February 2, 2025
Man’s Best for A Healthy Friend
Date published: 2022
Date modified: 13 June 2025*
Is Man’s Best Still Australia’s Stand-Out Grain-Free Dog Food in 2025?
I’ve spent the past month discussing with my friend Amanda the possibility of switching her kelpie, Pickle, to Man’s Best’s new Large Breed Lamb & Chicken formula.
We all know the importance of taking care of our pets, and Amanda was keen to try something with the finest ingredients for her travel buddy.
Man’s Best boasts the best premium grain-free recipes for nourishing the nation’s dogs. So, we asked them a few questions about what makes their dog food so amazing.
Since more people, today are educating themselves on the benefits of a good diet. Savvy shoppers are paying close attention to the ingredients on their food labels. The reality is our food choices directly impact our health. So, it’s important we understand what’s in the meals we give to ourselves and our families. And of course, as a nation of pet lovers, why wouldn’t this include our pets?
A Short Back-Story
More than a decade ago three long-time pet-industry colleagues—each with around 25 years in wholesale, retail, or nutrition—realised most “premium” kibble on Australian shelves was either imported or bulked up with grains. In January 2015 they began tinkering with recipes in a small test kitchen on the NSW South Coast. Two years, dozens of ingredient trials, and a lot of patient taste-testing later, Man’s Best was born.
What hasn’t changed since that first production run is the brand’s 100 percent Australian-owned, Australian-made pledge. Every bag uses single-protein, grain-free formulas built around local meat and produce—think lamb from the Central Tablelands or chicken raised in the Riverina—paired with sweet potato, chickpeas and cold-pressed canola oil.
“Keeping the supply chain inside Australia means fresher raw materials and a lighter carbon footprint,” says co-founder Matt Hamilton, whose family still farms just outside Bowral.
Expert Help in the Recipe Room
The trio have worked with leading dog nutritionists and veterinarians to create a range of premium recipes we’re sure all dogs will love. Independent site PetFoodReviews awarded the range 7.8 in its ratings.
One ingredient championed for puppies was bovine colostrum—the first milk produced after calving. Peer-reviewed research shows it delivers concentrated antibodies and growth factors that bolster a young dog’s developing immune system ¹.
You’ll also find other premium ingredients such as kelp, yucca plant extract, kale, broccoli, spinach, parsley, apples, blueberries, carrot, tomato, and cranberries.
What You’ll Find (and Won’t Find) in the Bag
| Always In | Never In |
|---|---|
| Australian meat as first ingredient | Wheat, corn, sorghum or soy |
| Seasonal veg such as pumpkin & carrot | Artificial colours or flavours |
| Hydrolysed fish oil for omega-3 | Added gluten |
| Natural prebiotics (chicory root) | Unnamed “meat meals” |
Each recipe is batch-tested to confirm crude protein, fat, and energy content; results are published in a downloadable nutrient analysis sheet on Man’s Best’s website.
New Kid on the Block: Large-Breed Formulas
In mid-2021 Man’s Best extended the line-up with Large Breed Puppy and Large Breed Adult (Lamb & Chicken with Sardines). Built for slower metabolisms, the adult variant trims fat to 10 percent while still meeting joint-support targets for glucosamine and chondroitin.
I trialled the adult formula with my neighbour’s five-year-old German Shepherd, Jasper, for three weeks. His coat held its gloss, stool quality stayed firm, and there was no unwanted weight creep—impressive given his lazy-winter routine.
The Grain-Free Question—Pros and Caveats
Grain-free diets swap cereals for legumes and tubers, which can help dogs with confirmed grain sensitivities avoid itchy skin or loose stools. On the flip side, the US FDA is still studying a possible link between certain grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy in predisposed breeds ². Man’s Best incorporates meat meals high in taurine and publishes amino-acid levels to address the concern, but it’s wise to chat with your vet before changing any dog’s diet.
Rooted in the Regions They Call Home
Because the team is scattered across Shoalhaven, the Southern Highlands, and the Gold Coast, they’ve become accidental tour guides for pet travellers, we were curious to know the teams’ favourite pet-friendly spots.:
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Shoalhaven – Walk the full stretch of dog-friendly Seven-Mile Beach, then grab lunch (with pup in tow) on the lawn at Bangalay Dining.
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Southern Highlands – Bowral’s indie store “We Know Pets” was the first to stock Man’s Best and still hosts monthly taste-tests.
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Gold Coast – Swim or paddle at Currumbin Creek, then refuel at the dog-welcoming kiosk beside Pirate Park.
Transparency Note
Man’s Best supplied a 3 kg sample bag for this review. No payment changed hands, and all observations are my own or those of the consulting vet quoted above.
Curious? Ingredient sheets, laboratory analyses and stockist details live at www.mansbest.com.au—with grain-free treats and a pilot cat range (“True Colours”) landing later this year.
You can follow them for more exciting news @mansbestfordogs
The content is authored by Carla Francis, writer and a dedicated volunteer. I update every product review at least once a year to ensure facts—and formulas—stay fresh.