In this article, Against The Grain Dog Food Review, we’re taking an in-depth review of this dog food brand to help you make the right decision for your canine companion.
Against The Grain is a unique brand that offers one-ingredient dog food recipes. Unlike most other brands that use multiple ingredients in their recipes, the company prides itself on dog meals that contain a single high-quality ingredient that provides the essential nutrients beneficial to dogs.
The company has two product lines – “Nothing Else” and “Grain-Free” – with limited ingredients.
Against The Grain proudly declares that all the products are manufactured in its own facilities, where the owners themselves can closely oversee the entire process from start to finish.
The owners added that they proudly use natural skylights in their facilities and pay close attention to their carbon blueprint.
All ingredients used are at least 85% real meat as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
We will break down each of the more popular Against The Grain dog meals for you to help you decide if they're worthy to be part of your pups' daily menu.
Brand Quick Look
- Parent Company: Evangers
- Founded in: 2009
- Made in: Illinois USA
- Available at: Chewy and Amazon
- Types of Food: Canned
- Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
- Recalled in Past? : Yes
Behind the Brand
Against The Grain is a dog food brand that was conceptualized by the original owners as a better alternative to the more common commercial names.
The passion and love for canines inspired the owners to do away with the traditional dog food manufacturing processes of using low-class ingredients to minimize costs.
These low-quality products provide very little nutrition to dogs, and in some cases, even do more harm than good. Against The Grain was set out to be the healthier dog food option as envisioned by the owners.
And so instead of using popular methods and cheap, commercially available ingredients, the owners opted for the higher-standard procedures and the use of only the finest ingredients.
All the foods from this company follow these core principles:
- Safety first
- Only nutritionally superior food using whole and unprocessed ingredients
- Maximum flavor for the pups' pleasure
- Always using reliably sourced ingredients
All Against The Grain dog food products contain zero preservatives or artificial enhancers of any kind.
Against The Grain Dog Food Review
1. Nothing Else Salmon
- Overall: 4.1 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 3.5 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Only Ingredient: Salmon
Nutritional Analysis:
This single-ingredient dog food features pure salmon as its only component, with no added water or fillers. The food is made from salmon cooked in its own natural juices, providing a rich source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. It's suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds, particularly those with food sensitivities or on limited ingredient diets.
The product is vacuum-packed in a BPA-free can and offers benefits like improved coat health, reduced inflammation, and enhanced heart health due to its high omega-3 content.
However, the food has a high concentration of protein and fat, which may be unusual for canned options and is best served alongside a balanced diet.
Despite a few negative reviews about the smell and lack of pate texture, it holds a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Chewy.com. Overall, it is recommended for its high-quality salmon and essential nutrients, though its price and the suggestion to mix it with other foods may be points to consider.
2. Against the Grain Nothing Else Duck
- Overall: 4.1 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4.33 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 3.5 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Only Ingredient: Duck
Nutritional Analysis:
This is a single-ingredient pate made entirely from duck, with no added water, grains, GMOs, or fillers. The natural juices from cooking provide the broth and gravy. It's designed for all dog breeds, ages, and those with food sensitivities or on limited ingredient diets, and is meant to be served with dry kibble or other well-rounded meals.
Duck, used here from local US farms, offers lean meat, easy-to-digest proteins, and is low in saturated fat. It is rich in iron, amino acids, zinc, and selenium, making it a nutritious choice, especially for dogs with allergies to more common meats like chicken or beef.
Despite its high-quality ingredients, the product has mixed reviews on Chewy.com. While 60% of reviewers gave it 5 stars, citing their dogs' enjoyment of the meal, there were complaints about cans being half-full, excessive fluid, and one report of mold.
Overall, the duck formula earns a 4.1 out of 5 stars. The quality of the duck is praised, but issues with can content and premium pricing need addressing.
3. Against the Grain Nothing Else Chicken
- Overall: 4.1 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 3.5 out of 5
- Price: 4 out of 5
Only Ingredient: Chicken
Nutritional Analysis:
This dog food is a single-ingredient pate made exclusively from chicken, with no added water, grains, GMOs, or fillers. It’s designed for dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes, and is best served with dry kibble or other well-rounded meals for a balanced diet.
The chicken used is sourced from local US farms and provides high protein, vitamins B3 and B6, phosphorus, selenium, and glucosamine for joint health.
While many reviews are positive, noting that dogs enjoy the flavor, there are complaints about the product being too brothy, inconsistent in content, and sometimes half-filled. The product has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Overall, it’s a good option for dogs with food sensitivities but might need to be paired with other foods for complete nutrition. The higher price and issues with consistency are points to consider.
4. Against the Grain Nothing Else Beef
- Overall: 3.6 out of 5
- Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
- Flavor: 3.8 out of 5
- Packaging: 3.5 out of 5
- Price: 3.5 out of 5
Only Ingredient: Beef
Nutritional Analysis:
Another single-ingredient pate made solely from beef, with no added water, grains, GMOs, or fillers. It’s designed for all dog breeds, ages, and sizes and should be served alongside dry kibble or other balanced meals. The beef provides high protein, essential amino acids, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B12, B3, and B6.
While it is a good option for supplementing your dog's diet, there are mixed reviews. Around 70% of respondents on Chewy.com would recommend it, but only 40% rated it highly. Common complaints include inconsistent can fill levels, excessive fat, and unpleasant smell. Some customers also noted the high price.
Overall, the product receives a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, the lowest among the brand's variants. Despite the high-quality ingredient, customer feedback highlights several issues with the product's consistency and value.
5. Against the Grain Nothing Else Pork
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 4 out of 5
- Flavor: 4.5 out of 5
- Packaging: 3.5 out of 5
- Price: 3.9 out of 5
Only Ingredient: Pork
Nutritional Analysis:
This pate is made exclusively from pork, with no added water. The broth and gravy come from natural juices during cooking. It's suitable for all dog breeds, ages, and sizes and is ideal for those with allergies when served alongside other balanced meals.
Pork is less common in dog food due to its high fat content, which can be hard for dogs to digest and may cause digestive issues. However, it provides valuable amino acids and thiamine (vitamin B1), which is essential for muscle function. It also serves as an alternative for dogs with sensitivities to beef or chicken.
The product has generally positive reviews, with over 60% of respondents giving it 5 stars. Many customers reported improvements in their pets' allergies and itching. However, there are complaints about the can being “half-filled,” excess water, and the high price.
Overall, the pork pate earns a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. It is high-quality and provides necessary protein but should be complemented with other balanced dog foods for optimal nutrition.
6. Against The Grain Hand Pulled Beef with Gravy
- Overall: 4 out of 5
- Ingredients: 5 out of 5
- Flavor: 4 out of 5
- Packaging: 3.5 out of 5
- Price: 3.5 out of 5
First 5 ingredients: Beef, Beef Broth, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Apples
Nutritional Analysis:
This food features a blend of shredded beef, fruits, and veggies in a flavorful gravy. It uses only wholesome ingredients, free from GMOs, hormones, and antibiotics, and is recommended as a full meal or a topper for dry kibble.
The formula includes beef as the main ingredient, providing high-quality protein, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B12, B3, and B6. Beef broth enhances flavor and retains nutrients. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples add nutritional value, offering vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.
The product is suitable for dogs of all life stages and sizes. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Customers appreciate the balanced nutrition and high-quality ingredients, though some find the price a bit high for the size.
What Types of Dog Food Do They Offer?
Against The Grain keeps things simple by offering only two different types of dog food, and one line of air-dried food. The first type is the standard grain-free shredded meats line, which has two flavors – chicken and beef.
And then there's the “Nothing Else” line, which contains only one ingredient packaged into a can free from preservatives, additives, gluten, or grain.
The brand’s Hi Bio line features high-value air-dried food suitable for both cats and dogs. It combines the dense nutrition of a raw diet with the convenience and longer shelf life of dry kibble.
Here is a list of the dog food products that Against the Grain offers:
Wet dog food
- Nothing Else Salmon
- Nothing Else Duck
- Nothing Else Beef
- Nothing Else Chicken
- Nothing Else Pork
- Grain-Free Pulled Chicken
- Grain-Free Pulled Beef
Air-dried dog/ cat food
- Hi Bio Superfood – Beef
- Hi Bio Superfood – Chicken
Recall History
There were two recalls recorded for Against The Grain Dog Food from February 2017. Below are the full details of the recalls.
- February 14, 2017 – Against The Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner recalled for possible pentobarbital contamination.
- February 28, 2017 – Against The Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner recalled for possible pentobarbital contamination.
In our research, we found out that the main issue for the recalls was the possible contamination of the products with pentobarbital, which is a drug used to euthanize animals.
It is possible that some of the ingredients included in the products were sourced from euthanized cattle using this drug. With significant amounts, this drug can be fatal for dogs.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are highly valuable to us when making our own reviews. We believe that most, if not all, comments are honest and made with the best intentions. Although people have varying opinions about certain matters, we look out for common observations.
Most of the pros for the Against The Grain products are delighted about the high-quality ingredients and the nutrient content. Some love the smell and texture.
On the other hand, there were consistent complaints about changes in the formula, and the cans being just half-full, or too much gravy and less meat.
Here are some of the actual comments:
Positive
Good supplement!
- My picky eater enjoys this. We put a couple of tablespoons on top of her grain-free salmon and sweet potato kibble to help entice her. She now looks forward to eating on a more regular schedule. We cut her kibble back by about 1/4 cup since we are just using this as a supplement and don’t want to increase calories. The food is of good quality and does not smell bad whatsoever. Very pleased with this product and will be ordering again. – Chewy Customer
Great for dogs with allergies
- I specifically need a very limited ingredient food for my dogs with multiple allergies. This is perfect for one who does well with salmon; however, it has an issue with a lot of ingredients mixed in most dog foods. He loves it and eats more willingly than he did before! – Chewy Customer
Negative
Yuck
- I have been buying the pulled chicken for almost a year and absolutely loved the chunks of chicken and yummy vegetables that were jammed into each can. There was just a little bit of broth, and it always smelled really good. I just received a case and was surprised at the amount of liquid in the can. The chicken looked different too. NOTHING about this food looks the same. What happened? I contacted Chewy, and they are giving me a refund for the case. Thank you Chewy for being so nice about this! Such a shame!! – Chewy Customer
One of our dogs won't touch it.
- Although three of our dogs seem to like it, our fussy one will not touch it, even leaving the room. Some of the cans have been about 25% juice, so it's not especially economical. – Chewy Customer
The Brand Lives Up to Their Name
The products of Against The Grain are special in such a way that they use only one ingredient in most of the meals. This way, the nutrients coming from meat sources are not diluted with fillers.
It's also a good way of avoiding food allergies in dogs as some other additives usually cause these reactions. The company is notable for using top-quality ingredients too.
While some grains can provide healthy nutrients to dogs, they offer much lesser essentials when compared with meat and other plants. We highly recommend Against The Grain to supplement your dog's dry kibble with some of the nutritious moist food.
