If your dog has “itchy skin” or similar symptoms from their current dog food, Taste of the Wild PREY as a limited and novel ingredient kibble will very likely help.

It will also help a great deal more than fancy shampoos, medications, and the expensive supplements many people use when their dog has these issues, because it addresses the root cause – which is the dog’s previous food being made from problematic ingredients.

Let’s take a look at why Taste of the Wild PREY as a limited ingredient dog food is worth trying firat to see if it relieves symptoms such as itchy skin, itchy ears, yeast, belly rash, diarrhea, smelly farts, lethargy, and all the other conditions caused by poor quality dog foods.

Even if your dog is otherwise healthy they may still benefit from this variation of the well respected original Taste of the Wild dog food.

Taste of the Wild PREY review

What the marketing says

The front of the bag is refreshingly simple, with PREY in big letters beneath the brand name Taste of the Wild. We find the formula name, which for this review we’ll focus on the Turkey Formula for Dogs, and at the bottom of the bag “A Limited Ingredient Diet”. With an emphasis on dogs which suffer food sensitivities, a limited ingredient diet can really help get to the bottom of some of the many symptoms which affect far too many dogs fed one of the many terrible dog foods sold across America.

The turkey formula for dogs is advertised as having four key ingredients: Turkey, Lentils, Tomato Pomace, and Sunflower Oil. Given many food sensitivities stem from cereal grains and by-products (wheat, seriously, is #1), or specific meat proteins (chicken, lamb, beef), we’re already on the right track as Taste of the Wild PREY doesn’t have any of these ingredients.

Taste of the Wild PREY is marketed as non-GMO, grain free, with no artificial colours, flavourings, or preservatives. Anything artificial can trigger sensitivities, so it’s really good to see these aren’t included.

What the ingredients really say

Of the four main ingredients we can expect the first two to be the most significant – turkey and lentils. Both decent inclusions in terms of dog food, and given the composition of 30% protein and 15% fat we can assume there’s a decent amount of turkey in the food. That’s great to see, and having such a decent protein/fat content means low carbohydrates/sugars which are often harder to digest and not good for canine health.

Lentils, in moderation, are a great source of nutrients (B vitamins, iron, zinc, and phosphorous) in a dog food. Being anti-allergenic, high in fibre, and low in starch means they’re not only a good inclusion for dogs with food sensitivities but also diabetic dogs. Most of the carbohydrates, as well as some of the protein, will come from lentils.

Tomato pomace will be included as a further source of soluble fibre as well as antioxidants. It’s essentially a by-product from the many tomato-based products we buy in the supermarkets, so the skin, pulp, and crushed seeds of tomatoes. It’s a decent inclusion.

Sunflower oil will round off the main ingredients with a source of omega fatty acids, as well as promoting energy and a healthy immune system. Salmon oil is also worth mentioning as another excellent oil included in Taste of the Wild PREY.

There’s a nice range of vitamins and minerals which have been individually included, plus probiotics to improve gut health.

Taste of the Wild PREY is definitely decent, and if you’re struggling to find out why your dog is itchy or suffering any of the symptoms around allergies, then this is well worth trying for a few weeks to see if those symptoms clear up. Even if your dog isn’t suffering from food sensitivities then this is still a great food and well worth feeding.

Where to buy?

Taste of the Wild PREY is available to buy from VeryPet.

Taste of the Wild PREY dog food products

There are three formulas in the Taste of the Wild PREY dog food range. This review is applicable to all formulas in the range:

• Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Formula
• Taste of the Wild PREY Angus Beef Formula
• Taste of the Wild PREY Trout Formula

Ingredients

Ingredients of Taste of the Wild PREY dry dog food (turkey formula):

Turkey, lentils, tomato pomace, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil (source of DHA), salt, DL-Methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.

Contains a source of live (viable), naturally occurring microorganisms.

Guaranteed analysis of Taste of the Wild PREY (Turkey formula for dogs)

Guaranteed analysis of Taste of the Wild PREY dry dog food (turkey formula):

Taste of the Wild PREY dog food recalls

There are no known recalls of Taste of the Wild PREY dog food at the current time.

Previous recalls:

• None.

I’m a big fan of air-dried dog foods, of which Absolute Holistic is a good example.

The reason, I hear you ask – Well, it’s very convenient, like kibble, but it’s also much better for your dog than most kibbles.

The Absolute Holistic range of air-dried dog foods are labelled as “paleo”, which you should consider a good thing for your dog, and benefit from not being rammed with wheat, sorghum, rice, corn, and all the other stuff you’ll find in most kibbles which do very little for the health of your dog.

Let’s take a look at the Chicken & Hoki recipe, but note there’s an excellent variety of novel animal proteins in the range (which is great if your dog has dietary sensitivities!).

Absolute Holistic review

The main ingredients in Absolute Holistic Chicken & Hoki are what you may expect – chicken and hoki. Combined with liver as an organ rich in nutrients for your dog, you can see how much better this is compared to bags of processed nuggets of wheat or corn which most people feed their dogs.

The protein is 31% and fat percentage is 25%, with more moisture than dry food, and these things make a big difference when it comes to health and nutrition. It also ensures carbohydrates (sugars) are kept to a bare minimum (there are barely any carbs whatsoever).

If you consider most kibbles can be more than 50% carbs from “fillers”, your dog should be far healthier on a higher protein and animal fat dog food such as this.

The fourth ingredient is where Absolute Holistic falls short compared to leading Air-Dried dog foods, but we’ll get to that downside shortly, but let’s continue with the positives…

Salmon oil, green lipped mussel, and flaxseed are all wonderful ingredients to support overall health and wellbeing, and should ensure your dog has healthy joints and a glossy coat. We find parsley included for “fresh breath” (whereas I would see raw meaty bones a better option), and kelp to promote a healthy thyroid as well as being great for general health and prevention of allergies and fleas.

So that’s covered the main pros of Absolute Holistic, and they’re definitely points which justify the high rating.

But lets cover the bad stuff…

The fourth ingredient, which you can expect to be a more minor inclusion in the formula, is the controversial ingredient vegetable glycerin. It’s an ingredient you won’t find in air-dried dog foods which I’ve rated more highly (see below), so you may wonder what the issue is, and why it’s included.

Vegetable glycerin will serve to keep the food moist, and as a sweetener will encourage your dog to eat it.

Dog owners tend to care about how a food looks, and moist dried food appeals to us more than dry and flakey dried foods, so that can be seen as a benefit even though it really isn’t.

We also gauge the quality of a dog food based on whether our dogs “lap it up” or seem reluctant to eat it.

Is this something you’ve done yourself?

Fair enough if you have, we like to see our dogs lap up their food…

However, in the same way kids love sweet stuff, you’ll note this isn’t a reliable way to gauge how good a dog food is!

This is the one downside of Absolute Holistic over the air-dried brands mentioned below, but you may find Absolute Holistic the more affordable option, which is nothing to feel guilty about.

In it’s own right, particularly when compared to dry dog foods, Absolute Holistic is a decent choice rich in meat proteins and animal fats, with some great inclusions for health and wellbeing.

How does Absolute Holistic compare with other air-dried dog foods?

It has to be said Absolute Holistic isn’t as good as American brand Eureka or the well known brand ZIWI Peak which is sold worldwide, but it’s still a better option than most kibbles.

Although it’s mostly down to the use of vegetable glycerin, the brands above have a better range of prey ingredients as well.

Black Hawk Air Dried is another comparative air-dried option, similar in formula, but worth looking into as prices can and do vary.

When we take price into account, Absolute Holistic is also cheaper than the above options.

Where to buy

Absolute Holistic is fairly easy to find in America, with some recommended retailers listed below:

Ingredients

Ingredients of Absolute Holistic dog food (Air-Dried Chicken & Hoki):

Chicken, Hoki, Chicken Liver, Vegetable Glycerine, Green Lipped Mussel, Dried Chicory, Parsley, Choline Chloride, Flaxseed, Kelp, antioxidant, Calcium Carbonate, zinc, Taurine, Vitamin E, iron, Vitamin B3, Copper Sulphate, VITAMIN B1,SODIUM SELENATE, Manganese Oxide, Vitamin B5,Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, BIOTIN, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, IODINE, FOLIC ACID, Vitamin D3

Most dry working dog foods work on the basis your dog can eat more rubbishy carbohydrates without getting noticeably fat and sick-looking like a domestic dog would.

This is the wrong way of feeding a working dog, because carbohydrates from cheap grains like wheat or other concoctions of cereals and cereal by-products are unhealthy.

Just like any gym junky will tell you, it’s about protein, or in the case of your working dog protein and fat, ideally from animal sources. It’s definitely not about starchy carbohydrates.

This is where Black Hawk Working Dog does it right, and other working dog foods should be thrown in the bin.

Black Hawk Working Dog is high meat protein, and high meat fat, and that should keep your dog healthier, strong, and working harder.

Why would you feed Black Hawk Working Dog dog food?

A working dog needs quality meat proteins to build and retain muscle and overall health, and quality meat fats to burn as energy (they utilise animal fats much better than we do for energy). This is basic nutrition, and the same applies in the human world. Dogs can utilise carbohydrates for energy, but it’s meat proteins and meat fats which are really essential for canine health and wellbeing. Dog’s are essentially carnivores despite what pet food marketing tells us, and their dental structure, digestive system, and natural instinct dictates this.

Take a look at other Working Dog foods. You’ll find most of them formulated with cheap grains or mill run waste and contain very little meat. The reason for this is cheap to produce products, even sold for an “affordable” price, make a staggering profit. It doesn’t mean it’s healthy or nutritious for your working dog, and you can argue they’ll burn off the excessive carbs, but for long term health and wellbeing you’re doing them a disservice from feeding them such a product.

In our Black Hawk Working Dog dog food review we’ll find out why this is formulated the right way, compared to other working dog foods which are formulated the wrong way…

Black Hawk Working Dog dog food review

Black Hawk Working Dog, alternatively known as Lamb and Beef, is a high protein, high fat food. That sets it apart from most other working dog foods available in America. That’s a great thing, with the caveat being cost (but you get what you pay for). For canine health, muscle strength and energy, meat and meat fat is king. This formula boasts a high 32% protein, 22% fat, and we can estimate around 26% carbohydrates which is very low for a dry dog food, and especially low for a working dog dry food – that’s a definite plus point.

The first two ingredients are lamb and beef meat meals, both pre-dried protein dense sources of meat. These will amount to a significant percentage of the food as a whole, from species-appropriate meat ingredients.

The third ingredient is oats, one of the better choices of grain and a good source of slow-burning energy. Rice (white rice) is also found as the fifth ingredient, and possibly in a similar proportion. There’s widespread belief that grains are bad for dogs when they’re not, the real issue being excessive grains, particularly wheat and sorghum. Oats and rice are good selections for a working dog, and in the case of Black Hawk Working Dog are in a reasonable proportion.

Pea protein will play a part in the 32% protein and will also add fibre. Although not a meat ingredient, peas have nutritional merit and are a reasonably healthy inclusion. We find grain free dog food formulas on the market which use peas in excess, and that thankfully isn’t the case with this food.

There are many smaller inclusions which really round off Black Hawk Working Dog. Of specific note we find the inclusion of glucosamine and chondriotin, as well as emu oil, omega 3, and omega 6 fatty acids to aid joint health and overall wellbeing of your working dog. These are highly beneficial ingredients which you likely won’t find in other well known working dog foods. One final plus of Black Hawk Working Dog dog food is it’s preserved naturally with rosemary, rather than controversial (and cheap) chemical preservatives.

We’ve rated Black Hawk Working Dog dog food as a very respectable 9/10, and hope the information in this review has been of use. If it has, let us know by leaving a comment or telling your friends about how useful this website is!

Where to Buy Black Hawk Working Dog

Black Hawk Dog Food Review Summary

All in all Black Hawk Working Dog Beef & Lamb sets a far better standard of working dog dog foods which historically has been nothing more than a profit-generating fallacy. As a meat-based working dog food with decent inclusions of better grains such as oats, combined with ingredients to aid joint health, it really is worth considering for your working dog.

In terms of working dog foods sold in America, Black Hawk Working Dog sits ahead of all the rest. Recommended.

Black Hawk Working Dog Ingredients (Beef & Lamb)

The ingredients of Black Hawk Working Dog Beef & Lamb dry dog food (as of July 2021) are as follows:

Lamb Meat Meal, Beef Meat Meal, Oats, Pea Protein, Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [source of Vitamin E], Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract), Field Peas, Fish Meal, Chicken Meal, Canola Oil, Beet Pulp, Essential Vitamins & Minerals, Eggs Dried, Fish Oil, Salt, Brewers Yeast, Flax Seed, Chicory Root, Natural Antioxidants, Emu Oil, Omega 6 Fatty Acids, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Carrot, Yucca Schidigera, Tomato Powder, D-Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Blueberries, Cranberry, Dandelion Tea, Peppermint Tea, Kelp, Spinach, Rosemary.

Black Hawk Working Dog Guaranteed Analysis (Beef & Lamb)

The guaranteed analysis of Black Hawk Working Dog Beef & Lamb dry dog food (as of July 2021) are as follows:

Black Hawk Working Dog Recalls

There are no recorded recalls of the Black Hawk Working Dog Beef & Lamb formula.

Air Dried dog food is almost always much better than kibble, and the fact the Black Hawk Air Dried range contains 94% meat or fish tells us just that. Most kibble barely has any meat.

We know cooking food at high temperatures kills nutrients, but that’s what the kibble making process is (it’s called extrusion). Some ingredients, like meat meals are actually cooked twice at high temperatures, and usually vitamins and minerals are dusted on post-processing.

Air-dried is much better, because it doesn’t blast the nutrients with all that heat – and I’m sure you’ll see the benefit in that!

It has to be said the Black Hawk Air Dried recipe isn’t as good as the world renowned and highly reputable ZIWI Peak air dried, or America’s premium air dried brand Eureka, but it’s also cheaper, and still a better option than kibble.

I’ll explain more below…

Black Hawk Air Dried Review

The downside before the upside

Keep in mind the Black Hawk air dried recipes are 40%+ protein, 30% fat, and only 5.5% carbohydrates or less (which is fantastic compared to all kibbles), it’s worth covering a couple of small points.

Firstly, at present there are only small bags (450g), which work out more per kilo than the larger bags from ZIWI and Eureka. I expect that will change as the brand takes off (it’s still early days). If you have a small breed or simply want some tasty training treats, I doubt it will be a problem.

Secondly, it’s not so much the recipe is more basic than other air-dried dog foods, it’s the use of glycerin, maltodextrin, and lecithin. These are all in small amounts, but they’re worth considering if you want to weigh up cost versus other air dried brands.

To cover those quickly, glycerin (or glycerol) is a sugar alcohol, used as a sweetener, but also makes an air-dried pet food more moist and appealing. I see people complain about other air-dried food being “too dry”, which can become more of an issue if a dog doesn’t take to it over their regular kibble. But I expect from reading that, you’ll realise it’s not exactly a nutritious addition, and as the 3rd ingredient may mean a few percent of the formula.

Lecithin shouldn’t cause any harm unless your dog suffers dietary sensitivities. I expect it’s added as an emulsifier, so purely functional rather than nutritional.

There isn’t much maltodextrin in the recipe, but it’s a highly processed high-GI starch, and not ideal for dogs who suffer pancreatitis, obesity, diabetes, and so forth, and not great (or necessary) for dogs in general. So why is it used? Likely to bind the food and give it texture.

That’s the bad bits covered. It may have put you off, but I expect your dog won’t suffer any real issues. It’s a good example of why feeding a variety of dog foods is a good idea – it balances a diet – and it’s also a good indicator why ZIWI Peak and Eureka cost more.

Oh, and this is a low fibre dog food, so that may matter to you. Young and healthy dogs shouldn’t need much fibre when they eat the right diet of meat and organs, but older dogs can benefit from more fibre.

Now for the good bits!

We’ve covered how air-dried dog food is better than kibble, which makes me a fan of this style of feeding our dogs. It’s also really convenient compared to feeding raw or fresh foods which take up your entire freezer.

It’s a high protein, high fat food, and this is great news for a normal healthy dog – Good for health, energy, and wellbeing.

The main ingredients are meat and organs (94%+), which your dog will benefit from the most (and far more than the starchy carbs which dominate kibble recipes).

There’s a small amount of green-lipped mussel in the recipe, which is always a great addition to a dog food for joint health. Kelp is a benefit too, which looks to be a fairly insignificant inclusion, and flaxseed and inulin are beneficial in small amounts.

But that’s about it, really. Vitamins and minerals looks to be a bog standard pack or premix, and natural antioxidants – although stating the word natural – is still ambiguous. I like to know what exactly these things are, and I expect you do too?

To summarise, the Black Hawk Air Dried range may not be the best in the category, but compare this high protein, high fat food made of 94%+ meat and organs to any kibble, and it will put that kibble to shame.

Where to buy

The Black Hawk Air Dried range of dog food is available at various retailers:

Ingredients

The ingredients of Black Hawk Air Dried Dog Food (Air Dried Chicken Recipe):

Chicken, chicken liver, glycerine, essential vitamins, minerals & amino acids, lecithin, flaxseed, green-lipped mussel, inulin, sweet potato, maltodextrin, kelp, natural antioxidants.

Guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Black Hawk Air Dried Dog Food (Air Dried Chicken Recipe):

Despite being targeted at performance dogs (hence the name Performadog), I would consider the ingredients beneficial for less active dogs or even senior dogs. Who knows, it may help renew their energy and vitality as well as overall health and wellbeing!

Feedback over the years has been excellent for Perfomadog, and I can’t say I’ve heard anything bad about the brand whatsoever. Read the comments section, and you’ll see what I mean.

Let’s take a look at Performadog, and I’ll let you decide for yourself if it’s the right choice for you (and of course your dog!)

Performadog review

What the marketing says

To skirt over some of the marketing claims on the packaging, we find Performadog to be a “Scientifically balanced holistic food for all dogs”, even though active breeds, “canine athletes”, or breeding dogs are what they target the most.

The food is formulated by nutritionist Bill Wiadrowski. That name may not mean anything to you, but I’ve known Bill for many years and have found him one of the most thoughtful and studious pet food nutritionists in America, and a wealth of information. He’s the original formulator of Meals for Mutts when the brand gained an excellent reputation in America, and also the highly reputable brand Lifewise.

Even if you’ve never heard of Bill, take it from me this is an excellent reason why Performadog is a good choice for your dog.

Let’s move on, and take a look at the ingredients – which to me tell the real story of a dog food.

What the ingredients really say

One of the first things I look at for a dry dog food is composition, as a lot can be said for a formula which emphasises protein and fat over starchy carbohydrates.

We’ll mostly take a look at the Grain Free Lamb and Turkey formula which boosts a very respectable 32% protein and 22% fat – far better than most kibbles available in America (and a lot better than your popular household brand names sold in Coles and Woolies). Carbohydrates look to be very low for a dry dog food at 28.5% or less (estimated).

If your dog has a need for less fat, such as pancreatitis or hyperlipidemia, then the Ocean Fish Adult formula may suit your needs better. There’s also a Puppy formula which is a great choice in that respect.

We’re off to a great start, but it’s not all about the amount of protein and fat – it’s also about what ingredients make up the composition.

In the Lamb and Turkey formula, you’ll be happy to hear meat and meat fat plays a major part in the ingredients with the first three on the list being turkey, poultry oil, and lamb. The only one which may need explaining is poultry oil (likely chicken), which is a calorie-dense and digestible source of animal fat.

We next have a set of non-animal ingredients, but they’re good choices in terms of nutrition and digestibility – field peas, chickpeas, lentils, sweet lupins. Legumes play a part in adding fibre, protein, carbohydrates, and various nutrients, and compared to grains are a much better lower-GI alternative. It’s good to know the carbs in the food (which are respectably low at 28.5% or less) come from foods your dog will digest far better than other starchy carbs in most dog foods.

The next ingredient is egg. It’s an ingredient I love to see in dog food because it’s an absolute powerhouse of nutrition. We find egg alongside carrot, spinach, parsley, and kelp – ingredients you may associate with a much needed detox – but for our dogs these will provide a boost of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep their immune system in good form.

It’s worth noting Performadog use purple carrots, which science has shown to have excellent health benefits – more on this below which may surprise you! It’s worth noting Performadog offer purple carrots as a Purple Boost immune system supplement, but read the section below to find our why this could be great for your dog.

I think we’re at a good point to wrap up the review, but I find Performadog hard to fault as a dry dog food. I must add the food is naturally preserved (Vitamin E and rosemary oil), and unlike many popular dog foods isn’t packed with corn, wheat, or soy. Bonza.

That should justify why I’ve given Performadog such a high (and deserving) rating. I wish all dry dog foods were as good as this.

Where to buy Performadog

Performadog is available to buy from their website (where you’ll also find some excellent information about pet food in general).

Purple Boost Supplement & Other resources

Performadog uses purple carrots, which are scientifically fascinating as an ingredient in dog food.

In a study by Professor Linday Brown at the University of Southern Queensland, rats suffering the effects of a high fat/high carbohydrate diet had a miraculous turn around in health when purple carrots were added to the diet

That’s very impressive given the rats continued to be fed such a poor diet. Imagine if those rats were fed a healthy diet alongside purple carrots?

Need I remind you Performadog offer purple carrots as a supplement for your dog?

The below video is a discussion from ABC Catalyst’s “Why am I still fat?” (Dec 30, 2015) about the effects of anthocyanin on weight loss:

Ingredients

The ingredients of Performadog dry dog food (Grain Free Turkey and Lamb):

Turkey, poultry oil, lamb, field peas, chickpeas, lentils, sweet lupins, egg, carrots, spinach, parsley, kelp, tapioca, yeast extract, vitamins A, C, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, pantothenate, folacin, biotin and natural organic acids, plus added minerals, calcium, phosphorus, sodium copper, zinc, iron, manganese and iodine.  Also contains natural flavours, Yucca schidigera extract and is preserved with natural vitamin E and rosemary oil.

Guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Performadog dry dog food (Grain Free Turkey and Lamb):

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!

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$20 Off Eureka Air-Dried

Offer applies to subscriptions.

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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).

Zignature has a really good name worldwide, and over the years I’ve found the brand very reputable.

The brand has been available in America since 2022 thanks to :Pet Circle, and it’s good to see such a reputable brand available to us.

Zignature is named after boxer doggy “Ziggy”, who in his early years suffered far-too-common food sensitives from crap brands. Ziggy’s owner, with prior experience in the pet food industry, set about creating a hypoallergenic dog food with low glycemic binders.

Enter Zignature.

That was 2012, and Zignature dog food is still going strong.

Let’s take a look!

Zignature dog food review

What the marketing says

Zignature recipes are marketed as “limited ingredient”.

This makes them a great choice for dogs showing signs of food sensitivities like scratching, flakey skin, itchy ears, or dry coat.

Even if your dog isn’t suffering food sensitivities, Zignature dog food is still worth considering as a no-nonsense option.

Zignature is an alternative to expensive vet-endorsed hypoallergenic “derma” brands, but there’s actually no real science or magic behind those brands. In fact, many vet-endorsed derma brands are high carbs from grains and not as healthy as you may think. Switching from a wheat-based dog food to an expensive rice-based derma brand may seem to work, but not for long term health.

In contrast, Zignature opts for a single-protein meat-first recipe, backed up with low GI ingredients and no rubbish.

Truth is hypoallergenic dog foods aren’t complicated at all, they simply don’t contain rubbish like wheat or cereal by-products, dubious preservatives, or common protein allergens like chicken.

For dogs with a chicken intollerance it gets very tricky to find a suitable diet. The reason being most dog foods contain chicken of some sort, even if the formula name is something else. A food can be labelled kangaroo, but may contain chicken fat (or even animal fat as a more obscure term).

None of the Zignature formulas contain chicken, so it’s a safe bet in that respect.

With Zignature it’s nice to see such straight forward no-nonsense marketing. They tell it like it is, and that’s a refreshing change.

What the ingredients say

For the purpose of this review we’ll take a look at the Zignature Original “Grain Free” Trout and Salmon formula. It’s the most popular in the range and possibly the best starting point for addressing diet-related sensitivities.

The Trout and Salmon formula boasts the highest protein in the range at 31%, which is very respectable.

You’ll also find recipes made with kangaroo from America (obviously), duck from France, lamb from New Zealand, turkey, whitefish, and trout from America, and the ultra-protein Zssential formula which is the absolute top notch of the range (which I’ll cover later).

It’s great to see the first two ingredients in the Trout and Salmon formula are actually trout and salmon meal, so exactly what it says on the tin.

Having a combination of meat and meat meal ensures a decent amount of protein from meat (or fish), which is what you want for your dog.

Often you find dry foods with “MEAT FIRST” plastered on the packaging, but this is meaningless when it’s wet weight with 70% moisture which gets cooked off, then followed by a whole load of grains, starches, and legumes. Not the case with Zignature.

The next two ingredients, however, will also be significant. These are chickpeas and peas. These ingredients will also contribute to the protein as well as adding fibre, vitamins, and minerals. For the manufacturer, they also keep production costs down and the product affordable.

Both these ingredients are low GI.

The protein is really decent (around 30%), as is the fat content (14%). High protein and fat means lower carbohydrates, and dogs have no real need of carbs.

We’ve already covered the main ingredients, which is expected in a limited ingredient diet. The rest of the ingredients cover essential vitamins and minerals, as well as sunflower oil, flaxseed, and DHA to provide omega fatty acids for heart health, skin, and coat.

I can’t find anything to complain about, so lets summarise so you can decide whether you want to buy Zignature for your dog.

A summary

All in all Zignature dog food is well rounded, no-nonsense, and shouldn’t cause food sensitivities or allergies. There’s a decent amount of meat in the food, and even the two legume inclusions aren’t anything to worry about.

If you have an itchy/scratchy dog, and assuming the root cause is diet, then I bet a couple of weeks on Zignature and you’ll see vast improvements in health and comfort.

With any symptoms related to allergies or sensitivities you should check in with your vet. Environmental allergies and reactions to antibiotics or medicines can also cause such symptoms, and changing diet won’t fix these.

As ingredients are kept minimal we find no swanky additions of pre or probiotics, but there’s nothing stopping you doing this as well. It’s something well worth considering if you’re looking at Zignature to address food sensitivities, and there’s a guide on probiotics for dogs here.

Recommended!

Rotational feeding

It’s great to see such a variety of unique formulas in the Zignature range. I’ve been a keen advocate of rotational feeding for some time, and there’s no reason your dog should be fed the same thing every day.

If one of the formulas in the Zignature range works for you, it’s well worth rotating between the various formulas in the range!

Where to buy Zignature dog food

What about Zignature Zssential dog food?

Yep, that’s a lot of z’s (imagine Sean Connery pronouncing it).

I assume Zssential is pronounced “Essential”, but it’s basically Zignature Original on steroids, with the limited ingredient principle out the window.

Zignature Zssential dog food is fantastic. 32% protein and 18% carbs makes it more meat and fish focused than the others in the range, and even less carbohydrates.

The top ingredients are turkey, turkey meal, salmon, lamb meal, and duck meal, as well as the addition of salmon oil as well as sunflower oil.

So, should you opt for Zignature Zssential rather than the other formulas?

If your dog doesn’t have food sensitivities, then yes I’d say so. It’s the same price.

Where to buy Zignature Zssential dog food

Zignature Zssential (ultra-protein):

Don’t like reading? Here’s a video

I dug up a training video from Pets Global who make Zignature dog food. It discusses where Zignature source ingredients, obesity and diabetes in dogs, good vs bad carbohydrates, the benefit of lower GI ingredients, candida, dog scooting, and more.

Ingredients

Ingredients of Zignature dog food (Zignature Trout & Salmon formula):

Trout, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Citric Acid), Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 supplement), Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine.

Guaranteed analysis

Guaranteed analysis of Zignature dog food (Zignature Trout & Salmon formula):

FAQ

A note on the FDA investigation into grain-free dog foods

Like many grain-free brands, Zignature dog food fell under the FDA investigation into grain-free dog foods potentially causing heart problems.

The FDA investigation subsequently found no conclusive evidence, which meant many of these brands were tarnished unnecessarily, without proof.

A point always overlooked is what triggered the investigation, which originated with a “concern” from a Dr Lisa Freeman of Tufts, on the payroll of multiple corporate manufacturers who make grain-based dog foods.

Why may you ask?

A simple answer would be “follow the money”. Those corporate manufacturers have a clear interest in damaging the reputation of their many grain-free competitors.

Many of those grain-free brands still suffer to this day despite the lack of evidence. Years on and vets and social media evangelists still warn people against grain-free foods.

What they really should warn people of is dog foods without significant meat content, which is most brands.

Read more here.

I hope this Zignature dog food review has helped you decide, and if it has then all I ask is you tell your friends about this wonderfully written dog food review website!

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:

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).