeding Dry Dog Food
Dry food isn’t perfect, and it’s important to acknowledge its limitations.
1. Low Moisture Content
Dry food contains very little water. Dogs fed exclusively on kibble rely almost entirely on drinking to meet their hydration needs.
This can matter for dogs who:
Don’t drink much
Are prone to urinary issues
Are older or less mobile
Dry food itself is not the problem — hydration management is.
2. Less Appealing for Some Dogs
Some dogs simply find kibble less exciting, particularly:
Senior dogs
Dogs with reduced appetite
Dogs who’ve experienced frequent food changes
In many cases, the issue is not the food but how it’s fed, which leads to unnecessary brand hopping and digestive upset.
3. Fear-Based Marketing Around “Processing”
Dry food is often criticised as “ultra-processed” or “junk food,” but processing alone does not determine nutritional value.
A poorly formulated wet food is not nutritionally superior to a well-balanced dry one.
The Pros of Feeding Wet Dog Food
Wet food can absolutely be useful and appropriate for some dogs.
1. Higher Moisture Intake
Wet food contributes significantly to a dog’s daily fluid intake. This may benefit dogs who:
Drink very little
Prefer moist foods
Need encouragement to eat
2. Increased Palatability
Wet food tends to smell stronger and feel more appealing, which can help:
Older dogs
Dogs recovering from illness
Dogs transitioning between foods
3. Larger Volume for Fewer Calories
Because wet food contains a lot of water:
Dogs receive a physically larger portion
With fewer calories per gram
This can help some dogs feel more satisfied — if portions are measured correctly.
The Cons of Feeding Wet Dog Food
1. Higher Cost Per Day
This is where many owners get caught out.
Wet food almost always costs more per calorie than dry food. For medium and large dogs, feeding wet food exclusively can become financially unsustainable — especially during long-term cost-of-living pressures.
This is not a personal failure. It’s maths.
2. Shorter Shelf Life
Once opened, wet food:
Must be refrigerated
Has a limited safe storage time
Can lead to food waste
3. Harder to Manage Portions and Training
Wet food:
Is harder to measure accurately
Is not practical for training rewards
Can make overfeeding easier without realising
Do You Have to Choose? The Reality of Mixed Feeding
Here’s something more dog owners need to hear:
You do not have to choose wet or dry.
Mixed feeding can:
Improve palatability
Increase moisture intake
Keep costs manageable
Reduce feeding stress
However, mixing foods without adjusting quantities is one of the most common causes of:
Weight gain
Digestive upset
Feeding confusion
Calories still count — regardless of texture.
How to Make Dry Food Work Better Without Switching
If your dog is doing well on dry food, you don’t need to change it — but you can improve the feeding experience.
Simple, low-cost tweaks include:
Adding warm water to meals
Feeding from enrichment toys
Splitting meals into smaller portions
Improving routine and predictability
These changes cost little to nothing and often solve perceived “food problems.”
How to Make Wet Food More Affordable
If wet food suits your dog but cost is a concern:
Combine wet and dry food
Use wet food as a topper rather than the base
Compare foods by cost per day, not per packet
The Good Paw Project Dog Food Cost Calculator exists for exactly this reason — to help owners feed their dogs responsibly without guilt or shame.
Dogs with Health Conditions
This article is written for generally healthy adult dogs.
Dogs with conditions such as kidney disease, pancreatitis, urinary stones, or gastrointestinal disorders may require specific dietary formats or compositions, which should always be guided by a qualified professional.
The Emotional Pressure Around Feeding “The Best”
Many owners feel:
Guilty for feeding kibble
Ashamed for choosing affordable food
Pressured by social media narratives
This helps no one — especially not dogs.
Feeding your dog consistently, safely, and within your means is responsible ownership.
There is no welfare benefit in feeding a “premium” food if it leads to:
Financial stress
Inconsistent feeding
Food insecurity
How to Compare Foods Properly
To compare wet and dry foods fairly, look beyond:
Price per bag
Ingredient buzzwords
Online trends
Instead, compare:
Cost per day
Calories per gram
Dry matter nutrients
Feeding amounts
Inside The Canine Collective, you can access:
Dog food comparison calculators
Cost-per-day tools
Dry matter converters
Evidence-based nutrition support
All profits directly support the work of The Good Paw Project, helping keep dogs fed and families supported during financial hardship.
So… Should You Feed Wet or Dry Dog Food?
Here’s the honest answer:
✔ Dry food is a valid, responsible choice
✔ Wet food can be useful and appropriate
✔ Mixing both thoughtfully often works best
The right choice is the one that:
Keeps your dog healthy
Keeps feeding consistent
Keeps you supported, not stressed
Final Thoughts: Sustainability Over Perfection
Your dog does not need:
The most expensive food
The trendiest brand
Fear-based marketing claims
They need:
Adequate calories
Balanced nutrition
Consistent feeding
A caregiver who isn’t overwhelmed
If you need help comparing costs or making food stretch further:
Use the Good Paw Project Dog Food Cost Calculator
Join The Canine Collective for practical tools and comparison calculators
Because feeding dogs well should never depend on privilege — and no one should feel ashamed for doing their best.