@junipham Here's a moderated look at evaluating whether raw, homemade, or store-bought foods are best for you or your dog.
Most common 'reasons' not to feed raw, ordered from 'complete fear-mongering' to 'legitimate': 1) fear of pathogens, 2) 'need' for plant matter or grains, 3) issues supplying sufficient nutrients, 4) cost.
1) Salmonella is found on most kitchen floors, and recalls on commercial foods due to contamination is
extremely common. The fact is, dogs (and people) are exposed to pathogens every day. Dogs, like most carnivores, also have short, harsh digestive systems that kill or pass potentially harmful bacteria before they can be a threat. Properly handled meat is not a strong risk for disease or illness in dogs. Whether you're feeding Raw/BARF or not, raw scraps are a perfectly healthy treat.
Fresh raw meat generally has fewer 'germs' than packaged dry food. The fact is that dogs can just handle it.
2) It's commonly stated that because dogs are not obligate carnivores that they
need plant matter. This is also untrue; dogs are still carnivores, they
are not omnivores. However, they evolved as scavengers and they CAN get nutrients from non-meat sources. Cats, obligate carnivores, CAN ALSO get nutrients from non-meat sources, they simply require some amino acids from raw meat (it's supplemented back into commercial food). For the same reason that cats--obligate carnivores--do not HAVE to live off raw, prey-based diets, dogs do not HAVE to live off of plant matter or commercial food.
That said, there are a lot of benefits to incorporating plant matter into your dog's diet. The micronutrient profiles they require are much more easily achieved using fruits and veggies than they are using offal in a raw-meat-only approach.
3) Related, AAFCO-inspected foods you buy off store shelves are guaranteed to contain the nutrients your pet needs. Gaps in nutrition or over-supplementation is a LOT harder with commercial dog food. There is also significantly less work involved with commercial. If you choose to pursue raw or homemade diets, you MUST do sufficient research or risk your dog's health. Because raw is less widely accepted by veterinarians, the area is fraught with misinformation and can be a minefield to navigate. More vets, however, are fine with homemade foods and many have published books with recipes.
Also worth noting, most brands are supplemented around 200% of daily micronutrient needs, to account for finicky eaters, meaning you can supplement up to 1/2 your dog's caloric intake with a homemade topper. It can be a complete recipe, with protein included, or just some steamed mixed veggies.
Alternatively, there are some 'human-grade' or 'homemade' or 'raw' diets available commercially. These are 'boutique brands' and should be evaluated closely before purchase. Often, they are far more expensive than simply preparing the food yourself, but also less work.
4) Many proponents of homemade or raw will cite that, pound-for-pound, feeding your dog yourself is cheaper. However, this varies wildly depending on where you are, the size of your dog, and also doesn't take into consideration the work you put into it yourself. An active dog, especially, can have the same or higher caloric requirements as a person. Obviously, many commercial foods are going to be a cheaper monthly or bi-monthly buy than feeding another whole person.
Cost can and will be prohibitive to many owners, especially since the less money an owner makes, typically the less time they can dedicate to actually researching and preparing food. If you're working multiple jobs, you have enough to worry about.
I know you asked for an opinion between two brands, but unfortunately there's no answer to that question. There is no 'healthiest brand' and you do not need to feed raw food to be Doing The Most for your dog. There are problems related to all three of these options, and what works best for you and your dog is always going to be different than what works for others. Best of luck in the future!
