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Dave’s Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget

Written by

Ma. Leonor Dollisen

Reviewed by

Updated on:

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Daves Pet Food

Dave’s is a small brand of healthy dry and moist dog food that helps cater to specific issues your pup may have. It has lines for allergies, obesity, food sensitivities, and diabetes. The main claim to fame for Dave’s is that the company provides the best quality food at affordable prices.

Its reputation online is solid, and most of the brand’s foods have higher than a four-star rating, but they don’t have many reviews. This tells us that the food line isn’t that popular online, but the website says the products are available at over 1600 retailers across the country.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to healthy pet foods, Dave’s might be a good option for you.

Many of its ingredients also seem to mimic those of more expensive brands, but you never know where the proteins, vegetables, and fruits get sourced from unless you find out for yourself. 

In this article, Dave's dog food review, we’re taking a serious look into Dave’s pet foods and whether or not they are a healthy and affordable option for your family.

Brand Quick Look

  • Parent Company: Dave’s Pet Fooddave's pet food
  • Founded in: 1999
  • Made in: South Dakota, New Jersey, Canada, and Thailand
  • Available at:  Chewy, Pet360, petfooddirect, Dave's website
  • Types of Food: Dry and moist
  • Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
  • Recalled in Past? : Yes

Behind the Brand

The story of Dave’s dog food starts with Dave Ratner. This man realized how many great healthy dog food options there are on the market. He knew that the only thing missing from the pet food world was healthy affordable dog foods.

Dave is a sales guy, so he brought in an unnamed pet nutritionist to help him formulate the food, and together they decided on a manufacturer (also unnamed) to take care of the production.

According to the company, the reason its food is so much cheaper than its competitors is not that it contains cheaper ingredients; it’s because of the company's overhead.

It doesn't have sales people out there selling it, it doesn’t have a team of marketers marketing it, and it doesn't have a huge customer service department taking calls.

It’s all Dave, and he does everything, so he's able to keep the overhead low and ultimately, the price low.

Dave’s Dog Food Review

In this section, we’re going to take an in-depth look at at a couple lines of Dave’s dog food to find out if the ingredients are as great as he says they are.

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    1. Chicken Meal and Brown Rice

    First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Sorghum, Millet

    • Overall: 4 out of 5
    • Flavor: 4 out of 5
    • Ingredients: 3 out of 5
    • Packaging: 4 out of 5
    • Price: 4.5 out of 5
    WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
    Dave's Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget 2
    Made from selected ingredients that are easy to digest and high in fiber in order to assist and maintain your pet's digestive tract.

    Analysis:

    Crude Protein 25%
    Crude Fat 10%
    Crude Fiber 3%

    The first food we’re looking at is the most common and standard food in their line. This one is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs and Dave calls it the “bland diet” because there are few ingredients in here that would upset your dog's stomach.

    It contains easily digestible ingredients that are high in fiber so your pup can digest the food properly and prevent anything from coming up.

    This food contains no artificial ingredients, colors, corn, soy, or dairy products.

    This list of early ingredients in the food contains a lot of whole oat fillers which is not ideal, but the protein analysis is still within a healthy range.

    Based on reviews from other people who have tried the food it does seem like it helps dogs with sensitive stomachs who are prone to vomiting and diarrhea.

    2. Naturally Healthy Formula

    First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Oats, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat

    • Overall: 4 out of 5
    • Flavor: 4 out of 5
    • Ingredients: 3.5 out of 5
    • Packaging: 4 out of 5
    • Price: 4.5 out of 5
    WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
    Dave's Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget 3
    Made with real chicken meal first and high-quality lamb meal. A formula rich in healthy fats, minerals and vitamins that is great for all breeds plus it's highly delectable.

    Analysis:

    Crude Protein 22%
    Crude Fat 14%
    Crude Fiber 4%

    This Dave’s diet is geared towards adult dogs of all breeds. It’s an all-natural recipe designed to be easily digestible so that even seniors or littles will have no problem with their meal.

    It features easily digestible lamb, that was raised without the use of artificial hormones, and lots of chicken meal (as first ingredient) to raise the protein level.

    Cheese, skim milk, and peas add a little more protein to the diet, and the menhaden fish meal gives the food the required omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are so important for a strong immune system and healthy fur and coat.

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    There are added vitamins and minerals too to balance the meal and make it more nutritious. There are several grains in the first five ingredient slots.

    That’s a little more than what we expect in a dog food recipe, although that’s not entirely a bad thing since dogs are omnivorous.

    But too many grains in a diet can cause obesity. Fortunately, the first ingredient is meat, but there should be a little more meat support somewhere within the first few ingredients.

    Based on customer reviews, the recipe adds a little more pep to dogs, especially those who have been ill. While we mentioned too many grains can be a ‘con,’ on the flip side, the grains provide lots of energy to dogs.

    The grains are also good for sensitive tummies so the risk of your dog getting stomach upsets are lessened. 

    3. Restricted Bland Diet Chicken & Rice

    First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Water Sufficient For Processing, White Rice, Rice Flour, Natural Flavor

    • Overall: 4 out of 5
    • Flavor: 4 out of 5
    • Ingredients: 4 out of 5
    • Packaging: 4 out of 5
    • Price: 4 out of 5
    WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
    Dave's Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget 4
    Specifically made for highly sensitive pets, this limited ingredient formula is less flavorful and non-stimulating to the tummy.

    Analysis:

    Crude Protein 7%
    Crude Fat 6%
    Moisture 78%

    A carefully-crafted bland diet for dogs with allergies or sensitivities, this meal offers balanced nutrition that’s easily digestible.

    It features rice, which is gentle on upset canine tummies, and a single protein source — real chicken — for dogs who might be allergic to other kinds of animal protein.

    It’s a simple recipe that will calm the stomach. It is enhanced with vitamins and minerals but does not include ingredients that could possibly trigger symptoms in your canine. There are no artificial colors, artificial flavors, wheat, or gluten.

    This wet dog food has very few main ingredients so it's easy to keep track of ingredients that won’t agree with your dog.

    Chicken, water, white rice, and rice flour are the key ingredients, and they’re all considered quality ones. The rest of the ingredients are either made up of natural stabilizers, natural preservatives, and nutrients. 

    The food has a high rating from customers. According to many reviews, this recipe helps firm up stools and calm the tummies of dogs suffering from bouts of diarrhea.

    While the ingredients may look bland, canines seem to love the taste. Even picky pups have been reported to lick their bowls clean.

    4. Stewlicious Meaty Beefy Stew

    First 5 Ingredients: Beef Broth, Beef, Beef Liver, Potatoes, Dried Egg Product

    • Overall: 4.1 out of 5
    • Flavor: 4 out of 5
    • Ingredients: 4.5 out of 5
    • Packaging: 4 out of 5
    • Price: 4 out of 5
    WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
    Dave's Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget 5
    A drool worthy blend of beef and beef liver drenched in hearty beef stock making it oh-so-yummy and it is brimming with protein, minerals and vitamins.

    Analysis:

    Crude Protein 8%
    Crude Fat 4%
    Moisture 82%

    Meaty Beefy Stew combines premium chunks of beef with a mixture of fresh veggies and fruits for a flavorful and nutritious stew dinner for your pet. It uses a rich beef broth to add even more delicious flavor to tempt even the finickiest pup. 

    It’s a wholesome meal that can be fed to sensitive pets provided they tolerate beef and egg. The recipe utilizes potato as its main carbohydrate source, but there is also wild rice present to provide some support. And it doesn’t contain possible problematic ingredients like corn, soy, gluten, or wheat.

    This wet dog food offers dogs a simple yet hearty meal that’s truly quality. There aren’t any unnecessary ingredients nor overly plenty carbohydrates.

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    There’s a lot of meat in here (four in the first five ingredients list) and just one main carb source. Fruits and veggies contribute many of the vitamins and minerals but added nutrients help raise the levels even more.

    The food looks and smells like actual stew, not your usual smelly dog food. And according to reviewers, not only do dogs love the taste, they tend to gobble the food up quickly.

    The price point is also fair, according to some, since it’s obvious that the wet food is made up of high quality ingredients.

    5. Restricted Sodium Chicken Recipe

    First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Water Sufficient For Processing, Guar Gum, Agar-Agar, Minerals

    • Overall: 4.6 out of 5
    • Flavor: 5 out of 5
    • Ingredients: 5 out of 5
    • Packaging: 4.5 out of 5
    • Price: 4 out of 5
    WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
    Dave's Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget 6
    This low sodium formula is ideal for pets who are suffering from renal illnesses. Made from real chicken along with the essential nutrients he needs everyday.

    Analysis:

    Crude Protein 9%
    Crude Fat 8%
    Moisture 77%

    Some dogs might be prescribed a limited sodium intake diet for medical conditions. In this case, a specially formulated diet with less sodium is advisable. Dave’s Restricted Diet offers all the nutrition your dog needs without the ingredients he doesn’t. 

    Made in pate form, the food is primarily animal protein, specifically chicken. There’s just two main ingredients here: chicken and water.

    The rest is made up of stabilizers/thickeners, minerals, and vitamins. When it says it has no fillers, it really does not have a single one.

    If you’re looking for dog food at its purest form, this should be one in your list of food to consider. The ingredients are so limited that only canines with sensitivities to chicken wouldn’t be able to enjoy it.

    There’s only a maximum 0.12% of sodium in the whole can, a quite negligible amount even for pups with conditions that require less salt.

    94% of customers recommend this restricted diet. In some cases, symptoms like belly bloating that accompany the medical conditions have eased and disappeared once the pup was fed this meal regularly.

    It’s not visually appealing, but many dogs seem to like it and it can serve as topper to other food if you’re feeding your pup a mixed diet. 

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    What Types of Dog Food Do They Offer?

    Dave’s offers a variety of affordable pet foods that cater to your pets’ specific needs. If your dog has a problem digesting certain proteins, Dave has food for that. If your dog has allergies so grain, Dave has food for that, and if your dog is overweight, Dave also has food for that.

    All of Dave’s foods contain meat as the first ingredient and all-natural fruits and vegetables throughout.

    There is not a lot of information available on how the formula specifically affects your pet’s health or what blend you should choose for a specific issue. It would be nice if there were more information available about what food you should pick if your dog has skin allergies for example.

    Dave's Dry Dog Food Brands:

    • Naturally Healthy
    • Simply The Best
    • Grain-Free Pork Meal & Sweet Potato
    • Restricted Diet Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Delicate Dinner
    • Grain-Free Countryside Blend
    • Naturally Healthy Puppy
    dave's dog food review

    Dave’s Wet Dog Food Brands:

    • Stewlicious Hearty Beef Stew
    • Stewlicious Chicken Pot Pie Stew
    • Stewlicious Chunky Chicken Stew
    • Stewlicious Chunky Turkey, Sweet Potato, & Cranberry Stew
    • Stewlicious Fisherman Stew
    • Stewlicious Turducken Stew
    • Stewlicious Gobbledy Good Stew
    • Stewlicious Meaty Beef Stew
    • Stewlicious Chicken Casserole
    • Stewlicious Luscious Lamb Stew
    • Restricted Diet Bland Chicken & Rice Delicate Dinner
    • Restricted Diet Protein Phosphorus Farmyard Blend
    • Grain-Free Chicken, Sweet Potato & Quinoa
    • Grain-Free Beef & Vegetable Cuts in Gravy
    • Grain-Free Chicken, Salmon & Sweet Potato Entrée
    • Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetable Cuts in Gravy
    • Grain-Free Ocean Fish & Vegetables Cuts in Gravy
    • Grain-Free Turkey & Sweet Potato Cuts in Gravy
    • Grain-Free Duck & Sweet Potato 
    • Grain-Free Pork & Sweet Potato
    • 95% Premium Meats – Beef & Beef Liver
    • 95% Premium Meats – Chicken & Chicken Liver
    • 95% Premium Meats – Turkey & Turkey Liver
    • 95% Premium Meats – Beef & Chicken
    • Naturally Healthy Joint Formula
    • Naturally Healthy Beef & Rice
    • Naturally Healthy Chicken & Rice
    • Naturally Healthy Liver & Beef

    Recall History

    Since the company's founding, we located two major recalls of Dave’s pet food. Here they are in reverse chronological order.

    • June 2018 – Dave’s pet food recalled 13-ounce cans of Premium Beef dog food for elevated levels of beef thyroid hormone.
    • December 2015 – One batch of Dave’s Simple, the Best Dog Food recalled for having an off odor.

    Customer Feedback

    The best and truest way to understand Dave’s pet food is to take the opinions of others who have tried the food before you. Dave’s is popular across the country but not as popular on the major sites like Chewy.com.

    While he may not have many reviews, the ones he does have are excellent. Across most of his product line on Chewy he has 4-5 stars with a 95% recommendation. Here are some verified reviews from people who have tried Dave’s dog food.

    Positive

    Great for sensitive stomachs

    • My mixed breed dog has struggled with diarrhea and loose stools since he was a puppy. (He's 2 1/2 now.) Taken him to the vet to find nothing is wrong, but it was still something unpleasant to deal with. I've tried so many different foods, expensive, basic, grain free, gluten free with no good results. Until we tried this. No accidents and perfectly solid stool since about a week after we switched. I'm a believer. – Chewy Customer

    Great Food

    • My 4 yr old poodle mix had random episodes of vomiting for no reason. Never acted sick. I found this food on Chewy, read the positive reviews and decided to try it. I mix one tablespoon of Dave’s. Bland chicken rice wet food and this dry food. My dog inhales his food now and no more vomiting. Thank you, Dave and everyone who gave positive reviews so I would give this food a try. I’m so happy to finally find a food that my dog can eat without vomiting – Chewy Customer

    Relief for an older dog

    • My nine-year-old cattle dog-x was having trouble holding down her food. Dave’s seems to have fixed this. My two-year-old lab wasn’t having any tummy troubles, but she is happy to eat it too. – Chewy Customer
    Dave's Dog Food Review: Quality Nutrition on a Budget 7

    Negative

    Hate new formula

    • The new formula is following the horrid trend by manufacturers of adding plant protein to substitute for meat protein. The new formula is New Formulation: Chicken Meal, Field Peas, Chickpeas, Lentils, Chicken Fat If you add the protein from the three types of peas, it overwhelms the chicken meal. I'm very sad to see Dave's changing over. – Chewy Customer

    Seems like good food, but my picky pup wasn’t wild about it.

    • I consider myself fairly savvy as far as dog food choices go, and I would recommend this food based on the company and the ingredients. My dog (who is a picky eater) wasn't wild about it–she prefers Dave's Pork and Sweet Potato kibble, so I'll stick to that (I wanted to try a grain-free choice, which the pork kibble is not). FYI, these kibble pieces are smaller than the pork kibble pieces, in case that makes a difference. – Chewy Customer

    Healthy Ingredients at a Healthy Price

    Our first opinion of Dave’s was that it would be all hype with a quick let down when we realize the food does not live up to expectation; that didn’t happen. We read countless reviews of people who personally met Dave and were impressed by his grace and passion for what he does.

    The ingredients in Dave’s dog food may not be the absolute greatest, but for the price and value, you are getting high-quality ingredients at a low-quality price.

    Would we recommend for people who are currently happy with their dog food to switch to Dave’s because it’s so much better? No

    But, if you’re unhappy with your dog's diet, then we definitely would recommend giving Dave’s pet food a try for its premium ingredients and solid customer satisfaction.

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