The Best Grain Free Dog Food in 2022

These 10 grain-free foods are the best on the market right now, and we feel certain that there’s something here for every dog to enjoy, no matter their tastes or dietary requirements. To help you work out whether a grain-free diet is right for your pet, and how to administer one safely, we’ve put together this useful FAQ section.

Read on for more on what it means for a food to be grain-free, why it could be better for your pooch, and how to change a dog’s diet in a healthy way.

As the name suggests, grain-free dog food is a canine diet that doesn’t contain any grains. This includes both refined and whole grains such as white and brown rice, wheat, corn, oats and more, as well as the so-called ancient grains like spelt, barley, quinoa and so on.

While not all dogs need to be on a  grain-free diet, some may greatly benefit from it, especially pups with digestive issues, flaky skin, and dull coat, as well as dogs already sensitive or allergic to grains. Thankfully, now that grain-free pet food is becoming more popular, it’s easy to find an option that works for pretty much any pooch. These formulas come in all sorts of flavors and forms, including dry and wet recipes, so even the pickiest of canines can be satisfied.

As a bonus, most grain-free foods are designed with natural ingredients at the forefront of their recipes. This means that grain-free foods are often free from other potentially harmful ingredients too, including meat by-products, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, allergies, or food intolerances, grain-free kibbles or wet foods can be good options.

You may also like our article on Organic Dog Food.

If you decide to switch your dog to grain-free kibble or wet food, it’s important to choose a food that’s made to a high standard of quality, and meets all their nutritional needs.

To ensure your canine companion is getting the healthy food they deserve, look out for the following when choosing a grain-free option:

• Protein content

First and foremost, it’s important to look out for a grain-free recipe that has a high protein content. For healthy adult dogs, check that the food has a protein content of around 30%. However, looking at the protein content is not enough - also check the quality. Animal protein, such as meat, fish or poultry, should always be the first ingredient in a recipe. Aside from whole meat, meat meals like chicken meal, lamb meal and so on, are also good sources as they're easily digestible. Check out our guide on the best high protein dog food for more info.

• Fat content

With grain-free dog foods, you should look out for a fat content of around 18%. Any higher and you run the risk of feeding your dog too richly, which can trigger digestive issues and weight gain. Depending on the type of meat used, some recipes can be a little heavy on the fat, so it’s a good idea to check the food’s nutrition facts before making a purchase.

• Natural ingredients

For the most part, grain-free diets are designed to mimic the kind of food your dog’s ancestors would consume in the wild. Good quality grain-free foods prioritize natural ingredients, replacing grains with other carbohydrate sources like pulses and sweet potatoes. These carbohydrates better emulate what a dog would eat in the wild, and typically offer slower energy release.

• Vitamins and minerals

As with any food, it’s important to check for the right blend of vitamins and minerals when selecting this type of diet for your dog. For more options, check out our detailed review of dog vitamins.

Below are a few of the most important vitamins and minerals to look out for:

• Calcium: it’s common knowledge that eating enough calcium ensures we have healthy teeth and bones, and it’s no different for our canine companions. For more options head over to our guide on calcium supplements for dogs.
• Iron: this mineral helps your dog maintain their energy levels, and is crucial for red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
• Vitamin B12: B vitamins help to keep your dog’s metabolism in check.
• Antioxidants: research suggests that antioxidants, such as those found in citrus fruits, support a healthy immune system, for fewer bouts of sickness and better general health.
• Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids: these healthy fats help your dog to maintain a sleek, shiny coat and healthy skin. If your pooch is an allergy sufferer, choosing a food rich in these acids can really help with their itching.
• Pro or prebiotics: prebiotics support the good bacteria in your dog’s stomach, while probiotics directly contribute to their numbers. Both additives support your pet’s digestive health.

• Flavor and texture

As well as keeping them fit and healthy, your dog’s food should be enjoyable! It can be hard to know what your dog will like without trying the food, but the reviews of other owners can give you a good idea about how pooches generally react. This can be especially useful if you have a fussy eater on your hands.

• Affordability

Finally, it’s important to choose a diet that’s good value for money. Dogs do better when kept on a consistent diet, so it’s a good idea to choose a food that your budget can accommodate for month after month. Buying food in bulk is generally the best way to get a good deal if you have the storage space, but be careful to let your dog try the food before you go ahead and purchase a mega-batch.

There are various reasons why more and more pet owners are opting for grain-free nutrition, regardless of whether their furry friend is actually allergic to grains, including:

• Protein

Generally speaking, grain-free dog foods have a higher protein content than their grain-containing counterparts. Typically, zero-grain recipes contain plenty of meat protein (and you always want animal protein first!), including whole meat, poultry and fish, which is great news for both growing and adult dogs. For active and working dogs, a diet rich in protein is the pathway to lean muscles and good energy levels. 

• Natural ingredients

As we’ve mentioned, the idea behind many grain-free dog foods is to recreate a ‘natural’ diet that dogs’ ancestors might have foraged and hunted in the wild. In theory, this could be better for our dogs than feeding them human-cultivated grains. However, it should be noted that dogs diverged from wolves a long time ago, and have adapted well to life among humans, developing the ability to digest starch.

Most grain-free foods turn away from artificial additives, in favor of natural flavors. This means avoiding the potentially harmful fillers that some lower quality dog foods use.

• Sensitive stomach

Some owners choose to buy grain-free dog foods because their pets have sensitive stomachs. Without harmful fillers and additives, these foods are generally much easier to digest - especially since many contain prebiotics and probiotics to promote GI health. If this sounds like your dog, opt for a food containing poultry or fish as its main animal protein source rather than heavier lamb, beef, or bison. Chicken meal and salmon meal are particularly good choices as they're easy to digest. Find out more about dog foods for sensitive stomachs here.

• Fussy eaters

Finally, some pet parents opt for grain-free dog foods because they're tastier. If your dog shies away from their usual grain-containing food, a grain-free option could be a solution. Because they typically contain meat as the first and primary ingredient, grain-free kibbles and wet formulas tend to be more palatable than their grain-packed counterparts. However, this is not the case with all grain-free recipes - some fussy eaters may actually prefer grain-inclusive foods.

If you do decide to switch your pet to grain-free dog food, it’s important to do so slowly and carefully:

• Transition to the new food over 7 days
• On days 1-2, feed your dog a blend that’s 25% new food, 75% old
• On days 3-4, move up to a 50/50 split
• On days 5-6, mix 75% new food with 25% old
• Finally, feed your dog 100% new food on day 7 onwards

This gentle transition will help your dog’s digestive system to adjust, and avoid any stomach upsets that could put them off their new food.

For us, the best grain free dog food on the market right now has to be this unique and complete blend by Taste of the Wild. With bison meat as its number one ingredient, the food harks back to the diet of your dog’s ancestors, and provides them with the optimal protein profile for canine health.

Enriched with vitamins and minerals derived from fruit and veg, the blend is completed by a healthy boost that supports your dog from head to tail. Antioxidants ensure their immune system is ready for anything, while fatty acids promote healthy skin and coat. Your canine companion will find this formula super-easy to digest, and it’s also packed with probiotic goodness to keep their digestive system running smoothly. Overall, it’s a balanced - and delicious - grain free food that pretty much any dog will enjoy.