Hello everyone!
Caring for a pet can be a real challenge, especially when it comes to finding the right food. My pup is super finicky and gets bored with the same old menu after just two days, so I'm always on the lookout for something new to mix things up and prevent waste. After years of trial and error, I've honed my skills in selecting the perfect food, but with a limited market, I often end up with what's available. That's exactly what happened last time – I grabbed something new and unfamiliar just because it was on hand.
The star of today's review is Dillie's puppy food. It's a brand that offers affordable options for dogs of various breeds and ages, but it doesn't exactly stand out with its selection. The usual meat-based formula is pretty standard, and the only real difference is the age category.
General info
Where I bought it: SberMegaMarketPrice: 201 rublesFood type: dryBreed: suitable for large breedsAge: for puppies under 1 yearComplete nutrition: yesWeight: 1 kgFlavor: meat-basedShelf life: 1 yearCountry of origin: RussiaPackaging
The food comes in a light blue package with color-coded labeling. Since I only bought 1 kg, the packaging is relatively small, although there's a 15 kg option available in the assortment.
I have to say, the packaging material is a dense, soft polyethylene that doesn't make a sound when you open it. It's a big plus for me, as it's not as loud as some other pet food packaging. The material is actually quite flexible, like a slightly rubbery texture. When you open the package, the corner of the material stretches, whereas a regular package just doesn't budge. The quiet packaging is a big plus for me, as my cat doesn't wake me up at night trying to get into the dog food.
The design is pretty standard and unremarkable, to be honest. You can immediately tell it's dog food because of the image of a dog on the packaging. I'm a bit confused as to why they chose a brown background with a brown dog – it gets a bit lost. Plus, the dog on the packaging is a large breed, which is a bit confusing since it's a puppy food.
The front of the packaging has some key labels highlighting the main benefits of the food. Everything is clear and easy to read, thanks to the large font.
The back of the packaging has more detailed information about the food. The design is consistent with the rest of the brand – a brown background. Actually, it's a good choice, as the white text is easy to read.
I have to give credit to 'Dillie' for having a well-structured layout with useful information. For example, they provide guidelines on how to introduce the food to your dog's diet, as well as explanations of the serving size and how many grams are in a cup of food. It's really helpful for new pet owners who may not know everything about their pets.
One of the things I like about Dilly food is that the color-coded flakes make it easy to see the benefits and decide if it's right for your pet.
Opening the packageI was expecting the resealable top to make it easy to open, but the material is a bit stretchy and the little notches don't help much. I ended up using scissors to open it, which was actually easier.
The appearance of the foodThe kibble looks pretty standard – brown flakes that remind me of oatmeal cookies. The flakes are all the same size and shape.
For puppies, the kibble should be smaller and easier to chew, not a hassle. Dilly gets it right, with flakes that are 15 mm in width – perfect for larger breed puppies.
IngredientsI'm a dog owner, and I'm obsessed with feeding my furry friend the best. I don't want to give them low-quality food, which can compromise their health. So, I opt for more natural ingredients, and that's exactly what I saw on the 'Dilly' packaging.
Zlaki (corn, wheat, wheat sprout, rice, oat), meat meal, meat hydrolysate, animal fat, vitamins (A, D3, K3, E, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B12, H), minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium), fish oil, sunflower oil, egg powder, preservative, and antioxidant, approved for use in the Russian Federation.
The ingredient list isn't perfect. Zlaki, which are the first on the list and have the highest concentration, are necessary for my pup, but not in such large quantities. A lot of wheat is bad news, not just for puppies but also for adult dogs. The foundation of this formula (in the largest amount) is plant-based protein, which is harder to digest and less beneficial than animal-based protein. Let's just say the ingredient list is lacking, and it's definitely not suitable for a growing puppy.
I'm disappointed that the percentage of ingredients isn't specified, as that's crucial information for pet owners.
Verdict: The ingredients align with the economy class of dog food, but there are better options out there. This food is definitely not a complete diet and won't work for puppies; they need something more nourishing and animal-based, not plant-based.
Smell of the food
I've got to say, dog owners will totally relate to me on this one - the smell of dog food can be absolutely horrific. The Chappi brand always makes me think of that awful smell, but the Dillie puppy food has a slightly more tolerable aroma. It's not the most natural smell, but it's not overpowering or nauseating either. There's a faint chemical undertone to it, but it doesn't bother me or my pup.
Dosing Recommendations for Dog Food
I appreciate that the manufacturer has included a dedicated section on dosing, as every dog food is different and has its own specific nutritional profile. The back of the packaging has a clear table that makes it easy to calculate the right amount of food for your pup.
The top row lists the puppy's age, and the left column shows their weight. The bottom row provides recommendations for feeding frequency - two to four times a day. With these details, you can easily calculate the daily ration in grams tailored to your dog's needs. The serving sizes are listed for the entire day, not just a single meal.
My Furry FriendI'm a happy owner of a super friendly little pup I picked up on the side of the road. Since my fur baby's build is a bit like a fox, we've had some issues with digestive problems. A poorly chosen food can cause trouble with digesting, an unpleasant smell from her mouth, and difficulties with her poop, not to mention she just feels down and sad. So, this food is not just about her health and quality of life, but also her mood.
My pup is all grown up, she's about 5-6 years old. Why did I choose a puppy food? Usually it's a bit better than adult food, thanks to its composition. It's easier to digest and doesn't smell as bad. Plus, my picky eater loves it more than the adult food.
How She Eats the Food
I was surprised to find that my picky eater devours the 'Dillie' puppy food really well. She doesn't turn her nose up at it even after a week, and she kept eating it until the 1kg pack was all gone. For me, that's super impressive, since she usually doesn't like dry food at all. I'm not sure why she likes this one, but as her owner, I'm thrilled.
My dog chomps down on these kibbles with ease, but she's a mature dog - her teeth are pretty strong. I think this size and hardness would be perfect for big breed puppies, though.
How my finicky eater reacted
The good news is, my dog didn't have any adverse reactions to this questionable ingredient list. She's a bit of a picky eater and doesn't always finish her meals, but with this food, she's been pretty consistent. The stool was normal, there were no vomiting episodes, and I didn't notice any bloating.
This food hasn't seemed to affect her energy levels either - she's still sprinting around and playing with the other dogs with enthusiasm.
One thing I did notice, though, is that my dog started drinking a lot more water after switching to this food. I've been refilling her water bowl more frequently, and I'm not sure if it's because the food is too dry or if there's an imbalance in the flavor. Maybe she's just feeling a bit uncomfortable after eating and trying to compensate by drinking more water. Either way, it's just a guess, and I wish I could ask the manufacturer for some insight.
My dog's daily ration: how much she eats and what's changed since adding 'Dillie' to her diet
I've noticed that my adult dog hasn't eaten more of the 'Dillie' food. But she's a mature girl, so she doesn't have the same issue as puppies do with stopping after being full. She's either hungry or not hungry, and the food is always in her bowl, so she knows it's there. This leads me to believe that the satiety is working as intended, and my dog is eating her daily ration of around 150-170 grams per day. This, by the way, is in line with the manufacturer's table, but that's for puppies, not adult dogs.
Value for Money
I was really impressed with the price of the food - just 201 rubles per kilogram. And that's considering that puppy food is usually more expensive than adult dog food. Overall, it's a very affordable option.
Where to Buy
'Dillie' food is widely available and can be found in both regular grocery stores in the pet food section and specialized pet stores. Of course, it's also available on all marketplaces.
I'll highlight the main pros and cons of using 'Dillie' food for puppies:
✅ My dog eats it well;
✅ The kibbles are easily chewed;
✅ The smell isn't too strong or overpowering;
✅ It didn't cause any digestive issues;
❌ The ingredient list;
❌ It's not a complete diet;
❌ It's not suitable for puppies;
❌ The percentage of ingredients in the formula isn't specified;
✅ It's widely available, both online and offline;
✅ The price is in line with the quality;
❌ I won't be buying it again and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Conclusion
I'm left with mixed feelings about the 'Dilly' puppy food. I think it's one of those cases where you get what you pay for: the price is super low, and so is the quality. I wasn't expecting much from a cheap food, but I didn't think the ingredients would be this bad, it's on par with the super economy-class dog food like '365 days'. I'm sorry to say that the manufacturer really thinks it's a decent and even full-fledged puppy food, which is just a marketing gimmick for those who don't check the ingredients. But despite all the downsides, my dog eats this food just fine and doesn't turn up her nose at it, maybe it's the chemistry.
I won't be eating this food from 'Dilly' again, it might be worth the money, but not my dog's health, I don't want to speed up her lifespan.
I wouldn't recommend buying it, especially for puppies.
I'm giving it 2 stars only because my dog didn't have any negative reactions and ate it just fine.
Thanks for reading my review.
Give it a thumbs up if it was helpful.
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My reviews of other dog foods I recommend or not:
Experience of 5 years: how the food pleased the dog and did it meet the finicky stomach?
It looked nice and aromatic to a human, but how is it for a pet?
My reviews of budget-friendly treats for dogs:
Diet-friendly treats for my pup
My puppy's favorite meat treat