Comparing two dog foods is easier when the same facts sit side by side. This worksheet gives each label its own column, so you can record what is actually printed before packaging claims or an attractive ingredient list influence the decision. It will not identify a universal “best” food; it will show where the foods differ, which comparisons are fair and what information is still missing.
Before you fill in the worksheet
Choose two foods intended for a similar job. Start by checking whether each is complete or complementary and which life stage it is intended for. A complementary food should not be treated as interchangeable with a complete food simply because the packs sit on the same shelf.
Use the same dog and the same daily period in both columns. Copy figures and units exactly rather than rounding them from memory. If you need help locating the adequacy statement, calorie content, feeding directions or manufacturer details, use our five-check dog food label guide alongside this sheet.
Your two-label comparison worksheet
Print this table or copy it into a note. Use a fresh row for anything important that is missing.
| Label detail | Food A | Food B |
|---|---|---|
| Full product name and format | __________ | __________ |
| Complete or complementary? | __________ | __________ |
| Intended life stage | __________ | __________ |
| Calorie statement and units | __________ | __________ |
| Relevant feeding-guide weight range | __________ | __________ |
| Printed daily feeding amount | __________ | __________ |
| Pack size and current price, if known | __________ | __________ |
| Estimated days per pack | __________ | __________ |
| Estimated cost per day | __________ | __________ |
| Moisture and relevant analysis figures | __________ | __________ |
| Manufacturer or distributor contact | __________ | __________ |
| Storage and opened-pack instructions | __________ | __________ |
| Questions still to answer | __________ | __________ |
Make the comparison like for like
The worksheet is most useful when both columns use the same basis. These three checks prevent common false comparisons.
Compare daily amounts, not serving containers
Feeding guides may use different units or describe amounts per meal rather than per day. Copy the printed units and check the heading carefully. Do not assume that a cup, tin, tray or pouch represents the same amount in both products. If the label does not provide enough information for a conversion, mark that as an open question instead of guessing.
To estimate days per pack, divide the usable pack quantity by the daily amount, using matching units. For a daily cost, divide the pack price by that number of days. Record the price date because pack prices can change.
Keep moisture beside nutrient percentages
Guaranteed analysis figures are minimums or maximums, not exact nutrient measurements. Moisture also affects direct comparison, particularly when one food is wet and the other is dry. Do not rank two foods simply by placing their as-fed percentages next to each other.
If you make a dry-matter calculation, keep the original figures in the table and show your working separately. Otherwise, mark the figures “not directly comparable” and leave the question open. A blank or uncertain cell is more useful than a precise-looking estimate based on missing information.
Separate cost from suitability
A lower daily cost does not answer whether a food is complete, intended for your dog’s life stage or appropriate for an individual concern. Keep those as separate checks. Likewise, a longer ingredient list or a prominent front-of-pack phrase is not a score. The worksheet is for organising evidence, not turning marketing language into points.
Finish with a three-line decision
Once both columns are complete, write three short notes:
- Comparable facts: Which entries use the same units and can genuinely be compared?
- Practical differences: Are there differences in daily amount, storage, pack use or estimated daily cost that matter to your household?
- Unresolved questions: What needs a clearer label, a manufacturer answer or professional advice before you choose?
This last step keeps a missing detail from being hidden by an otherwise tidy table. It also gives you a useful record if you compare another food later: repeat the same rows rather than starting with a different set of impressions.
Know when the worksheet is not enough
Label comparison cannot assess every individual need. If your dog has a medical dietary concern, is growing, or has an unexplained change in weight or appetite, discuss the choice with your veterinarian. Bring the completed worksheet so the conversation starts with the actual label information.
General educational information only, not a personalised feeding plan or veterinary advice.