Taste Of The Wild Dog Food: A Review
Being a responsible dog parent means ensuring that your furry baby leads a happy and healthy life. You do your best to train them to be a well-behaved, lovable pooch, and you make sure they get plenty of fresh air and exercise every day. But lets be honest here nothing can beat the thrill they feel when you serve them their luncheon.
Finding adequate nutrition these days can be quite a challenge. With so many brands on the market, the seemingly endless formulas and recipes, and diametrically different price ranges of dog foods, how can you be sure which is the best choice for your pup?
Alpha Paw can help you out by reviewing those formulas, so you dont have to. We are fortunate enough not to depend on affiliate links, and we dont need to push one brand over others for profit. Instead, we can give you our honest opinion on every bag or can of dog food that we try.
After learning about raw canine nutrition from smallbatch dog food, the holistic pup grub approach from our Halo dog food review, and the protein-based blends from Wellness CORE dog food, among others, we are moving on to another household name Taste of the Wild dog food.
Recommended Serving Amounts For Homemade Dog Food
As a general rule, dogs will eat around 2 to 3 percent of their ideal body weight in fresh food daily. Larger breeds may need as little as 1 1/2 percent, and smaller breeds may need as much as 4 percent.
This works out to be approximately:
- 2 pounds of food per day for a 100-pound dog
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of food per day for a 50-pound dog
- 1/2 to 3/4 pound of food per day for a 25-pound dog
- 5 to 6 1/2 ounces of food per day for a 10-pound dog
There is much variation in what the ideal amount should be as it depends on how much your dog weighs and how active she is.
I feel that the best approach is to feed and watch if your dog is losing weight, give more, and if your dog is gaining weight, give less.
For our pugs, we feed a scoop each in the morning and a scoop each in the evening, plus all their supplements.
We have an easy system for this: homemade food is refrigerated in a sealed container with a measuring cup , and all the supplements are lined up together in a cupboard in the kitchen. Keeping your ingredients organized and accessible will make feeding time fast and smooth.
Compared to feeding commercial food, where you might scoop out kibbles or open up a can, feeding homemade food with all the supplements takes maybe 10 seconds more. And even if it took 10 minutes more, fresh wholesome food for our furbabies is worth it.
Taste Of The Wild Dry Dog Food Ingredients:
| Guaranteed Analysis |
|---|
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 0.4% |
|---|---|
| Ingredients: Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, egg product, sweet potatoes, peas, chicken fat , potatoes, roasted quail, roasted duck, smoked turkey, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, 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 D supplement, folic acid. | |
| Calorie Content:Contains 375 kcal per cup. |
| Guaranteed Analysis |
|---|
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Taste Of The Wild Information
Taste of the Wild is a relative newcomer to the pet food market, having launched back in 2007. While this might seem like a long time, some of Taste of the Wilds main competitors have been in business for over 30 years or longer.
Their products are produced by Diamond Pet Foods Inc, which is owned by Schell & Kampeter Inc. Diamond Pet Foods Inc also produces other dog and cat food ranges such as NutraGold and Diamond Naturals.
If you would like to learn more about Diamond, take a read of our Diamond Pet Food Review.
Taste of the Wild Pet Food is produced solely in the United States, in five separate facilities. These facilities include two in California, one in Missouri, one in South Carolina, and the final one in Arkansas.
All of Taste of the Wilds traditional recipes are based on the natural diet of a region and ecosystem of the United States. Examples include Pacific Stream Formula, which is based on the ecosystem of the North-Western United States.
Another example could be the Southwest Canyon Formula, which closely resembles the natural diet of the Canyons of Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
Taste of the Wild is wildly available for purchase in the United States, Canada, and around the world at thousands of retail pet food stores. You can also purchase Taste of the Wild from almost all of the major pet food websites like Chewy, Petflow, and Amazon.
Why Is Taste Of The Wild Bad For Dogs
Through testing of Taste of the Wild, Grossman says he discovered the dog food contains heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as pesticides, acrylamide, and BPA. These contaminates can allegedly build up in an animals body and cause toxicity, leading to adverse health conditions.
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Is The Taste Of The Wild Good For Dogs
Taste of the Wild gets good marks pretty much across the board, yet Consumer Affairs seems to have hundreds of it killed my dog stories. Odd, no? Sure, different dogs may react differently to various foods, just as do we.
Taste of the Wilds High Prairie is a high-quality dry dog food. It has significantly above average protein and fat content and a significantly below average carbohydrate content. While the nutrient ratios of this dry dog food are significantly above average, it still contains slightly less protein and fat than we would consider optimal.
Overall Taste of the Wilds High Prairie Dry Dog Food contains an average of 3,719 kcal/kg or 370 kcal/cup. Once again please note that the values in this section are calculated using the products guaranteed analysis.
Pro Pac Performance Puppy
This recipe is designed for puppies from weaning until the 12th month. Its also billed as an excellent feed for pregnant or nursing canines.
We dont find anything wrong with the ingredients because it starts with chicken meal, an animal protein. Ground yellow corn as the second ingredient may be a little bit off, but still not bad. Whats more concerning is the recent recall of this product.
The maker of this recipe is Midwestern Pet Foods, the same manufacturer of Sportsmix, Nunn Better, and Splash Fat Cat.
The company is currently embroiled in one of the worst pet food recalls to date concerning aflatoxin, a possibly fatal type of toxin that was found in Midwestern Pet Foods Sportsmix products.
Included in the recall are two Pro Pac recipes. This particular formulation and the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk.
Recall Info: On January 11, 2021, and FDA alert was issued on the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bags and Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bags manufactured in Midwestern Pet Foodss Oklahoma plant with expiration dates of July 9, 2022 or earlier.
This is an expanded recall that was issued out of caution since the Pro Pac recipes were produced in the same plant as the Sportsmix foods that have caused the deaths of more than 70 dogs and the illness of around 80 at least.
Problem Ingredients: none
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How Much Homemade Dog Food Should You Feed Your Dog
You can calculate how much to feed your dog here. It is a great resource to tell you how many calories your dog needs based on it’s size.
The calories in the recipe box are an estimate based on lean chicken.
If you are making your homemade dog food for the first time,introduce the new food a little at a time. You don’t want your dog to get sick from a fast transition.
You may want to start off with half of the homemade food and half of the regular food for a couple of days.
Consult your veterinarian on how to do that best.
When you make this homemade dog food, please tell me what you think in the comment section! It would mean the world to me to hear back. My readers will appreciate the information also.
Also post your picture of your dog’s food on or , and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
Taste Of The Wild Ingredients
The ingredients of Taste of the Wild dry dog food is as follows:
Bison , lamb meat meal, chicken Meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, chicken Fat , egg products, beef, roasted venison , tomato pomace, potato protein, pea protein, ocean fish meal, minerals, dried chicory roots, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract.
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Ingredients For Better Health
The powerful superfood trio of blueberries, raspberries and tomatoes can be found in every delicious recipe, along with their immune-boosting properties.
TOMATOES and TOMATO POMACE: Help support overall health by providing vitamin C, soluble fiber and rich in concentrated lycopene, a premier antioxidant.
BLUEBERRIES: Antioxidant-rich superfood that’s full of flavor and loaded with vitamins C and E, healthy carbs, dietary fiber and manganese.
RASPBERRIES: Delicious berries packed with potassium, manganese, copper, iron and magnesium, and they also provide fiber and antioxidants.
Is Taste Of The Wild Safe For Cats
Yes! Nourish your favorite feline with the balanced diet nature intended with Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food! Made with ingredients from trusted and sustainable sources with no grain, corn, wheat, filler, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives makes this recipe perfect for sensitive felines.
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High Prairie Puppy Recipe With Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison
Roasted bison and roasted venison combine in this tasty recipe, providing highly digestible energy for your growing puppy. Unique flavors from roasted meats, vegetables, legumes and fruits in a small kibble size make it easy for puppies to enjoy the nutrients they need for overall vitality. Because of the guaranteed levels of DHA and perfectly balanced nutrition, this recipe is great for pregnant or nursing mothers and other adult dogs as well.
What Other Foods Can You Use In Homemade Dog Food
- You can interchange all the ingredients.
- I buy the meat that is on sale such as hamburger, turkey, and chicken. Whatever you choose, choose very lean cuts and no skin. Your dog cannot eat very fatty protein.
- You change out the vegetables from time to time also. I sometime switch out the butternut squash with pumpkin or sweet potato.
- You can add in apples or apple sauce for a variety in flavor.
- Instead of the kidney beans, you can use lentils or pinto beans.
- You can also add in chicken livers. Chicken livers are really good for your dog, but also very rich. You want to add in small amounts.
- The egg shells are also very good for dogs. This adds in calcium. Most dogs won’t eat the shells unless they are really broken up or crushed. You can crush the shells in a coffee grinder, food processor, or with a mortar and pestle.
- Salmon, salmon oil, and fish oil also helps with skin allergies and inflammation.
- I use white rice because it is easier on sensitive stomachs than brown rice. You can use brown rice if your dog does not have a sensitive stomach.
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Best For Large Breed Dogs: Ancient Mountain Canine Recipe With Roasted Lamb
Credit: Taste of the Wild pet food
This brand doesnt have a formula tailored for giant canines and recommends all of their All Life Stages recipes for big woofers, too. So we took cues from our readers when choosing the winner in this category.
Their Taste of the Wild large breed dog food pick is Ancient Mountain Canine Recipe with Roasted Lambit is nutrient-packed yet calorie-moderate, which is ideal for large pooches who can wolf down substantial amounts of kibble in a single meal. That prevents them from overeating and putting on excess weight quickly. Lamb is also a superb meat choice for canines it is protein-rich and also suitable for dogs with allergies to the standard dog food meats, such as beef or chicken.
We wish this brand offered a blend formulated specifically for big dog breeds, and if yours doesnt enjoy this one, we encourage you to try one of our best large breed dry dog foods instead.
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Guaranteed Analysis |
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3,625 kcal/kg |
Taste Of The Wild Nutrition
We believe that Nutrition is one of the core factors that should affect your choice of pet food. We break down the nutrition of pet foods based on calorific proportions.
This calorie breakdown allows you to see what percentage of the nutrition of the food is coming from Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrates.
As a rule of thumb, pet foods with a balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates are considered to be superior to those high in carbohydrates and lower levels of protein and fat. Below we have averaged the nutrition of all Taste of the Wilds products based on the product type.
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Taste Of The Wild Dog Food Overview
Taste of the Wild produces nine different dry dog foods using high-quality grain-free ingredients that produced mainly in the United States.
This premium brand contains above-average protein content deriving from roasted meats and vegetable protein.
While many dog owners highly recommend Taste of the Wild, others are concerned about the recall history of Diamond Pet Food, which manufactures Taste of the Wild.
The Diamond brand has been involved in numerous recalls, but the only recall issued for the Taste of the Wild brand occurred in 2012.
Food ingredients in Taste of the Wild offer exceptional quality at an above-average price point, and based on our research into independent reviews, nutritional analysis, and customer satisfaction ratings, we can recommend this brand without reservation.
Sportmix Premium High Energy 26/18
This makes the top of our worst dog foods list because of the sheer number of dogs that were affected by the aflatoxin levels found in several Sportsmix products, including this one.
Many pets have died and many more were left ill.
But even without the aflatoxin situation, this recipe was not a particularly good one to begin with. We normally like dog foods that start with a meat ingredient because that shows that meat makes up the most volume in the recipe. However, we arent sold on byproducts, and this recipe starts with one.
When byproducts are mentioned, it means this is what is leftover after the meat is removed. So a chicken byproduct meal is essentially dried out chicken leftovers that may include organs but also other stuff like hide, hair, or intestinal contents .
Are these harmful to your dogs? No. Are these nutritious? They can be. But are these high-quality ingredients? Definitely not.
Aside from the byproduct meal ingredient, this recipe also contains meat meal. But that ingredient is ambiguous. What animal was used? Which part/s?
The thing about unnamed ingredients is that it could mean anything. The meat could be sourced from one animal or it could be sourced from several. Its not a quality ingredient, thats for sure.
The recall involved 50- and 44-pound bags of Premium High Energy with an expiration of either March 2 or 3, 2022. The recall was later expanded to include more recipes and the updated toll numbered over 70 dogs dead and at least 80 more ill.
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Is Taste Of The Wild Bad For Your Dog
Taste of the Wild is highly recommended by most reviewers. Heres what others have to say. Dog Food Advisor Taste of the Wild is a plant-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meats as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 out of 5 stars highly recommended.
Pedigree Complete Nutrition Adult Grilled Steak & Vegetable
This dog food is billed as providing complete nutrition for adult pups and even includes an optimal content of omega fatty acids for shiny hair.
It also proudly boasts that it is made of the finest ingredients. Looking closely at the label, however, we see a different story.
The first ingredient of the meal is ground whole grain corn. The third ingredient is also corn while the fifth is soybean meal.
So in the first five slots, you get three corn and legume ingredients, which means that this is not a meat-based dish at all. Here, the meat acts as support only and not the other way around, and there are too many grains.
The second thing we dont like about this recipe is that it uses unrecognizable animal ingredients. Were talking about the meat and bone meal.
Meat meals are usually okay provided that the animal the meat comes from is named. For example, chicken meal or lamb meal. But meat and bone meal? Which animal meat was used? Is there more than one kind of animal? And then, which parts?
Lastly, while the brand says that the recipe does not contain artificial flavors or sugar, it does contain artificial colors. There are four we could see, and theyre listed midway in the list, having more volume than the added nutrients the food contains.
Problem Ingredients: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Brewers Rice, Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2, Yellow 5
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