Our Mission
Pet Food Optimizer was built to give Australian dog owners the same quality of nutrition advice that was previously available only through expensive veterinary dietician consultations. Every recommendation is driven entirely by an algorithm — no brand pays to improve their score, and no recommendation is sponsored.
Our platform covers 50 Australian dog breeds and 70+ dog food products available from Australian retailers including PetCircle and PetBarn. All nutritional benchmarks are derived from AAFCO Nutrient Profiles, AVA dietary guidelines, and the Royal Veterinary College's breed-specific energy databases.
The 4-Factor Scoring Algorithm
Each dog food product receives a score from 0–100 for a given breed profile. The score is a weighted sum of four sub-scores, each evaluated independently:
Nutritional Match
Measures how closely a product's protein and fat percentages align with the breed's specific requirements. Benchmarks are sourced from AAFCO Nutrient Profiles (minimum 18% crude protein for adult maintenance, 22.5% for growth/reproduction) and adjusted upward for high-energy breeds such as Border Collies and Belgian Malinois, and downward for prone-to-obesity breeds such as Labradors and Pugs. Protein sources are also evaluated: named meat as the first ingredient receives the highest sub-score; generic "meat meal" or plant protein as the sole protein source is penalised.
Ingredient Quality
Evaluates three dimensions: (1) Named meat sources — chicken, lamb, salmon, turkey, kangaroo, and beef score highest when listed first on the ingredient panel; (2) Absence of artificial preservatives — products containing BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin receive a reduced quality score; (3) Whole-food ingredient density — the ratio of recognisable whole ingredients (sweet potato, brown rice, oats, vegetables, whole eggs) to generic fillers (corn syrup, animal digest, artificial colour). AS 5812:2017 (Australian Standard for pet food manufacturing) is used as the baseline for ingredient labelling compliance.
Price-Value Ratio
Compares cost per kilogram against the median price for products in the same size category (small breed, medium breed, large breed, giant breed). Products priced below the median that also score well on nutritional match and ingredient quality receive the highest price-value sub-scores. Pricing is sourced from Australian retailers and updated monthly. Budget constraints entered by the user directly gate which products appear in recommendations, independent of this sub-score.
Health Suitability
Cross-references user-provided health conditions against a contraindication database for each product. For example: dogs with kidney disease receive formulas with restricted phosphorus; dogs with hip dysplasia receive formulas with documented glucosamine and omega-3 levels; dogs with food allergies have common allergen proteins filtered out. Health conditions are mapped to a curated list of dietary flags sourced from AVA clinical nutrition guidelines and the Royal Veterinary College's canine health databases.
Caloric Requirements: RER and DER
Daily calorie targets are calculated using the internationally accepted metabolic formula adopted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and endorsed by AAFCO:
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75
Resting Energy Requirement (kcal/day)
RER represents the energy a dog needs at rest to sustain basic bodily functions. This baseline is then multiplied by a Daily Energy Requirement (DER) activity factor:
| Activity Level | DER Multiplier | Typical Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 1.2 | Senior or sedentary indoor dog |
| Moderate | 1.4 | Daily leashed walks, typical companion dog |
| High | 1.6 | Daily off-leash exercise, working breeds |
| Very High | 1.8 | Sport dogs, agility, herding, endurance |
Daily Energy Requirement (DER) = RER × multiplier. For example, a 25 kg moderately active Labrador: RER = 70 × 250.75 ≈ 70 × 11.18 ≈ 782 kcal/day; DER = 782 × 1.4 ≈ 1,095 kcal/day. The algorithm divides this target by the product's caloric density (kcal/kg as stated on the pack) to derive a daily gram amount.
Data Sources
AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for Dog Foods
Association of American Feed Control Officials. The global standard for minimum and maximum nutrient levels in commercially produced dog food. Used by Australian manufacturers and referenced by AS 5812:2017.
AVA Dietary Guidelines
Australian Veterinary Association clinical nutrition guidelines tailored to Australian conditions, feeding practices, and prevalent breed health concerns.
Royal Veterinary College (RVC) Nutrition Databases
Breed-specific energy, protein, and fat requirement data from the RVC's canine nutrition research program. Used to calibrate breed-specific targets that go beyond AAFCO's universal minimums.
Australian Bureau of Statistics Breed Registration Data
Used for popularity rankings (1–50) which determine the order breeds are presented to users. Ranks reflect the 50 most-registered breeds in Australia.
AS 5812:2017 — Australian Standard for Pet Food
The Australian Standard governing the manufacturing and marketing of pet food. Used as the baseline for ingredient labelling compliance and product categorisation.
Editorial Policy
Independence. No pet food brand pays to appear in recommendations or to improve their product's score. Rankings are determined entirely by the algorithm described above.
Affiliate disclosure. Pet Food Optimizer earns a commission when users purchase products through affiliate links to PetCircle, PetBarn, or other Australian retailers. These commissions fund platform development and have zero influence on product rankings or recommendation outcomes.
Update cadence. Product pricing and availability is reviewed monthly. Nutritional data and breed benchmarks are reviewed whenever AAFCO or AVA publish updated guidelines (typically annually). The dateModified field in our sitemap.xml reflects page-level freshness.
Veterinary disclaimer. Recommendations from Pet Food Optimizer are not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Dogs with diagnosed medical conditions should have dietary changes approved by a registered Australian veterinarian. This platform is a decision-support tool, not a clinical instrument.
Data corrections. If you believe a product's nutritional data is incorrect, contact us at support@www.petfoodoptimiser.com. We review correction requests within 5 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Pet Food Optimizer score dog food?
Pet Food Optimizer scores each product across four weighted factors: Nutritional Match (40%), Ingredient Quality (30%), Price-Value Ratio (15%), and Health Suitability (15%). A final score from 0–100 is computed for every product for every breed profile.
What data sources does Pet Food Optimizer use?
We draw from AAFCO Nutrient Profiles, AVA dietary guidelines, Royal Veterinary College (RVC) nutrition databases, Australian Bureau of Statistics breed registration data, and AS 5812:2017 (Australian Standard for pet food manufacturing).
How is daily calorie requirement calculated?
Using the RER formula: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75, multiplied by a DER activity factor of 1.2 (low), 1.4 (moderate), 1.6 (high), or 1.8 (very high). This matches the WSAVA and AAFCO standard methodology.
Are recommendations paid for by pet food brands?
No. Rankings are determined entirely by our algorithm. Pet Food Optimizer earns affiliate commissions on purchases, but these do not influence scores or rankings.
How often is data updated?
Product data is reviewed monthly. Breed nutritional benchmarks are reviewed annually or whenever AAFCO or AVA publish updated guidelines. Last full update: 2026-05-16.
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