Finding the Best Raw Dog Food: A Guide to Brands and Nutrition

When you begin the search for the best raw food for dogs, you are looking for more than just a brand name. You are looking for a partner in your dog's health—a company that delivers on its promises of quality, safety, and nutrition. With the increasing popularity of raw feeding, many raw dog food brands have emerged, but not all are created equal.

This comprehensive guide will help you understand what truly makes a raw food diet "the best" for your dog. We will explore the critical factors you should consider when making a dog food comparison, from ingredients to safety, and show you why We Feed Raw stands out as the superior choice for the best raw diet dog food.

What to Look for in the Best Raw Dog Food Brands

Choosing a raw dog food brand requires careful consideration. A quality company should excel in every aspect of its operation, providing transparency and trust. Here are the key factors you should compare when evaluating different brands.

Ingredients: Quality and Nutritional Adequacy

The foundation of a raw diet is its ingredients. The best brands prioritize a species-appropriate blend of fresh, high-quality ingredients.

• •Is the raw dog food made with primarily raw muscle meat, organ meat, and bone?

• •Does it contain unnecessary grains, fruits, or vegetables?

• •How long or short is the ingredient list?

At We Feed Raw, all of our frozen raw recipes are made from a precise blend of approximately 80% muscle meat (and associated connective tissue and fat), 10% organ meat, and 10% finely ground bone, all sourced from USDA-certified meats.

We also include a small amount of a vitamin and mineral premix to ensure our food meets AAFCO nutrition standards for dogs of all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies. That's it. You will not find artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, no fillers, and no grains.

Sourcing and Transparency

Where a company sources its ingredients directly impacts the safety and quality of the final product.

• •Where does the company source its ingredients from?

• •Does the brand use feed-quality ingredients or imported meats from questionable sources?

At We Feed Raw, we use animals that were raised for human consumption in the United States and New Zealand. You will not find feed-quality ingredients or meats imported from questionable sources in our food. Ever.

Safety and Quality Control

A superior raw dog food brand prioritizes safety through validated processes, not just claims. This is perhaps the most crucial factor in a dog food comparison.

• •How does the company ensure the quality control of its raw pet food?

• •Do they have a validated process to inactivate pathogens?

Not only does We Feed Raw use USDA-certified meat in our recipes, but we package it in a BRC-safe certified facility that meets high-quality standards because it also handles human food.

Additionally, we use a cold-pressure process known as high-pressure processing (HPP) on every packet of food to inactivate potential pathogens, making our food as safe as possible for your pet and your family. This process is a crucial safety barrier, especially in a world with concerns like avian flu in the supply chain.

Reputation and Trust

A company's reputation reflects its commitment to its customers and their dogs.

• •Does the raw dog food company you're considering have a good reputation?

Dog Food Advisor, Forbes, Popular Science, The Skimm, and many others recommend We Feed Raw as a top raw dog food delivery company. We are also highly rated on Trustpilot by real We Feed Raw customers. Our reputation is built on transparency and safety, which is why we have never been involved in a recall.

Variety and Nutritional Adequacy

A good raw food diet for dogs offers enough variety to meet different needs without overwhelming you.

• •How much variety does the dog food company offer?

• •Is the raw diet you’re considering complete and balanced on its own, or is it marked “for supplemental feeding only”?

We Feed Raw has five frozen raw recipes (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and duck), three of which (beef, chicken, and turkey) come from single protein sources. This offers enough variety to work for most dogs with food allergies or sensitivities while ensuring that each recipe is nutritionally complete on its own.

All of our frozen raw recipes meet AAFCO nutritional guidelines for dogs of all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies, so you never need to add anything to our recipes to ensure your pup gets all the nutrients they need. We also offer chicken and beef freeze-dried raw dog food for adult pups.

Preparation and Cost

The best raw diet is one you can consistently feed your dog. This depends on both convenience and cost.

• •How easy is the dog food to prepare? Does it involve a lot of measuring and weighing?

• •How does the cost fit into your budget?

At We Feed Raw, we make raw feeding as easy as possible. We ship you pre-portioned frozen patties or freeze-dried chunks and tell you how much to feed your dog each day. You simply thaw (for our frozen recipes) and feed, with no weighing necessary.

While We Feed Raw isn't cheap, because we offer you the highest-quality raw dog food available, our food can help keep your dog healthy for longer, potentially delaying expensive medical bills. Additionally, adding even a little raw food to your dog’s diet adds benefits, so you can mix our food with something cheaper to make it more cost-effective.

Ultimate Convenience: We Feed Raw’s Freeze-Dried Recipes

While our frozen raw patties make feeding a biologically appropriate diet easy, we also recognize the need for ultimate convenience. For adult dogs, our freeze-dried raw recipes offer the same high-quality, USDA human-grade nutrition in a shelf-stable format.

The freeze-drying process involves freezing the raw food at low temperatures to lock in nutrients, then using a vacuum chamber to remove moisture. This results in a lightweight, ready-to-serve product that requires no refrigeration. You can simply scoop and feed, making it a perfect solution for travel, hiking, or as an effortless kibble topper.

Like all of our recipes, our freeze-dried options undergo high-pressure processing (HPP) to inactivate potential pathogens, ensuring a safe and convenient meal without compromising on the benefits of raw.

The Verdict: We Feed Raw Is the Best Raw Dog Food

When you compare us to other raw dog food brands, We Feed Raw stands clearly at the top of the pack. We use the highest-quality ingredients, package our food under the strictest standards of cleanliness, use a cold-pressure process to inactivate pathogens, and make raw feeding as easy as possible. It is clear to see why so many customers choose We Feed Raw.

Take our quiz now to start your pup’s perfect meal plan and see for yourself why we are the best raw dog food.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes We Feed Raw the best raw food diet for dogs?

The best raw food diet for dogs is a blend of safety, quality, and convenience. We Feed Raw sets the standard by using USDA human-grade meats and a cold-water process called high-pressure processing (HPP) to inactivate pathogens. Our recipes are also formulated by a PhD animal nutritionist to be complete and balanced for all life stages, giving you peace of mind that your dog is getting the best nutrition available.

When comparing raw dog food brands, what is the most important factor to consider?

When comparing raw dog food brands, safety should always be the most important factor. Look for a brand that uses a validated pathogen inactivation process, like our high-pressure processing (HPP). This is a crucial step that distinguishes a truly safe raw food product from those that rely on less effective methods. Beyond safety, consider sourcing transparency and nutritional completeness.

What is the best raw food for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs?

The best raw food for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs is typically a limited-ingredient diet with a single protein source. These diets make it easier to identify and avoid potential triggers while still providing complete nutrition. We Feed Raw offers three single-protein recipes (beef, chicken, and turkey) that are highly digestible and free from common fillers and artificial additives that can cause sensitivities.

What should I look for to ensure a raw dog food brand offers a nutritionally complete diet?

To ensure a raw dog food brand offers a nutritionally complete diet, look for a clear AAFCO statement on the packaging or website. The statement should say that the food is "complete and balanced" for a specific life stage (e.g., all life stages, adult maintenance, or growth). A trusted brand will also provide a detailed ingredient list that includes a proper ratio of muscle meat, organ meat, and bone.

Why is a varied diet important even when feeding the best raw diet dog food?

Even when feeding the best raw diet dog food, providing a varied diet is important for ensuring a broad spectrum of nutrients and preventing the development of food sensitivities. While a single recipe can be complete on its own, rotating between different proteins—such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and duck—provides a wider array of amino acids, minerals, and fatty acids.