We give Redbarn dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
It was back in the 1990s when two close friends decided that they wanted to provide high-quality dog food to pets around the nation. Redbarn dog food had its first success with their premium rolled dog food and soon decided to expand the products that they offered to pet owners. Their first production facility started in Long Beach, California, which eventually became the home of their corporate office. Today, they offer a wide range of healthy food products for both dogs and cats.
Because of their clean ingredients, numerous recipes, and excellent customer service, they are the type of company that pet owners are always looking for.
At a Glance: The Best Redbarn Dog Food Recipes:
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Our Favorite
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Redbarn Whole Grain Land Recipe |
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Redbarn Whole Grain Ocean Recipe |
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Redbarn Air-Dried Chicken Recipe |
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Redbarn Beef Recipe Rolled Food |
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Redbarn Grain-Free Sky Recipe |
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Redbarn Dog Food Reviewed
If you’re a dog owner and have been on the hunt for new, healthy food for your pup, then look no further! I was thrilled when I received three new dog food samples from Redbarn. The timing was perfect for my dog and me. I had noticed that he was starting to chew and lick his paws frequently and was regularly scratching other parts of his body throughout the day. I suspected that these behaviors might be signs of a food allergy, and had been looking for a kibble to feed him that wasn’t full of questionable ingredients at the exact time that Redbarn fell into my lap.
Thankfully, Redbarn prides itself on using clean ingredients that are always safe for consumption. What does this mean? After two decades of investing in their quality assurance programs, Redbarn became SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacturing Certified. This isn’t a requirement in the pet product industry but shows that they take the safety and the quality of their products seriously. Keep reading to find out more about the company and the products they provide for pets.
Who Makes Redbarn and Where Is It Produced?
Most of Redbarn’s products are made right here in the United States. Their primary manufacturing plant is located in Long Beach, CA, but they opened up a second plant in Kansas around 2010. This plant is an FDA-certified human-grade plant and has a state-of-the-art water treatment system. They also purchased a plant in Paraguay for their bully stick manufacturing.
Which Types of Dogs is Redbarn Best Suited For?
One standout feature of Redbarn’s dog food products is that there are options for all dogs. They offer several grain-free and full-grain recipes. This is crucial for dogs with any sort of allergies. For example, if your pet is allergic to poultry, there are fish and beef recipes to choose from. If your dog has sensitivities to grains, then you might try one of the grain-free options.
We also like that all foods are suitable for all breed sizes. It doesn’t matter if your pup is a light, moderate, or power chewer. The kibble is small enough that any dog breed can easily chew and digest it with no problems.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Redbarn dog food products are generally very healthy. The first five ingredients in their recipes come from animal proteins. Each recipe is also formulated to meet nutritional levels established by AAFCO. They even add some ingredients that are not required by AAFCO yet still offer health benefits. For example, taurine is beneficial for the eyes, heart, reproduction, and bile acid to digest fats.
Overall, the ingredients list for most Redbarn dog foods is very clean. The only questionable ingredients are pea protein and iron oxide. Peas and other legumes have been linked to canine heart disease, while iron oxide could be toxic to dogs if consumed in large quantities.
How Does the Price Compare to Other Dog Food Brands?
The one area where Redbarn seems to be at a disadvantage compared to other brands is their pricing. While you would generally expect to pay more money for higher-quality food, this isn’t something that can fit into everyone’s budget. They only sell bags containing 4 pounds or 22 pounds of food.
A Quick Look at Redbarn Dog Food
Recall History
The only Redbarn recall so far was an incident that took place in February of 2018. The company reported that a sample of their products tested positive for Salmonella and put both animals and the humans handling the contaminated pet products in danger. The contaminated foods were distributed nationwide to pet and grocery retail stores. Thankfully, only their bully sticks were contaminated. There were no serious illnesses or injuries that have been reported to date.
Pets with Salmonella poisoning may experience symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and bloody stool. Other common symptoms include decreased appetite or abdominal pain.
Reviews of the 3 Best Redbarn Dog Food Recipes
1. Redbarn Whole Grain Land Recipe
Dogs love the flavor of the Redbarn Whole Grain Land Recipe because the first five ingredients include beef, lamb, beef meal, pork meal, and lamb meal. They are high in protein (24%) with an acceptable percentage of fat (14%) and fiber (7%). The food comes in two different bag sizes, so you can pick the size that works best for your dog and your budget. This recipe helps support digestion and heart, skin, and coat health as well. It is also made in the USA, although the ingredients are globally sourced.
2. Redbarn Whole Grain Fish Recipe
This is another fantastic recipe from Redbarn, with the first five ingredients coming from animal protein. As an ocean-based recipe, it includes salmon, trout, salmon meal, ocean fish meal, and menhaden fish meal. The protein content is very high at 27% as well. While most dogs seem to love it, there have been some customer reports of dogs refusing to eat it. This could be from the stronger smell compared to some of the other recipes.
3. Redbarn Air-Dried Chicken Recipe
We love that this Air-Dried Chicken recipe can be used for meals or as treats. It is extremely high in protein (45%) but also high in fat (23%) and low in fiber (2%). The recipe is made from 97% real chicken, with the rest coming from a blend of flaxseed, vitamins, and minerals. It also doesn’t have an unpleasant odor like many other dog foods do. Unfortunately, it only comes in a 2-pound bag, so it might not be the most cost-effective for dog owners.
What Other Users Are Saying
We aren’t the only customers who are enjoying products from Redbarn. Check out some quotes from fellow dog owners around the world.
Our Experience With Redbarn Dog Foods
Product Arrival
When my three samples of Redbarn dog food arrived on my doorstep, I was pleased to see that the packaging wasn’t excessive. There is nothing I dislike more than wasteful packaging materials. All three kibble bags were tucked tightly into an appropriately-sized, recyclable box with the receipt sitting right on top.
My initial thought about the food packaging was that it wasn’t cheaply made. Each bag had a smooth, velvety texture that gave the impression that whatever was inside was also of good quality. As I took each bag out of the box, I immediately knew that my dog was interested. Not only did he start to sniff the bags, but even my two pet cats took it upon themselves to start clawing and biting at them! One thing was for sure—they all wanted what was inside.
Feeding My Dog
The three food samples I received included the Whole Grain Land Recipe, Whole Grain Fish Recipe, and Air-Dried Chicken Recipe. I decided to open the Land Recipe first, in which the main proteins came from beef, lamb, and pork. All ingredients and feeding portions were clearly displayed on the bag, so it was easy to determine exactly how much to feed my dog every day.
While my dog is no picky eater, I was surprised that it took him no time to transition to this kibble. He sat eagerly while I filled his bowl and had it polished off within minutes. Because the bags were the smaller 4-pound bags, it didn’t take long to use up the first recipe before moving on to the second.
The next recipe I gave to my pup was the Whole Grain Fish Recipe. I have to admit, this dry food recipe does have quite a strong odor. Still, that didn’t seem to deter him from eating it without issue. Because I didn’t want to change too much of his daily routine, and because the next recipe bag was 2 pounds smaller, I decided to use the Air-Dried Chicken Recipe as treats instead of daily food. Let me tell you, he absolutely loves this food and will sit next to his treat jar in the middle of the day hoping that I’ll give him a handful of pieces!
Changes in My Dog’s Behavior
My biggest hope in giving my dog new kibble was that some of his itching and irritation with his paws would subside. While he had only been on this new diet for a few weeks at this point, the licking and scratching did seem to decrease a little bit. I think it will take longer to see the full effects, but I was overall very happy with the food. Not only did my dog seem to enjoy the flavor and have no issues with the transition, but I was pleased to know that I was on the right track by switching his food to a higher-quality brand.
Conclusion
Finding your pup a pet food brand that doesn’t put them in any danger can be challenging. There are hundreds of dog food brands on the market that are all trying to convince you that they are healthy, even if they aren’t. After testing Redbarn dog food products ourselves, we can safely say that this is a company that truly puts your dog’s health and safety first. You might have to pay a bit more than you do with your current kibble, but it is worth it to know that your dog is eating some of the best food available.
