As the pet food industry changes, so do the recipes that you see on shelves. Many contain artificial ingredients that could cause significant health problems for your dog later. Many pet owners are alarmed to learn that some of the recipes that they once trusted for their dogs are unhealthy.

Fortunately, many phenomenal choices are available on the market. If you’re looking for a more natural or holistic approach, you might want to seek out natural dog foods. But it’s hard to know which one is the best, which is why we’re here to help.

These are the best natural dog foods that we could find. Hopefully, these reviews will help you find the recipe that will lead to the healthiest version of your pup!

A Glance at the Winners (Updated in 2024)

The 9 Best Natural Dog Foods

1. JustFoodForDogs Sampler Variety Box — Best Overall

The best overall natural dog food is JustFoodForDogs Sampler Variety Box. When it comes to innovators in the pet food market, this brand brings it home with frozen fresh dog food options that can be delivered to your door in a timed fashion.

These recipes contain ingredients that you can see, and each one offers a flavorful burst of deliciousness. Your pup will never get bored with any of these flavors, including beef and russet potato, fish and sweet potato, turkey and whole-wheat macaroni, lamb and brown rice, venison and squash, chicken and white rice, and balanced remedy.

The exciting thing about this is that if you’re unfamiliar with fresh dog food options, you can let your dog sample all of these flavors and choose the one that works best for them. We think that this is a terrific introduction to the natural pet food world, as it retains all of its nutrients and has minimal but comprehensive fruits, veggies, and grains.

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2. Purina ONE Natural SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food — Best Value

If you’re looking for a more natural approach to dog food at an affordable price, consider Purina ONE Natural SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. It is an all-natural recipe at a more affordable cost, making it the best natural dog food for the money.

With lots of healthy antioxidants and easily digestible grains, this recipe is totally solid. The first ingredient is lamb, followed by rice flour and whole-grain corn. This recipe definitely isn’t corn, wheat, or soy free, though. Sometimes, corn can be a little too harsh or irritating to dogs’ digestive systems.

It also contains some byproducts that might not be for everyone. So, while the quality of this dog food is slightly less than the number-one pick on this list, it is a better option than many commercial dog foods that you see on the shelves.

This recipe contains glucosamine to help support your dog’s joints regardless of age. It also includes an antioxidant blend of vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc, and selenium for an overall top-notch immune system.

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3. Nature’s Logic Canine Beef Meal Feast All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

Nature’s Logic Canine Beef Meal Feast All Life Stages Dry Dog Food might be one of the more expensive options on this list, but we think that the ingredient breakdown makes it absolutely worth it. This natural dog food is made from 100% organic ingredients.

This is a grain-inclusive formula with non-GMO millet, which is low glycemic and terrific for dogs of many food sensitivities. It is also MSG free and contains no hydrolyzed proteins, wheat, soy, rice, corn, or soy. All of the ingredients are minimally processed to keep the nutrients intact. Instead, these typical ingredients are replaced by dried chicory root, alfalfa nutrient concentrates, pumpkinseed, and dried fruits and vegetables. It contains many antioxidant-packed ingredients: blueberry, spinach, dried kelp, and cranberries.

In addition to a list of incredible ingredients, it contains live probiotics and digestive enzymes to support proper digestion. All carbohydrate sources are easy to digest. Plus, you can feed this to your dog at any stage of life.

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4. Lotus Wholesome Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food — Best for Puppies

Lotus Wholesome Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food is an outstanding recipe that would greatly benefit your little one. This recipe is crafted with grain-inclusive ingredients using rye, brown rice, and barley, all easily digestible grains.

The kibble is completely bite sized, so it is easy for your puppy to eat. It is packed with protein, amino acids, and antioxidants to support your dog’s growing body. A really terrific thing about this dog food is that it’s very low in starch, meaning it’s less processed.

Optimized calcium and phosphorus are in the recipe, and the antioxidant and fibrous ingredients help regulate your dog’s digestive and immune systems. The only complaint about Lotus is that it does not contain any DNA or EPA, which are essential puppy ingredients. If you do choose to buy this natural dog food, you might want to supplement your puppy’s meals to support their brain and body.

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5. Natural Balance Platefulls Savory Duck & Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog Food

Natural Balance Platefulls Savory Duck & Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog Food is ideal if you’re looking for a wet food selection for your picky pal. This diet has real ingredients that you can see and is assured to appeal to even the pickiest taste buds.

The recipe is incredibly simple, containing only nine ingredients. This is very fresh dog food, and we love what we see in the recipe. It has just enough protein suitable for dogs of all sizes.

It also has a moderate calorie count to work for various activity levels. Duck is a very uncommon protein in commercial dog food, making it super compatible with pooches that require a limited-ingredient or novel-protein diet.

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6. Nutro Natural Choice Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

Nutro Natural Choice Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is an adult-maintenance diet, meaning it is specially tailored for healthy adults with no known allergies. It is an extremely well-rounded nutrition choice with natural ingredients to nourish all of your dog’s bodily systems.

This brand is all into natural nutrition. This food contains lamb as the first ingredient, a somewhat uncommon and nutrient-dense protein in many standard diets. Also, rather than using potentially irritating grain ingredients, this grain-inclusive diet contains brewers rice, whole-grain brown rice, and split peas to provide an easily digestible carbohydrate source. Although this recipe’s protein and caloric content is moderately low, we recommend it for healthy adults with low to moderate activity levels. This recipe would not be suitable for high-energy breeds.

This formula is GMO, byproduct, corn, wheat, and soy free. It’s packed with omega fatty acids, essential antioxidants, and appropriate vitamins and minerals. All in all, we think that this is moderately affordable for the average budget, and the ingredients are human grade and molasses free.

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7. Purina Bella True Delights Grain Free Dog Food — Best for Small Dogs

Purina Bella True Delights Grain Free Dog Food is a favorite selection for little dogs for a few reasons. Sometimes, small dogs have a little trouble with dry kibble because their mouths are so tiny. Since kibble tends to be challenging to chew, True Delights has natural recipes with soft textures and high water content to soften the meals.

These tiny patties are perfectly portioned to spruce up any old dry dog food. They are grain free, but they can be added in with grain-inclusive diets. All recipes are chunky but soft, which will work well if your dog experiences dental issues or is very picky, as they will likely take to this formula with no problems.

True Delights comes in multiple flavors, so you can get a flavor variety pack or another package that would suit your dog’s taste buds better. Don’t be afraid to check out all the other toppers available!

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8. ACANA Sea to Stream Recipe + Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food

ACANA Sea to Stream Recipe + Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food is a grain-inclusive recipe with excellent freshwater fish ingredients. This dry kibble is packed with excellent choices, using oat groats and whole sorghum as carbohydrate sources rather than potentially irritating grains.

The protein content in this recipe is 31% on the guaranteed analysis, making it much higher than average dog food. However, the calorie content is moderate, so it will work for various healthy adults with low to high activity levels.

Most dogs will benefit greatly from the protein from whole Atlantic herring, whole mackerel, whole catfish, herring meal, macro meal, and catfish meal. Since this dog food contains so many fish ingredients, it is absolutely packed with omega fatty acids.

It is geared toward nourishing the nervous and circulatory systems. It also contains a proprietary heart-healthy vitamin pack. Plus, it includes zero artificial ingredients, and it is 100% free of gluten, potato, and legumes.

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9. Taste of the Wild Ancient Mountain With Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food

Taste of the Wild Ancient Mountain with Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food is a grain-inclusive recipe that has a slew of excellent ingredients specifically designed for the natural health of your dog’s primal roots.

However, this recipe is high in fat and carbohydrates. That means the high caloric content combined with the fat level can lead to weight gain for moderate- to low-activity dogs. We think that this dog food will work best for high-energy dogs.

This formula contains live pre- and probiotics to balance gut health, making sure digestion rolls along smoothly. It also has lots of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin to provide total body support to all life stages.

The main protein, lamb, is a novel protein for most pets, which means it is less likely to trigger allergies in your dog.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Natural Dog Food

We know how important it is to provide a solid nutrition source for your dog. After all, a poor diet can lead to various health issues that can be expensive and life shortening for your dog. Here is some relevant information on how to shop for natural dog food that provides adequate health.

What Is Natural Dog Food?

Natural dog food can have a few meanings, but the general consensus is the same. It uses fewer synthetic ingredients and more hearty and healthy choices. The manufacturer typically gets its ingredients from excellent sources, ensuring either organic or well-raised ones are used in production.

You have to be careful, though, as while something may claim to be natural dog food, the ingredients tell all. Even in natural dog food, there might be specific triggers for allergies or sensitivities. So, it’s essential to thoroughly examine the entire ingredients label to ensure that you buy the right product for your dog’s dietary needs.

Organic vs. Natural

You might think that because dog food is labeled natural, it must mean it’s organic. However, that is not the case unless the ingredients are specifically labeled as USDA-approved organic. So, make sure the label explicitly states what the dog food contains so there are no misconceptions.

Types of Dog Natural Dog Food

You can find natural dog food in lots of different varieties. Each one has its own targets and benefits, so you can work with your vet to pick the one that works for your dog’s needs.

Breed Size & Age

When it comes to ensuring that your dog’s performance is top-notch, you’ll need to feed them according to their life stage. Companies make formulas to nourish all breeds—toy to giant. Some even get more specific, and you can buy a breed-specific food.

All Life Stages

Life-stage formulas are designed to meet the nutritional requirements of dogs at various ages, from puppy to senior.

Puppies

Puppy formulas contain many beneficial nutrients to keep your growing pup healthy. They often contain much-needed ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, and EPA. These nutrients help your dog’s developing body grow strong and healthy. Puppy recipes are also very high in protein to feed growing muscles.

Adults

Adult dog food is designed for maintenance purposes. Once your dog is fully grown, these recipes cater to the health of the average dog, containing ingredients that help keep up with routine health.

Seniors

Seniors need total body support, especially in their joints. Many senior recipes are low-calorie, high-protein diets containing joint support additives like chondroitin and glucosamine.

Recipe Types

Recipe types are the ingredient combos that make up each formula. They fall into different categories. Here are a few that you most commonly see, all of which can be totally natural in content.

Everyday Nutrition

Everyday nutrition recipes are great inclusive formulas that are designed for average healthy adults.

Limited-Ingredient

Limited-ingredient diets use fewer additives to create a completely balanced diet. Many dogs with dietary sensitivities require these recipes to eliminate a lot of common triggers.

Grain Free

There has been some controversy about grain-free diets over the years. Grain-free recipes exclude grain ingredients to eliminate gluten allergy triggers. So, verify with your vet that your dog has a grain sensitivity before committing unless you’re supplementing or combining with a grain-inclusive food.

Sensitive Stomach

Sensitive stomach recipes have easy-to-digest ingredients to soothe the digestive tract. They often use soluble carbs like sweet potatoes and other veggie starches to provide energy.

Ingredients to Watch For

Just because something is labeled as natural doesn’t always mean it’s the kind of “natural” you prefer. One interesting thing about something being labeled with natural flavors is that it can contain up to 100 different synthetic ingredients per one natural ingredient.

Also, look out for dyes, unnatural preservatives, and fillers. These items serve no nutritional purpose and add no value to the meal. Some can even harm your dog in the long term.

This is troublesome, as it’s a flaw in marketing. Many consumers are misled by marketing tactics that really don’t hold up.

Conclusion

Did these reviews help you find what you’re looking for? If you want a recap, remember how much we love the JustFoodForDogs Sampler Variety Pack. It is an excellent introduction to the fresh food world and provides solid, nutrient-rich nutrition to any dog—no matter the age.

If you want to save money but still go natural, we suggest Purina ONE Natural SmartBlend Lamb & Rice. It is a protein-rich recipe with everything that your dog needs to thrive while avoiding all the artificial flavors and fillers. Also, Nature’s Logic Canine Beef Meal has a totally natural, clean recipe that works for adult dogs, even ones with sensitivities.

Lotus Oven-Baked Kibble for Puppies has a comprehensive recipe for puppies that is entirely natural. Your dog getting the proper nutrition during their early years is essential, and this food fits the bill, though wet food with glucosamine or DHA might be an excellent additive.

No matter which natural diet you choose, your dog will benefit from the cleaner ingredients.

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Featured Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock