Below, we’ve listed 265 freeze-dried, air-dried, or dehydrated dog foods that meet our selection criteria for a high-quality food. They appear in a searchable database that includes every bit of information you might need to know—and can search on or filter—about each product:
- Company name
- Product name
- Formulation type (which dogs the product is formulated for: adults only or “all life stages”)
- Growth of large-breed puppies (whether the product is appropriate for large-breed puppies or not)
- Nutrient profile (how the nutritional adequacy of the product was determined: by virtue of meeting AAFCO’s nutritional requirements or by feeding trials)
- Grain inclusivity (whether the product is grain-inclusive or grain-free)
- Drying method (freeze-dried, dehydrated, or a combination of the two)
- Guaranteed minimum amount of protein
- Guaranteed minimum amount of fat
- Ingredients (a list of all of each product’s ingredients)
- Price per ounce (calculated using the smallest price we found for the largest size of the product)
- A link for buying the product. (Note: If you buy a product using the link, we may earn a commission. Whole Dog Journal is reader-supported and does not accept money for its food and product reviews.)
The products in this database can be sorted by clicking on the top of each column, enabling you to find the products alphabetically by company, by their amounts of protein and fat, life stage or suitability for large-breed puppies, or price per ounce. Click on the top of the column a second time to see them in the opposite order (low to high, or high to low, for example).
You can also use filters to find or eliminate products based on their ingredients or protein or fat levels. Say you are looking for a food that contains beef, does not contain chicken, and has less than 25% fat. Just apply the appropriate filters and voila!
We’re excited about the possibilities of this searchable database, and hope you find it to be helpful for finding good foods for your dogs. Keeping your dog’s individual needs in mind, try some new products, switch frequently – and always watch your dog! Note the date that you start feeding any new food on a calendar and record your dog’s physical responses to the switch, good and bad. If you pay attention, he’ll let you know what works for him (and what doesn’t) with his appetite, energy, skin and coat, stool, and weight.
Would appreciate additional insights from author as to why one product is over $3.00 an ounce yet another is just $0.54. Are some just toppers and others whole meals? Such a huge difference is meaningful for folks on a budget but who want to give their pooch the best possible. Protein content ranges from 24% to 55%! Realizing each dog is different, what range of % of protein is best to start with. In a month I’m bringing home a 10 week pup who’s being fed raw. I plan to transition to a high quality kibble (Fromm for pups) and supplement with freeze dried raw. Help!! Give us newbies a place to start.
Can’t read on my iPad Pro. Need fix!
Agree with Lisa G—chart is unreadable on large iPad. Please test your pages on commonly used devices prior to publishing! Your web developer should know this.
You left out some good foods and more concerned about the referral links being your decision on which foods to list.
This is unreadable on my iPad & I have the biggest iPad available. (12.9” iPad Pro). Please fix this issue!
What is it that you did not find acceptable about Kiwi Kitchens. I’ve been feeding it regularly for the last two years and find it is brilliant food.
I loved Kiwi, but just discovered they were purchased by a Chinese company. I am now skeptical, thinking regulations may have changed even if still made in New Zealand. Would appreciate any help.
I love that you did this. However, it’s nearly impossible to read on an iPad. I’ll try it on my computer and see if it is easier.
Love your Journal – would it be possible for you to do an approval rating on “Badlands Ranch” Superfoods Complete Dog Food?
Thank you.
I need to find an air dried dog food that is a bit less expensive than Kiwi Peak (which we love). I do not want raw because I need the strep to be killed. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you.
No review of Vital Essentyials?