The Best Taste of the Wild Dog Foods: Ranked and Reviewed

Taste of the Wild is known for being a premium-quality dog food that isn’t quite as expensive as other premium foods. They typically include high levels of meat and other quality ingredients. Plus, they also add other prime ingredients such as probiotics, antioxidants, and superfoods.

However, not all Taste of the Wild dog foods are the same. Some may be more suitable to your dog than others. Therefore, to pick the best dog food for your canine, you need to take a look at the different recipes that Taste of the Wild offers.

Below, we’ve taken a look at some of the best Taste of the Wild dog foods on the market.

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for Taste of the Wild Dog Foods

#1 Best Overall: Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

For most canines, we highly recommend choosing our #1 Best Overall choice: Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. This recipe features quality, novel proteins, so it should be gentle on most canine’s stomachs. (Novel proteins are rarer proteins that your dog has never eaten before, such as kangaroo, alligator, bison, rabbit, and duck. The idea is to replace a common protein that they’re allergic to, such as chicken, with a protein source they’ve never been exposed to.) The first ingredient is duck, which is similar to chicken but very high in fat. Therefore, it is a great option for dogs in need of more calories due to higher activity or health concerns.

This formula also features a proprietary blend of probiotics specifically designed for dogs. Thus, this food is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Antioxidants are also included through the use of fresh fruits and veggies.

This formula does not include any grains, so it’s suitable for dogs that are allergic or sensitive to grains. However, grain-free recipes such as this one often contain lots of peas, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, which, in large quantities, are associated with canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious and potentially fatal canine heart disease. So, if your dog isn’t sensitive to grains, you may want to consider recipes that include grains.

This dog food is also free from artificial flavors.

Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Best Overall

Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Features quality, novel ingredients
• Grain-free
• Contains a proprietary blend of probiotics
• Contains real duck as first ingredient

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2. Best Puppy Food: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Healthy recipes like Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food provide the specific nutrition puppies need to grow, develop, and thrive. This high-protein (28%) formula is specifically designed for puppies and features a few sources of novel protein, which is important for puppies with allergies. It mostly includes red meat, including water buffalo and lamb meal, which is fattier than other options. Protein provides the amino acids that puppies need for muscle development and tissue repair and for skin and coat health.

This formula is specifically crafted with nutrients that puppies need to thrive, such as omega fatty acids, which are essential for a puppy’s brain and eye growth. Plus, they may also help improve skin and coat health.

Like many Taste of the Wild foods, this one also features probiotics and prebiotics to support gut health. Because puppies are starting from the ground up when it comes to their gut microbiome, probiotics are vital.

Of course, this grain-free formula is made without corn, wheat, grains, and artificial ingredients.

Some reviewers reported that their pups developed bad gas after eating this food. A few said that their puppies wouldn’t eat it.

Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Best for Puppies

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Specialized puppy formula
• Made with roasted bison and venison
• Contains omega fatty acids, prebiotics, and probiotics
• Provides all of the nutrients that your pup needs

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3. Best for Allergies: Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food

If your dog has allergies, we urge you to consider Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food.

When a dog develops allergies, it can technically become allergic to anything. However, the most common dog food ingredients, like chicken and beef, are also the most common allergens. If your dog has allergies, it is best to avoid their allergens altogether to prevent potential symptoms.

Luckily, this food is completely free from both beef and chicken. Instead, the major protein is lamb and lamb meal. Therefore, it is a great option for dogs with existing allergies (though it won’t necessarily prevent allergies from forming).

This formula is also completely grain-free. Instead of grains, it includes peas and sweet potatoes. While these ingredients do add some digestible energy to the mix, large amounts of peas or pea protein are also linked with canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Therefore, unless your dog needs grain-free dog food, you may want to look for another option.

This recipe also includes a variety of gut-supporting ingredients. For instance, chicory root is included to support the fiber content of this food, which is vital for stomach health. It also includes a variety of probiotics, which can improve your dog’s microbiome and improve their gut health.

All the minerals in this food are chelated, which helps your dog absorb them better. This food is absolutely optimized for your dog’s health, so it may be best suited for canines that have underlying health problems.

Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Dry Dog Food

Best for Allergies

Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free

• Uses lamb meat as its #1 ingredient
• Contains energy-giving vitamins
• Crafted with prebiotics for a healthy immune system
• No grains, artificial flavors, or artificial colors

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4. Best for Puppies with Allergies: Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe

Feeding a puppy with allergies doesn’t have to complicated thanks to Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe. This food is formulated to meet puppies’ specific nutritional requirements while being free from your puppy’s allergen.

It’s made primarily with fish, which is not a common allergen. And it’s completely chicken-free, so, if your dog is allergic to chicken, they should be able to easily eat this dog food.

It is also grain-free, including ingredients like peas and potatoes instead of grains. However, these ingredients have been associated with certain health problems, which can potentially cause problems later on in your puppy’s life.

Chelated minerals boost this formula’s digestibility and ensure that your canine receives all of the nutrients they need to thrive. Antioxidants from real fruits are added as well, preventing oxidative stress and a range of diseases.

Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe

Best for Puppies with Allergies

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Made from fish primarily
• No grain or chicken
• Contains chelated minerals for digestibility
• Antioxidants from real fruits

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5. Best for Sensitive Stomachs: Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Formula Dry Dog Food

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Formula Dry Dog Food may be the limited-ingredient recipe you’ve been searching for.

For dogs with sensitive stomachs, eating fewer ingredients is often the key to calming their stomachs. There are just fewer items for their gut to take offense to when their dog food includes fewer ingredients. This limited ingredient diet is perfect for these canines, since it only includes a few ingredients.

The single protein source and number one ingredient is turkey. You should keep in mind that dogs allergic to chicken will also be allergic to turkey, since they contain the same proteins. However, dogs that are not allergic to poultry will often thrive on this food.

In addition to turkey, this formula also contains lentils and sunflower oil. It is completely grain-free, and also doesn’t include any peas. Therefore, it is likely one of the healthiest options on this list.

However, this food is also quite expensive. Because it includes mostly meat, it is quite a bit more expensive to make. In the end, this extra cost gets passed onto the customers.

Like most Taste of the Wild dog foods, this formula also includes probiotics, which are vital for gut health. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, these probiotics can also be extremely helpful.

Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Formula Dry Dog Food

Best for Sensitive Stomachs

TASTE OF THE WILD PREY Turkey Formula

• Limited ingredient diet
• The single protein source is turkey
• Completely grain-free
• Includes probiotics

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6. Best Grain-Inclusive Formula: Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food

If your dog doesn’t require a grain-free recipe, we recommend Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food.

Not all dogs need a grain-free formula. In fact, grain-free formulas have been associated with a variety of health problems, so more and more people are looking for grain-inclusive recipes instead.

The primary ingredient in this dog food is salmon. Salmon is a ideal option for most dogs, since it is high in protein and omega fatty acids. Protein is vital for lean muscles, while omega fatty acids are essential for joint and brain health.

The grains included are all whole, which means that they provide necessary nutrients and fiber. They are not just filler. Despite the fact that it is grain-inclusive, this formula still does not include any corn or wheat. It also doesn’t include any artificial colors or preservatives.

This formula is actually very high in protein, despite being grain-inclusive. In fact, it contains 30% crude protein, which is higher than most Taste of the Wild dog foods. Therefore, this formula is also a good option for active dogs.

A few reviewers reported that their dogs wouldn’t eat this food, and a handful mentioned that it’s expensive.

Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food

Best Grain-Inclusive

Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains

• The primary ingredient is salmon
• Whole grain included providing necessary nutrients and fiber
• Contains 30% crude protein
• A good option for active dogs. 

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

Taste of the Wild dog food recipes have many different things in common. However, there are a few differences. When determining what recipe to get, you need to consider the price, protein source, grain inclusion, and life stage.

Let’s take a look at each of these factors in turn.

Price

Taste of the Wild is a premium dog food brand. Therefore, its prices tend to be a bit higher than most grocery store dog foods. However, different recipes do cost different amounts.

For instance, their “PREY” line tends to be particularly expensive. This recipe also has a higher amount of meat than most and features better ingredients, which is exactly why it costs more.

Of course, the only person who knows your budget is you. Therefore, you need to choose a dog food that best fits your budget.

Protein Source

There are several protein sources, many of which are novel proteins, that Taste of the Wild includes regularly. Unlike most dog foods, they usually do not use chicken and beef, making them a great option for dogs with allergies.

To be honest, unless your dog is allergic to something, you don’t need to worry too much about the type of protein used. However, if your dog does have allergies, then your main concern should be avoiding their allergen(s).

Grain Inclusion

Once upon a time, most dog owners assumed that grain-free foods were better. After all, it was assumed that grain-free foods were higher in meat, which is exactly what our dogs need. However, we have since learned that this isn’t necessarily true.

Usually, grain-free foods do not add more meat to offset the loss of grain. Instead, they simply pad the food with cheap, starchy veggies like peas and potatoes. We have since learned that these veggies are linked to certain health problems when they are fed in high amounts (like the amounts included in grain-free foods).

Therefore, it is often best to choose a grain-inclusive food for your canine unless they are sensitive or allergic to grain.

Life Stage

You should always choose a dog food that corresponds with your dog’s life stage. Puppies need different nutrition than adults, for example. Therefore, if your dog is still growing, they need to eat puppy food. Usually, this food is higher in calories, fats, and key nutrients, since puppies are growing and they’re often more active than most adult dogs.

Once your dog is older, you may consider switching them to senior dog food. However, this is not always necessary. Not all seniors need different nutrition. However, if your dog is experiencing problems that are common with older dogs, such as joint pain, senior dog food may be the best option.

The Different Types of Taste of the Wild Dog Food: Pros and Cons Compared

There are several different types of dog food on the market. However, Taste of the Wild does not produce all of the potential options. Instead, they only create wet dog food and dry dog food. Let’s take a look at each of these types to determine which one may be best for your canine.

• Dry dog food is the most common type of dog food available. Dry dog food is very accessible and comes in many different types.
• Wet dog food is usually sold in a can. This sort of dog food is higher in moisture, which may be necessary for dogs with certain health conditions. It’s also easier for senior dogs and those with dental problems to chew.

Dry Dog Food

Pros:

• Removes tartar and plaque when chewed
• Easily accessible
• Shelf-stable

Cons:

• Low moisture content

Wet Dog Food

Pros:

• High moisture content
• Often tastier
• Easier for older dogs and those with dental issues to chew

Cons:

• Usually more expensive
• Doesn’t remove tartar or plaque when chewed

Verified Review: Used Experience

Overall, dog owners seem to be pretty happy about this dog food brand. There are many customers that seem to feed it to their dogs with allergies since most Taste of the Wild dog foods uses novel proteins. Many of their foods are great for dogs that are allergic to chicken, since their recipes are typically chicken-free.

Even for dogs without allergies, though, this brand does a good job of keeping them healthy. For instance, one review said this food makes their dog’s “coat shine and his poop healthy.”

Many reported that there were fewer stomach issues for their dog when on this food. For gassier breeds, many also stated that their dog produced less gas. Plus, it seems to improve most dogs’ coats as well.

However, there were some reports that certain dogs did not like this food. But this is to be expected with practically any food out there. No food is going to be loved by every dog that tries it.

Some users also complained about the higher cost, which continues to rise.

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