Ensuring your Best dog food stays happy and healthy starts with choosing the right food. Opting for the best dog food in Canada guarantees that your furry friend receives the nutrition they need, promoting a long and vibrant life.
best dog food
Canada is recognized for its high standards in pet food production, from sustainable ingredient sourcing to safe manufacturing practices. Whether you have a puppy, a picky eater, or a dog with special dietary requirements, there’s a wide range of dog food options tailored to fit your dog’s unique needs. This blog highlights some of the best Canadian dog food brands known for their quality, sustainability, and nutritional value.
Why Canadian Best Dog Food Stands Out
Canada’s wealth of premium agricultural resources is one of the key reasons why Canadian dog food is among the best in the world. Top Canadian brands source ingredients from trusted local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to create wholesome, nutritious diets for dogs of all kinds.
In addition to superior ingredients, many Canadian Best dog food brands are committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing. They prioritize environmental protection, ensuring that these valuable resources will be available for generations to come. By choosing Canadian Best dog food, you’re not only supporting your pet’s health but also promoting eco-friendly practices and responsible sourcing. These brands emphasize transparency, letting pet owners know exactly what goes into their dog’s food.
Supporting Canadian dog food brands also strengthens local businesses and the national economy. Many of these companies started as small, family-owned ventures that grew through dedication to quality and customer satisfaction.
To help you find the perfect food for your dog, we’ve compiled a list of the 25 top Canadian dog food brands.
The 25 Best Canadian Dog Food Brands
Choosing the right Best dog food isn’t just about preference—each dog has specific dietary needs. The brands on our list stand out for their dedication to using only nutritious, high-quality ingredients.
Explore the 25 best Canadian dog food brands available online and in-store at Homes Alive Pets.
- Orijen Dog Food :
Orijen is often regarded as the best high-protein dry dog food in Canada. Their formulas use human-grade ingredients, including free-range chicken, wild-caught fish, and ranch-raised meats. Orijen focuses on biologically appropriate recipes, with 75-80% meat and 20-25% fruits, vegetables, and botanicals, all without grains, potatoes, or tapioca. Fresh ingredients are delivered daily to their own kitchen, ensuring a high standard of quality.
- ACANA Dog Food :
ACANA is another leading Canadian brand, known for its premium ingredients and ethical production. Their recipes mimic the natural diet of dogs’ ancestors, featuring fresh meats, organs, and cartilage. ACANA sources regionally fresh ingredients like free-run poultry, wild boar, and sustainably caught fish. Their biologically appropriate formulas are slow-cooked to preserve flavor and nutrients, ensuring your dog gets a wholesome, natural diet free from GMOs, antibiotics, and hormones.
- FirstMate Pet Foods :
a family-owned company established in 1989, was inspired by a unique discovery: local fish farmers noticed their guard dogs thriving after eating high-protein, high-fat fish food. This led to the creation of FirstMate’s first dog food formula, based on the benefits of fish-based nutrition. Today, FirstMate has grown into a global brand offering premium pet food for both dogs and cats.Key Features:
- Offers grain-free and grain-friendly options.
- Provides simple, limited-ingredient formulas in both dry and wet varieties.
- Uses a vacuum infusion process to apply healthy fats after extrusion, ensuring consistency, potency, and nutrient density for every serving.
- Go! Solutions
Go! Solutions, created by Petcurean (an independent Canadian company founded in 1999), offers nutrient-rich dog food designed to provide essential energy and nutrients. The brand focuses on high-protein, low-carb diets with solutions for various life stages and specific dietary needs.
best dog food
Key Features:
- Available in whole grain and grain-free options.
- High protein, solution-based diets for dogs at different life stages.
- Sourced from North American farmers and ranchers, with the exception of pasture-raised lamb and grass-fed venison from Australia and New Zealand.
- Now Fresh Dog Food
Now Fresh stands out by using 100% market-fresh meats and fish, including turkey, salmon, lamb, and duck, combined with fresh fruits, vegetables, and botanicals for a balanced and flavorful diet. Their formulas focus on supporting digestion and promoting skin and coat health with superfood ingredients like coconut oil and pumpkin.
Key Features:
- Made exclusively with fresh animal proteins.
- Chicken-free recipes, ideal for dogs with common food allergies.
- Sourced from North American farms, with lamb and venison from Australia and New Zealand.
- Free from grains, gluten, wheat, beef, fresh chicken, corn, and soy.
- Nutram Dog Food
Nutram offers a holistic approach to pet nutrition, combining complementary ingredients to support the overall health of dogs and cats. Each recipe includes “Optimum Combinations,” where two ingredients are paired to deliver a specific health benefit, like turkey and chamomile for a calming effect.
Key Features:
- Three product lines: Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness (for all life stages), Nutram Ideal Solution Support (for specific health concerns), and Nutram Total Grain-Free (grain-free with low-glycemic alternatives).
- Uses real, deboned meats such as chicken, salmon, trout, and lamb.
- Optimum Combinations to enhance health benefits, such as pomegranate and turmeric for immune support.
- Big Country Raw
Big Country Raw is a leading Canadian pet food manufacturer dedicated to optimizing the health of dogs. They use only pasture-raised meats and wild-caught fish, ensuring high-quality nutrition in every meal. Their extensive range of dinners, pure meats, and blends offers options for dogs and cats of all types, earning Big Country Raw a top spot among raw dog foods in Canada.
Key Features:
- Offers a variety of flavors including chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, lamb tripe, salmon, and even exotic options like kangaroo.
- Available in full meal dinners, pure ground meats, signature blends, raw bones, and meal toppers.
- Suitable for dogs at all life stages, from small to large breeds.
- Kangaroo is the only ingredient sourced outside of Canada, from Australia.
- Carna4
Carna4 was created by Dave and Maria, advocates of raw, whole-food diets for dogs. They aimed to develop a less labor-intensive, grain-inclusive alternative to raw diets. Inspired by the Roman goddess Carna, who was believed to protect internal organs, Carna4 provides highly digestible nutrition in an easy-to-feed format.
Key Benefits:
- Available in chicken, duck, and fish flavors.
- 90% of the protein is derived from animal ingredients and sprouted seeds, providing digestible nutrients and probiotics.
- Nutrient-dense, requiring smaller servings.
- Baked at low temperatures to retain maximum nutrition and flavor.
- Petkind Dog Food
Petkind’s formulas stand out by using green tripe, a nutrient-packed ingredient that supports dogs’ digestion and appeals to even the pickiest eaters. Their tripe-based kibble and canned dog foods provide complete nutrition for dogs of all life stages.
Key Features:
- All recipes contain green tripe, offering numerous health benefits.
- Variety of protein sources, including beef, bison, lamb, wild salmon, turkey, chicken, and venison.
- Rich in essential fatty acids to promote overall health.
- Carnivora
Carnivora has been making raw pet food since 2003, using over 20 years of experience in the industry. Their formulas follow the whole-prey model, including almost all parts of the animal to mimic the natural diets of dogs’ ancestors.
Key Benefits:
- Uses a whole-prey ratio, with formulas available as pure meat patties or dinners that include 5% fruits and vegetables.
- Ingredients are sourced from small-scale Canadian farms that prioritize holistic practices.
- Bold by Nature
best dog food
Bold by Nature, previously known as Bold Raw, is a premium Canadian raw food producer for pets. Developed by a team of experts and veterinarians, their formulas are nutrient-dense, offering pets the nutrition they need to thrive.
Key Features:
- Products are triple-ground for consistency, making them suitable for dogs and cats of all breeds and life stages.
- Includes fish oil, digestive enzymes, probiotics, and omega fatty acids for optimal health.
- Ideal for pets with weight or digestive sensitivities due to their low glycemic content and meat-rich formulas.
- Canadian Naturals
Rooted in Canada’s agricultural heritage, Canadian Naturals uses locally sourced ingredients to craft wholesome pet food. They specialize in small-batch manufacturing practices to ensure each meal meets the diverse dietary needs of pets. Their range includes grain-free and grain-friendly options designed for pets at various life stages or with specific health concerns.
Key Features:
- Utilizes small-batch cooking equipment for consistent recipes.
- Wide selection of grain-free, grain-inclusive, and limited-ingredient diets.
- Free from artificial additives, preservatives, and by-products.
- Committed to sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.
- Canada Fresh
Canada Fresh, the newest addition to the Petkind family, emphasizes sourcing from Canadian farmers (except for their salmon, which comes from Europe). Their wet food products offer a complete diet, making it one of the top choices for grain-free wet dog food in Canada.
Key Benefits:
- Single-meat protein options (except for their red meat formula).
- Made with 95% animal-based proteins, both grain-free and potato-free.
- Ingredients are sustainably sourced to minimize environmental impact.
- Ideal for pets with allergies or sensitivities.
- Vetdiet
Vetdiet, a Canadian family-owned brand, has been a leader in pet nutrition for over 30 years. Their recipes, created in collaboration with veterinarians, provide the right balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, ensuring pets receive the essential nutrients needed for a healthy life.
Key Benefits:
- Expertly formulated to suit various life stages and health needs.
- Fortified with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote overall well-being.
- Focuses on sustainability and ethical sourcing practices.
- Offers specialized formulas for different health concerns like weight management and skin health.
- Smack Dog Food
Smack uses fresh regional ingredients in its dog food formulas, offering restricted ingredient lists that improve vitality and digestion. Their crunchy, bite-sized portions are versatile, allowing you to feed them dry or rehydrate with warm water.
Key Features:
- Regionally sourced fresh chicken, salmon, rockfish, herring, and pork meal.
- Restricted ingredient lists make it easy to digest.
- Can be served as dry kibble or rehydrated with water for added moisture.
- Zeal Dog Food
Zeal is Canada’s first air-dried raw dog food brand. The unique air-drying process yields a firmer, chewy texture compared to freeze-dried options, making it easy to scoop and serve without rehydration.
Key Benefits:
- Contains bamboo fiber for digestion and moisture retention.
- Grain, gluten, and produce-free, making it low glycemic and high in protein.
- Hemp oil provides fatty acids and antioxidants for skin and coat health.
- Nutrient-dense and highly digestible diets.
- Horizon Dog Food
Horizon sources all its ingredients locally in Canada, focusing on sustainability and environmental responsibility while ensuring premium quality control. Horizon offers three different lines of dog food to cater to various needs.
Key Features:
- Made with locally sourced ingredients from trusted farmers.
- Offers three different lines (Legacy, Pulsar, Taiga) for different dietary needs.
- High meat inclusion to ensure adequate animal protein intake.
- Pre- and probiotics are added to ensure proper digestion.
- Legacy Pet Food
Legacy Pet Foods is an independent, family-owned business offering a variety of fresh, wholesome meals for dogs. Their food includes ground whole carcasses and freshly ground fruits and vegetables, providing balanced nutrition.
Key Features:
- Uses human-grade, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat.
- Dinner formulas include 10 fresh fruits and vegetables from British Columbia.
- Meals are packed with nutritious ingredients like salmon, carrots, apples, and cranberries.
- K-9 Choice Raw Dog Food
K-9 Choice is a family-owned company producing frozen raw dog food for over 10 years. They offer a variety of ready-to-serve meals and raw bones, all made from locally sourced ingredients.
Key Features:
- Acts as a natural toothbrush, preventing plaque buildup.
- Meals include offal and finely ground bone for essential nutrients.
- Uses a variety of animal proteins, including pasture-raised Alberta beef, buffalo, llama, and rabbit.
- Iron Will Dog Food
Iron Will Raw focuses on providing biologically appropriate diets, closely mimicking the natural diet of wild canines. Their meals are designed with convenience in mind, offering pre-portioned patties and bulk options.
Key Benefits:
- Balanced recipes with meat, organs, and bones.
- Offers both customized Basic Meals and Complete Dinners for easy feeding.
- Various formats make raw feeding convenient for pet owners.
- Canisource
Canisource produces raw dehydrated Best dog food in Quebec, using human-grade ingredients to create nutrient-dense diets. They offer two lines, Grand Cru and Homemade, both of which are easy to feed and preserve nutrients through low-temperature processing.
Key Features:
- Human-grade, regionally sourced ingredients.
- Dehydration and low-temperature baking preserve nutrients.
- Scoop-and-serve format requires no rehydration or refrigeration.
22. Hurraw
Hurraw’s dehydrated dog food utilizes fresh, human-grade ingredients to create a raw diet in a convenient feeding format. This food is perfect for raw feeders seeking a more manageable option without compromising on quality. With over 14 years of experience in dehydrated Best dog foods, Hurraw has developed a hybrid method that combines freeze-drying and dehydration, earning a reputation as one of Canada’s finest dehydrated dog food brands.
Key Benefits:
- Available in three flavors: turkey meal, pork meal, and fish.
- All ingredients are 100% human-grade and dehydrated at low temperatures to preserve nutrition and flavor.
- The easy-to-feed formulas are shelf-stable, allowing for a simple scoop-and-serve method akin to a kibble diet.
23. Taiga Dog Food
Taiga is committed to sourcing ingredients locally and adhering to highly sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, while maintaining strict quality control throughout production. They believe in the necessity of meat for dogs, which is reflected in the high meat content of their formulas compared to industry norms. Taiga exclusively uses GMO-free ingredients and offers premium products at affordable prices.
Key Benefits:
- Economically priced premium pet food, ideal for multi-pet households or larger breeds.
- Available in two single-protein flavors, chicken or pork, along with options specifically for adult dogs over 50 lbs.
- Recipes feature a low glycemic index and are grain-free to aid in weight management and digestion.
- Enhanced with prebiotics and probiotics for additional digestive support.
- Contains 50% meat inclusion to provide ample amino acids and minerals from animal protein.
24. Back2Raw
Back2Raw advocates for a straightforward approach to raw pet food, using high-quality, human-grade ingredients to create biologically appropriate meals for dogs. By providing a variety of protein sources and well-balanced recipes, the brand ensures dogs receive delicious food that meets their nutritional needs. Each recipe features premium, Canadian-sourced animal proteins and organic produce to create complete and balanced diets. The easy-to-portion formulas simplify raw feeding while ensuring superior nutrition.
Key Features:
- Offers both Complete and Basic formulas, allowing for tailored dietary options.
- Recipes are designed to replicate the natural diet of wild canines, promoting optimal health and well-being in dogs.
- Provides easy-to-serve raw meals that simplify feeding for pet owners.
25. Puppy Love Freeze-Dried Feasts
Puppy Love is a Canadian-owned company dedicated to delivering high-quality nutrition made from 100% Canadian-sourced ingredients. Operating from a state-of-the-art facility in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Puppy Love has been serving Canadian pet owners for nearly 20 years. While they are well-known for their raw and dehydrated bones and chews, they have recently introduced a line of raw freeze-dried diets for dogs. Developed by a certified canine nutritionist, Puppy Love Freeze-Dried Feasts offer an easy way to provide raw nutrition in a simple-to-prepare format. They believe in using real food for nutrition, which is why their freeze-dried diets consist solely of recognizable and species-appropriate ingredients, free from artificial additives.
Key Benefits:
- Each formula is limited-ingredient and all-natural for maximum digestibility and optimal nutrition.
- Options include popular protein sources such as chicken, pork, and fish, along with allergy-friendly choices like kangaroo.
- Puppy Love Feasts are crafted to mimic the ancestral diet of dogs, featuring raw, meat-rich foods.
You can discover an exceptional selection of Canadian Best dog food brands at Homes Alive Pets. Shop in-store to find the best dog food in Calgary, Edmonton, Langley, Kelowna, and Lethbridge. Whatever your pet’s dietary needs may be, we can help you find the ideal Canadian Best dog food to ensure your pet thrives.
Best Dog Food Canada FAQs Why is Canadian Best Dog Food Better?
As Canadians, we may have a slight bias, but we truly appreciate a good Canadian product—especially when it comes to pet food. Canadian dog food companies prioritize premium quality ingredients sourced locally.
What is the Best Dog Food in Canada?
Raw dog food is among the top choices available in Canada. Leading brands like Big Country Raw, K-9 Choice, and Carnivora offer excellent options. For those who prefer kibble, consider Acana, Carna4, or Go! Solutions to find the perfect fit for your dog’s digestive needs.
What is the Best Canadian Puppy Food?
Puppies have specific dietary needs, so it’s crucial to choose a Canadian dog food that supports their growth, like Now Fresh, Acana, or Iron Will. Many raw diets are also suitable for all life stages.
What is the Best Canadian Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs?
Certain Canadian dog food brands cater to dogs with specific health issues or dietary restrictions. These formulas often include pre- and probiotics for better digestion and use easily digestible ingredients. Brands like Smack, Go! Solutions, and PetKind are great for enhancing digestive health.
What is the Best Raw Best Dog Food in Canada?
Canada boasts a range of premium raw dog food brands. Since no single food is ideal for every dog, it’s essential to select one that meets your dog’s unique dietary needs. Popular brands such as Big Country Raw, Iron Will, and Carnivora offer various formulas to choose from.
