Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular premium dog food brands on the market. Made by Diamond Pet Foods, Taste of the Wild features grain-free recipes inspired by the diets of wild canines.
With a variety of proprietary blends and formulas, Taste of the Wild aims to provide dogs with natural, protein-rich nutrition. Their recipes are made with premium ingredients and formulas based on the latest scientific research.
But with so many options to choose from, which Taste of the Wild recipe is right for your dog? This comprehensive review will cover Taste of the Wild’s key ingredients, their most popular recipes, feeding guidelines, and pros and cons.
An Overview of Taste of the Wild Dog Food
Taste of the Wild entered the premium pet food scene in 2007 with the goal of crafting diets that mimic what dogs and cats would eat in nature. Their recipes are protein-focused and grain-free, made with real roasted meats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Key features of Taste of the Wild dog food include:
- Grain-free recipes with novel proteins like bison, venison, trout, boar, lamb, duck, quail, and salmon.
- Formulations based on what dogs would eat in the wild.
- Made with real, roasted meats, fish, fowl, and fish meal as the first ingredients.
- Nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
- Supplemented with vitamins, minerals, and compounds like antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, and omega fatty acids.
- Most recipes are high in protein and fat, low in carbs.
- Has smaller kibble sizes for small or toy breeds.
- Comes in a variety of grain-free formulas for puppies to seniors.
Let’s take a closer look at some of Taste of the Wild’s most popular recipes.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Formula
Main Features:
- Grain-free recipe
- Inspired by diets of wild canines in the Great Plains region
- Bison and venison as first two ingredients
- 32% protein, 18% fat, 5% fiber
High Prairie features a blend of unique proteins like bison, beef, venison, lamb, and ocean fish meal. With roasted bison and venison as the first ingredients, this formula delivers a taste of the wild prairie.
It has amino acids from fish meal, fruits and vegetables for natural antioxidants, and dried chicory root for prebiotic fiber. High Prairie aims to support overall health, lean muscle mass, and a healthy digestive system.
Ingredients:
- Bison, venison, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, roasted bison, roasted venison, natural flavor, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
Feeding Guidelines:
- Daily feeding amount varies based on dog’s age, size, and activity level:
- Puppy (3-5 months): 1.5 – 2.75 cups
- Adult: 1.75 – 3.25 cups
- Senior: 1.5 – 2.5 cups
Pros:
- Grain-free with novel proteins like bison, venison
- High protein supports lean muscle mass
- Nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables
- Fish meal provides omega fatty acids
- Made in USA facilities
Cons:
- Bison, venison may cause allergies in some dogs
- Legumes like peas and potatoes controversial
- Some reports of recalls/quality control issues
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main Features:
- Grain-free recipe
- Inspired by Pacific Northwest salmon diets
- Real smoked salmon is the first ingredient
- 25% protein, 15% fat, 3% fiber
With smoked salmon as the first ingredient, Pacific Stream is a fish-focused formula. This grain-free recipe aims to mimic the diet of wild salmon, while also including ocean fish meal, potatoes, peas, and sweet potatoes.
It’s supplemented with fruits and vegetables for antioxidants and fiber. With omega fatty acids from salmon oil, this formula aims to support healthy skin, coat, joints, brain, and eye development.
Ingredients:
- Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, pea protein, canola oil, pea starch, smoked salmon, natural flavor, potato fiber, potato protein, tomato pomace, alfalfa meal, salt, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols for preservation, dried chicory root, yucca schidigera extract, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
Feeding Guidelines:
- Puppy (5-10 months): 1 – 2 cups
- Adult: 1.5 – 2.5 cups
- Senior: 1 – 2 cups
Pros:
- Grain-free, single animal protein recipe
- Real smoked salmon is first ingredient
- Promotes skin/coat health with omega fatty acids
- Nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables
- Made in USA facilities
Cons:
- Fish-focused recipes not ideal for all dogs
- Controversial potato ingredients
- Some concerns about product quality
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main Features:
- Grain-free recipe
- Inspired by the Sierra Mountains and lamb diet
- Lamb meal is first ingredient
- 25% protein, 15% fat, 4% fiber
Sierra Mountain is a lamb-focused formula ideal for dogs with sensitivities. With lamb meal as the first ingredient, it offers a novel protein and aims to mimic the wild Sierra Mountain lamb diet.
The recipe also includes fruits, vegetables, and legumes. It has probiotics from dried fermentation products and prebiotic fiber from chicory root. With vitamin E and selenium, it aims to support a healthy immune system.
Ingredients:
- Lamb meal, garbanzo beans, peas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, canola oil, pea protein, pea starch, tomato pomace, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, potatoes, salt, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols for preservation, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried chicory root, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, niacin, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium iodate, sodium selenite, folic acid.
Feeding Guidelines:
- Puppy (5-10 months): 1.5 – 2.75 cups
- Adult: 1.75 – 3 cups
- Senior: 1 – 2.25 cups
Pros:
- Grain-free, lamb-focused recipe
- Single animal protein good for sensitivities
- Lamb meal is first ingredient
- Fruits, vegetables, legumes for fiber
- Made in USA facilities
Cons:
- Some dogs may be allergic to lamb
- Controversial pea ingredients
- Infrequent quality concerns noted
Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains Ancient Stream Dry Dog Food
Main Features:
- Includes ancient grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa
- Features roasted trout and smoked salmon
- 30% protein, 17% fat, 5% fiber
Ancient Stream is one of Taste of the Wild’s rare grain-inclusive recipes. It features nutritious ancient grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa, and chia seeds.
The first two ingredients are trout and salmon, providing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It also contains probiotics, vitamins, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.
Ingredients:
- Trout, salmon, millet, sorghum, menhaden fish meal, quinoa, chicken meal, peas, dried egg product, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), smoked salmon, natural flavor, potatoes, canola oil, chia seeds, tomato pomace, ocean fish meal, alfalfa meal, salt, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols for freshness, dried chicory root, yucca schidigera extract, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
Feeding Guidelines:
- Puppy (7 weeks – 7 months): 1 – 2.5 cups
- Adult: 1.5 – 3 cups
- Senior: 1 – 2.25 cups
Pros:
- Features ancient grains like sorghum, millet
- Trout and salmon provide omega fatty acids
- Includes probiotics and antioxidants
- Made in USA facilities
Cons:
- Not fully grain-free
- Potato ingredients are controversial
- Some dogs don’t tolerate ancient grains well
Taste of the Wild Alternative Recipes
Beyond their most popular recipes highlighted here, Taste of the Wild offers alternative grain-free and ancient grain formulas:
Grain-Free Formulas
- Southwest Canyon with Wild Boar
- Pine Forest with Venison & Legumes
- Wetlands with Roasted Fowl
- Pacific Stream Puppy
- High Prairie Puppy
Ancient Grain Formulas
- Ancient Mountain with Roasted Lamb
- Ancient Prairie with Roasted Bison & Venison
- Ancient Wetlands with Roasted Duck
- Ancient Grains Puppy
Feeding Taste of the Wild Dog Food
Taste of the Wild provides feeding guidelines on their packages and online feeding calculator. Since they are high protein, grain-free diets, it’s important not to overfeed.
Feeding amounts vary based on your dog’s:
- Life stage – puppy, adult, senior
- Weight – toy, small, medium, large breeds
- Activity level – sedentary to highly active
Make sure to transition slowly when switching foods. Monitor your dog’s condition and adjust portions as needed. For puppies, it’s ideal to feed 2-3 times a day. Adults can be fed once or twice daily.
Pros and Cons of Taste of the Wild Dog Food
Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons associated with Taste of the Wild formulas:
Pros:
- High protein recipes support lean muscle
- Grain-free options with novel proteins
- Formulas based on what dogs eat in the wild
- Nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes
- Supplemented with vitamins, minerals
- Most recipes made in the USA
Cons:
- Higher calorie counts require careful feeding
- Some controversial legume ingredients like peas
- Ancient grains not ideal for every dog
- Infrequent recalls and quality issues
- Produced by Diamond which had past recalls
Frequently Asked Questions about Taste of the Wild
Q: Is Taste of the Wild a good dog food brand?
A: Overall, Taste of the Wild is considered a good quality dog food brand. They offer high protein grain-free recipes made with quality ingredients at moderate prices. However, they have been involved in a few recalls and periodic quality issues.
Q: Is Taste of the Wild grain-free?
A: Most Taste of the Wild recipes are grain-free, however they do offer some ancient grain formulas that contain grains like sorghum, millet, quinoa and barley.
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Q: Where is Taste of the Wild dog food made?
A: Taste of the Wild recipes are made in various facilities in the United States. They are manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.
Q: Is Taste of the Wild owned by Diamond?
A: Yes, Taste of the Wild is made and manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods. Diamond also produces other brands like Diamond Naturals, Kirkland, Solid Gold, 4Health, and Canidae.
Q: Is Taste of the Wild high in protein?
A: Yes, most Taste of the Wild recipes are high in protein, ranging from 25% to 32% protein depending on the formula. This supports lean muscle mass.
Q: Do vets recommend Taste of the Wild?
A: Many vets do recommend Taste of the Wild as a good quality food at a reasonable price point. However, some vets are hesitant to recommend it due to past recalls and manufacturing concerns with Diamond.
The Verdict on Taste of the Wild Dog Food
Taste of the Wild offers quality grain-free and ancient grain formulas featuring novel proteins and nutrient-dense superfoods. Their high protein recipes promote lean muscle and aim to mimic ancestral canine diets.
However, the brand is made by Diamond which has had some quality control issues. There are also some controversial ingredients like peas. While a good overall option, it’s important to monitor your individual dog’s condition when feeding Taste of the Wild.
Focus on choosing the right formula for your dog’s size, sensitivities, and activity levels. Feed appropriate portions for their life stage and monitor health. Talk to your vet for customized feeding recommendations.
