Last Updated on January 21, 2021
Taste of the Wild is one of the several pet food companies owned by Diamond Pet Foods Inc. However, Taste of the Wild has remained a family-owned, privately held business.
As a newcomer in the field, beginning in 2007, Taste of the Wild was created to meet the growing market demand for all-natural, grain-free dog food. They sought inspiration from the very nature of dogs and cats making pet food “in flavors their inner wolf or mountain lion would crave.”
All their formulas are certified antibiotic-free and hormone-free, with highly digestible carbohydrates, antioxidants, and chelated minerals for better absorption. The sources of their protein are unique lean meats like bison, venison, and quail without using toxic preservatives and fillers.
And the best part? They sell it at an affordable price.
Currently, Taste of the Wild makes their dog and cat food formulas in 5 state-of-the-art facilities located in the USA: 2 in California and one each in Missouri, Arkansas, and South Carolina. According to their website, their ingredients are sourced locally and globally.
Although this is far from ideal, Taste of the Wild assures that they only work with them after a careful vetting process.
Best Taste of the Wild Dog Food Review
1. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Grain-Free Recipe with Roasted Bison and Venison Adult Dry Dog Food
A perfect blend of pasture-raised bison and venison, vegetables, legumes, and fruits, this is a well-balanced formula for your adult dog.
This formula from Taste of the Wild is a delicious, grain-free recipe that contains no preservatives, no artificial flavor, no coloring, no grain, corn, wheat, or fillers added.
With every bite of this recipe, your pet gets the essential nutrients he needs for his overall well-being. It has guaranteed levels of zinc, selenium, and vitamin E that help support the immune system. It’s also rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
Taste of the Wild knows the importance of digestive health. This is why they included their own K9 Strain, which has 80 million good bacteria for a healthy gut. They support a healthy immune system, good metabolism, and hormone function.
Key Features
- Grain-free
- A well-balanced blend of carbohydrates and protein to keep him active
- Made with real roasted bison and venison
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or any fillers
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
Also related: Best Dog Food
2. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Canine Grain-Free Recipe with Smoked Salmon Adult Dry Dog Food
Do you have a sensitive dog? Try this Pacific Stream recipe from Taste of the Wild.
The number one ingredient in this formula is salmon making it naturally rich in healthy omega fatty acids that are good for your adult pet’s skin and coat condition. It’s also free of any eggs or egg products, making it ideal for dogs who are sensitive to them.
And as Taste of the Wild is an advocate of sustainability, they mix wild-caught salmon with farmed salmon. It also has probiotics thanks to Taste of the Wild’s own K9 Strain that has 80 million good bacteria that support a healthy digestive system.
To make it even better, the antioxidants from vegetables, legumes, and fruits provide your dog with antioxidants and vitamins, and minerals he needs.
Beware, this formula contains canola oil. Canola oil can be a controversial ingredient to include in dog foods. More on this will be discussed below on Taste of the Wild Ingredients Analysis.
This formula has no preservatives, no artificial flavor, or color added. It has no corn, wheat, or filler as well.
Key Features
- Grain-free
- Made from real smoked salmon that’s naturally rich in omega fatty acids
- Doesn’t contain eggs or any egg product.
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- Has healthy antioxidants from fruits and vegetables
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or fillers.
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
3. Taste of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food Appalachian Valley Small Breed – Venison
We love to spoil our pets. And what better way than to provide them with dog food that’s both delicious and nutritious?
This recipe features just the right amount of protein from real venison and fat that provides small breeds the energy they need to stay active. And because this formula is made for small breeds, the kibbles are smaller in size.
They also added garbanzo beans, one of the most nutritious legumes, rich in protein and fiber that support a healthy digestive system.
Additionally, thanks to the K9 Strain developed by Taste of the Wild, he gets 80 million good bacteria for a healthy gut and strong immune system.
This formula contains canola oil.
Key Features
- Specially made for small breeds
- Comes in a smaller kibble size
- Grain-free
- Made with real venison meat
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or any fillers
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
Also related: Best Dog Food for Small Dogs
4. Taste of the Wild Bison Dry Dog Food
Made with real bison and venison meat plus healthy grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seeds – this formula is both nutritious and delicious for dogs in any life stage.
It has DHA and essential nutrients a growing puppy would need; a well-balanced protein and carbohydrates for adult dogs to maintain strong lean muscles and good amounts of fats and protein to keep your senior dog active.
It also has omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics that help support a healthy digestive system and a strong immune system.
This formula includes dried yeast on their ingredients list. If your dog is allergic to yeast, this may not be the best dog food for him. More Taste of the Wild ingredients is discussed below.
Key Features
- All life stages formula
- Made from real roasted bison and venison plus whole grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seeds that are naturally rich in protein.
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or any fillers
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved
5. Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Meat Grain-Free Recipes Wet Canned Dog Food
One of the many things we like about Taste of the Wild is their unique flavors and source of proteins. But what if these meats are found in 1 formula? Yes, you read that right. One!
This recipe from Taste of the Wild features different protein sources in one. Talk about true meat content!
It’s totally grain-free and contains the essential vitamins and minerals an adult dog needs to maintain lean, strong muscles and a healthy weight. Plus, it has antioxidants that help support a strong immune system.
Try this wet dog food from Taste of the Wild that will surely agree with his taste buds.
Key Features
- Grain-free
- Wet dog food
- Available in 5 different flavors (Duck, High Prairie – Venison & Bison, Pacific Stream – Salmon, Sierra Mountain – Lamb, Southwest Canyon – Wild Boar)
- Made with real bison, lamb, salmon, duck, and wild boar meats in a tasty stew
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or any fillers
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
Also related: Best Wet Dog Food
6. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Canine Recipe with Roasted Lamb Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages
This grain-free, all-life stages formula from Taste of the Wild is made from real roasted lamb combined with eggs, sweet potatoes, and peas.
It has Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are essential for every dog’s skin and coat condition. It also has DHA from salmon oil, a vital fatty acid that’s responsible for brain and eye development in puppies.
It includes antioxidants from vegetables and fruits that support a dog’s overall health. The guaranteed presence of zinc, selenium, vitamin E, and taurine also plays a role in warding off age-related diseases for senior dogs and common infections for puppies and adults.
This formula has no preservatives, artificial flavoring, or color added. AAFCO approved.
Key Features
- All life stages formula
- Grain-free
- Made from real lamb meat
- Has DHA from salmon oil that helps support brain and eye development in puppies.
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or any fillers
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
7. Taste of the Wild with Ancient Grains Ancient Stream Canine Recipe with Smoked Salmon Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages
This dog food is another one of Taste of the Wild’s all life stages formula. The only difference is this has grains included. So, grain sensitive dogs, beware!
Smoked salmon is the main source of protein for this recipe combined with ancient whole grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seeds. These grains are naturally rich in fiber and protein plus vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants.
This recipe is also enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million good bacteria strains his GI tract will surely appreciate.
If your dog is allergic to grains, this may not be the best dog food formula for him. However, if your dog enjoys his grains without a problem, then this is a delicious choice for him.
This formula contains canola oil and dried yeast.
Key Features
- All life stages formula
- Made with real smoked salmon plus whole grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seed that are naturally rich in protein and fiber and vitamins and minerals.
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Contains no wheat, corn, or any fillers.
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
8. Taste of the Wild Wetlands Canine Grain-Free Recipe with Roasted Fowl Dry Dog Food
Containing 32% protein, this recipe from Taste of the Wild is specially formulated for dogs who live an active lifestyle.
This formula uses a combination of 3 protein sources from duck, quail, and turkey, with the right amount of building blocks for your adult dog to maintain a healthy body. It’s grain-free and contains no toxic preservatives, artificial flavors, or color.
With every pound he eats of this formula, your dog gets 80 million active cultures that help support a healthy digestive system thanks to Taste of the Wild’s proprietary K9 Strain.
It also has Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
This formula is AAFCO approved.
Key Features
- Grain-free
- Made from real roasted quail, duck, and smoked turkey.
- Enhanced with Taste of the Wild’s very own K9 Strain Probiotics that provides 80 million live cultures that help support a healthy digestive system.
- With Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals
- Contains no grain, wheat, corn, or fillers.
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, or color added.
- AAFCO approved.
Also related: Best Grain-free Dog Food
Taste of the Wild Ingredients Analysis
Some of the most prominent ingredients you will find in Taste of the Wild’s recipes are beef, lamb, boar, duck, salmon, lamb meal, garbanzo beans, sorghum, millet, quinoa, chia seeds, and salmon oil.
Other ingredients you will also find in their recipes are chicken meal, chicken fat, tomato pomace, dried yeast, canola oil, lentils, dried chicory root, and peas.
Below is a breakdown of these ingredients.
One of the sources of protein Taste of the Wild uses is beef. Beef has a high moisture content that has about 73% of water. After it’s cooked, most of the moisture is lost. Consequently making up only a small fraction of the total meat content in the final product.
This is something to be considered, especially when judging the real meat content of the recipe.
Lamb is the flesh derived from slaughtered lamb either from their skeletal muscles or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart, or esophagus. Lamb meat is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids dogs need to sustain life.
Boar is an animal closely related to wild pigs. They are high in moisture, containing up to 73% water. After its cooked, the meat content may be reduced. Again, it must be put into consideration when judging the actual meat content of the product.
Another good protein source is salmon. According to AKC, they are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that boosts the immune system, reduce inflammation, and keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy. They are also a great alternative to common proteins that cause an allergic reaction in dogs.
Lamb meal is a meat concentrate that contains 300% more protein compared to fresh lamb meat.
Garbanzo beans are also known as chickpeas. They are a part of the legume family that is naturally rich in fiber and protein. Garbanzo beans contain about 22% protein.
Salmon oil is considered to be a commendable addition to any dog food formula. It’s naturally rich in EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids that is essential to dogs of any life stage.
For Ancient Grain recipes from Taste of the Wild, sorghum is the first grain to be mentioned. And rightfully so because this starchy cereal grain is gluten-free. This grain is blood sugar friendly than any other grains.
Another featured grain is millet. Millet is a gluten-free grain and is harvested from certain seed grasses. It boasts to be hypoallergenic, naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber, and other essential minerals.
Quinoa is a grain that’s packed with protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients. It’s a healthy alternative to corn, wheat, and soy.
Chia seed is an edible seed that has the same nutritional profile as flax or sesame. When they are grounded into a meal, chia seeds are rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber. Chia seeds contain about 17% protein.
Chicken fat is a quality ingredient derived from rendering chicken. It’s high in linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid needed to sustain life.
Chicken meal is another meat concentrate that contains 300% more protein than real chicken meat.
Tomato pomace is actually a by-product of tomatoes after it’s processed, making it a debatable ingredient. Some think it’s an inexpensive pet food filler, while others praise it for its high fiber and nutritional content.
Dried yeast has a high protein content and rich in nutrients. But this ingredient can be potentially dangerous for dogs who have a specific allergy to yeast itself. Furthermore, some also argue that yeast can increase the risk of developing a life-threatening condition called bloat. There’s not enough evidence, however, to scientifically prove this.
One dominant concern most pet owners share is the addition of canola oil in some of Taste of the Wild’s recipes. This is because canola oil can sometimes be derived from genetically modified rapeseed. Nevertheless, canola oil can be a great source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.
Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates and natural fiber. However, they can contain about 25% of protein. Again, it must be considered, especially when judging the real meat content of the product.
Definitely, one of the ingredients Taste of the Wild highlights is dried chicory root. It’s rich in inulin, a starch-like compound found in roots and tubers. Inulin is prebiotic that supports the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
Peas are a great source of carbohydrates that’s naturally rich in fiber and protein.
Taste of the Wild Recall History
Taste of the Wild has only been recalled once, albeit it was a huge one.
In May 2012, thousands of units of Taste of the Wild were recalled because they tested positive for salmonella. Dozens of people and pets got sick during a multi-state outbreak of salmonella from various pet food brands manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in one of its facilities.
Although not considered a recall, in June 2019, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified Taste of the Wild as one of the 16 pet food brands that may be linked to heart disease in dogs and cats. Most of the formulas identified are labeled “grain-free” and are in dry (kibble) forms.
No recall was made because of the ongoing investigation.
Overall, Taste of the Wild has one of the best track records of pet food brands considering they are a huge brand.
Final Verdict: Is Taste of the Wild Good for Dogs
Taste of the Wild is definitely top of the list of pet food brands you should try. They offer high-quality, modern pet food that’s inspired by nature at an affordable price.
All their formulas are made with real lean meats such as bison, venison, lambs, salmon, and quail without preservatives, artificial flavor, color, wheat, corn, or toxic fillers.
Additionally, thanks to the perfect blend of healthy vegetables and fruits plus vitamins and minerals, your pet gets healthy skin and coat and a strong immune system.
To make it even better, Taste of the Wild also added no less than 80 million live cultures to support a healthy digestive system.
As per the affordability of this brand, then Taste of the Wild is definitely on the generous side. For such a relatively low price, you get a delicious, better quality ingredient, better protein sources, and far fewer fillers of dog food. And if it’s any consolation, all their ingredients are both sustainable and humanely raised.
Whether you’re still raising a puppy, maintaining a healthy body for your adult dog, caring for a senior dog, or feeding a nursing or pregnant dam, Taste of the Wild has high-quality food choices for you. Highly recommended.