Who doesn’t love the adorable Chow Chow dog breed? Chow Chows are medium-sized and sturdy, with thick bearish fur and short pointed ears. This particular dog breed is believed to have come from Siberia or China and has a close DNA connection to wolves.
Chows were bred by the ancient Chinese aristocrats and farmers to be versatile work dogs. They assisted with hunting, herding animals, assisting in wars, and providing loyal companionship. These muscular dogs could also be pulled on sleds and were even raised and farmed for human consumption.
They were originally bred to be working dogs. However, they aren’t overly energetic or aggressive. Though they can be housed in apartments or townhouses, they require at least one daily walk to burn off extra energy. That being stated, these medium-sized dogs require a diet high in protein, fats, and carbs. Below is a list of our top picks for the best dog food for Chow Chows.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2023
Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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The Farmer's Dog Fresh Dog Food |
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Best Value
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Merrick Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food |
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American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food |
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Best for Puppies
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Royal Canin Puppy Canned Dog Food |
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Vet’s Choice
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Annamaet Medium & Large Breed Dry Dog Food |
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The 11 Best Dog Foods for Chow Chows
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food – Best Overall
Main ingredients | Chicken, Beef, Pork or Turkey |
Protein content | Up to 41% |
Fat content | Up to 32% |
Calories | Up to 361 kcal per 1/2 lb |
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food is a dog food subscription service manufacturing fresh food. Their high-quality recipes are chock full of the nutrition your dog needs, which is why they’re our pick for the best overall dog food for Chow Chows.
The meals are gently cooked in USDA kitchens at low temperatures. They are then quickly frozen to allow for safe shipping and storage convenience. In addition, because their recipes are made to order, your Chow Chow’s meals will always be fresh and made without preservatives.
The ingredients for The Farmer’s Dog’s recipes come from reputable food suppliers and local farms, all of which meet the USDA standards. There are no feed-grade ingredients and no additives that make the recipes shelf stable. This means that your dog’s food will need to be stored properly (refrigerator or freezer) and eaten promptly to prevent it from going bad.
There are four recipes to choose from beef, chicken, pork or, turkey. Each is made with USDA-certified protein, whole vegetables, and vitamins. The recipes are formulated with the help of veterinary nutritionists to ensure your pet is getting the vitamins and nutrients it needs to thrive.
2. Merrick Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food – Best Value
Main ingredients | Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice |
Protein content | 2.0% min |
Fat content | 16.0% min |
Calories | 3739 kcal/kg or 396 kcal/cup |
In Merrick Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food you’ll find a mix of healthy protein and satiating carbohydrates made from grains. This meal supports digestive health but is free of lentils, potatoes, and peas. It also has deboned salmon which is great for helping to retain and build solid muscle tissue, something Chow Chows have a lot of.
You’ll find that this recipe is also packed with omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and a shiny coat. This is essential as Chows are a double-coated breed and dry skin can cause them to shed more than a little bit. If you need the best for Chow Chows for the money, here’s one to consider.
3. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Premium Choice
Main ingredients | Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas |
Protein content | 34.0% min |
Fat content | 14.0% min |
Calories | 3,740 kcal/kg, 390 kcal/cup |
American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is perfect for Chows that are having digestive issues. It’s made with nutritious vegetables and fruits including carrots, blueberries, and salmon. It’s full of amino acids to help build and maintain muscle mass and it also includes a healthy mix of omega fatty acids and flaxseed.
Not only can this meal help your Chow Chow maintain moisturized skin and a shiny coat, but it will give it a daily supply of healthy protein, fat, antioxidants, and minerals. This amazing formula is also grain-free and contains no soy, wheat, corn, or additives that may upset your pet’s stomach.
4. Royal Canin Puppy Canned Dog Food – Best for Puppies
Main ingredients | Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken, Pork By-Products |
Protein content | 7.5% min |
Fat content | 1.1% min |
Calories | 684 kcal/kg, 103 kcal/5.2-oz can |
Royal Canin Puppy Canned Dog Food is made specifically for pups, so if your Chow is less than a year old, this recipe may be worth taking a look at. It contains highly digestible proteins and has fish oil and beet pulp to help support easy digestion. It also has taurine, lutein, and vitamins C and E.
To give your Chow a day’s worth of essential nutrients. This formula is a perfect size kibble for small pups and makes for a great daily meal. Specifically made for puppies that are up to 22 pounds and 10 months old. Young Chows are full of energy, and this formula is sure to help support their daily energy needs along with their protein requirements. It’s also made in the USA.
5. Annamaet Medium & Large Breed Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice
Main ingredients | Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Rolled Oats |
Protein content | 25% min |
Fat content | 14% min |
Calories | 3887 kcal/kg |
Annamaet Medium & Large Breed Dry Food is perfect for medium-sized and larger Chows. It contains marine microalgae and it’s packed with essential omega-3 fatty acids. It also has L-carnitine to assist with cognitive functioning and help maintain lean muscle mass. On top of that, this formula is full of probiotics and prebiotics to help your Chow keep a healthy gut microbiome.
This specific recipe is full of high-quality ingredients, made with real chicken, and includes wholesome grains for an all-around well-balanced meal. It’s also free of wheat, soy, and corn, which may be ideal if your Chow has stomach issues.
6. Royal Canin Giant Adult Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients | Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Chicken Fat, Brown Rice |
Protein content | 26.0% min |
Fat content | 18.0% min |
Calories | 3958 kcal/kg |
The meal contains a healthy mixture of fibers and easily digestible proteins, which is important for medium and large dogs with stomach problems or other digestive issues. This heart-healthy meal will satisfy your Chow Chow and give it enough protein to support muscle growth. The Royal Canin Giant Adult Dry Dog Food is another good pick for Chows and contains a unique combination of antioxidants that can help repair damaged cells and improve cellular health.
This formula was specifically designed for large breeds, and though Chows are considered more of a medium-breed dog, they can get rather big. The formula also supports bone and joint health, plus it contains chondroitin as well as glucosamine and omega fatty acids.
7. Blue Buffalo Adult Life Protection Chicken Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal |
Protein content | 24.0% min |
Fat content | 14.0% min |
Calories | 3,618 kcal/kg, 377 kcal/cup |
Blue Buffalo Adult Life Protection Chicken Dry Dog Food contains chondroitin as well as glucosamine, both of which support the digestive tract and promote the building of strong cartilage in the joints. The meal is easy to chew and contains a long list of B vitamins, as well as vitamins C, D, and E. Blue Buffalo is one of the best dog food brands available in the marketplace and this meal is a testament to that. It’s made with real chicken and has healthy grains including brown rice, oatmeal, and barley. So, if you’re looking for a healthy dog food formula for an older Chow, this one is definitely worth taking a look at.
8. Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend with Probiotics
Main ingredients | Chicken, Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Poultry By-product Meal |
Protein content | 26.0% min |
Fat content | 16.0% min |
Calories | 4,038 kcal/kg, 387 kcal/cup |
Here is another great dry food for Chow Chows. It’s a chicken based meal Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend with Probiotics and is one of the best-selling meals on Amazon and Chewy. This formula is made of real shredded chicken, grains, and rice. It’s also full of omega fatty acids and vitamin A, which are essential to skin and coat health, something that Chow Chows need a lot of. It’s great for both young and older Chow Chows and is a good high-protein formula for those long walks in the park.
9. Canidae All Life Stages Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients | Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Peas |
Protein content | 24% min |
Fat content | 10% min |
Calories | 3,425 kcal/kg, 506 kcal/cup |
Canidae All Life Stages Dry Dog Food is formulated for all dog breeds in all stages of life. It can work as a well-balanced meal all on its own or you can supplement it with wet food options for larger Chows. It contains a healthy amount of protein sourced from turkey, chicken, fish, and lamb. The formula is also full of healthy antioxidants and omega fatty acids to reduce inflammation and support healthy skin and a shiny coat. It’s a veterinarian-formulated recipe that contains all the vitamins and minerals that your Chow Chow needs for a well-balanced diet. The recipe is also free of wheat, soy, and corn.
10. Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Dry Food
Main ingredients | Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Wheat |
Protein content | 20.0% min |
Fat content | 11.5.0% min |
Calories | 363 kcal/8-oz cup |
Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Dry Food develops dog food recipes that are specifically formulated to provide a well-balanced diet, and this meal doesn’t disappoint. It’s made with real chicken and whole grains, and it’s full of nutrition from A to Z.
It has a potent antioxidant plan which includes vitamins E and C and helps support strong immunity and everyday health. All of Hill’s recipes are made in their US-based manufacturing plants and contain no preservatives, artificial colors, or flavors. So if you’re looking for a dog food brand that offers high-quality ingredients and state-of-the-art formulas, look no further.
11. Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients | Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Dried Ground Potatoes |
Protein content | 34% min |
Fat content | 16% min |
Calories | 3,698 kcal/kg or 417 kcal/cup |
Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food is particularly high in protein and it’s also grain-free. So, if you have a large or particularly active Chow, here is one recipe to try. It’s packed with omega fatty acids, probiotics, and antioxidants. This particular formula is crafted with premium proteins, vegetables, and fruits for an all-around well-balanced meal.
It contains absolutely no by-products, corn, fillers, or soy. It’s truly designed to provide a great way for your dog to build lean muscle and maintain healthy skin and coat at the same time. So, if you’re looking for a whole-body formula, look no further.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, we listed The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food as our overall best pick for Chow Chow dog food due to its nutrient density and high amount of antioxidants. In second place, we have the Merrick Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice formula which is made with real salmon and healthy grains.
Our third runner-up is American Journey’s Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free recipe, which is full of amino acids and great for dogs with digestive issues. In fourth place, we have another recipe by Royal Canin, the Puppy Appetite Stimulation Canned Dog Food formula. This recipe is made with easily digestible proteins and is perfect for small pups that need a well-balanced diet.
Our fifth pick is the Annamaet 25% Medium & Large formula which is made specifically for larger dogs. It contains omega fatty acids and other nutrients to help cognitive function and lean muscle mass development. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a good formula for your Chow Chow, as there are many to choose from.
However, if your Chow has specific diet requirements, it’s best to find a recipe that can cater to its needs specifically. But overall, Chow Chows in generally good health simply need a meal that’s high in lean protein, fat, and carbs.
Featured Image Credit: Ivan Marjanovic, Shutterstock