Which Kind of Dog Food Should I Buy?

Your dog’s food is the foundation of their health, energy, and even their behavior. 

At Urban Pawsibilities, we’ve seen firsthand how high-quality nutrition transforms anxious pups into confident companions and sluggish seniors into playful explorers. 

Complete, balanced recipes supply every vitamin and mineral in the right ratios for the dog’s life stage, according to standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). 

That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with Neighbor Pet Food, a Portland-based brand that crafts chef-designed, AAFCO-complete meals that dogs and their humans love.

Keep reading to see why we love this high-quality dog food brand based in Portland. 

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dog-Food Brand

Before settling on any bowl-filler, we run each brand through five (5) non-negotiable filters. 

1. AAFCO “Complete & Balanced” Seal: A line on the label stating the food meets AAFCO nutrient profiles tells you every vitamin, mineral, and amino acid is present in the right ratio for growth or adult maintenance.

2. Real, Named Ingredients Up Front: Turkey should read turkey, not “poultry by-product meal.” Transparent sourcing keeps mystery proteins and filler grains off the menu—and makes life easier for pups with sensitivities.

3. Cooking Method: Lightly baked, air-dried, or sous-vide methods preserve more natural nutrients (and flavor) than high-temperature extrusion. You’ll notice the difference in shinier coats and eager mealtime manners.

4. Sourcing & Ethics: Brands that manufacture in their own kitchens—or partner with audited facilities—have tighter control over safety and ingredient quality. Locally produced foods often travel shorter distances, meaning fresher ingredients and a smaller carbon paw-print. Bonus points if the company shares third-party test results for contaminants and nutrient levels.

5. Multi-Use Format & Palatability: Even the healthiest food falls flat if the dog won’t eat it. Versatile foods that work as full meals, toppers, pill pockets, or enrichment-toy stuffers simplify daily routines and please even the pickiest noses.
   

Tick all five boxes and you’ll land on the kind of nutrition we’re proud to recommend. ✅

Why Urban Pawsibilities Loves Neighbor Pet Food

We first met the Neighbor Pet Food team while sponsoring last summer’s Trail Blazers PupCity event. Their passion for ethical sourcing and dog wellness mirrored ours—so when they offered a collab, we leapt at the chance.  

Here’s what won us over:

• AAFCO Complete & Balanced for adult-maintenance diets, formulated with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

• Chef-Crafted in Portland with fresh, human-grade ingredients and zero artificial additives. Neighbors’ dog food recipes aren’t formulated in a lab—real chefs create them in their own Portland kitchen. 

• Flexible Meatball Format—serve as a full meal, crumble as a topper, hide medication inside, or stuff into a Kong for mental enrichment. Whether your pup is a picky eater, a pill-hiding pro, or a treat connoisseur, Neighbor Pet Food works as:

• Food toppers to jazz up kibble

• Soft, chewy treats for training

• Pill pockets that even the slyest dogs can’t resist

• Sustainability Mindset: Reusable shipping materials and local sourcing wherever possible. 

Here’s How to Try Neighbor Pet Food Risk-Free!

Use code UP60 to get 60 % off your first subscription box at neighborpetfood.com/UP60.

The subscription is month-to-month—skip or cancel at any time with no penalty. It's perfect for testing how the dog likes the recipes before committing to them long-term.

Local to Portland? Swing by our dog training facility in Portland and ask the front desk for a free Neighbor Pet Food sample pack (while supplies last). Let your dog’s tail wag be the review.🐕

Transition Tips for Switching Your Dog’s Food

1. Go Slow –For two days, Start with 75% of the dog’s current food and 25% Neighbor meatballs.
   

2. Monitor Stool & Energy – Gradually move to a 50/50 mix, then 100% Neighbor over a week.
   

3. Enrichment Bonus – Stuff a Toppl or Kong (find our favorites in the Mental Enrichment Collection) with thawed meatball pieces to slow feeding and keep the dog’s brain busy.

Still Deciding the Right Dog Food to Buy?

If you’re unsure whether Neighbor Pet Food suits your dog’s specific needs or you just want help decoding labels, contact our certified dog trainers. 

We’re happy to chat nutrition basics, portion sizes, and how food choice ties into training results.

Because when you learn together, you live together—and that starts with sharing meals you both feel good about. Here’s to wagging tails and clean bowls! 🐕