As dog owners, we want what’s best for our pet’s health, and for many people that means feeding them an all-natural dog food. The health benefits for dogs eating food without overly-processed ingredients, artificial fillers, and more are the same as for humans. Natural dog food is simply better for your pup.
I’ve done extensive research into all kinds of dog food to determine what the healthiest opions are for your pup. So, I give you my top picks for the best all-natural dog food, no matter what type of diet you and your pup prefer. I also include alternative natural brands you may want to consider.
| Dry | Wet | Fresh | Dehydrated | Freeze-Dried | Raw | Ethically Sourced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Orijen | Rachael Ray | The Farmer’s Dog | Spot & Tango | Nulo | BARF World | Open Farm |
| View on Chewy | View on Chewy | Visit Website | Visit Website | View on Chewy | Visit Website | Visit Website |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
What Are The Benefits Of All-Natural Dog Food?
There are many benefits of premium, all-natural dog food, including:
- No chemicals, preservatives, additives, or artificial ingredients
- High-quality meat proteins as the primary ingredient (except vegetarian formulas)
- Nutrients from whole food sources, including meats, vegetables, and fruits
- Boosts your dog’s immune system
- Helps to eliminate dog allergies and food sensitivities
- Promotes better digestion
- Many brands are environmentally friendly
- Some contain ingredients to boost joint, digestive, skin, and coat health
Best All-Natural Dog Food
I’ve chosen my top picks for a variety of diet types and needs to help you find the best fit for your pup. All of the dog food I review in this article meets the nutrition standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for a complete and balanced diet.
Best Dry: Orijen Original Review
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Orijen’s philosophy of modern-day dog food is inspired by dogs’ ancestral diets. Their dog (and cat) food ingredients contain 85% animal-based real foods (meat, organs, and bones), with carefully selected veggies and fruits to add nutritional value. They’re also ethically and environmentally friendly, using free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs in their recipes.
Orijen carries many different dry and wet formulas. Their original formula is their most popular, and it’s packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients for immune health, omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, probiotics to promote a healthy gut, and much more. It comes in grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas.
Price
- Grain-Free (23.5-lb bag): $105.99 ($4.51 / lb)
- With Grains (22.5-lb bag): $105.99 ($4.71 / lb)
Best Wet: Rachael Ray Nutrish Premium Natural Wet Dog Food Review
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Rachael Ray’s Nutrish, a popular line of all-natural dog food, offers six different wet food recipes made with real chicken, beef, lamb, or duck. Each recipe includes real meat and meat broth as the first ingredients, with other limited ingredients such as egg whites, vegetables, fish oil, and added vitamins and minerals.
All of the recipes contain no poultry by-products, corn, soy, wheat, gluten, or filler ingredients. They make great complete meals or as a topper for your dog’s kibble. Rachael Ray’s Nutrish is one of the most popular choices among discerning pet parents looking for natural wet dog food.
Price
- Variety Pack (12 8-oz tubs): $29.18 ($2.43 / Count)
In-Depth Review Of Rachael Ray Dog Food
If you’re considering Rachael Ray wet or dry dog food, read our full review of Rachael Ray Dog Food for more details about what this brand offers.
Best Fresh: The Farmer’s Dog Review
The Farmer’s Dog is well-known for producing fresh, high-quality, human-grade dog food made with all-natural ingredients. They have four vet-formulated recipe options (chicken, turkey, beef, and pork), which include vegetables, fish oil, and a blend of vitamins and minerals.
They personalize your dog’s ingredients and portion sizes based on your pup’s profile, including age, breed, weight, body shape, activity level, numerous health concerns, and more. Meals are made in the U.S. and are flash-frozen to preserve nutrients. They arrive in thin packages that fit well in the freezer. An added plus is that their packaging is eco-friendly.
Our Personal Experience With The Farmer’s Dog
Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Lexie LOVES The Farmer’s Dog! She gobbles it down fast and has had much more consistent bowel movements since switching. She’s also lost weight and maintained a much healthier weight since switching from kibble (and her coat is noticeably more shiny and healthy).
– Sadie Cornelius, Cavalier King Charles Parent, Marketing & Creative at Canine Journal
Price
The Farmer’s Dog bases its pricing on your dog’s age, weight, and other factors.
- Starts at $2/day
- Free shipping (you can customize shipping frequency)
- View all options
Coupon
Our readers have access to 50% off your first box. No code is needed; use this link, and the discount will be applied.
In-Depth Review Of The Farmer’s Dog
Be sure to read our full review of The Farmer’s Dog for details on formulas, ingredients, dog profile screenshots, and more. Also, check out more fresh dog food reviews.
Best Dehydrated: Spot & Tango Unkibble Review
Spot & Tango offers a high-quality dehydrated dog food called Unkibble, which is made from all-natural, whole-food ingredients, including real meats, vegetables, fruits, and more. They customize the portion sizes and ingredients based on a profile you complete on their website, including your dog’s breed, gender, age, weight, body shape, activity level, health conditions, and other factors.
It comes in three recipes: beef & barley, chicken & brown rice, and cod & salmon. Shelf-stable Unkibble is a fantastic option if you want human-grade dog food but don’t have room in your fridge or freezer to store fresh meals. Spot & Tango also offers fresh, all-natural meals.
Our Personal Experience With Spot & Tango
Our two dogs attacked the box when it arrived, and, once opened, they ravenously gobbled up this new food. To say that UnKibble has some new fans in Barley and Lily would be an understatement! It is a bonus that the dogs can have healthy and wholesome food without taking up valuable freezer space!
– Michelle Schenker, Rescue Dog Parent, Co-Founder of Canine Journal
Price
Spot & Tango’s pricing is based on your pup’s breed, age, weight, and other nutritional needs.
- UnKibble plans start at $1/day
- Fresh plans start at $2/day
- Free shipping
- View all options
Coupon
Our readers can save 50% off the following pricing for your first 2-weeks (plus free shipping) with the code CANINEJOURNAL50 at this link.
In-Depth Spot & Tango Review
Learn more about what this premium brand offers in our full review of Spot & Tango.
Best Freeze-Dried: Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Review
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Nulo, a premium manufacturer of many types of all-natural dog food, wins our pick for the best freeze-dried dog food. Their formulas contain at least 80% meat, organs, and bone, along with real fruits and veggies. Recipes include beef, duck, lamb, salmon, and turkey, and all are free of grains, such as wheat, rice, corn, barley, and oats.
All recipes also include probiotics for better digestion and overall gut health. Nulo is also an excellent option for other natural dog food, including dry and wet food, food toppers, low-carb kibble, puppy and senior food, jerky treats, and more.
Price
- Starts at: $16.99 ($3.40 / Fl Oz)
In-Depth Nulo Review
The Nulo brand carries a wide variety of all-natural dog food, so if you’re not sold on freeze-dried dog chow, check out our full review of Nulo to learn about other options. You may also want to read our reviews of your best freeze-dried dog food options.
Best Raw: BARF World Review
If you’re into a raw diet for your pup, BARF World is a leader in the raw dog food industry for their high-quality raw blends of turkey, chicken, beef, salmon, and lamb. They offer frozen patties and chubs (tubes of raw blend) as well as freeze-dried nuggets.
Their grain-free blends include muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meats, vegetables, and fruits. BARF World (BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Food) has a 60-day money-back guarantee if you and your pup aren’t satisfied with their diet.
Price
- Freeze-Dried Nuggets: starts at $40.97 for 1 x14-oz bag
- Frozen Chubs: starts at $128.97 for 6 x 2 lb chubs
- Frozen Patties: starts at $131.97 for 1 x 12 lb bag
Coupon
Use this link to get the best deal we can offer from BARF World.
In-Depth BARF World Review
Check out our full review of BARF World to learn more about their offerings. Also, see alternatives to BARF World in our raw dog food reviews.
Best Ethically & Sustainably Sourced: Open Farm Review
Looking for all-natural dog food that’s ethically and sustainably sourced? Open Farm is one of your best choices, and they carry a huge variety of dog food products — kibble (grain-free and grain-inclusive), fresh meals, freeze-dried raw dog food, wet food, treats, and more.
Open Farm sources all meats from Certified Humane farms. Certified Humane restricts the use of hormones and steroids and sets high slaughter, cruelty-free standards. The seafood adheres to both Ocean Wise and Seafood Watch standards. All vegetables and fruits hail from carefully selected local and regional partner farms.
Our Personal Experience With Open Farm
Open Farm sent me samples of their kibble and gently cooked dog foods in exchange for an unbiased review. My hound mix Sally can be a little ornery when eating her meals, so at times, we’ve added wet food to her kibble to entice her to eat. There is no enticing needed to get her to eat her Open Farm meals. The girl inhales it! In fact, we may need to start using a slow feeder to slow her down some!
– Kimberly Alt, Rescue Dog Parent, Pet Insurance Expert at Canine Journal
Price
Open Farm carries many dog and cat food types in varying sizes, so prices vary. You can save 5% by signing up for auto-shipping.
Coupon
Get free shipping on Open Farm orders larger than $50 via this link.
In-Depth Open Farm Review
Check out our full review of Open Farm to learn more about this premium brand and other formulas you may want to consider.
More Best Natural Dog Food Brands
Although these brands didn’t make it into our top picks, they’re certainly worth considering. These are our other top picks for the best all-natural commercial dog food brands. Pet parents are in luck because you have more options than ever as the market for natural dog food continues to grow. Many online and physical pet stores continue to add these premium brands for health-conscious pet owners.
Diamond Naturals
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Diamond Naturals is a family-owned company that manufactures only all-natural dog food and treats (and cat food). Their wide variety of blends are carefully formulated using whole foods and holistic ingredients. They offer specific formulas for breed sizes and ages, reduced-calorie kibble, a skin and coat health formula, and more. Their recipes include real meats, superfoods for antioxidants, omega fatty acids, probiotics, and essential vitamins and minerals for overall health.
I and love and you
I and love and you’s protein-rich, all-natural kibble, wet dog food, and treat options are designed to alleviate digestive and food sensitivity issues. They offer affordable grain-free, grain-inclusive, limited-ingredient kibble, and much more. All recipes are formulated by Ph.D. pet nutritionists and approved by a holistic veterinarian.
Merrick
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Merrick has been a trusted natural pet food brand for decades. The Texas-based company uses only real whole foods fortified with minerals and vitamins in all their products. They offer grain and grain-free formulas, with several options: dry and wet dog and cat food, raw-infused dog kibble, treats, and dental treats.
Wellness Core
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Wellness is another all-natural dog food brand you may want to consider. They stand out for their huge variety of natural dog food products (both dry and wet) with recipes carefully formulated for almost any need – breed size, age, limited ingredients, health issues, etc. Their line of Wellness CORE food is among the best you can find among commercially sold dog food for the quality of real meats, veggies, fruits, and other super healthy ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions pup owners often ask about natural dog food. Don’t see yours here? Ask us in our comments.
How Is “Natural” Dog Food Defined?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines natural as “a feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur in good manufacturing practices.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t defined natural in relation to pet food labeling.
Does Natural Mean It’s Organic Dog Food?
No, in fact, most natural dog food isn’t organic. However, several brands use some organic ingredients in their formulas (e.g., The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Open Farm, etc.). If you want fully organic dog food, look for labeling that contains certified “USDA Organic.” This certification means that the food product meets the USDA’s organic guidelines. To be certified by the USDA as organic, human (and pet) foods must contain at least 95% organic ingredients.
Why Check The Ingredients Of Natural Dog Food?
All-natural dog foods will always be marketed as such simply because it’s a selling point for the companies that make them. Even if dog food is labeled as “all-natural,” it’s still important to carefully check the ingredients of each food to look for potential allergens.
Is An All-Natural Dog Food Better For Dogs?
We at Canine Journal think so, and many veterinarians do, too. Dog foods containing artificial ingredients, including preservatives and coloring, aren’t necessarily your best options. However, just because a dog food isn’t labeled as natural doesn’t mean that it isn’t healthy for your pup. The most important thing to look for on labeling is that it’s complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage.
What Commercial Dog Food Ingredients Should I Avoid?
This three-minute video explains the potential health hazards of five common commercial dog food ingredients — even more reasons to go all-natural with your pup’s diet.
Personalized Dog Food For Your Pup’s Health Issues
Choosing the best natural dog food isn’t easy with all the choices you have these days – and that’s a huge nod to the dog food industry moving in the right direction. However, with so many healthier options available now, you may want to delve deeper into your choices if your dog has allergies or other health issues. If that’s your situation, you may want to check out our article on the best dog food delivery companies. Many of our top picks personalize your dog’s food for health issues.
Our Methodology
We analyze hundreds of dog food brands and individual formulas to provide our recommendations for the best nutrition. Each of the following elements helps us determine the best dog food for any dietary need. Our in-depth research includes:
- Scrutinizing all ingredients included in every formula
- Having firsthand experience with our dogs for many of the foods we recommend
- Assessing the guaranteed analysis for every formula, including protein, fat, fiber, and caloric content
- Investigating the latest scientific studies on dogs’ nutritional needs and benefits of ingredients
- Researching the specific dietary needs for breed sizes and health conditions
- Reading hundreds of customer reviews
- Staying informed on every dog food recall
- Diving into every pet food brand’s history and reputation
- Keeping on top of pet food trends
Unlike many other review sites, we give unbiased reviews based on countless hours of research. Our goal is to provide our readers with the healthiest options for their pups.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Sally has researched and reviewed hundreds of different dog food brands and specific formulas. She’s an expert at analyzing dog food ingredients based on current nutritional guidelines and scientific studies for the healthiest food for our pups. She’s part of a team of dog specialists at Canine Journal who have over a decade of experience in researching, testing, and writing about everything you need to know to keep your pup healthy and happy.
