# Dog food for picky eaters

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/pets/dog-food/for-picky-eaters/
Category: Pets > Dry dog food. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 256 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Dec 2016 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which dog food will a picky eater actually eat?

**Short answer:** Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe has the best record for picky dogs: 11 of 11 owners said their dog ate it readily. Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites Beef & Rice is next at 9 of 9, and Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Beef & Brown Rice Recipe at 10 of 11. All three rest on small groups of owners, so read them as a good sign, not a promise.

**What stands out:** Beyond picky dogs, nearly every reviewer says their dog eats these eagerly: 100% of reviews for the Nutrish chicken, 92% for Purina ONE and 97% for the Nutrish beef.

## Ranking (pet owners who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Eats it | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe | 11 of 11 | 100% | yes |
| 2 | Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites Beef & Rice | 9 of 9 | 100% | yes |
| 3 | Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Beef & Brown Rice Recipe | 10 of 11 | 91% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Every picky-dog owner who weighed in said their dog ate it (11 of 11), and reviews on the brand's own site agree at 5 of 5, which we show but don't count. 20% of reviews praise the ingredients.

- Praised for: Dog eats it eagerly (100%), Good ingredients (20%), Good value (17%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites Beef & Rice

A clean record so far: 9 of 9 picky-dog owners said their dog ate it, and 16% of reviews call it good value. Reviews on Purina's site agree at 6 of 6, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Dog eats it eagerly (92%), Good value (16%), Good ingredients (8%)
- Reports counted: 25

### 3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Beef & Brown Rice Recipe

The beef version of the Dish recipe did nearly as well, with 10 of 11 picky-dog owners saying their dog ate it. 14% praise the ingredients and 14% call it good value.

- Praised for: Dog eats it eagerly (97%), Good value (14%), Good ingredients (14%)
- Reports counted: 29

## Questions

**What dog food do picky eaters like?**

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe has the best record (11 of 11). Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites Beef & Rice (9 of 9) and Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Beef & Brown Rice Recipe (10 of 11) follow.

**What if my dog suddenly stops eating?**

Ask a vet if your dog suddenly stops eating, loses weight or seems sick. Do that before you try another food.

**Is Purina ONE Small Bites good for picky dogs?**

Owners say yes: 9 of 9 picky-dog owners said their dog ate it, and 92% of all its reviews say their dog eats it eagerly. Fewer owners weighed in than on the Nutrish chicken recipe.

**Is Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish good for picky dogs?**

Both recipes do well with picky dogs here, the chicken at 11 of 11 and the beef at 10 of 11. Both groups are small, so your dog may still have the final say.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/