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

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

OMG WHAT A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, my head is still spinning!  THANK YOU for providing such wonderful information, so now I have to ask for advice (head still spinning Ü).  I have two dogs a 62# labradoodle with a heart murmur and a 40# jackadoodle (we think).  The two eat together from the same bowl and are grazers not chowhounds.  With the Oriejen, Acana, and TOTW can they be served from the same bag?  I'm learning smaller dogs have different foods than larger dogs?  They are currently on Royal Canin (breeder recommended-labradoodle) and the smaller dog is not digging the larger kibble (we just switched from the puppy food)?  RC told us to purchase the large adult kibble and not the small adult dog kibble.  I have no idea is the heart murmur and food ingredients an issue?  Also, I noticed my doodle's coat is dry and coarse, not sure if one of the above foods or any other could make a difference?  All the doodles we are meeting have beautiful soft coats while my girl feels like a brillo pad!  What extras do you feed them in addition to dry food?  My girls get a scoop from my smoothie every morning (blueberries, strawberries, peaches and yogurt).  My sister is visiting and she uses TOTW although their Newfie is suffering from major allergies and immune issues.  They are still going through different foods to see what works best.  They started with raw foods but that didn't seem to matter?  Her golden does great on TOTW and has a great coat.  Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you, Jolene

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jolene, these are a lot of questions to try to answer here in our Recommended Foods discussion. I think it would be better if you posted this as a separate Food group discussion, so we can address all of these issues.

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Will do.  Thanks.

[Jen Fischer]

This is so helpful! Thank you!

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Well we've made the transfer from RC to TOTW and both are given separate bowls.  My LD is lapping up her meal in record time (all at once!) but the other one won't touch a single kibble?  She keeps pacing Sassparillas bowl (I've tried separate rooms / crating with the food / even extras goodies mixed in?) She gobbled up the samples when we first got them?  Looks like now I need to try different foods to see what entices her?  What a little pooper....  I'm really not thrilled feeding them separate food, that makes travel/overnighters more work for me!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would not buy a separate food; she will eat when she gets hungry enough. We have many, many discussions about this here in the Food Group. Click "Back to The Food Group Discussions" at the top of the page and it will allow you to do a search.

[Ellie and Cooper]

We feed Cooper Iams because that is what he was on when we got him.  We tried a new one from Pet Supermarket that had lamb in it and he didn't like it.  So we switched back.  The only reason we bought it was because of the Company Rep.  We cook chicken breast and add to his food and we give him frozen fat-free Yogurt as a dessert.  Is there anything wrong with what we are feeding him.  If we have left overs that we think he would like we add that to his dry food as well.  I get so confused with all this talk about the different types of dog food.  I would really rather just cook what he likes and add it to his dry mix.  You guys give me some input on what I am doing.  Cooper will be a year old this Friday the 11th.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Haroletta, Iams was the brand most affected when thousands of dogs and cats died from tainted pet foods during the 2007 recalls. The company is owned by a huge multi-national corporation which outsources all of their ingredients through third party food brokers, who in turn subcontract the ingredients from China,and there is no quality control or control of the supply chain. Currrently, this website and the news has been full of articles about chicken jerky imported from China that is killing dogs. It just isn;t safe to feed foods that outsource their ingredients. But in addition, although you didn;t specify which formula you are using, most of them are full of by-products, corn, and other unhealthy ingredients including preservatives which have been linked to cancer. You are basically adding wholesome fresh foods to a base of junk, some of which can cause health problems.

The cheap foods like Iams are sprayed with rancid fats, which appeals to dogs. Sometimes it can be challenging to switch them to something better, but adding the fresh food should help. As far as what Cooper "likes" or doesn't like, would you choose your child's food based on what he likes? What if he only liked candy and soda? You would not let him live on that, right? Our kids and our dogs cannot make good food choices themselves, they need us to make those choices for them.

If you would like a recommendation for a better food, I would try one of the Fromm formulas. That seems to appeal to most dogs.

[Lindsay n Archie]

Thanks Karen for your feedback yesterday.  What partiuclar type of puppy food do you (or anyone) recommend? Grain free, limited grains, full grains, etc? I was told that Goldens and Labs can get ear infections from chicken, which is why my pup is on the Nutro Lamb and Rice limited ingredients.  I will switch him to a better brand of food in about a month (I dont want to switch him too soon we just got him).  Just curios though, as to what brand and type? Ive heard good things about Blue Buffalo, Acana, Wellness.  Also that Orijen is better for older dogs because  its too much protien for puppies. Hes only 9 weeks.  Any suggestions are great, for food brand any type, etc. (and amount!)  Currently he is eating about 2 cups a day.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Whoever told you that Goldens and Labs can get ear infections from chicken needs to take a basic biology class, lol. That's ridiculous, and has no basis in fact. Ear infections are caused by many things, including moisture, bacteria, yeasts, lack of air circulation, hair in the ears, irritation, and genetics, but not by proteins in food.

And Orijen absolutely does not have too much protein for puppies. Again, not based in fact or science.

I can't give you amounts, as all foods have different calorie contents. The higher the calorie content, the less you feed. Peronsally, if I had a new puppy, I would most likely start with one of the Champion brands, either Orijen or Acana. But some of this is trial and error; no one formula is going to be right for every puppy.

I agree that you should not change foods again. Archie has not been with you long enough for any intestinal parasites to have shown up, and they are very common in doodle puppies. If you make too many changes, you won;t know what is causing the digestive/poop issues if any should occur. I wouldn;t make any more changes for two weeks minimum.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree about the chicken, pure hokum. I agree with all the rest too.

[Becka]

Maybe whoever said that chickens can give dogs ear infections was actually trying to put chickens in their dog's ear. :)