Best Grain-Free Dog Food: Best Brands Reviewed (2018 Edition)

You know you want grain-free dry dog food but that’s where your knowledge on the topic ends. Or perhaps you’ve tried a few and you just can’t find what you’re looking for. We’ve compiled a list of the best grain-free dog food options with their pros and cons. Now you can make an informed choice.

Quick Comparison: Best Grain-Free Food For Dogs in 2018

* click on the product name to be taken to Amazon where you can check the current price and read customer reviews.

Below you’ll find in-depth reviews of each of the above products.

Editor’s Choice – Best Dog Food Grain-Free

Here’s our pick of some of the best brands in the market.

1. Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Food comes in seven different options in their natural grain free dry dog food category:

1. Ocean
2. Puppy
3. Small breed
4. Large breed formula
5. Original
6. Reduced fat
7. Wild game

What We Like

• This is both 100% grain free and completely balanced. Not all grain-free dry dog food brands can make that claim.
• Protein is the top focus for this brand. Turkey, chicken, and veggies are top ingredients for all of their formulas.
• When they say all natural they mean it. There’s no meat byproduct, wheat, corn, soy, or artificial anything.
• The fact that it’s made in the USA means customers don’t have to worry about overseas recalls and safety concerns.

What We Don’t Like

• Most pet owners understand that they’re going to pay more for grain-free dry dog food compared to traditional brands but this one is considerably more expensive. It’s out of the budget of many consumers.
• Most of their formulas contain potatoes. Some dogs have had bad reactions to potatoes – including yeast infections.
• No food is right for every dog but Wellness has a fairly significant number of pet owners complaining that their pooches had negative allergic reactions to it.

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Adult Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Adult Dog Food is available in 8 different grain free formulas:

1. Chicken
2. Chicken Healthy Weight
3. Duck
4. Salmon
5. Small Breed Chicken
6. Chicken Small Bite
7. Large Breed Chicken
8. Large Breed Salmon

What We Like

• With so many different options for different sizes and with different proteins, owners have access to a lot of choices.
• Made in the United States.
• All formulas are very high in protein.
• The kibble size is relatively small so even smaller dogs can generally chew it.

What We Don’t Like

• This brand is proud of the fact that it’s based on a wolf’s diet. While this might be an interesting marketing idea, the reality is that the needs of dogs are not the same as the needs for wolves – especially domesticated dogs.
• Once again, this grain-free dry dog food has quite a bit of potatoes in it, which can be upsetting to some dog’s digestive tracts.
• This food is higher in calories than most dog foods on the market.
• This is an extremely expensive dog food.

3. Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food

All six of the Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food formulas are grain free:

1. Bison & Venison
2. Wildfowl
3. Venison
4. Lamb
5. Salmon
6. Boar

What We Like

• This food is made from all-natural roasted meat.
• The proteins and antioxidants included are very easy to digest.
• Fruits and veggies are included in the food.

What We Don’t Like

• Their formulas are separated only by the type of protein used. While Taste of the Wild swears that each of their formulas is appropriate for dogs in every life cycle, most vets agree that puppies need different foods than senior dogs do.
• Their formulas are not separated by the size of dog. Most dog owners wouldn’t feed their eight-pound dog the same food they’d feed their 100+ pound dog.
• The kibble is relatively large and would likely be difficult for smaller dogs to chew comfortably.

4. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is only available in one option but it’s a good one.

What We Like

• The main proteins are turkey, chicken, and whitefish – all of which provide above-average protein and nutrients.
• This is one of the few grain-free dry dog foods that offers a 100% guarantee. Consumers can try it and if it doesn’t meet with their dog’s approval they can get a full refund.
• Their food is produced in the United States.
• It’s fairly affordable for a grain-free, all-natural dog food.

What We Don’t Like

• This is another dog food that doesn’t come in different formulas so it may not meet the needs of puppies or senior dogs.
• While the food is made in the U.S., some of the ingredients are sourced overseas. The company says they get everything here that they can get here, but if you’re worried about overseas foods this may not be the best choice.
• The protein count is very high – which is good for most dogs but not ideal for some.

5. Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Chicken and Turkey Recipe Dry Dog Food

Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Chicken and Turkey Recipe Dry Dog Food is one of the most affordable options on the market.

What We Like

• It’s affordable! Considerably less expensive than other top brands.
• It’s manufactured in the USA.
• They use multiple protein sources.

What We Don’t Like

• Though it’s manufactured here, not all the ingredients are harvested in the US – though the company does say that there are no ingredients from China.
• This is an all-purpose formula that’s not right for all sizes or ages of dogs.

The Final Choice

For adult, but not senior dogs, the most affordable option is Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Chicken and Turkey Recipe. Blue Buffalo offers the most options and Wellness CORE has the best overall nutrition. Be sure to consult your vet before you make your final decision.