Nutro

Nutro Ultra Dry Dog Food

Ranked #5 in Dog Food

406 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Good Housekeeping's best overall dog food brand for 2026. A non-prescription kibble that testers rated above far more heavily marketed rivals, with a long track record of gentle, consistent formulations that suit long-term feeding.

Consolidated from 6 cited sources across 5 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

1 glowing source
4 positive sources
1 unconvinced source

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ Good Housekeeping's best overall dog food brand for 2026
✓ gentle, consistent formulations
✓ long track record
✓ Named Best Overall by Good Housekeeping
✓ Positive expert endorsement

✗ Premium grocery positioning buys less measurable advantage per dollar than rival tiers
✗ Lacks the research infrastructure of the top three brands
✗ Premium-kibble cost buys gains that cheaper rivals match
✗ Supported by only one outlet, less vet-backed coverage

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 5 articles and 1 video review

1 glowing source

Dog Food Advisor Mike Sagman · reviewer · May 2010

Chicken is the primary flavor of all Nutro Ultra recipes, with lamb meal and salmon meal as minor ingredients alongside superfoods which offer vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre to boost overall health. These recipes are specially tailored for large breeds, small breeds, puppies, and seniors.

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4 positive sources

Good Housekeeping Jessica Hartshorn · reviewer · Aug 2026

WHY WE LOVE IT: One of our pet pros' dogs has been eating Nutro Ultra since puppyhood and still loves it. It's pricier than most traditional supermarket brands but slightly less expensive than some premium brands, and it has many online reviewers singing its praises. A few owners report digestive issues, and suggest switching to Nutro Ultra slowly if you've been using a different food. We show the dry food for large adult dogs here, but Nutro also offers Ultra versions for small dogs , weight management , puppies , and senior dogs , as well as wet food and a limited-ingredient option for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Read C Chewy Chewy · 160K subscribers · Dec 2016

It's Nutro Ultra for dogs. Whether they're young or old, small or large, or a tad bit overweight, all of them can benefit from Ultra dog food. A food that features the perfect balance of nature's finest ingredients.

Watch B Breedadvisor Article

* Some dogs with digestive issues saw rapid improvement once fed a regular diet for Nutro Ultra Adult. * Owners expressed they felt comfortable with the ingredients contained in this diet, giving them confidence that the formulation was of exceptional quality.

Read D

Dog Food Advisor Mike Sagman · reviewer · Dec 2009

Nutro Ultra is for those seeking a grain-inclusive dry food with more meat and better ingredients… and a worthy upgrade over the Natural Choice line (above).

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1 unconvinced source

ConsumerAffairs Article · Sept 2026

I bought a bag of Nutro Ultra large breed like I typically do. I noticed the shelves were very scarce compared to any other time. I have bought this food for YEARS for my Neapolitan Mastiff... After the first bowl of this bag I noticed she had really bad gas. Over the next few days, I noticed it didn't go away and now she has diarrhea! I returned the food only to see MORE empty shelves...yet still no recall! How many dogs are going to have to get sick before there is a recall issued?! Needless to say I will never buy another bag of this overpriced garbage!

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #5 of 12 on our dog food tier list, in C tier. That placement draws on 6 cited sources across 5 outlets.

1 of the 6 sources with a clear view is critical of it: ConsumerAffairs. Premium grocery positioning buys less measurable advantage per dollar than rival tiers. Lacks the research infrastructure of the top three brands. Premium-kibble cost buys gains that cheaper rivals match. Supported by only one outlet, less vet-backed coverage.