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/

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hugs back atcha! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Nancie, I would not feed large breed puppy food to Nellie. I was just reading about large breed puppy nutrition needs, and with very few exceptions our doodles don’t fit into that category. It has to do with slower bone growth and calcium needs for slower growth. 

[Kathryn digregorio]

Hi,  I just read where grain free has been found to cause enlarged heart and low cardiac circulation ....what is your opinion on this???  My pup is on Orjjen...regional and topped off with chicken or other topping she likes.  Should we be adding a grain to this???  She is super healthy, but very picky.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Kathryn, we have had several discussions here about the research being done on the possible connection between certain kinds of grain free foods (specifically those that contain an abundance of legumes) and a particular type of heart condition called Taurine Deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy (TD DCM). I can try to find links for you. 
This really has nothing at all to do with the absence of grains in the food; it's about the presence of certain other types of starches in the diet, and the development of taurine deficiency. Grains themselves will do nothing to prevent this condition in those dogs who are prone to it.  If your pup is healthy and doing well with the food, i would not change a thing. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's a link to one of our discussions on this topic.
https://doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/taurine-de...

[c zoomer]

Here’s a photo from the sample pack of “nature’s Logic”.... not mentioned on the Nature’s Instinct website...so it must be a different company.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, it's a different company. I just looked at the website breifly and will do a little more research on sourcing, etc when i have a chance. 

[Stella]

One of my friends just told me that Weruva is now made in Thailand?????    

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Their canned food has always been made in Thailand, I think. 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Hello Karen, I swung by just to check on approved foods since it's been a while and noticed in the Zignatures, Port, Catfish and Salmon aren't listed along with the two newest Goat and Guinea Fowl?  Have you not gotten around to the new flavors or should I be concerned?  I tend to rotate each bag from meat to fish to keep things interesting and I've found one of their absolute favorites is the catfish.  I've also noticed some of the DCM anti grain free groups are targeting Zignatures specifically which my best guess is because they are doing so well on the market their trying to deter their customer base?

From here I'll circle the wagon and see what the latest news is on the DCM issue the topic is getting more heated with the general public but I'm not buying into it so I'm trying to read up on some of the recent correspondence to see if anything has changed since the last time I checked in. Not sure why but I can't search anything specific in the search function above so I my reviewing the long way, one group at a time.

Then from there I'm on a mission to re-review the fish oils discussions.  My girls aren't fans of newest bottle purchased, to much info for this average brain to absorb.  They really loved yummie chummies salmon oil and the new bottle I bought was anchovy, mackeral and herring so maybe they don't like those fishy flavors?  Ugh, the hassels I go through for these spoiled girls. lol

Thanks again for all your great input. TIA

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Any formula made by any of our recommended brands is fine; I just don;t have the time to constasntly update every time a new formula comes out or an old one is discontinued. :) 
The brand is the main thing regarding safety & quality. I don;t recommend any brand that makes some foods that are okay and others that contain questionable ingredients or sourcing. 
However...it is a huge mistake to introduce 'exotic" proteins like goat if you don't have to. In the event that you do ever need a novel protein, you will have nowhere to go if you run through everything that's out there now.

The main DK search function has not been working for some time. You can search in a group or in the forums. 

Is there some reason you stopped using the Yummy Chummies salmon oil if your girls liked it? Again, it's a mistake to constantly introduce new things and switch things if there is no good reason. Some variety is nice, but you don;t need to try everything, lol. 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Thank you Karen, that's what I was hoping.  Sadly the yummy chummies is on backorder and has been for quite a while?  Does it make a difference what fish base it is?  Maybe I can find another salmon only base for them?  Nancy mentioned the fish oil could cause soft stools so we've taken Maisie off it and I'm only giving her the EPO and both to my other two.