Why is choosing dog food so confusing?

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

1. 1
   trying the food recommended by the breeder
2. 2
   switching to a puppy formula after consulting a vet
3. 3
   visiting community wikis for qualified nutrition resources
4. 4
   Following veterinarian recommendations for established brands like Royal Canin
5. 5
   Switching to specialized or hypoallergenic kibble based on breed tendencies
6. 6
   Researching ingredients and manufacturing standards independently

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.