Crave Dog Food Review 2024: Best Canine Ancestral Diet?

Crave Premium food is a limited ingredient line that offers dog foods mimicking the canine ancestral diet. The ingredients are free of cheap fillers and use only real meats and meat meals to create a high protein diet.

They have a very high standard of ingredients and use only higher quality ones sourced from trusted farmers and suppliers. They create all their foods at processing plants the company itself owns and it’s based in the United States.

It’s a relatively new brand, but it does offer a lot of the types of things you’d look for in an ultra-premium kibble.

Let’s break down what this brand has to offer in our comprehensive Crave Dog Food Review below to see if this could be your next dog food. It’s premium while remaining affordable and could be worth hunting down at your local pet store or online.

Brand Quick Look

• Parent Company: Mars
• Founded in: 2017
• Made in: North America
• Made by: Mars-owned facilities in North America
• Available at: Chewy, Amazon, Walmart
• Types of Food: Dry, canned
• Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
• Recalled in Past? : No

Behind the Brand

In 2017, Mars Inc introduced Crave Pet Foods, intended to appeal to those who wanted to upgrade their dog’s store-bought kibble to something that more closely mimics what their canine ancestors may have found in the wild. Because it’s so new, there aren’t many recipes yet, but each one breaks down to the basics.

Mars has been in the pet food industry for a long time and owns other brands you’ve most likely heard of (IAMS, Pedigree, and Eukanuba) among others. This is one of their premium lines, intended for pet owners looking to get rid of cheap fillers and artificial ingredients.

It uses a variety of real, whole meats as the first ingredients, followed by meat meals. Meat meals are made from extracting moisture from the meat and often have a lot more protein readily available than whole meats. Crave has a high protein content along with plenty of fiber and complex carbohydrates from much healthier sources for a balanced meal.

The formulas are created by the same people who created EVO pet foods, so it’s packed full of dense nutrition and is suitable for more athletic dogs or those with a more significant muscle mass. They’ve chosen to reduce the size of the kibble as well to make it more widely suitable for a variety of dog breeds and life stages.

Crave Dog Food Reviews

 

1. High Protein Beef

First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Chicken Meal, Pork Meal, Split Peas, Lentils

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crave with beef is a high protein kibble made with premium ingredients and no grains. It doesn’t use any of the typical cheap fillers such as corn or soy, and the formula uses no artificial colors or flavors. It doesn’t use any chicken by-product meal either which can also be a source of allergies.

While real beef is the most plentiful ingredient, Crave High Protein Beef actually has chicken meal, pork meal, fish meal, and dried chicken. These ingredients give this dry food a very meaty and savory flavor.

At 34% protein, your dog gets a delicious meal that promotes lean muscle growth. It balances the protein content with complex carbohydrates from lentils and peas to give dogs energy.

This Crave recipe is fortified with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced nutrition. It has omega fatty acids to help support skin and coat health.

The texture is smaller than standard kibble so many dogs may find it easier to chew the kibble. Large-breed dogs could be prone to eating it too quickly, but overall Crave gets just the right texture for the kibble.

It is suitable for a meal on its own, or for mixing in with one of Crave’s wet foods for an extra treat. This dry food does have a bit of a “dog food” odor, so be aware that you may need to find a way to seal the bag.

According to reviews, Crave High Protein Beef has been popular among numerous picky pups. The meaty combination of beef, chicken, pork, and fish flavors appears to be highly palatable to dogs. Dog parents have also seen an increase in their dogs’ energy levels since they switched to this grain-free formula.

If you want to feed your finicky pooch a high-protein kibble recipe, we recommend Crave High Protein Beef. It is packed with flavor from multiple animal protein sources, and free from artificial enhancers, and grains that are common allergy triggers.

2. High Protein White Fish & Salmon

First 5 Ingredients: White fish, Chicken meal, Lentils, Split peas, Chicken fat

Guaranteed Analysis:

This is a grain-free kibble formulated to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs. Packed with the rich flavors of white fish, canine fish fans are sure to love the high protein kibbles of this recipe.

This high protein meal gets its rich fish flavors from real white fish, fish meal, and salmon meal. Like all dry food recipes from Crave, this formula is 34% protein to help your pup build and maintain lean muscles.

This recipe is free from by-products or unnamed animal ingredients. You can rest assured that your pup is getting only high-quality protein.

Highly digestible carbohydrates and fiber come from lentils, split peas, pea starch, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. Healthy fat is provided by chicken fat, which also gives this recipe a boost of flavor.

This white fish and salmon recipe is free from artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, or preservatives. It contains none of the common allergy triggers like corn, wheat, or soy. Reviews for Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon have been mostly positive.

According to pet parents of dogs who were previously suffering from skin allergies, this grain-free recipe has helped their dogs’ skin clear up. Their coats are also shinier and healthier.

The flavors of white fish, chicken, and salmon appears to be a hit among pups. This protein-rich dry dog food is packed with flavor, and dogs just gobble the kibbles up.

This high-protein, grain-free recipe has been great for keeping dogs fit and lean. However, it may not be recommended for slightly underweight dogs.

3. High Protein Chicken

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken meal, Split peas, Lentils, Pork meal.

Guaranteed Analysis:

This is a tasty dry dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition in every serving. With 34% protein, these kibbles help support healthy muscle development in dogs.

Unlike the first two dry food recipes, this Crave recipe has only two animal ingredient sources: chicken and pork. If your pup is sensitive to protein sources other chicken and pork, this recipe may be the one for him.

With chicken as the most abundant ingredient, Crave High Protein Chicken is highly digestible and rich in protein. Split peas, lentils, pea starch, beet pulp, flaxseed, and dehydrated alfalfa meal provide carbohydrates and fiber needed by dogs for energy and healthy digestion.

This recipe is fortified with vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. Omega fatty acids are included to support skin and coat health.

Chicken has always been a popular choice among doggies, and Crave High Protein Chicken is no exception. According to reviews for this product, pups are always excited for mealtimes and enjoy eating the flavorful kibbles.

It has also helped numerous dogs with allergies. According to their owners, the dogs’ skin have significantly improved, and their coats are shiny and healthy. This recipe from crave is free from common allergy triggers such as corn, wheat, or soy.

4. Turkey Pate Canned Dog Food

First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey broth, Chicken liver, Chicken heart, Chicken

Guaranteed Analysis:

Turkey Pate is a grain-free wet dog food that is extra rich in protein. 99% of its protein content is from animal sources. This pate is made with real turkey for a highly digestible protein-rich meal.

This turkey recipe is made even tastier with chicken liver, chicken heart, and chicken. Turkey and pork broths make this an extra yummy way to add more moisture to your dogs’ diet.

The smooth pate makes it easy for even senior dogs to chew. Because it is enriched with vitamins and minerals, this Crave pate can be served on its own as a complete meal. it can also be used as a delicious and hydrating kibble topper.

Like all Crave dog food products, this turkey pate contains no artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives. It is free from grains, corn, soy, or wheat.

However, it does include carrageenan. Some experts claim that carrageenan may be a possible contributor to some conditions in dogs.

Based on review comments for Crave Turkey Pate, dogs seem to love the taste and smooth texture of this recipe. Their owners like that the food is moist, but not runny. Aside from its palatability, dog parents purchase this Crave recipe for the quality of the ingredients.

Many pet owners find good value in this product. They are able to feed their pups a high-protein grain-free meal at a relatively lower price compared to some high-protein dog food brands.

5. Beef Pate Canned Dog Food

First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Chicken liver, Pork broth, Chicken broth, Chicken heart

Guaranteed Analysis:

Another grain-free wet dog food inspired by the diet of dogs’ wolf ancestors. With 99% of its protein content sourced from animals, this food offers a meal that dogs instinctively crave.

This pate is packed with a meaty, savory flavor with real beef as the most plentiful ingredient. Chicken liver, chicken, and chicken heart give this smooth pate another layer of richness. Chicken broth and pork broth make this a scrumptious way to give your dog more hydration.

This beef pate provides complete and balanced nutrition with every serving. It can be given to dogs as meals, or as dry kibble topper. The smooth pate has an easy to chew texture that even senior pups can enjoy.

It contains no animal by-product meals, soy, corn, or wheat. It has no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. However, this pate contains carrageenan as a thickener. According to some experts, this additive may cause certain conditions in pets.

It is loved by many senior pups. They love the beefy flavor of this pate. The smooth texture makes it easy for them to chew and digest. Even dogs who no longer have all of their teeth enjoy having this Crave recipe for dinner.

Dog owners love that the pate smells better than the typical canned dog food. They purchase Crave Beef Pate for its value for money. Their dogs get a high-protein, highly palatable meal at an affordable price.

What Types of Dog Foods Do They Offer?

Crave offers a line of dry and a line of wet dog food. They aren’t separated by life stage or breed size, but most of the recipes would be suitable for most life stages beyond puppyhood. We wouldn’t recommend feeding for your younger puppies because it may be difficult to tell if your puppy is getting enough DHA or other elements critical for growth.

The wet formulas could be good for seniors or small breeds who need a little help with chewing. They’re also good for dogs who are especially picky and need some incentive to eat dry kibble. The recipes are somewhat similar, focusing on the four main protein types (beef, poultry, lamb, and fish) and both use grain free complex carbohydrates.

All the formulas use peas and legumes, so talk to your veterinarian first before switching to these foods. They could be great for dogs with grain sensitivities, but there has been a tentative link established between diets rich in peas and legumes and the possibility of an enlarged heart (Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy).

Dry Food:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Lamb and Venison
• Salmon and Ocean Fish

Wet Food:

• Beef Pate
• Chicken and Beef Pate
• Chicken Pate
• Turkey Pate
• Beef Pate With Shreds of Real Chicken
• Chicken Pate With Shreds of Real Chicken
• Turkey and Lamb Pate with Shreds of Real Chicken
• Turkey Pate with Shreds of Real Chicken

Recall History

Crave itself has no recalls associated with the brand although other Mars pet foods do have their fair share. Because this is a more premium food, it’s possible that safety standards are stricter but Crave has only been around for a few years anyway. We’ll see if the record holds up.

 

Customer Reviews

The company is new, but it does have a few steady followers. Most fans are happy to find a food that balances their budget and eliminates common sources of food allergies and digestive issues.

They like that there are no artificial flavors or colors and no corn or soy fillers. The food has a steady rating of above four stars on both Chewy and Amazon and also won over a few reputable reviewers as well.

What Do People Like And Dislike About Crave Food?

The taste was a critical reason for high reviews from many happy customers. They expressed joy that their dogs tended to like the taste and actually look forward to eating their kibble. They also liked that the food contained none of the usual cheap fillers and seemed to help their dogs maintain energy and stamina all day long.

The lack of grains is a huge plus for those dogs with sensitive systems. If your dog is itchy and has constant bowel issues, getting rid of gluten and grains could help settle those problems. Check with your veterinarian before switching foods and be sure to transition your dog slowly.

Most of the complaints centered around kibble bag sizes. The largest size currently available is a 22-pound bag, which could be fine for a single dog household, but multiple dog households may find that inconvenient. Also, people noted that the kibble size seems significantly smaller than standard kibble, which could make it difficult for larger dogs to consume.

One complaint is the use of peas and legumes to take the place of grains. If your dog is a breed already susceptible to an enlarged heart, the extra taurine from these ingredients could hasten the condition. Talk to your vet first before you begin the transition.

Positive

“Our dogs were eating raw, but we needed to switch to kibble for a couple reasons. After much research, Crave seemed worth a try since it's an affordable 5-star food on dogfoodadvisor with no recalls. Both of our border collies don't tolerate wheat well, and each seems to have his own sensitivity to different treats or foods.

Crave doesn't have wheat and the first ingredient is actually lamb. Luckily it works for both of them, and they both love it (notoriously picky eaters). We had some trial and error with other brands before this and let's just say we had a lot of accidents to clean up.

They've been eating Crave for over a year and have always had solid poops. One eats 1.5 cups and the other 1.25 cups and a 22lb bag lasts us pretty close to a month. We rotate between the lamb & venison, beef, and chicken and just switch to the next without transitioning and they do fine. One likes the salmon, and the other doesn't so we leave that one out so everyone's happy.” crazyBClady, chewy.com

Negative

“I was excited to try this food for my pups. I'm not one to complain about kibble size but this kibble is way too tiny like tea cup dog size. I would not like to feed this to my pups. Dogs seem to like the flavor but I have 8 large dogs and the kibble size is way way too small. In the photo 1st is dimond large dog kibble 2nd is Crave. I will never buy this again. And I gave the two I had away.” Furmom, chewy.com

Final Say

Crave is a solid choice for pet owners seeking high-protein, meat-first formulas that mimic dogs' ancestral diets. With real animal proteins like chicken, lamb, and salmon as the primary ingredients, it offers a nutrient-dense option that supports strong muscles and overall health.

The grain-free recipes are ideal for dogs with grain sensitivities, though they do include plant-based ingredients like peas and lentils for added fiber and nutrients.

While the brand delivers quality nutrition at a relatively affordable price, it may not appeal to those looking for organic or premium-grade ingredients.

Additionally, some recipes contain pea protein, which may not be suitable for all dogs. Overall, it offers a well-balanced, protein-rich option for active dogs but may not meet the needs of more selective or health-conscious pet owners.