Recommended Dog Food Brands as of APRIL 2015

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

GRAIN-FREE FORMULAS ONLY

Orijen (our favorite grain-free food)

Formulas:  Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Adult (chicken, turkey, fish), 6 Fish, Regional Red (boar, lamb, pork, bison), Senior (lower calorie chicken, turkey, fish) , Tundra (goat, venison, mutton, duck, rabbit, fish)
Website:  http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/
 

Zignature

Formulas: Duck, Lamb, Trout & Salmon, Turkey, Zssential (multi-protein)

Also has canned lines.

Website:  http://www.zignature.com/

 

GRAIN-FREE & HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS

Acana

Grain-free Formulas (Regionals):  Wild Prairie (chicken, whitefish), Pacifica (salmon, flounder, herring); Grasslands (lamb, duck, fish); Ranchlands (beef, lamb, herring)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Classics):  Puppy Small Breed, Puppy & Junior, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Adult Dog, Adult Large Breed, Sport & Agility, Light & Fit, Senior Dog (all contain chicken and flounder for protein)

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Singles):  Lamb & Apple, Duck & Pear, Pork & Butternut Squash

Website:  http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/products.php

 

Fromm

Grain-free Formulas:  Surf & Turf (salmon, duck, chicken); Beef Frittata Veg, Salmon Tunalini, Game Bird (duck, turkey, quail pheasant), Lamb & Lentil, Pork & Peas 

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Pork & Applesauce, Duck & Sweet Potato, Chicken A La Veg, Whitefish & Potato, Salmon A La Veg (all part of the Four-Star line); Adult Gold, Large Breed Adult Gold, Puppy Gold, Large Breed Puppy Gold, Senior Gold (all Gold lines contain duck, chicken and lamb); Adult and Mature Adult Classics (both Classic lines contain chicken)

Website:  http://frommfamily.com/products 

 

Petcurean

Grain-free Formulas (Now Fresh & Go! Fit & Free lines):  Now Fresh Puppy, Adult, Small Breed, Senior, Large Breed Puppy, Large Breed Adult, Large Breed Senior (all contain turkey, salmon, duck), Go! Fit & Free Puppy, Adult and Senior (all contain chicken, turkey, salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Go! Daily Defiance & Summit Holistic lines):  Go! Daily Defiance Chicken, Lamb (both all life stages), Summit 3 Meat Puppy, 3 Meat Adult, 3 Meat Reduced Calorie (3 Meats contain chicken, salmon, lamb),

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Go! Sensitivity & Shine line): Duck, Salmon, Grain Free Turkey

Website:  http://www.petcurean.com/

 

Solid Gold

Grain-free Formulas:  Barking at the Moon (fish, beef); Sun Dancer (chicken)

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Hundchen Flocken Puppy, Hund-n-Flocken Adult (both contain lamb); Wolfcub Puppy, Wolfking Adult (both contain bison), Holistique Blendz Senior (fish), MMillennia Beef & Barley Adult, Just a Wee Bit Adult (bison)

Website:  http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products

 

Wellness

Grain-free Formulas (Core line):  Puppy, Small Breed, Original, Reduced Fat (all contain chicken, turkey), Ocean (fish)

Healthy Grain Formulas (Super5Mix line):  Chicken, Lamb, Barley & Salmon Meal, Whitefish & Sweet Potato, Healthy Weight, Just for Puppies, Just for Seniors, Adult Large Breed, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Small Breed Healthy Weight, Small Breed Puppy (final 8 contain chicken)

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Simple Solutions line):  Duck & Oatmeal, Salmon & Potato, Turkey & Potato, Lamb & Oatmeal

Website:  http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog-wellness.aspx

 

Horizon

Grain-free Formulas (Legacy line):  Puppy, Adult (both contain chicken, salmon, turkey); Also has Amicus line for small breeds (turkey, chicken, salmon); Also has Pulsar line with peas, lentils, chicken and fish

Healthy Grain Formulas (Complete line):  Large Breed Adult, Large Breed Puppy, Puppy, Adult, Senior (all contain chicken)

Website:  http://www.horizonpetnutrition.com/

 

Canidae

Grain-free Formulas (Pure):  Sky (duck, turkey), Land (bison, lamb), Element (chicken, turkey, lamb, ocean fish), Sea (salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Lamb & Rice, Chicken & Rice, Beef & Fish, ALS (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish), Platinum Senior (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish)

Limited Ingredient Formulas:  Chicken, Brown & White Rice (Single Grain Protein)

Website:  http://www.canidae.com/

 

Lotus (has a raw formula also)

Grain-free Formula:  Duck

Healthy Grain Formulas: Wholesome Chicken, Wholesome Chicken Puppies, Wholesome Chicken Seniors, Wholesome Lamb

Website:  http://lotuspetfoods.com/for-dogs.php

 

Earthborn Holistic

Grain-free Formulas:  Primitive Natural (turkey, chicken, whitefish), Coastal Catch (herring, salmon, whitefish), Great Plains Feast (bison), Meadow Feast (lamb)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult Vantage, Puppy Vantage and Small Breed (all contain chicken and whitefish), Ocean Fusion (whitefish and menhaden fish)

Website:  http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/us/dog_formulas/

 

Eagle Holistic Select

Grain Free Formulas: Adult & Puppy Salmon, Anchovy and Sardines

Healthy Grain Formulas:  Adult, Adult Small & Mini Breed, Puppy, Puppy Small & Mini Breed (all 4 contain anchovy, sardines, salmon), Adult Chicken Meal & Rice, Adult Duck, Adult Lamb, Senior Chicken & Rice, Large & Giant Breed Chicken & Oatmeal, Large & Giant Breed Puppy Lamb Meal & Oatmeal, Weight Maintenance Chicken & Peas

Website:  http://www.holisticselect.com/

 

Holistic Blend

Grain Free Formulas: Turkey

Healthy Grain Formulas: Hollistic Blend (Lamb & Rice; Chicken, Rice & Vegetable) and The Healthy Dog (Chicken & Herring Meal)

Website: http://www.holisticblend.com/en/food-formulas/dog-formulas/holistic-blend/

 

Addiction

Grain Free Formulas: Salmon Bleu, Viva La Venison, Le Lamb

Healthy Grain Formulas: La Porchetta (Pork, Limited ingredient)

**Also has raw dehydrated formulas**

Website: http://addictionfoods.com/

 

Great Life

Grain Free Formulas: Buffalo, Chicken, Salmon; Pioneers Natural Grain Free Chicken, GF Pork, GF Venison and GF Whitefist

Healthy Grain Formulas: Buffalo, Chicken, Lamb, Salmon; Pioneers Natural Buffalo, Chicken, Pork Venison and Whitefish

Limited Ingredient Formulas (Dr. E's line): Buffalo, Duck; Grain Free Buffalo, Grain Free Duck

Website: http://doctorsfinest.com

 

Annamaet

Grain Free Formulas: Lean (chicken, duck, herring), Aqualuk (salmon, herring), Salcha (chicken, turkey, duck), Manitok (lamb, venison)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult (chicken, 23% protein), Encore (chicken, 25% protein), Extra (chicken, 26% protein), Option (salmon and venison, 24% protein), Ultra (chicken, 32% protein), Small Breed ALS (lamb, venison, coming soon)

Website: http://annamaet.com/

 

Nature's Variety (has a raw line also)

Grain Free Formulas: Instinct Raw Boost (5 formulas: chicken, beef & lamb, lamb & salmon, duck & turkey, venison & lamb); Instinct Originals (5 formulas: chicken, beef & lamb, duck & turkey, rabbit, salmon)

Healthy Grain Formulas: Prairie Dogs (6 formulas: chicken, beef, lamb, duck, venison, salmon); Puppy and Large Breed Puppy (chicken and brown rice)

Limited Ingredient Formulas (Instinct Grain Free line): Turkey, Lamb, Duck, Rabbitt

Website: http://www.naturesvariety.com/

 

Farmina 

Grain Free Formulas (N&D line): Chicken, Large Breed Chicken, Small Breed Chicken, Wild Lamb, Wild Boar, Wild Herring

Healthy Grain Formulas (20% Ancestral High Protein line): Chicken, Lamb, Wild Cod

Website: http://usa.farmina.com/

HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS ONLY

 

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul

Healthy Grain Formulas: Adult, Large Breed Adult, Senior, Adult Light, Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Overweight (all contain chicken, turkey).

Website:  http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/products/dogs/

  

 

RAW FORMULAS ONLY

Darwin's:  http://www.darwinspet.com

Honest Kitchen:  http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/

Primal:  http://www.primalpetfoods.com/

Ziwi Peak:  http://www.ziwipeak.com/

Stella & Chewy’s:  http://www.stellaandchewys.com/

Sojos:  http://www.sojos.com/

Tucker's Raw:  http://www.tuckersbones.com/

I and love and you (also has kibble):  http://www.iandloveandyou.com/products/dog/raw/dehydrated.aspx

Addiction (also has kibble):  http://www.addictionfoods.com/

 

RX/PRESCRIPTION FORMULAS ONLY

Rayne Clinical Nutrition: http://www.raynenutrition.com/

 

** Brands that look good but have had recent recalls or buyouts; still better than Iams, Nutro, Hills, and grocery store junk…..

 

Taste of the Wild (grain-free): http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products

EVO (grain-free): http://www.evopet.com

Innova (healthy grains):  http://www.innovapet.com

California Natural (recommended for dogs with sensitivities):  http://www.californianaturalpet.com

Merrick (Before Grain is grain-free; 5-Star is healthy grains; Castor & Pollux is also owned by Merrick):  http://www.merrickpetcare.com/ | http://www.castorpolluxpet.com

Evanger’s:  http://www.evangersdogfood.com/

Natural Balance (known for limited ingredient diets; merged with DelMonte 6/15/13): http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

Bravo (raw; more than one recall in last year):  http://www.bravorawdiet.com/

Blue Buffalo (may have byproducts in their ingredients):   http://www.bluebuffalo.com/dry-dog-food

[F, Calla & Luca]

I feed Acana grain free formulas including Wild Prairie. My 65 pound doodle is getting 2 cups and my 48 pound doodle gets about 1and 3/4 cups. So the amounts on the bag are only a guideline. But still the comparison between brands in term of guidelines is informative. I love Acana. The quality is great and the dogs like it.

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Hey Everyone,

Archie is a year old (55lbs) and everyone has told me to get off of Science Diet ASAP.  So...I did some research on the food brands and formulas.  Just to let you know I didn't wanna get too expensive because I am 25 and live on my own with my girlfriend and we aren't trying to splurge on dog food to the max.  Having said that, you will see I have still narrowed my choices down to some good formulas.  Because of my price range I have knocked out Orijen, Solid Gold, Petcurean GO!, Zignature, and ILY.

Anyway, here is what I am down too...all prices are from Chewy.com as well as feeding guide info.

1. Acana 28.6lbs bag & according to feeding guide 3 cups a day.

• Wild Prairie ($61.99) 
• Chick & Burbank ($53.99) (has grain) so not wild about this one...

2. Blue Buffalo 24lbs bag @ $49.99 on chewy.com & according to feeding guide 3 cups a day

• Blue Wilderness Chicken

3. Fromm 30lbs bag & according to feeding guide 4 cups a day

• Chicken A La Veg ($49.99)
• Duck & Sweet Potato ($53.99)
• Surf & Turf ($65.99)

4. Wellness 26lbs bag @ $52.95 & according to feeding guide 2 1/2 cups a day

• CORE Original 
• Super5mix - can't find this on Chewy.com (only see it at PetSmart).

Can you guys give me some feed back on what I should do.  While I like the Fromm 30lbs bag option its 4 cups a day, so at the price you're not really saving much.  I am leaning towards either Acana Wild Prairie or Wellness CORE Original because CORE is pretty cost effective since its a slightly smaller bag at 26lbs vs Acana 28.6lbs, but only about 2 1/2 cups a day versus 3 cups daily.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help with what you guys think I should go with for Archie....Also, if you have any other suggestions please let me know. Thanks!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Your problem is that you are not posting a new discussion here. My reply to your original post here is above.

[Paul Schumacher]

While I am only a new doodle owner, and our puppy is only 5 months old, I can attest to the PUPPY Wellness Core grain free formula as working well for our puppy Zoe.  I did a lot of research and was happy with the quality of the food relative to the price point.  

If we have any problems in future with the puppy food, or the Wellness Core grain free adult formula doesn't agree with her, Acana is the first food we will try to switch to.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, for sure the food group is going to be "cluttered" if the same thing gets posted here and then in a separate discussion, too, not to mention in the main forum. 

It's really very confusing. I think in the future it would be a good idea to post in one place. 

[Katie & Mr. Bodhi]

I am surprised not to see the food we give Bodhi on this list. He is intolerant to almost all proteins including chicken, beef, fish, lamb, as well as grains. The ONLY food he is able to tolerate is California Natural's Grain Free Venison. Im curious to know if anyone else has this issue with proteins and uses this same food or something similar?

Update: Ok I just saw Cal Nat on the list of brands that look good but have been recalled. Still curious to know if anyone else is on a venison diet or other protein

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Katie, Natura was one of the best brands on the market until they sold the company to Proctor and Gamble a few years ago. The recalls and quality control started one year later (not coincidentally after the one year agreement with Natura not to change anything expired). For this reason, we stopped recommending C.N. as well as EVO and Innova. It truly broke my heart to do this, but we do not recommend any food made by a multinational corporation. 

I'm not sure how you determined that Bodhi is intolerant of "almost all proteins", but in most cases where the dog has food intolerances, feeding a "novel" protein such as rabbit, duck, venison, (or whatever your dog has not eaten before on a regular basis) will work. There are a lot of limited ingredient formulas among our recommended brands. you want to look for a protein and carb source that he has not eaten before.  

[Katie & Mr. Bodhi]

Thanks Karen. I am actually aware of the buy out that happened and saddened by it too. I run a business that focuses on knowing and teaching where your products come from and what ingredients are in them, specifically personal care products but also food. There are many companies out there that are doing good things and then get bought out by bigger companies like how burts bees was bought out by clorox and changed their products. It is very frustrating and sad. 

As far as figuring out his protein problem, we did trial runs with good brands and different proteins for about a year and came to the conclusion that we need to stay away from normal proteins. It wasnt until we tried venison when he didnt have any issues. When Cal Nat had their big long recall this past summer, it was very difficult. We went to Natural Balance's limited ingredient venison (which is much cheaper!) but didnt have success with it and ended up using their rabbit formual until Cal Nat came back in. He didnt have as many issues with it but I could tell it made him uncomfortable and his stools looked funny (as long as they weren't runny I was happy). We keep an eye out for other foods that might work but I feel bad switching him so much and having to go through transitions. I just dont know what we will do if his current food formula gets changed. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have a dog with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and participate in a support group for owners of dogs with these types of diseases, so I understand your situation very well. All you can do is keep a close watch on the current food/company/issues, and in the meantime, keep looking around for possible alternatives in case you need them. :)

[Sam, Risa and Archie]

Hey everyone, so I have been posting a lot about foods lately as I am looking for the best choice of food for Archie who has been on Science Diet for a few months now (and I have been informed is a bad choice).  The next part of my research is Grain vs. Grain-free.  Everyone is always talking about grain-free foods being best, but with Archie having a sensitive stomach and being a stubborn picky eater I wasn't sure that was a good idea.

Also, I have done my research and have thought that Acana, Earthborn and Fromm are my final 3 with Acana and From being my favorite two.  I was going to do a taste test with the 3 brands and see which Archie likes best.  I like Acana Wild Prairie and Fromm Chicken A La Veg, one grain and one grain-free.

My question to everyone is what are the pros and cons for grain vs. grain-free.  In addition, grain-free may be just a little too rich for Archie?

Earthborn is a personal favorite, but I know it isn't rated as well as Acana and Fromm.

Thanks to everyone who gives some input. I appreciate all your knowledge and help. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

"Rich" has to do with fat content and Acana is fine in that regard. I like grain free for the nice consistent Poop it produces. I had my dogs on Fromm and it was OK but they do even better on Acana. I rotate the grain free varieties month to month and have done so for several years.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Grain-free foods generally work better for dogs with sensitive stomachs than foods that contain grains. 

Sam, just try something, lol. You won't know until you do. Pick one and try it. Forget the taste tests. A lot of people have given you opinions on this, but nobody can say for sure ahead of time what will work best for Archie or what he will like best. 

Earthborn is fine, we really do not use "ratings" here. 

You can't do a "taste test" with brands anyway. The brand is just the name of the manufacturer, the specific formula is what the dog will like or not like. Many dogs will love one flavor of Fromm, say, and hate another one. Same with all brands. 

I would not change his food right now, while he has this stomach bug. Wait until the meds are finished and he is back to nomral. Metronidazole can do a number on the gut bacteria, and it is a very very bad idea to introduce a new food or change anything at all about his diet while he is on meds.