The 7 Best Natural Dog Foods, According To More Than 400 Discerning Dogs

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FreshPet Vital Balanced Nutrition Dog Food

The Spruce Pets / Amelia Manley

When it comes to dog food (and food for humans!) the term "natural" is not regulated so it can be used to describe a wide range of ingredients.

“All foods that call themselves ‘natural’ are not necessarily created equal, and there is no regulation when it comes to using the definition of natural," Jamie Richardson, the medical chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary, told The Spruce Pets.

We narrowed our selection of natural dog foods by looking for dog foods that matched several or all of the following criteria: transparent sourcing of ingredients, ingredients that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), ingredients grown or raised without the use of artificial pesticides, food packaged without artificial preservatives, and food made with organic ingredients.

Our recommendations are from reputable manufacturers who guarantee complete nutrition in adherence to standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO. We've also noted which foods in our selection have received certifications from third-party organizations, like USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Certified.

But finding the best natural dog foods comes down to more than certifications—we also wanted to find foods that dogs love to eat. To further guide our selections, we sought feedback from 407 dogs, polling their humans on the dog foods that works for their household, while gleaning size, age, and breed data to match the right food with the right dog. You can learn more about our polling methodology below our recommendations, under the heading "How We Found The Best Natural Dog Foods."

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

FreshPet Vital Balanced Nutrition Dog Food

FreshPet Vital Balanced Nutrition Dog Food

PetSmart

What We Like
  • Made with non-GMO ingredients

  • No preservatives, meat meals, or by-product meals

  • Made with human-grade ingredients sourced from farms in the United States

What We Don't Like
  • Can be expensive feeding a large dog

  • Some recipes are more easily found

Developed by veterinarians, FreshPet's Vital Balanced Nutrition dog food is made animal-source protein, fruits, and vegetables, and stored in a refrigerator to keep the natural attributes of the ingredients used intact. The lightly cooked food has a soft texture that appeals to picky eaters, and FreshPet's quality ingredients received the highest marks among our 400+ group of home testers.

The dog food is suitable for all life stages and breed sizes, and is always free of preservatives, by-product meals, and genetically modified organisms. Within the Vital line of dog food from FreshPet there are recipes made with chicken or beef as the lead protein and first ingredient. For dogs with food sensitivities and health conditions, there are recipes formulated to address joint health & mobility, digestive health, and grain allergies.

The food is packaged in resealable bags containing one to five pounds of food, and in sausage shaped rolls that are easy to slice and come in three sizes, one, two, or five-pounds. Due to the fresh nature of the food, this recommendation is for readily purchased in person, but some retailers (like the ones we've listed above) offer shipping and pick-up options.

Additionally, Freshpet's kitchens are verified annually as non-GMO facilities by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) including the ingredients that are used to make their non-GMO dog and cat foods. But refrigerated dog food might not work for everyone, so we've identified dry and wet food options that might work better for your dog.

Certifications: Non-GMO verified by FDA | Life Stage: Puppy, adult | Food Type: Refrigerated | Breed Size: Small, medium, large

What We Like
  • Family owned and operated in Wisconsin

  • Recipes are free of fillers, e.g. corn syrup, artificial flavors, and white flour

  • Made with human-grade ingredients with meat, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits

What We Don't Like
  • Not as widely available as other dog food brands

Among the 407 dog parents we polled, Fromm received top marks for reliable use of quality ingredients along with overall satisfaction, engagement, and enjoyment experienced by their dog.

Fromm Family Pet Food has been making food for dogs using human-grade ingredients for over a century, and the business continues to be family owned and operated from Wisconsin. They offer a variety of pet food recipes for all life stages, puppies, adults, and seniors, all which are made with ingredients—including meat, fish, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables—sourced from fully vetted farms and manufactured in their owned facilities.

Throughout the year, Fromm's facilities are inspected by outside agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Plus, every product Fromm's sells has a unique batch code which allows the company to trace each product through processing and formulation, including each ingredients' supplier.

Fromm also offers wet and dry dog foods formulated to address the needs of small breeds and large breeds along with weight management, food sensitivities, and protein preferences. Fromm dog food is typically carried by speciality pet food stores, so for some it might be more difficult to find, but it's readily available online.

Certifications: USDA ingredients | Type: Dry | Life Stage: Adult, senior | Breed Sizes: Small, medium, large

Best Wet

Castor & Pollux Organix Wet Dog Food

Castor & Pollux Organix Wet Dog Food

Castor & Polux

What We Like
  • Made with certified organic ingredients and always free of corn, wheat, and soy.

  • Packaged in 12.7 ounce cans and 3.5 ounce trays

  • Free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors

What We Don't Like
  • Not all recipes have received the same verifications

Castor & Pollux's Organix Wet Dog Foods are all made with USDA certified organic ingredients, and there are five recipes packaged in 12.7 ounce cans that are all free of corn, wheat, and soy, and made with free-range chicken or turkey as the first ingredient. But the brand's Chicken & Brown Rice and Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetable are the only two wet food recipes are non-GMO verified from the Non-GMO Project.

All of Castor & Pollux dog foods are well within the AAFCO's definition of natural dog food, and the company works closely with third-party certification experts to guarantee all of the ingredients in their Organix dog foods are produced without chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial preservatives, added growth hormones, or antibiotics.

For smaller breeds, Organix Tiny Feasts wet dog food is packaged in 3.5 ounce trays with easy-to-open foil lids and there are six formulations to choose from, including some for dogs with food sensitivities. The smaller containers of wet food make it easier to keep the food fresh, but all varieties are suitable for dogs of any size, and convenient for travel.

Certifications: USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project (select recipes only) | Type: Wet | Life Stage: Adult, senior | Breed Sizes: Small, medium, large

Best Certified Organic

Castor & Pollux Organix Dog Food

Castor & Pollux Organix Dog Food

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Made with USDA certified organic ingredients

  • Produced in certified organic kitchen in the United States

  • Free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors

  • Select products have GMO-free verification from the Non-GMO Project

What We Don't Like
  • Some recipes are more difficult to come by

Castor & Pollux's Organix line of food for dogs consists of dry kibble and wet food (it's also our choice for Best Wet) recipes all made without without chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, artificial preservatives, added growth hormones, or antibiotics. Each recipe is made with USDA certified organic ingredients in a certified organic kitchen in the United States, and the first ingredient is always organic free-range chicken or turkey.

Recipes are suitable for all life stage—puppies, adults, and seniors—along with specialized variations for small breeds. And for dogs with food sensitivities, all Organix foods are made without corn, wheat and soy, and there are some grain-free recipes for dogs who require a diet free of rice and/or oats. Each batch of Castor & Pollux dog food is quality tested, and the brand works closely with third-party certification experts to guarantee claims.

Certifications: USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project | Food Type: Dry | Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Breed Size: Small, medium, large

Best Budget

Purina Beneful Originals Dog Food

Purina Beneful Originals Dry Dog Food

Purina Beneful

What We Like
  • No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives

  • Made with farm-raised beef or chicken

  • Manufactured in the United States

What We Don't Like
  • Lacking independent verifications and certifications that other brands on our list have

  • Salmon recipe does not incorporate wild caught salmon

  • Farm-raised is not the same as farm-finished

Beneful Original Dry Dog Food from Purina is widely available at big box stores, grocery stores, and online retailers.

The kibble offers balanced nutrition with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and is beef, chicken, or salmon as the lead source of protein and the first ingredient. All three recipes are made without artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, but they do incorporate natural food coloring.

The chicken and beef recipes boast farm-raised sourcing from farms in the United States, but farm-raised is not the same as farm-finished (USDA approved term of animals who spend full lifecycle within a farm), and does not indicate the type of feed the animals were given (e.g. grass-fed). All Beneful pet foods are manufactured within Purina's owned and operated facilities within the United States. And the salmon recipe has less transparency with the sourcing of the fish protein, but is unlikely to be wild caught. Additional ingredients include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Certifications: None | Type: Dry | Life Stage: Adult, senior | Breed Sizes: Small, medium, large

Best Subscription

The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food

The Farmer’s Dog Custom Fresh Dog Food

The Farmer's Dog

What We Like
  • Customized for each dog

  • USDA-certified human-grade meats

  • Stellar customer service

  • Beef, chicken, turkey, and pork recipes

What We Don't Like
  • Must be kept frozen until ready to eat

The Farmer's Dog food is lightly cooked and delivered to your door as a custom diet designed specifically for your dog’s age, weight, breed, and health condition. They currently offer four recipes (Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Turkey) all made with USDA -certified human-grade ingredients.

To get started, you fill out a short questionnaire online and then they package and ship four or six weeks' worth (you select the amount that works) of frozen dog food made with animal-source protein, vegetables, legumes, starches, and healthy fats (like fish oil and sunflower seeds). It is pre-portioned for easy feeding and instructions specific to your dog are included in each delivery. The ingredient list for each recipe is straightforward, and each serving provides vitamins, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and nutrients which have been show to help prevent cognitive decline as dogs age.

The food is always made without by-product meals or artificial preservatives, and each order can be customized so your can tailor it to your dog's needs as they grow up, or pause when you are traveling. The food is shipped in recyclable cardboard boxes, and each food pack is made from BPA-free plastics that is non-toxic.

Certifications: USDA ingredients | Type: Frozen | Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Breed Sizes: Small, medium, large

Best for Big Dogs

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro

What We Like
  • No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives

  • Made without by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy protein

  • Made with non-GMO ingredients

  • Made with farm-raised chicken

What We Don't Like
  • Trace amounts of by-product meals and GMOs possible during production

  • No certifications but the company uses a third-party testing facility to test ingredients for GMOs

For large breeds, which tend to have large appetites, the Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Dog Food is sold in 13, 30, and 40 pound bags that are generally easy to come by at big box stores and online retailers. There are two recipes for large breeds, Lamb & Brown Rice and Chicken & Brown Rice, both of which provide omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and are made without by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy protein. Plus, the brand is very transparent on the packaging and their website about the possibility for contamination with trace amounts of these items during the manufacturing process.

Of the 400+ dog parents who participated in our testing panel that feed their dog a food from Nutro, the human-grade ingredients and their dog's enjoyment of the food were the top reasons for their choice. But some feel the food is too crunchy for their dog so they mix the kibble with water to soften the pieces at mealtime.

Nutro Natural Choice Dog Food is manufactured within the company's own facilities in Canada and the United States, sourcing non-GMO ingredients from around the world. As a company, Nutro has committed themselves to manufacturing all of their pet foods (for dogs and cats!) using non-GMO ingredients. They independently test all their ingredients (some of which may contain trace amounts of GMOs) and are able to connect each ingredient to its supplier.

Nutro Natural Choice Dog Food is also formulated for small breeds, seniors, and for dogs who need to lose a few pounds.

Certifications: Third-party testing of ingredients for GMOs | Type: Dry | Life Stage: Adult, senior | Breed Sizes: Small, medium, large

Final Verdict

Our favorite natural dog food is FreshPet Vital Balanced Nutrition Dog Food, which has visible hunks of chicken, green beans, and carrots. The gently cooked formula arrives frozen and should be stored in your refrigerator. If you're looking for something a little more traditional, check out Fromm Adult Dog Food or the organic wet food offered by Castor & Pollux.

Why We No Longer Recommend Grain-Free Dog Foods

Since 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating reports of a possible link between grain-free diets (high in peas, lentils, other legume seeds and/or potatoes in various forms) and a canine heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). As of December 2022, the FDA announced that enough data does not yet exist to confirm a causal link, but that they would continue to monitor scientific research on the subject by academics, veterinarians and those in the pet food industry. 

What to Look for in Natural Dog Food

What “Natural” Means

The term “natural” on dog food labels simply means that the ingredients in the food are “derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing,” according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Natural dog foods are not necessarily organic (if they are, it will be stated on the label). 

Before purchasing, always make sure there is a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the food’s container, says Dr. Richardson. “[That means the] food is formulated to be nutritionally complete for your pet and meets minimum standards,” she says.

Inspections, Certifications, and Verifications

USDA Verification: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the leading government agency that oversees all the meat, poultry, eggs, and produce

USDA Organic: Manufacturers have the ability to submit an application to the USDA—along with a fee—for the oppotunity to be vetted and certified organic. This certification guarantees that the food product and/or ingredient meets the USDA's standards for organic, which includes being grown without the use of chemical pesticides.

APHIS: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an agency within the USDA that inspects and protects the growth and use of agricultural and natural resources, including plants and animals.

FDA Verification: The United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the official governing agency over pet food. They verify that the food sold to consumers aligns with the label on the food's packaging that was set forth by the manufacturer.

Non-GMO Project: This non-profit organization is the lead organization throughout North America setting the standard for, and independently vetting, food products that are made without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The Non-GMO Project Verified seal appears on individual food products that have been proven to be made without the use of GMOs, and the seal is considered to be the most widely recognized food certification after USDA Organic. But a company must pay the non-profit organization a fee to have each of their products individually verified in order to obtain the seal. There are some products that may be free of GMOs but have yet to receive independent verification.

AAFCO Statement

Choose a natural dog food that has a statement on the label that says the food is completed and balanced according to the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Officials (AAFCO) for that life stage. All of our selections meet these guidelines.

Life Stage

The food you feed your dog must provide balanced nutrition that is suited for their life stage (puppy, adult, or senior) and size, and their dietary needs will change throughout their lifetime, but giving them a nutritious meal that is easy for them to digest is a simple way to help your dog stay healthy.

Foods labeled as “maintenance” are for adult dogs over 1 year of age. Foods labeled “growth” or “growth and reproduction” are for puppies under 1 year old and pregnant or nursing females. Foods labeled “all life stages” provide nutrition appropriate for any dog of any age, from puppy through adult.

How We Found The Best Natural Dog Foods

To evaluate the incredible range of available dog foods, our research panel put together a comprehensive questionnaire, asking for dog owner's to describe the qualities that matter most to them when they choose a dog food brand. We learned what brands were recommended by veterinarians, and which had the most trustworthy list of ingredients. We also looked for high-value brands that can fit in people's budgets, and brands with wide retailer availability (like at these great places to buy dog food).

We also gathered details about a dog's size, breed, and age, which helped us make picks tailored to a wide range of dogs, since the best dog food for a senior French Bulldog won't be the best dog food for a Golden Retriever puppy.

In total, 407 respondents described how they and their dogs felt about the dog foods they used at home, using a combination of numerical scores and detailed feedback.

FAQ
  • Is natural dog food better for dogs?

    According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the term “natural” simply means that the ingredient is “derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing.” Natural ingredients cannot be “produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic.”

    That said, natural dog foods are not automatically better than dog foods that are not labeled as natural. The most important indicator of healthy dog food is a statement on the label that says the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage (maintenance for adults, growth for puppies, or all life stages, for any age dog).

  • Does natural dog food need to be refrigerated?

    Natural dog food comes in many different forms, including dry kibble, canned, freeze-dried, refrigerated, and fresh frozen. Dry kibble and freeze-dried food do not need to be refrigerated, even after opening the bag, though they should be stored in an airtight container. Canned food should be refrigerated after opening the can. Refrigerated food should be refrigerated before and after opening the package. Fresh frozen food should be thawed in the refrigerator, and leftovers should be refrigerated. 

  • Is natural dog food grain free?

    Natural dog food is not the same thing as grain-free dog food. “Natural” could mean that the ingredients come from plant, animal, or mined sources without chemical processing. Some natural dog foods are also grain-free, which is clearly stated on the label, and some grain-free dog foods are not natural.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This story was updated by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget who enjoys meals from The Farmer's Dog. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.

We also took a comprehensive survey on preferred brands and feeding habits. Each respondent provided data on their dog's age, size, and breed, in addition to a detailed history of the dog food brands and products they mutually enjoy.

A previous versions of this story was written by Lorraine Wilde, who evaluated the cost, ingredients and quality of each dog food, as well as customer and expert reviews and each company’s business ethics. Lorraine has had at least two dog and two cat companions for the past 35 years and she expects only the best for them.

Updated by Jackie Brown
The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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