Always use a quality dog food, never the cheap generic supermarket brands. I feed my dogs Iams.  Talk to your vet for recommendations, and for you vegetarians, see Dr. Pitcarin's Book--an excellent resource. Consult your vet about appropriate food stages, such as when to change diets as your dog ages, or when weight issues are involved.  Variety is not important.  Dogs don't require gravy or exotic flavoring! Trust me on this, don't waste your money. People food, is not healthy for your dog. Chocolate and some other foods are actually toxic. Dogs should never be fed from the table. This leads to annoying begging behaviors and encourages the dogs to check out the table when no one is around.  Water is an important part of your dogs diet, so be sure the water is fresh and chemical free. If your dog sneaks a toilet drink, be certain you do not use chemical toilet bowl dispensers. Discourage toilet drinking behaviors and keep plenty of water available. A healthy active adult dog will drink as much as a gallon or more a week. Water in outdoor bowls should not be slimy. Slimy bowls indicate a bacteria source.