Summary from the Whole Dog Journal
"WDJ's Approved Dry Foods: New in 2004"
and
"How to select the best dry food for your dog"

Each year, the respected Whole Dog Journal, found at www.wholedogjournal.com,  ranks some of the top dry dog foods for your canine.  One criteria that foods are chosen on are superior animal proteins and lots of it.  Animal proteins such as beef, lamb, chicken or fish should be listed in the top two ingredients.  Listed twice in the first three ingredients is even better and three in the top five is great.  Foods are also chosen on their use of whole grains and vegetables such as brown rice.

Foods that are not chosen...  Those with meat-by-products and the use of  unidentified and non-specific protein sources such as "animal fat" or "meat meal".  In addition, foods are not chosen that may list too much of the same grain ingredient repeatedly, such as rice, rice bran and brewers rice all in the top ten.  Other disqualifications include artificial flavors and artificial preservatives.

The Whole Dog Journal not only picks this years winners, but also keeps a running tally on those foods that have won in past.  Following is a brief summary of a few of the foods that have made the grade.  For a complete list, you can visit the Whole Dog Journal online.

A few of the new foods in 2004.... Blue Buffalo, and Karma.

Top foods chosen from 1998-2003...Canidae, Natural Balance, Nature's Variety, Innova and Eagle Pack Holistic Select

These manufacturers also provided the Whole Dog Journal information on manufacturing operations and ingredients.  Some foods such Wysong, that have made the "Top Dry Foods" in the past, oddly chose not to respond to this inquiry.