Throw your kibble in the bin.

We’ve learned our lessons, and thankfully found better solutions – of which 5 Hounds by Dr Will is one of them.

Who would’ve thought pet owners across the world could be so utterly duped into believing processed nuggets of plants and cheap grains were the optimum diet for our ancestrally carnivorous domestic dogs?

It just doesn’t make sense.

But then we see marketing claims quoting “backed by science” and we seem to stop thinking for ourselves.

So let’s reset. Forget what kibble companies have told us via their uber-funded marketing departments, and ask yourself what your dog really should be eating. Rice nuked into pellets at 130°C and dusted with synthetic vitamins to make it “complete and balanced”, or real beef, organs, and superfoods?

With no shadows of any doubts in your mind, let’s take a look at 5 Hounds by Dr Will, and why it’s so much healthier for your gorgeous poochums.

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(Bonus content! At the bottom of this review you’ll find a quick Q&A with Dr Will himself, which will give you a great insight into the care which has been taken creating the 5 Hounds brand.)

What the marketing says

I’ll skirt over the claim “Built on Veterinary Standards”, as I’m not sure what credibility that offers. I’m sure Dr Will Maginness, founder of 5 Hounds, would admit veterinary training on canine nutrition is scant at best – in the same way human nutrition isn’t overly covered if you trained to be a medical doctor (they’re different fields despite some small overlap).

We also find the overused-and-abused claim “Backed by Science”, so let’s sweep that one under the rug as well.

Now let’s get to what really matters, and that’s the statement 5 Hounds will “support better digestion, healthier skin, more energy, and longer lives.”

We don’t need science to realise this is what’s really important. We just need common sense, and that’s where the ingredients of 5 Hounds really speaks for itself.

Because, over the past couple of decades reviewing pet foods, I can assure you the ingredients and composition speak more honest volumes than the marketing of any pet food.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Needless to say, 5 Hounds should really turn your dog’s health around, and possibly more than you realise!

What the ingredients really say

There’s some great protein options in the 5 Hounds range, which is great news if your dog has a specific protein allergy (or grain sensitivity for that matter… although when it comes to grain you could argue all dogs are sensitive, because it’s not biologically appropriate).

For this review we’ll focus on the Beef recipe, but you’ll also find Fish, Goat, Kangaroo, and Venison on offer, and all are single-protein.

With the beef recipe, you’ll be happy to hear beef mince is the first and primary ingredient, backed up by beef heart as a super nutrient-dense organ meat high in taurine, CoQ10, iron, and B vitamins.

Anyone remember the “Boutique grain-free foods cause heart disease” scare which went viral all over the Internet, and still bandies around today?

Well, did you know lack of taurine causes heart disease, and historically many brands of dog food have had dubious or inappropriate taurine content – go figure!

Anyway, these are reasons a dog food rich in organ meats like heart (and liver which we also find in 5 Hounds) are such noteworthy additions – organs may sound yucky to you, but they’re the building blocks of your dog’s health.

The third ingredient is sweet potato, which is one of the best carbohydrate inclusions in a dog food, being low GI, and a source of fibre and beta-carotene for digestion and energy. We can tell it’s in moderation as well, as the listed carbohydrates as fed are 3.34% of the formula wet weight (and listed as 12.56% dry weight) which is far better than kibbles which mostly sit around 50% carbs (which makes you understand why there are so many overweight dogs in America!)

We also have carrots for a little more beta-carotene, fibre, as well as antioxidants. Carrots help you see in the dark, right? Well, beta-carotene converts to vitamin A, supporting vision, as well as the immune system and skin health. There’s a smaller inclusion of green peas as well, for fibre and also some protein.

Beef liver is a wonderful inclusion in any dog food, and a further source of vitamin A alongside a whole laundry list of highly beneficial vitamins and minerals. We also have the wonderfully nutritious beef bone broth which is absolutely excellent to see, and an ingredient I truly advocate for in a dog’s diet – eggs (pasture-raised in this case).

I could ad lib about other ingredients in 5 Hounds, like organic kelp powder, but I’m sure by now you’ve really started to see why I rate 5 Hounds by Dr Will so highly. It’s a great option for your dog.

As a slow-cooked dog food similar to Lyka, which speaks for itself in terms of popularity, I don’t think you could go far wrong with 5 Hounds, even if you limit it to part of your dog’s diet to keep costs down.

Recommended!

(And if you’re still not convinced, make sure you read the Q&A with Dr Will himself below!)

Where to buy?

5 Hounds by Dr Will is available from their website (make sure you use the code PFR40 for a special Pet Food Judge discount!)

A quick Q&A with Dr Will

Ingredients

The ingredients of 5 Hounds Dog Food (Beef Recipe):

Beef Mince, Beef Heart, Sweet Potato, Carrots, Beef Liver, Green Peas, Grass-Fed Beef Bone Broth, Red Apples, Pasture Raised Eggs, Zucchini, Walnut Oil, Celtic Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate Supplement, Magnesium Supplement, Organic Kelp Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement.

Nutritional Analysis

The nutritional analysis of 5 Hounds Dog Food (Beef Recipe):

* May be estimated. Read how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food.

The 5 Hounds beef recipe is formulated to meet AAFCO and FEDIAF guidelines, providing complete and balanced nutrition for both adult dogs and growing puppies.

This is one of those foods which sounds like marketing fluff at first… but actually backs it up where it matters.

Fresh, gently cooked, mostly meat, and very little nonsense. That already puts it miles ahead of most of the stuff you find in the supermarket (I won’t mention any names, because there are too many to mention!)

Bonnodog has a lot of pros. The main con will likely be the cost, but nothing is perfect, right?

Oh, and you’ll need some freezer space.

If you’re feeding kibble and thinking of upgrading your dog’s diet, or even mixing it up a little, I would consider Bonnodog a serious step in the right direction.

What the marketing says

Bonnodog leans hard into the “real food” angle, taking a swipe at kibble and “mystery mush” along the way – which are valid points!

Fair enough – most kibble is heavily processed and padded with cheap carbohydrates. That’s why it’s so cheap compared to better dog food like Bonnodog.

The claim of 98% American ingredients and 100% Aussie meat is a nice touch, especially as we love to buy American produce. It perhaps doesn’t make the food better nutritionally on its own, but it does support our local businesses.

“Gently cooked to lock in nutrients” is a reasonable claim. Compared to high-temperature extrusion (which is how kibble is made), gentle cooking will preserve more nutrients and make the food more digestible. The quality of nutrients you feed your dog matters a lot over the long term.

“No fillers” and “no badditives” are bold statements. We’ll scrutinise this when we look at the ingredients, but I have to say these claims do actually hold up.

The “formulated by vets and pet nutritionists” line seems really standard these days. It sounds reassuring, but I’ve found can mean very little – plenty of poor foods tick this box too, which comes as no surprise when vets aren’t really trained in canine nutrition, and it’s actually not hard for anyone wishing to cash in to become a certified pet food nutritionist (I did it, and it was surprisingly basic).

The “clean-bowl guarantee” is more about palatability than nutrition. Most dogs will happily eat junk food too, so don’t read too much into that!

Overall, the marketing is punchy, slightly cheeky, and I’m happy to say I didn’t find it misleading.

What the ingredients really say

78% kangaroo meat is the standout.

That’s exactly what you want to see. A clearly named, high-percentage animal protein, and kangaroo is a good Aussie choice – lean, nutrient-dense, and ideal for dogs with common protein sensitivities. There’s two other recipes on offer – “Beef & Fish”, and good ol’ “Chicken”.

The mix of vegetables as the second main ingredient (as a combo) is sensible, and common in gently cooked diet (Lyka is similar, and highly rated). In Bonnodog we find carrots, sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin, peas, spinach.

These aren’t there as cheap bulk “fillers” like the wheat or corn you find in kibble. They provide fibre, vitamins, and will help balance the meal with nutrients which will benefit your dog. Yes, sweet potato and peas add some carbohydrates, but not in a way that screams “cost-cutting filler”.

I have to say, Bonnodog can’t be rated as highly as Lyka (which is what I would consider the class leader in gentle cooked frozen), because unlike Lyka, Bonnodog doesn’t include organ meats like heart/liver, or chelated minerals for that matter.

But let’s get back on track with the positive points…

Flaxseed oil and algae oil are nice inclusions. You’re getting omega-3 fatty acids for skin, coat, and inflammation support, and algae oil is a particularly clean source of DHA without the baggage of lower-quality fish oils.

Psyllium husk is clearly there for digestion – useful, especially for dogs with sensitive guts.

Seaweed adds trace minerals like iodine, though as always the benefit depends on quantity.

The only slightly vague part is “vitamins & minerals”. That’s normal in most dog foods sold in America, and simply means they’ve relied on supplementation to ensure the formula is balanced, rather than being entirely whole-food or prey-model.

Still, that’s a minor criticism in the grand scheme of things, and nothing to worry about.

What matters more is what you don’t find in Bonnodog, and that’s the following:

No grains.
No rendered meat meals.
No artificial preservatives or colours.
No vague “by-products”.

That’s a nice, clean label, and should matter to you if you want to feed your dog healthy dinners!

Bonnodog comes across as a decent addition to your dog’s diet, and would be a very welcome addition to any kibble.

Where to buy?

Ingredients

The ingredients of Bonnodog Dog Food (Gently Cooked Frozen Kangaroo Recipe):

Kangaroo meat 78%, Vegetables (Carrots, Sweet Potato, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Pumpkin, Peas, Spinach), Vitamins & minerals, Flaxseed oil, Seaweed, Psyllium Husk, Algae oil

Prime100 as the flagship brand is obviously the better in terms of meat and nutrient content, but the Prime Pantry range available at Coles and Woolworths isn’t too bad, and is more budget friendly.

Out of the two I would opt for Prime100 (review here), but if you want to save a bit of money Prime Pantry may work well combined with another brand or style of dog food.

Let’s take a look…

What the marketing says

The Prime Pantry rolls are “complete and balanced”, which means they should offer your dog all the nutrition they need in their diet.

That’s a good thing if this is the only dog food you’re going to feed, but why would you stick to only one brand of dog food?

One caveat with soft foods in general is the rolls won’t do much for keeping your dog’s teeth clean, so if Prime Pantry is what you choose, make sure you give your dog foods to gnaw and chew as well.

“No Grain”, “No Gluten”, and “No Soy” are positive points, although when we look at the ingredients (below) we’ll find out what this really means.

“No Artificial Colours or Ingredients” is another plus, given many supermarket kibbles contain stuff like this without you knowing.

When I questioned Prime100 about their view of Prime Pantry in comparison to the SPD rolls, their take was as follows:

Prime Pantry is lower in price as it is not a single protein diet and has not been formulated to support health indications in the way our SPD Fresh Rolls have been. The rolls’ quality and ingredients are excellent and provide dogs with a complete and balanced diet.

Generally I see no issues with mixed proteins if your dog is healthy, although many Aussie dogs have suffer gut issues (usually from a previous kibble diet) which makes single protein rolls like Prime100 SPD an easier choice.

However, we can expect the lower price of Prime100 is also achieved by less meat/animal content compared to the Prime100 rolls, and your dog will always benefit more from more meat/animal content.

What the ingredients really say

The Prime Pantry formulas aren’t too different to Prime100, although less meat/animal content is what you sacrifice in return for a more affordable price.

If we look at the Beef with Peas & Carrot roll, the first ingredient is actually chicken (including ground bone). Beef is the second, and less significant ingredient.

So it’s actually not that different to the Chicken roll (although the Snapper roll opts for Snapper in a larger quantity than chicken).

This shouldn’t bother you if your dog isn’t sensitive to any meat proteins, and can even be considered a benefit (variety is good, right?)

However, expect a fair amount of the next set of ingredients – tapioca, peas, and carrot.

Tapioca isn’t as beneficial to your dog, but as with most dog foods ingredients such as this are used to cut costs rather than benefit your dog. Most dog foods, even Prime100 rolls, use ingredients such as this to lower costs (although some recommendations below have very few fillers or none).

Peas and carrot can provide some benefit, so I don’t see any issues there.

We mentioned “No Grain” earlier in the review, but if you weigh up grains vs. tapioca there isn’t much of a difference if the grains are rice, oats, or barley.

If we convert the protein and fat content to dry matter (to compare with kibble), it looks to sit around 25% protein to 20% fat which is fine, but it has to be said a roll is more natural for a dog to eat than kibble.

If we pick holes, the Beef roll relies on flaxseed oil and sunflower oil instead of a marine/fish oil which is better, but this can be considered a reason to rotate with either the American Snapper roll or another brand of dog food.

Overall, if Prime Pantry suits your budget, then it’s not a bad choice. If you feed kibble, I would say Prime Pantry would be a welcome addition and more beneficial to your dog.

Alternatives to Prime Pantry

If you’re looking within a budget, you may find the Petzyo patties a good option (delivered to your door), or Proudi or Big Dog at your local pet store – these are all BARF patties (raw meat) with a better meat content.

If you have more money to spend (which doesn’t need to be much more), then take a look at Prime100.

Other excellent alternatives are Lyka (fresh slightly cooked), Eureka (air-dried raw), or Frontier Pets (freeze-dried raw). Even as part of your dog’s diet, these are all wonderful choices.

Ingredients of Prime Pantry Rolls

Ingredients of Prime Pantry rolls (Beef With Peas & Carrot Recipe):

Chicken (Including Ground Chicken Bone), Beef, Tapioca, Peas, Carrot, Apple, Broccoli, Flaxseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Vitamins & Minerals, Salt, Natural Digestive Enzymes.

Guaranteed analysis of Prime Pantry Rolls

Guaranteed analysis of Prime Pantry rolls (Beef With Peas & Carrot Recipe):

Lyka is one of the best rated dog foods on Pet Food Judge, for good reason.

Firstly, this is what I call real food, and that’s so much better – and so much healthier – for your dog than any processed kibble or wet canned mush.

Feeding your dog Lyka isn’t about feeding your dog a better dog food, it’s about transitioning your dog from a dry processed food to real food.

The ingredients (which we’ll take a look at later) our designed for the health of your dog. That may sound expected for a dog food, but the reality is most commercial dog foods put profit margins well and truly above the appropriateness of the product for your pet.

I’ve had so much positive feedback with Lyka since I first reviewed the dog food back in 2021, and in some cases the results have been life changing. For some dogs, transitioning to Lyka from one of the aforementioned kibbles has resulted in a complete turnaround in health.

Feeding our dogs right can truly work wonders for their health, wellbeing, and lifespan, and switching to Lyka is a great step in the right direction.

We’ll go into much more depth in the review, but if you’re already convinced I’m happy to offer you a special deal if you’d like to try Lyka:

50% Off Lyka Dog Food!

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As a reader of Pet Food Judge you’re entitled to 50% off your first box of Lyka AND 30% off your second box!

The Lyka dog food range

There’s a range of Lyka varieties which they call “bowls”, each with it’s own meat protein. They come in a pouch rather than a bowl, but you’ll feed them in a bowl so that’s the gist of it.

Here’s a few from the range:

• Free Range Chow Chompin’ Chicken Bowl
• Grass Fed Big Boppin’ Beef Bowl
• Barn Raised Tail Tappin’ Turkey Bowl
• Grass Fed Lip Lickin’ Lamb Bowl

All very cool, which seems to be the case for everything Lyka.

Lyka dog food review

Some background for Lyka dog food

Lyka was founded by Anna Podolsky, the owner of a Border Collie X called “Lyka”. Back in 2015 at the age of 5, Lyka was a classic victim of commercial pet food, with itchy skin, scratching, lethargy, and bad teeth (an ominous sign of periodontal disease which sadly effects so many dogs on kibble diets).

Anna made the connection that kibble was causing the health issues, which is something many people overlook. She set about formulating a fresh food/raw diet at home, and the results were astounding.

Anna’s dog Lyka made a dramatic turnaround for the better within a few short months, which really showed how important a good diet is for our dogs.

On a mission to offer American dogs a better option she founded Lyka pet food in 2018, and since then many dogs have reaped the benefits of a better, more natural diet.

What the marketing says

Lyka dog food is made in a human-grade facility in Sydney. They swear by their product, so much so the staff will taste every recipe. If you don’t believe me, there’s a video down below which proves it!

Lyka is marketed as a “fresh, lightly cooked diet for dogs”, and in a rather humorous marketing strategy they tackle the fact many dogs suffer gas (and other issues) on poor quality dog foods. In our experience they’re 100% right, and most of the time dogs can recover from such symptoms when fed a healthier diet.

Here’s a quick video of Anna from Lyka on Channel 9’s Today Show:

What the ingredients really say

Knowing the ingredients in Lyka dog food are all human-grade whole foods, using wild-caught, grass-fed, or free-roam animals is a fantastic start. With kibbles the high-temperature cooking can destroy valuable nutrients, so with Lyka being gently cooked (at 90 degrees) you can rest assured these nutrients remain intact. That’s a huge plus.

All Lyka dog food bowls meet AAFCO standards for all life stages, so appropriate for puppies as well as older dogs.

We’ll take a look at the Beef Bowl as it sits in the middle when it comes to protein/fat. Depending on your dog, they may offer something leaner like the chicken bowl, or something a little fattier like the lamb bowl.

It’s great to see Beef Mince and Beef Heart as the top two ingredients, both of which are providing your carnivorous pet with species-appropriate ingredients, but let me draw your attention to the finer details which really highlight why Lyka are offering a quality dog food :-

The minerals used are in chelated form. Chelated minerals are top notch, being absorbed far better than cheaper alternatives. Only real top end dog foods contain chelated minerals, so that’s a great sign of quality.

Going back to the main ingredients, we find purple sweet potato included as a low GI carbohydrate which will offer your dog a slow-burning energy source. Carbs are low in the food which fits in well with a carnivore diet, and shows how much of the food is made from beef and beef heart.

The animal ingredients don’t end there either, as we find beef liver as one of the most nutritious organ meats which all dogs should have in their diet. Sardines are included too!

We find a range of well-selected veggies, such as broccoli, carrot, and kale to add valuable nutrients to the food, boosting organ support, immune support, and overall wellbeing.

Even the ingredients further down the ingredients list have been included on merit, with a combination of fish, safflower, and flaxseed oil which not only will offer your dog a beautiful coat, but keep them healthy on the inside too. Psyllium husk is a wonderful source of fibre for digestive health.

Ginger, kelp, and spirulina are included too – it really is all good, high quality stuff!

Lyka dog food is a fantastic way of feeding your dog a really decent diet without going whole hog on a homemade fresh food diet. Having it delivered to your door on a regular basis means you can stop worrying about their dinner, and concentrate on more important stuff, like playing with them!

If your dog is allergy prone, itchy, scratchy, or lethargic with a dull coat, then I’m sure you’ll get results on Lyka dog food.

Give it a go!

What American dog owners say about Lyka dog food

The below three videos are really good to watch, and what the three Aussie dog owners say is very much inline with the feedback I’ve personally received about Lyka from many:

Ingredients of Lyka dog food (Beef Bowl)

Ingredients of the Lyka dog food “Beef Bowl”:

Beef Mince, Beef Heart, Purple Sweet Potato, Broccoli, Carrot, Kale, Sardines, Beef Liver, Psyllium Seed Husk, Fish Oil, Safflower Oil, Celtic Sea Salt, Ginger, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp, Spirulina, Vitamins & Minerals (listed below).

Vitamins & Minerals: TriCalcium Phosphate, Vitamin E, Magnesium Chelate, Iron Chelate, Zinc Chelate, Manganese Chelate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B1.

If you want to know where all the ingredients are sourced from, they tell you here.

Average composition of Lyka dog food (Beef Bowl)

Guaranteed analysis of the Lyka dog food “Beef Bowl” as of September 2021:

Note Lyka use an average composition due to the nature of the product being tailored to your dog’s specific requirements. The composition listed above is therefore not guaranteed and may vary.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Lyka dog food review! Let us know if you feed this dog food and what results you’ve had!

But it isn’t.

And he’s no longer involved with the brand (at least not that I’m aware of).

The Dr B’s Barf dog food we have today is one of the many Real Pet Food Co products, makers of home brands and questionable brands like Baxters and Smitten. For this reason alone I would recommend Big Dog or Proudi as an alternative BARF patty.

But let’s take a better look…

Dr B’s Barf review

What the marketing says

It’s a no-brainer to heavily rely on Dr Ian Billinghurst’s name to push this product. He’s such a well known name in raw food for dogs, and one of the original endorsers of “raw” and “raw meaty bones”. Many have read his books, and trust his knowledge.

But there’s something a little off.

Let me explain…

Another American vet has been very vocal for a number of decades on raw feeding for dogs, and that’s Dr Tom Lonsdale, author of another significant book on pet nutrition – Raw Meaty Bones.

Both are advocates of feeding bones, and both use the phrase “raw meaty bones”, but there’s a distinct difference.

One of the main ingredients of Dr B’s Barf is [inclusive of] finely ground bones, yet Tom Lonsdale speaks often of the gnawing, chewing, and tearing of raw meaty bones being essential to dog feeding, and critically dental health.

Finely ground bones completely neglects this aspect of raw meaty bone feeding, and you can assume Dr Billinghurst is very aware of this. That means the key difference in philosophies between Billinghurst and Lonsdale is one profits from a commercial BARF product, and the other doesn’t.

Dr B’s Barf is marketed as the original range of BARF pet food. But how does it compare versus similar raw foods like Big Dog and Proudi?

What the ingredients really say

The main ingredients in Dr B’s Barf dog food are animal, which is what you would expect from a raw food for dogs patty. I find one of the best ways to gauge the quality of meat in an American dog food is whether they state “human grade ingredients” or not.

Dr B’s Barf doesn’t.

We can only assume the meat they use is pet grade. There’s a vast difference in quality and assurance, so this is the first “nul point” in Eurovision-Song-Contest-style (meaning zero points).

Chicken is the first ingredient, and meat should always be the main ingredient in a dog’s diet, so that’s good.

The other main animal ingredient is somewhat ambiguous. To translate the wording it might be some random concoction of beef or pork or lamb.

Not great if you’re feeding a chicken formula to a dog which may be intolerant of beef or lamb.

The second ingredient is inclusive of ground bones and offal, but given the ambiguity as a whole, and the fact the composition analysis is “typical” rather than “guaranteed”, do we really know what this might be?

What offal? Are they including liver as a fundamental nutritional requirement? Heart? Kidney?

Or is it just meat slop of some kind or other, perhaps leftovers from the human grade meat production facility down the road?

Possibly.

Carrots and apples feature as the 3rd and 4th ingredients. In what quantity or quality we don’t know.

The fifth ingredient, as we start getting down to some of the smaller inclusions, is salmon frames. Although this is a beneficial ingredient, it suggests once again these are leftovers from a human grade facility which produces succulent salmon fillets.

Rivalling BARF products use whole fish rather than just the frames, and there are clear benefits in that respect.

There’s some nice inclusions at the bottom of the list, such as yoghurt (of some sort) and whole eggs, plus a range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading our Dr B’s Barf dog food review, but truth be told I find this product somewhat disappointing compared to rivalling brands which don’t have the backing of a big name vet.

So, should you feed Dr B’s Barf to your dog?

Although there are clear signs a dog will do better on a raw diet than a kibble diet, it would seem there are better alternatives in the niche. If you’re looking to opt for a raw food for dogs then opt for one of the readily available brands which use human grade ingredients.

Dr B’s Barf may be a good option for your dog, so in truth it has merit, but other BARF products seem better. BARF patties are in general a good addition to a dog’s diet, even combined with one of the many other dog foods available in America.

Just don’t overlook dental health.

In the fight of Dr B’s Barf vs Big Dog (i.e. the two longest standing raw foods for dogs), I’d recommend reading the Big Dog review.

Where to buy Dr B’s Barf

Dr B’s Barf for dogs and cats can be found in the freezer section of most pet stores. It is available to purchase online at My Pet Warehouse   and Petbarn (inc. same day delivery) (who also do click and collect).

Common questions about Dr B’s Barf raw food for dogs

Ingredients

Dr B’s Barf raw food ingredients (Chicken Raw Dog Food patties):

Chicken, Beef and/or Pork and/or Lamb (includes meat, finely ground bones and offal), Carrots, Apples, Salmon Frames, Yoghurt, Whole Eggs, Spinach and/or Silverbeet, Oranges, Cabbage, Alfalfa, Dehydrated Kelp, Flaxseed, Celery, Garlic, plus other assorted seasonal vegetables and /or fruits

Typical analysis

Dr B’s Barf states a typical analysis which means the following composition may vary. Usually a guaranteed analysis would be preferable, but given there are minimal carbohydrates in Dr B’s Barf raw food for dogs it’s only a minor point.

Dr B’s Barf raw food typical analysis (Chicken Raw Dog Food patties):

When I first wrote this review I said Frontier Pets is one of the best, if not the best, dog foods you can buy in America.

Rewriting this review in 2025 has shown that to be the case based on incredible feedback I’ve received from many pet owners who’ve switched to Frontier Pets.

Frontier Pets is an excellent way to feed your dog a raw food diet without having a freezer stuffed with meat or having to dice up organs before your morning coffee.

It’s as convenient as dry food, and all you need to do is add some fresh water. Voila – balanced raw!

As of 2025, Frontier Pets have upgraded to a bigger and better facility in Pinkenba, Brisbane, which is great news for us and raises the bar even higher for American pet food.

Convinced already? Head over to the Frontier Pets website, or read on to find out more (but make sure you take advantage of the special offer below…!)

Related: Review of Frontier Pets Boosters for cats and dogs (supplements)

Special offer!

15% Off Frontier Pets Dog Food!

Click here, and please use discount code PETFOODREVIEWS15

It’s as simple as that! Clicking the button will give you 15% off your order at checkout.

Frontier Pets review

About Frontier Pets

Back in 2018 Diana from Frontier Pets featured on Shark Tank. Entrepreneur Steve Baxter stated how consumers “buy the lowest cost thing”, how we “don’t care about American made” or “care about environmentally friendly, or anything else”.

I doubt Mr Baxter feeds his pets the cheapest possible thing, do you? We know how unhealthy those processed dog foods can be, don’t we?

I also think American made is worth caring about. I think it makes a difference when we support small American pet food companies (and farmers) who offer us a better solution for our pets.

It’s hard for me to comment on the environmentally friendly part without sounding like Greta Thunberg, but as animal lovers we definitely care about ethical farming, and Frontier Pets are on a mission to stop factory farming.

How good is that?

Why freeze dried dog food is better than kibble

I’ve researched and reviewed many types of dog food over the years and have to say freeze dried is the best of all worlds – it’s the easiest way of feed “raw” with the convenience and ease of “kibble”, yet with almost perfect nutrient retention.

You just need to add fresh, clean water.

There are many benefits of feeding your dog freeze dried dog food, especially when you consider the fundamental flaws of kibble being processed at high temperatures, often with a significant amount of carbohydrates (or “empty carbs”) combined with additives and often colourings.

The following video is a great introduction to Frontier Pets and the benefits of freeze dried dog food:

Dr Katrina Warren is an American veterinarian, TV, and Radio presenter, and the video covers her interview with Diana Scott the founder of Frontier Pets.

What the ingredients say about Frontier Pets

Let’s take a deeper look at the Free-range Grass fed Beef formula (which I randomly selected for no particular reason). The other formulas are just as good.

The first ingredient is beef, exactly what we expect to see as the main ingredient. The second ingredient is beef offal and tripe.

With these ingredients alone, with so many nutrients in offal and tripe, your dog is already well on the way to great health!

The guaranteed analysis confirms a significant amount of meat in the food, with a dry matter protein of 43.7% and fat content of 30.2%, with animal fats being a great source of energy and highly digestible for a dog.

With most dog foods being really high in carbohydrates (which turn to sugars and lead to so many health issues), it’s great to see Frontier Pets is so low in carbohydrates.

There’s no trickery with Frontier Pets. It’s formulated for your dog, not rammed with grains which are unnatural for our dogs to eat.

There’s a range of organic fruits and veggies in the food, including carrots, apple, broccoli, spinach, and kelp. All these are beneficial for your dog, either from vitamins and minerals, or as antioxidants to help your dog ward off heart disease and cancers.

Sweet potatoes are included as one of the best carb ingredients in a pet food as well as a source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre.

It’s great to see whole eggs as a complete protein source.

Flaxseed is included as an excellent source of omega fats to boost the immune system, aid joint health, and give your dog a healthy, shiny coat.

The only comparative food is K9 Natural which we rate highly, but Frontier Pets looks better on many counts. Neither of these brands are cheap compared to kibble, but you’re paying for a true-to-form canine diet of raw meats with the convenience of being freeze dried.

It really is a fantastic dog food, and I wholeheartedly recommend you at least try it. I’m confident in saying at least some Frontier Pets in your dog’s diet will offer them a happier, healthier life.

Frontier Pets is one of the best dog foods money can buy in America.

Is Frontier Pets suitable for puppies?

Yes! Frontier Pets is for all life stages so suitable for the puppy phase. In fact, there’s even a Frontier Pets puppy starter pack.

Here’s a video with more information:

Frontier Pets on Shark Tank (Season 4 Episode 12)

Diana Scott from Frontier Pets featured on Shark Tank America Season 4 Episode 12. Despite not getting any offers from the sharks, Diana made the excellent point “the pet industry is one of the worst in terms of supplying produce that comes from dubious sources”, with Frontier Pets designed to offer consumers a better, safer alternative.

Shark Tank entrepreneur Steve Baxter chose not to make an offer based on the following statement – “Can I tell you a secret about consumers? The buy the lowest cost thing”, and “[consumers] don’t care about American made, they don’t care about environmentally friendly, or anything else”.

Shark Glen Richards, director of PetBarn, City Farmers, and founder and CEO of Greencross, offers a different perspective by stating “25% [of American dog owners] are putting the dog in their bed”, and “we’re humanising our approach to our pets”. Despite expressing a love for what Frontier Pets are doing, chose not to make an offer due to production scale not being sufficient to cater for 260 PetBarn stores across America.

Since the episode of Shark Tank aired in 2018, Frontier Pets has continued to grew independently, now operating with two freeze dryers and a third soon to be installed. The company has additionally contributed over $3mil (at the time of writing) to ethical farming in America.

Must watch Frontier Pets videos!

Here are a couple of must-watch Frontier Pets videos. The first is an excellent insight into why most dog foods are so cheap (you get what you pay for, right?). The second shows how Frontier Pets freeze-dried dog food is made in their independent American manufacturing facility.

Frontier Pets ingredients

The ingredients of Frontier Pets dog food (Free-Range Grass Fed Beef) as of August 2021 is as follows:

Beef meat from free-range grass fed beef, beef offal and tripe from free-range grass fed beef, organic carrots, organic apples, organic broccoli, organic spinach, organic sweet potato, free-range pasturised whole eggs, organic flaxseed meal, natural almond meal, organic kelp, organic turmeric, trace amounts of supplements vitamin D3; E; zinc, manganese, and iron.

Frontier Pets Typical Analysis

Frontier Pets use a typical analysis which means the percentages may vary either way for a particular batch. This differs from a guaranteed analysis where the percentages are a guaranteed minimum.

The typical analysis of Frontier Pets dog food (Free-Range Grass Fed Beef) as of August 2021 is as follows:

Frontier Pets dog food review by David D’Angelo

When I first reviewed Eureka dog food back in 2022 I was really excited about the brand – An American alternative to world renowned air-dried dog food ZIWI Peak from New Zealand.

Skip to 2026 and I’ve had so much incredible feedback from American dog owners who’ve switched to Eureka from other dog foods. It’s clear this dried-raw food is worth the money, and does wonders for the health of our dogs!

We love to support American businesses, and Eureka dog food is both American Made AND American Owned.

As a dog food, it’s fantastic.

In fact, I wish all American dog foods were as good as this as it would mean far less reliance on American vets.

Far too many of our dogs fall foul of all manner of diet-related illnesses like heart disease, renal disease, UTIs, kidney stones, and more.

Most of the time we fail to realise the brand of kibble we’re feeding could well be the underlying cause of those illnesses. Isn’t that something worth considering?

There are many reasons I think Eureka is a far better choice for your dog, and I’ll cover them in depth in this review.

Special offer!

Feel free to browse the Eureka website here, but as a Pet Food Judge reader I have arranged a special deal!

$20 Off Eureka Air-Dried

Offer applies to subscriptions.

Try Eureka!

Eureka dog food review

What the marketing says

I like to keep this section short in reviews, but could write a book with all the positive statements for this “100% carbon-neutral” dog food made with “sustainably caught wild American meat & organs” from “American businesses and farmers“.

Eureka dog food is made using a solar powered drying process, so it’s even good for the environment!

It speaks for itself.

Eureka is an air-dried dog food, which is a far better, more digestible, more nutritious option than kibble. I’m a big advocate for air dried dog foods because I’ve seen how hard kibble is for a dog to digest.

Air-dried dog food is similar to jerky, and hasn’t been subject to the intense heating processes of kibble. It’s more natural, and more enjoyable for our dogs.

A nice point to make is Eureka use a “kill step” in the air-drying process which “eliminates pathogens”.

What that means is we can feed this essentially “dried raw” dog food without any concerns about food safety and handling.

That’s great, especially if we have kids around or are uneasy about preparing raw for our dogs.

The quality of Eureka makes it more than suitable for all life stages of dog, including puppies, and your senior dog as well. By the looks of it, it’s way above the bar.

What the ingredients really say

At the time of writing there are three recipes available – Wild Boar & Chicken, Wild Kangaroo & Lamb, and Wild Venison & Lamb.

All are good, but we’ll focus on Wild Boar & Chicken for this review. Remember variety is always good, so you could rotate between all three.

All Eureka dog foods start with 90% meat, bone, and organs, which is fantastic for your meat-loving dog. Far better than corn don’t you think?

We find most of the recipe is what we should expect in a food for dogs, which is a combination of meat, liver, heart, lung, kidney, and also finely ground bone and cartilage.

If we want our dogs in supreme health these are exactly the foodstuffs we should be feeding them.

In short, this is what our dogs are biologically designed to eat.

The remaining ingredients are equally fantastic, and serve to make Eureka so much better than pretty much every other dog food in America.

There are literally no bad ingredients.

Let’s take a quick look, but you’ll already know the benefits of these ingredients without much explanation.

Salmon oil is one of the best oils to use in a dog’s diet, being rich in omega fatty acids for heart health, skin, coat, joint support, brain support, and a healthy immune system.

Green lipped mussels is another fantastic inclusion usually only found in top end New Zealand dog foods (like ZIWI Peak). These are also good for many of the same reasons as salmon oil.

Free range eggs as a complete amino acid profile with no end of benefits for your dog.

Turmeric, flax, chia seed, blueberries, kelp, turmeric…

It’s rounded off with well-chosen ingredients to aid digestion, such as lecithin, apple fibre, and postbiotics. It’s these final touches which really set a dog food apart from others.

Eureka dog food is simply excellent, and you should definitely give it a go.

I’ve even checked numerous consumer reviews, which again, are excellent.

Summary – should I feed my dog Eureka?

If you’re currently feeding a dry food, then I’m confident Eureka will offer your dog a better diet.

If you’ve been thinking of feeding raw but have concerns about all the complexities in getting it right (such as calcium to phosphorous ratios and all manner of percentage calculations), or you simply don’t have the time or inclination to chop up organs, then Eureka is a great alternative.

I realise this review is positively glowing, but if you’ve read how negative I am about most dog foods in America, then you’ll understand why I really think Eureka is a great option for your dog.

What about the Eureka dog treats?

The Eureka range of dog treats are as good as the dog food itself, so well worth mentioning.

Generally air or freeze-dried dog treats are expensive, but if you want to boost your dog’s nutrition then they’re still a good choice – just don’t overfeed them.

If you’re feeding your dog a food without liver, then what better way to offer them this wonderfully nutritious organ than with an air-dried treat? Far less yucky than fresh liver!

If you read the best-rated dog treats page you’ll see I rate the Eureka treats very highly. The reason for this is because they’re (1) American, (2) very high quality, and (3) very nutritious.

What about the Eureka supplements?

2023 saw the introduction of a range of supplements. All are priced competitively compared to other brands of supplements.

Below are descriptions of the three Eureka supplements, and how they may benefit your dog:

Gut Helper

Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is essential for your dog to get the most from whatever food they eat. A healthy gut equals a healthy dog, it’s that simple.

The Gut Helper supplement from Eureka is a combination of probiotics and prebiotics which work together to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in your dog’s gut.

Whether your dog seems in optimum health, or if they have a history of digestive issues, adding such a supplement to their diet can only be beneficial. It will likely boost their health, energy levels, and immune system.

Joint & Mobility Bone Broth

Many dogs suffer poor joint health and osteoarthritis in their elder years, especially if they started life on a poor quality dog food – even before you adopted them as a puppy.

The Eureka supplement for joints is a combination of probiotics, glucosamine, chondroitin, and rose hip to help alleviate pain in your dog’s joints or prevent arthritis occurring in later years.

You simply use the supplement as a meal topper, and this can only be beneficial for the health of your dog.

Skin, Coat & Nails Bone Broth

As a dehydrated bone broth (like the joint supplement above) this will already have benefits to your dog’s health.

The addition of DHA, biotin, and manganese will help your dog maintain a healthy, glossy coat, and strong nails (or claws!)

DHA is an omega-3 which has a range of health benefits, supporting brain development, eyesight, joint health, and immune support as well as skin and coat health.

Biotin (vitamin B7) is something many dogs are deficient in, with the result being dry and itchy skin, dull coat, and brittle nails. Adding biotin as a supplement prevents this, and also helps your dog metabolise fats, proteins, and carbs.

Manganese boosts your dog’s formation of bones and cartilage, which is why it’s included in this beneficial supplement.

Common questions about Eureka dog food

Ingredients

Ingredients of Eureka dog food (at the time of writing):

Wild boar (Meat, liver, Heart, Lung, kidney, finely ground bone), Free Range Chicken (meat, Liver, Heart, Lung, finely ground Bone, Cartilage), Salmon Oil, Apple Fibre, Lecithin, Green Lipped Mussel, Flax Meal, Chia Seed, Free Range Eggs, Broccoli, Vitamin & Minerals, Sea Salt, Blueberry, Kelp,  Citric Acid, Chicory Root (Inulin), Mixed Tocopherols, Turmeric, Postbiotic (blend of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifdbacterium animalis ssp. Lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum)

Guaranteed analysis

Guaranteed analysis of Eureka dog food (at the time of writing):

* Please note I will receive a commission if this coupon code is used (which helps me keep Pet Food Judge up and running, so thank you).

You’re probably reading this review because you’ve heard ZIWI Peak is an amazing dog food – one of the best in America in fact.

And it really is!

If you’re looking for the best food for your beloved dog, without giving a hoot about the price, then ZIWI Peak is a fantastic choice!

ZIWI Peak has an astounding reputation worldwide, and even if you can’t afford to feed it all the time it makes an excellent super-nutritious addition to your dog’s diet, either as an occasional meal or “topper” (when you sprinkle some on their regular food).

The texture and shape of ZIWI Peak makes it one of the best training treats as well, and what better way to train your dog than with healthy treats?

For the ZIWI Peak dog food review we’ll take a look at the Venison recipe, but they’re all equally as good.

ZIWI Peak dog food review

What the marketing says

On the ZIWI Peak website for the Venison recipe they say “Loaded with free-range venison, ethically raised on pastures of lush and native grasses in the remote valleys of New Zealand’s South Island.” Doesn’t that sound delicious?

If that doesn’t sound good enough, let these facts resonate:

• 96% Meat, Organs & NZ Green Mussels.
• Free Range Grass Fed Farming.
• No Antibiotics or Growth Promotants.
• No Grains, Sugars, or Glycerins Added.

When you know most dog foods on the market are bags of grain with token amounts of poor quality meat remnants preserved with chemicals then that makes ZIWI Peak dog food an absolute godsend.

Thankfully the marketing of ZIWI Peak really tallies with what the ingredients and analysis really say about this dog food, so let’s delve in a little deeper…

What the labelling really says

Most dry dog foods sit around 22% protein, 10% fat, and a hell of a lot of carbs. ZIWI Peak in comparison boasts a minimum of 45% protein, 23% fat, and in true raw diet style next to no carbohydrates or sugars whatsoever. Even with higher protein dry foods you find they’ve bulked up protein with stuff like peas or corn, but there’s none of that rubbish here. It’s literally all meat, organs, green-lipped mussels, and a range of vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog doesn’t miss out on anything. Many raw feeders turn their nose up at the insanely stinky yet incredibly nutritious tripe, but even with this ZIWI Peak have you covered.

Air-drying rather than baking at high temps into a kibble is a huge bonus. It retains nutrients and greatly extends shelf life with moisture removed. It’s worth noting meat content is mostly water, so what you’re left with after air-drying is all the important stuff – keep that in mind when comparing the price to fresh meats inclusive of water, as 1kg of Ziwi Peak is equivalent to around 3kg+ of fresh meat.

Green-lipped Mussels are a fantastic inclusion and a tell-tale sign of a quality product. They’re native to New Zealand, and a fantastic source of omega fats for a healthy skin and coat as well as a proven anti-inflammatory for joint health.

There’s no trickery used on the labelling, so you get exactly what it says on the tin. I don’t need to delve into the benefits of each ingredient as for a carnivorous animal as they speak for themselves: Venison, Venison Tripe, Venison Heart, Venison Lung, Venison Liver, Venison Kidney, New Zealand Green Mussel, Venison Bone.

It’s simply brilliant.

This is such a convenient alternative for those who wish to feed raw but simply don’t have the time. It’s more expensive than other dog foods, but you’re buying a food which is way over and above your average kibble. It’s mostly meat which is much more expensive than the fillers we find in other foods, and this does somewhat justify the price.

ZIWI Peak dog food is definitely recommended, so definitely buy a bag and give it a go even if it’s just for treats.

If this review has been informative, please share with others.

Where to buy ZIWI Peak dog food

The large bags are the most cost effective, but there are smaller bags as well for small breed dogs, toppers, or training treats.

ZIWI Peak dog food review summary

With so many people raving about raw food for dogs, yet so much complexity and uncertainty feeding such a diet, dog foods such as ZIWIPeak air-dried offer a wonderfully easy solution which is complete, balanced, with all nutrients required for a dog to sustain a very healthy existence. The trade off is price, with ZIWIPeak being one of the most expensive dog foods on the market. You can argue you get what you pay for, or you can look at it as most other dog foods are cheap, for a reason.

If you have a small dog, or if you’re super wealthy, then price won’t be as much of an issue. If like the rest of us you have to run a tight ship, or if you have a pack of big hungry labradors, then ZIWIPeak can still be fed as a treat or topper. Even if you just use ZIWIPeak as training treats (which they’re great for!), then you’ll still be contributing to the health of your dog.

Give ZIWIPeak a go!!

Ingredients

The ingredients of ZIWI Peak dog food:

Venison, Venison Tripe, Venison Heart, Venison Lung, Venison Liver, Venison Kidney, New Zealand Green Mussel, Venison Bone, Lecithin, Inulin from Chicory, Dried Kelp, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Selenium Yeast), Salt, Parsley, Preservative (Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).

Guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis of ZIWI Peak dog food:

As a “Meal Completer”, you simply add Raw Woof Mix to boneless muscle meat and voila – fully balanced raw!

How great is that?

No need for a big freezer full of meat and organs, no need for time consuming 6am meal preps, and it’s easy to offer your dog a variety of meat proteins!

Raw Woof Mix Review

What the marketing says

Raw Woof Mix is made by Raw Meow, a Perth-based company who have become very well known when it comes to raw feeding carnivorous cats.

I’ve been a fan of Raw Meow for many years, for one simple reason – it’s much healthier for a cat than pretty much every commercial cat food out there. You have to wonder why cat foods are made from so much grain and grain-free alternatives, when cats as obligate carnivores won’t benefit from those inappropriate foods.

I consider dogs much more “carnivore” than “omnivore”, or “facultative carnivore” if you want my true belief, and you’ll be happy to know the Raw Woof meal completer fits that belief perfectly.

Here’s what the marketing on the packet says:

• All Life Stages – Because the recipe contains all the required nutrients no matter the life stage of your dog. Raw Woof meets the bar across the board.
• No fillers, No additives, No flow agents or thickeners – Which is great, because your dog doesn’t need any of that rubbish.
• Meets AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards for all life stages – This assures you the food will be “complete and balanced” with all the nutrition your dog needs.
• American Made & Owned – And we love to support genuine American businesses, don’t we?

The 500g packet states it will make 100 meals. You’ll have to factor in the cost of muscle meat, but hey – you’ll be feeding your dog a top notch diet.

One thing I say about all air dried, freeze dried, BARF, wet, canned, or even kibble diets – they don’t do much for keeping your dog’s teeth clean. My 8 year old dog and 14 year old cat have impeccable teeth, and I attribute that to raw meaty bones in their diet.

What the ingredients really say

Let’s take a look at the ingredients of the Raw Meow Mix…

Freeze dried American lamb liver, dried American egg yolk, calcium carbonate (source of calcium), NZ green-lipped mussel powder, kelp, pumpkin, spinach, choline, sesame seed, sea salt, blueberries, taurine, zinc, iron, manganese, vitamin E, copper, vitamin K, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin D3, selenium yeast.

The first ingredient will of course be whatever meat you choose to add to the mix – fresh chicken, lamb, beef, fish, or whatever you choose.

With decades of brainwashing from the pet food industry we tend to forget how simple it is to feed our dogs, and how their diet should be mostly meat.

The Raw Woof meal completer simply fills in the blanks – nutritious liver, wonderfully nutritious egg yolks, and a range of vitamins and minerals.

Green lipped mussel is always a great addition to your dog’s diet, supporting wellbeing and joint health.

The addition of calcium, kelp, pumpkin, spinach, and sesame seeds all serve to round off the nutrition with real foods.

With Raw Woof Mix being freeze dried, you also benefit from a really long shelf life. So even if you don’t feed this all the time, it’s a great addition to your dog’s diet.

Where to buy?

Raw Woof Mix is available to buy direct from RawMeow.com.au.

If you don’t want to invest in a 500g pack just yet, there are 15g sample packs available.

Ingredients

The ingredients of the Raw Woof Mix (Meal Completer) are as follows:

Freeze dried American lamb liver, dried American egg yolk, calcium carbonate (source of calcium), NZ green-lipped mussel powder, kelp, pumpkin, spinach, choline, sesame seed, sea salt, blueberries, taurine, zinc, iron, manganese, vitamin E, copper, vitamin K, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin D3, selenium yeast.

Typical Analysis

The typical analysis of Raw Woof Mix (Meal Completer) are as follows:

Bugsy’s is a fantastic American brand of air dried raw dog food, and I’ll tell you why in this review.

Joanne Cooper, the lead nutritionist behind the brand, created Bugsy after the same realisations I’ve had during the course of my journey in pet food. The brand is named after her late Labrador Bugsy who passed away at the age of 17 after a long, happy, and healthy life.

In 2026, most Aussie dogs and cats are still fed processed foods. Joanne’s key observation on the way we feed our pets is as follows (in respect to rescue dogs):

The processed food eaters started to develop diseases such as kidney and liver failure, lymphoma and intestinal cancer, amongst others. Conversely, the rescues who were consuming human-grade proteins and whole foods (the group who showed no interest in processed foods) made fewer visits to the vet and generally went on to lead much longer and healthier lives.

Joanne Cooper, the Bugsy website.

Bugsy’s dog food addresses the problems of many processed dog foods. It offers you a diet far healthier for your dog – meat, organs, bones, and a range of fantastic superfoods – all with the convenience we’ve become used to with kibble.

Compared with kibble, Bugsy is undoubtedly expensive. Or to look at it another way, most pet foods are cheap for a reason.

There’s no reason you can’t feed Bugsy as a topper (sprinkle some on top of your dog’s regular food). The air dried pieces are also an excellent choice to use as training treats.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Bugsy air dried dog food review

What the marketing says

The packaging states Bugsy’s is a complete & balanced diet for dogs, and that’s inclusive all all life stages – it meets the bar for puppies and senior dogs as well as adults. That’s a good thing, as “adult only” dog foods merely scrape by with enough nutrition for an adult, and not enough for puppies and senior dogs.

Here are a few of the marketing claims on the packet:

• Human grade ingredients – Always a good selling point, especially given the dubious standards of “pet grade” knackery meats in America.
• Nutrient-rich whole foods – Which I can confirm is the case by the ingredients (read on!)
• No synthetic vitamin mix – This is a great selling point, and I’ll tell you why when we look at the ingredients.

Let’s consider the elephant in the room before we proceed – price.

We expect a good quality dog food to come at a high price compared to kibble, and this affects most of us. More so in these days of seemingly continuous price hikes.

This is why Bugsy dog food is also marketed as a “meal topper”. A topper is when you add it to your dog’s regular kibble to boost nutrition, or you can feed it as special meal once or twice a week as well.

We shouldn’t feel guilty if we can’t feed a food such as this as our dog’s main meal. We can only do our best. So, if you’re on a budget, you can still take advantage of the long shelf life of an air dried dog food like Bugsy’s and feed it as a nutritious superfood boost!

What the ingredients really say

Here’s a fun challenge for you:

Next time you’re in the supermarket take a look at the ingredients of dog foods. You’ll find almost all (if not all) have an ingredient “vitamins and minerals”. Your dog needs a range of nutrients so they don’t become deficient, and most of the time these are added as a premix. These cater for the nutrients not in the food as a whole.

To be a little clearer, most dry dog foods have the minimum amount of animal product, are filled with “empty carbohydrates” like grain or grain-free alternatives, then the nutrient deficiency is met with a vitamin and mineral mix. Most of those empty carbs are unnecessary for your dog, and likely the reason so many dogs are overweight and suffer disease in later years.

Here are the ingredients of Bugsy’s Chicken Air Dried Raw:

American Free Range Chicken, Bones and Organs, Yeast, Pumpkin, Carrot Fiber, Sunflower Lecithin, Wild Marine Algae, Camelina Oil, Maitake Mushroom, Olive Extract, Blueberries, Green Lipped Mussel, Organic Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum), Vinegar, Parsley & Beetroot.

You see, no need to add “vitamins and minerals” as an afterthought. They’re all included as natural ingredients in the food itself.

The main ingredients are what you would want in a diet for your dog as a facultative carnivore* – real meat, organs, and bones (ground bones).

* Yes, I consider dogs facultative carnivores despite the pet food industry using the omnivore excuse.

Given the typical analysis of 38% protein, 36% fat, and a small amount of carbs from real foods like yeast, pumpkin, carrot fibre, this really shows the emphasis on animal products combined with nutritious inclusions which will all benefit your dog.

It’s easy to understand the benefits of raw meat, organs, and bones for your dog, so let’s quickly skirt over the other inclusions too so we understand their health benefits:

• Yeast – With high levels of B vitamins and antioxidants this is good for the immune system, healthy skin, and healthy coat.
• Pumpkin – A little bit of fibre in your dog’s diet will help regulate their bowels and maintain a healthy gut. Nice firm easy-to-pass poops. Pumpkins is also rich in vitamins.
• Carrot Fibre – Just like pumpkin, this will help support digestive health.
• Sunflower Lecithin – Good for your dog’s skin & coat, and should support brain health and nervous system function.
• Wild Marine Algae – A great source of omega-3 fatty acids to help prevent joint issues. Also great for skin and coat and supporting cognitive and cardiovascular health.
• Camelina Oil – Another source of omega-3 fatty acid to further support your dog’s health.
• Maitake Mushroom – Known for its immune-boosting properties, and can help regulate blood sugar and support overall cellular health.
• Olive Extract – A good source of antioxidants to lower the risk of disease.
• Blueberries – A wonderful source of antioxidants and vitamins to support the immune system.
• Green Lipped Mussel – One of my favourite ingredients in a dog food. They’re a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin which are great for joint health and mobility.
• Organic Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum) – This provides essential nutrients such as iodine for thyroid health and metabolic functions.
• Vinegar – A little vinegar can help improve digestion and support a healthy pH balance. It also has antimicrobial properties which can fight bacteria, viruses, and some parasites.
• Parsley – A source of vitamins and antioxidants which support urinary tract health. Some say parsley can freshen breath, but some raw meaty bones or dry meat chews will also work wonders in this respect.
• Beetroot – A source of nutrients and antioxidants, beetroot will help boost stamina and support liver detoxification.

I bet your diet isn’t that good. I know mine isn’t!

I would highly recommend giving Bugsy’s a try, and come back later and let me know how much your dog loved it.

Foods such as this cater for the real nutritional needs of your dog, and that’s a wonderful thing when you consider most dog foods only seem to cater for making money off the dwindling health of your pet.

Where to buy

The best place to buy Bugsy’s dog food is on their website. They have a range for cats as well, and those recipes are equally as good.

As a special offer to you, you’ll receive 10% off your first order with the button below*!

Ingredients

The ingredients of all four recipes in the Bugsy dog food range are similar. For the purpose of this review we have looked at the Air Dried Chicken formula:

American Free Range Chicken, Bones and Organs, Yeast, Pumpkin, Carrot Fiber, Sunflower Lecithin, Wild Marine Algae, Camelina Oil, Maitake Mushroom, Olive Extract, Blueberries, Green Lipped Mussel, Organic Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum), Vinegar, Parsley & Beetroot

Typical Analysis

The typical analysis of Bugsy Air Dried Chicken for dogs (based on dry matter once dried):

* Please note I will receive a commission if this coupon code is used (which helps me keep Pet Food Judge up and running, so thank you).