I got a chance to try a bunch of new dog food and dog snacks last week.Let me say right up front that I'm a little bit of a dog-food-snob. I try hard to learn as much as I can about dog food: how it's made, what goes into it, etc.
My dogs eat better than I do, truth be told. All of them are supplemented in one way or another, those supplements tailored to their age or specific health issues.
Lily, the pretty little grey-faced Labrador on the left, has allergies to beef and grains (corn, wheat, and the like). We buy a specific food that is grain-free and she's on an over-the-counter antihistamine everyday, as well as a complex of fish oils, Omegas, etc.
Anyway, I got a cooler full of refrigerated dog treats the other day and was pretty skeptical at first. I'm skeptical of almost all commercial dog treats – usually they're a whole lot of grains, a whole lot of fillers, and a whole lot of preservatives. All things I don't want to put into my dog.
I'll keep this short and to-the-point. Here are the vitals:
Who: Freshpet
What: Dog treats and dog food
I liked:
- the packaging – nine (I counted) freez-paks in a cooler, shipped overnight (not cheap!)
- the ingredients – in the Vital line, for instance, here is the ingredient list (no grains!): Chicken, Chicken Liver, Cranberries, Beef, Salmon, Eggs, Spinach, Vinegar, Peas, Natural Flavors, Carrageenan, Salt, Caramel Color, Inulin, Pomegranate, Broccoli. You can actually SEE the shredded chicken, the cranberries, and the spinach! It's actually identifiable (I think that's pretty amazing…)
- the variety - In addition to the Vital line above, I also found the Dognation line impressive. The ONLY ingredient in the Sweet Potato Chews…sweet potatoes! Amazing!
- the palatibility - my dogs LOVED this stuff!
- the uses - I create a lot of food-stuffed toys for my dogs to help keep them busy and their minds active. Freshpet has so many different types of food and treats, I can find something that will work with whatever food toy I'm using that day.
- the absence of preservatives - these treats must be refrigerated. Which may seem like a hassle (it's not), but that lack of preservatives makes me a whole lot happier about feeding Freshpet to my dogs. I want as little un-natural stuff in them as possible.
- convenience and availability - I can get this from my local grocery store. Normally, grocery store dog food is an automatic "NO!" in my book — the quality is just too low, usually. Those grocery store dog foods are usually loaded with wheat and corn and the dreaded by-products. Not here — just the opposite, actually. What a (happy) surprise!
I'm adding Freshpet to my fridge. I will use it for both my own dogs, as well as my client's dogs. Whether you have a really food-motivated Labrador (like I do), or you've got a finicky, picky eater, these Freshpet foods and treats will get your dog's attention. And that's where the training begins! Happy, eager dogs + delish treats = easy and fast training!
**Freshpet sent me the food samples free of charge. These remarks are entirely my opinion — I wasn't paid to write this review.**
Agreed, I love Freshpet and I’d love to feed purely it to my canines. One thing I do get is their treats, I don’t remember what they’re called but I love the ones that look like little sausages! My golden (who is allergic to grains and has an overly sensitive stomach) loves these and they’re one of the best options we’ve found for being high-quality enough without making him sick! We use them usually not in everyday training but mostly in our attempts to condition him to not be so reactive to other dogs on walks. Such a better option than hotdogs! 😀
The next time i’m visiting relatives in NJ, I’ll have to pick some up to try! I searched around me, and the nearest store was still further than I’d go for dog food. When I did the NJ search? Practically all of their grocery stores had it. Sigh.
Sounds pretty fantastic, though. I like it when dog food has recognizable ingredients, and I think Elka seems to as well!
Thanks so much for this review for dog food. I have been wanting to switch up to a better food for my dogs but have not made the time to do the research. It looks like many local groceries carry this brand in my area so that makes it easy!
What other food stuffed toys do you use besides kongs? I’d like some recommendations for those too!
Thanks!
Yes, so much easier and better for your dogs than the ol’ standby of hot dogs! I’m glad Freshpet is so convenient — my clients can pick this up at the grocery store without having to make an extra stop just for high quality dog treats!
Yes, definitely pick some up when you’re in NJ. I think you’ll like it. Better yet, I’ll bet Elka will like it! 🙂
Thanks for the question about food-stuffed toys. I tend to use the Kongs pretty heavily. The Kong Company has a relatively new toy — the Kong Wobbler that I like quite a bit. You can re-use the hollow marrow bones — just stuff ’em with whatever’s in the fridge or with the super delish Freshpet food. If you’re using your leftovers, just remember, no: onions, avocado, grapes, raisins, chocolate, etc., for your dog!
Why do people have this misconception that grains and corn are bad for your dog? Grains are an important part of any animals diet and corn is a great delivery system for carbs. Did you know dogs and cats digest 98% of corn in food? I’ve never seen any scientific evidence that even suggests corn might be bad in my first 3 years at Vet school
Unfortunately, it’s from personal experience — my dogs are allergic to grains. Ick. 🙁
According to nutritionist Marion Nestle, most nutritional training in vet schools is paid for by pet food companies who rely heavily on grains to create affordable (and profitable) food.
Terrific review. I’m enjoying FreshPet for Honey as well. And I was pleased to find the food worked well in the Kong Wobbler.
I had no idea that anything but dry kibble would work in the Kong Wobbler. Do you cut it into cubes, and is it one specific FreshPet food that works better than others? Wanted to try this food, but one of my pups inhales her food, hence the Wobbler use, which helps slow her down.:)
I service this product in Petco and Petsmart. Just wanted to let you know that there is a difference in quality in what is available in the grocery store and what is available in pet specialty stores. FRESHPET SELECT (found in grocery/mass) is GOOD. DELI FRESH (found in pet specialty) is BETTER and VITAL (also pet specialty) is BEST. Freshpet Select and Deli Fresh have grains While Vital is GRAIN FREE. Deli Fresh includes Omega 6 & 3(promote overall health)and prebiotics(aid in absorption of nutrients)which Freshpet Select does not contain.
I recently started the “quest” for the perfect dog AND cat food, I found this article very interesting
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/12/01/allergen-free-pet-foods.aspx
I did go for the grain free diet for both my dog and cat, it seems to be even more important for that cats to avoid grains. I am feeding orijen for the dog and acana for the cat and using as a toping the fresh pet select (thank you Janie Cohen for the explanation about the different fresh select products!). I also use the dehydrated “the honest Kitchen” food as a topping for my dog. She loves both, she does like better the roasted fresh select meals though. Thanks guys, I am glad I’m not the only one crazy about what to feed to my pack 🙂