Recommended Dog Food Brands 2018

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

GRAIN-FREE FORMULAS ONLY

Orijen 

Formulas:  (Formulas are slightly different depending on whether they are made in the U.S. or Canada; check website.) Dry line: Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Adult/Original (poultry based), 6 Fish (fish based), Regional Red (meat based), Senior , Tundra (contains less common proteins)

Freeze dried raw formulas: Adult, Regional Red, Tundra
Website:  https://www.orijen.ca/foods/dog-food/

Acana

 (Formulas are slightly different depending on whether they are made in the U.S. or Canada; check website.)

Regionals line:  Meadowland/Wild Prairie (poultry based), Pacifica/Wild Atlantic (fish based); Grasslands (multiple proteins); Ranchlands/Appalachian Ranch (meat based)

Heritage line (lower protein and fewer protein sources than the Regionals line):  Canada: Puppy Small Breed, Puppy & Junior, Puppy Large Breed, Adult Small Breed, Adult Large Breed, Cobb Chicken, Sport & Agility, Light & Fit, Senior Dog

America: Free-Run Poultry, Heritage Meats, Freshwater Fish

Limited Ingredients Formulas (Singles):  Lamb, Duck, Pork, Mackerel/Pilchard

NOTE: In Canada, there is also the Classics Line, which contains grain in the form of oats. Three formulas: poultry, fish, red meat)

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

 

Zignature

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

Also has canned lines.

Website:  http://www.zignature.com/

Wild Callings

Formulas: Rocky Mountain Medley line(multiple proteins), Western Plains Stampede line (single proteins): Beef, Turkey, Whitefish, Xotic Essentials line (novel protein): Bison, Rabbit, Kangaroo

Also has canned formulas.

http://wildcalling.com/learn/

WellMade  (Cloudstar)

Formulas: Kibble: Chicken, Lamb, Duck, Large Breed Chicken, Low-cal Chicken

Also makes several dehydrated raw formulas and canned formulas

http://www.cloudstar.com/product-category/wellmade/baked-kibble/

Open Farm

Formulas: Kibble: Turkey/Chicken, Whitefish, Lamb, Pork, and Salmon formulas
Also makes freeze-dried raw formulas, treats, and "stew" type wet formulas.
https://www.openfarmpet.com/dog-food-recipes

GRAIN-FREE & HEALTHY GRAIN FORMULAS

Fromm

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

Healthy Grain Formulas: Four Star line: Pork & Applesauce, Duck & Sweet Potato, Chicken A La Veg, Whitefish & Potato, Salmon A La Veg ; Gold line: Adult Gold, Large Breed Adult Gold, Puppy Gold, Large Breed Puppy Gold, Senior Gold, all poultry based; Heartland Gold, red meat based. Gold Coast, fish based. Adult and Mature Adult Classics (both Classic lines contain chicken)

Website:   https://frommfamily.com/

 

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)

Note: New as of July 2018, the Complete Health line also has grain-free formulas. 

Healthy Grain Formulas (Complete Health):  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

Note: As of July 2018, the Complete Health line has LID formulas that are exactly the same as the Simple formulas. 

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://www.doctorsfinest.com/category_s/54.htm

 

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/

Weruva

Harmony line: Grain-free Chicken, Grain-free Chicken Turkey & Salmon, Venison & Salmon (contains healthy grains) Melody line: Grain-free Chicken, Grain-free Chicken Turkey & Salmon, Lamb (contains healthy grains).

http://www.weruva.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.chickensoup.com/pet-information/pet-products

RAW FORMULAS ONLY

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

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

Ziwi Peak:  http://www.ziwipeak.com/

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

(S & C also has kibbles, including an LID line)

Sojos:  https://www.sojos.com/

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

Vital Essentials: http://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/

 

RX/PRESCRIPTION FORMULAS ONLY

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

** Brands that look okay 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/

[Judy and Scrabbledoodle]

Thank you, as always, Karen for all the research you do. I am feeling hopeful that the Weruva will stay on the list. Weruva has so many products that make traveling with dogs ( especially those with specific food issues) so much easier. I will keep my fingers crossed that it will stay on the approved list!

[Judy and Scrabbledoodle]

I went to our local pet store today. Especially for Pets. I decided to try a can of Weruva chicken for Scrabble. Weruva has started to produce dry food. It appears that they have limited ingredients. The kibble is produced in Canada. Interesting
,

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The kibble is actually what I look at when I evaluate a food brand. :)

And all of the formulas listed for all of our brands are the kibble; we don't list canned food formulas. 

. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So here is the question I asked the folks at Weruva:

"....where do the ingredients come from? I could find no mention of that on your website. Sourcing is of greater concern to us than the location of the facility where the foods are made. There are many foods made in the USA that contain ingredients imported from China, which was the case with most of the foods involved in the 2007 recalls, so the location where the food is made doesn't always mean much. Can you tell me where do your ingredients come from?"

And here is the answer I got, from the president & founder of the company himself:

"Hello Karen, 

Thank you for the email to Weruva and interest in our products. We appreciate the inquiry. No food ingredients come from China. In our canned products, we source taurine from China (they control about 98% of the world supply), and occasionally, 2-3 vitamins/minerals come from China based upon availability (tricalcium and dicalcium phosphate). 

The dry food is all non-China, including the taurine. 

I hope this is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions or comments."

David Forman, President and Co-Founder

Weruva Because Weluvya!

646-201-9404

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

www.weruva.com

 

 I would have liked it if he had directly answered my question about where the ingredients come from, rather than just reassuring me that they do not come from China. (Most vitamins do come from China, including the ones we take.) 

But this does reinforce my desire to make it clear that we are really only recommending the Weruva dry food; the canned is probably fine, and I'm going to discuss all this tomorrow when Jack sees his holistic and get her take on it, but for now, I'm not 100% comfortable recommending the canned food. 

 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

That's funny! I can believe all he would say is that it was "non-China".

[Judy and Scrabbledoodle]

Wow! I am not really surprised. I must tell you that I decided to buy one can of Weruva chicken, just for Scrabble to try. I put a small amount next to his bowl and a small amount in his food dish with his other food. He smelled the chicken, left it and went over to his bowl. He picked around the chicken, eating what he could, without eating the Weruva chicken. I threw the the rest out. So I guess Scrabble is pretty savvy. Well, I would say that Mr. Forman answered your question, by not answering it. He had no idea how smart and knowledgeable you are. Thank you, as always, for all you do to keep our doodles safe and healthy!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for updating and creating a new discussion.

[Lindsay and Luna]

Thank you for this list! I have a question about Fromm. I see that the Prairie Gold Puppy and Prairie Gold Adult are not on the list. Can you please explain why? Luna was extremely picky until we tried the puppy formula, and now it is time to switch to an adult formula. Please see attached email and response to Fromm, and before/after pics of Luna. I'm scared that when I switch her, she'll go back to not eating. Looking for recommendations. I should also add that I cannot afford more than I am currently paying. I looked into Zignature after seeing your list, but we cannot use it because of severe (human) allergies to sunflower oil. Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Prairie Gold formulas are not on the list simply because it was compiled before those formulas came out, lol, and I haven't had a chance yet to go through each one and add new formulas. All the Fromm formulas are recommended. You're fine staying with the Prairie Gold. 

[Lindsay and Luna]

Wonderful! Thank you so much!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And you know what? I just went to the Fromm website so I could update the formulas, and there is no Prairie Gold; it's called Heartland Gold now! 

[Tracey Anhalt]

Great list, thank you! My Fenway enjoys both Fromm puppy formula's and  Earthborn Holistic.