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

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Blue Label or Blue Buffalo?  I've been seeing a lot of Blue Buffalo ads lately.

Luna was on Blue Buffalo for a while, but she didn't like it as much as her current food, Wellness.  Both are on the recommended brands list and are available at Petco/Petsmart. A few other food group members have said that their dogs didn't really like the "lifesource bits" (basically little vitamin pockets) that are in Blue - and we think that's the part Luna didn't really enjoy too. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Thank you Allyson and Karen, you guys are the best. I know this must take so much of your time. I was feeding a less than stellar food based on the Pet Store recommendation, I am so glad I found DK and the Food Group.  A big woof from Quincy, he loves his Fromm Surf n' Turf.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That discussion was from January of 2011, lol, more than a year ago, and I don't remember why it didn't get included on our list. It may have just been an oversight. But we can certainly add them to the list once I have a chance to double check the source of the ingredients, etc.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's still the best thing you can do. There's a lot of good info that remains true in general. I appreciate that you are using the search features, don't let me discourage you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I emailed Earthborn to check on their ingredient sources and verify that their fish meal is ethoxyquin free. Here is the response I got:

 

Thank you for your interest in Earthborn Holistic Natural Food for Pets. All ingredients for Earthborn Holistic dry pet food are sourced from the US except for flaxseed which comes from Canada and Lamb meal which comes from Australia or New Zealand. All vitamins are now produced overseas, even the human grade ones (yes, even your one-a-day vitamins). Although we purchase vitamins from a US company they are produced overseas in a human grade facility. We source all ingredients from the US if they are available in the US. Our fish meal is ethoxyqin free. We use a US supplier of fish meal that preserves with tocopherols, a  natural source of Vitamin E. Earthborn is manufactured in our Monmouth, IL plant in the USA.

Cindy Montgomery

VP, Marketing

Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.

9634 Hedden Road

Evansville, IN 47725

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So we will add them to our Recommended List.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

February 2012 Update:

Karen suggested we add Darford products to the list.  I used to feed Tacky their treats (cannot now due to kidney disease) and he LOVED them. I had no idea they made dog food (only grain-free).  Thanks Karen!

[Ruby Goldendoodle]

I thought I saw Nature's Domain on this list? Now I don't. Was this food ever on the approved list? I think we have decided to go with that food. Did something happen to have it removed?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We never had Nature's Domain on the Recommended Brands list, but i know there is some discussion about it in the FG discussion forum. I'll see if I can find you a link.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here you go:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/natures-domaine?groupUrl=t...

Bottom line is that it isn't a horrible food, but you can do much better for the same price, because it is not very nutrient dense, so you end up having to feed more of it, and the quality of the ingredients is not as good.

[Ruby Goldendoodle]

Ok, thanks. What good food is the same price? I want to feed my Doodle the best, but unfortunately money is an object. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's hard to answer your question, for several reasons. I don't even know the price for Nature's Domaine in your area. First, the prices vary depending on where you buy the foods.

They may even vary from one part of the country to another. But the big reason is that you can't look at price alone to know how much you will actually be paying for food. Here's why:

Orijen is considered one of the best kibbles out there. It's also one of the most expensive...at first glance. But here's the thing; A 15.4 lb bag of the Adult formula would cost me $42, and my dog would eat 3 cups per day. A 15 lb bag of Natural Balance chicken formula, which is a moderately priced food (for premium food, we are not talking about foods sold in warehouse clubs or gorcery stores) would cost me $36, but my dog would need to eat 4.5 cups per day to get the same amount of calories. So even though it looks like the Natural is less expensive, the Orijen would last 50% longer. In other words, my dog would go through a bag of Natural Balance in two weeks and a bag of Orijen three weeks. So here's the math:

Orijen: 17 bags per year @ $42 = $714

Nat. Bal. : 26 bags per year @ $36 = $936

Now we can see that the Orijen is less expensive than the Natural Balance.

Obviously, I can't calculate the prices for every food out there, or even know what they are where you shop, but I suggest you take our list of recommended brands to a pet supply store in your area and compare the prices.

Alernatively, if there is a store you would like to use for the majority of your dog food purchases, see what brands they carry that are on our list.

The issue is also complicately by the fact that grain-free foods cost less than foods that contain grains. Foods that are fish based cost more than foods that are chicken based. So there lots of factors involved.

Blue Buffalo and Holistic Select are two brands that I believe are less expensive. And as I said, Nature's Domaine is not a bad food, if that's what works best for your budget and/or convenience.

But also keep in mind that good nutrition can help prevent disease down the road, so when you spend a little more for food, you may spend a lot less at the vet's office.