Below you will be reading our comprehensive Grandma Lucy's Dog Food Review.
Grandma Lucy’s is a family-owned company that produces freeze-dried dog foods using only human grade ingredients. It’s an artisan brand created by pet owners in honor of a beloved dog, Lucy, who developed picky eating habits and severe allergies.
The line includes recipes designed to bring out the best health in your dog and provide reliable sources of food that contain none of the cheap, processed fillers regular dog foods have.
If you’ve been thinking about switching your dog to raw foods but don’t have the time or ability to create foods consistently, this could be a great alternative. Let’s take a look at what Grandma Lucy’s has to offer.
Brand Quick Look
Parent Company: Grandma Lucy’s Pet Foods
Founded In: 1999
Made in: California, USA
Available at: Chewy, Amazon
Types of Food: Freeze-Dried
Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
Recalled in Past? : No
Behind the Brand
In 1999, an elderly dog named Lucy sent her family on a mission. She’d gotten pickier and couldn’t eat many of the standard treats and foods found in the grocery store.
Her owners decided to start making their own treats because they were horrified at the ingredients list in bargain kibbles and dog treats.
They came up with a few recipes and had such good luck, they decided to share the recipes with the world. They attended dog shows and fairs, selling out of their treats quickly.
In 2007, they released their first line of dog food just after massive food recalls due to contamination. Their meals are built on the idea that only human grade ingredients with balanced recipes should be in your dog’s bowl.
Freeze dried meals retain all the natural flavors and encourage even picky dogs to eat while providing optimal nutrition. The company continually innovates recipes and watches studies to find out what the best practices are in dog nutrition.
The staff carefully inspects each recipe during the production process to make sure everything is the highest quality for your companion. The foods are small batch and tested in Grandma Lucy’s kitchens before ever making their way to you.
Made with premium superfoods, such as coconut, hemp hearts and kale. This is freeze-dried making it nutritious and more delectable than your ordinary kibble.
The Macanna Salmon recipe uses a blend of superfoods such as coconut oil and turmeric to help aid your dog’s digestion and create overall wellbeing.
It has a rich protein source from salmon and essential fatty acids to condition the skin and provide energy throughout the day.
A blend of vegetables and fruits, including superfood kale, gives your dog a variety of critical vitamins and minerals while the grain free recipe helps reduce inflammation and digestion upsets.
The food uses no cheap fillers such as corn or soy and no artificial ingredients. It has only human grade ingredients and an easy to serve, freeze-dried texture.
It’s on the expensive side, but if you can manage it in your budget, the quality ingredients could decrease the amount of time you spend in the vet’s office because of inflammation and digestion issues.
Switching your dog to a human grade recipe is an excellent way to maintain their health and energy. We highly recommend this company and this recipe.
A sumptuous blend of turkey (the main protein source), coconut, turmeric and nutty hemp for your beloved canine companion. All ingredients in the list are natural and locally sourced.
This is a delightful blend of rich poultry protein (turkey), turmeric, coconut, and nutty hemp that will give dogs an interesting mealtime twist, different from their usual fare. With a single animal protein source, it’s easy to feed to dogs with sensitive tummies or allergies.
Even with just a single meat ingredient, the crude protein level of this recipe is at a high 30% minimum. This is due to the fact that the volume of the turkey is at an excellent level.
The various vegetables and fruits in the ingredients list serve to balance the food so that most of the nutrients your pup receives are naturally-sourced.
Since all the ingredients are human-grade, there should be no cause for concern about what you’re feeding your dog. The food is in a freeze-fried form that is easy and no-mess to serve.
Looking at the ingredients list, one will see that there are no artificial products or anything that is unnecessary. The list is quite short, focusing only on what will benefit your dog and not including those that only serve as fillers to bulk up the food.
This limited ingredient formula is made using just 2 simple components: chicken and white rice. This easy to prepare meal is a veterinarian recommended meal-replacement for pets suffering from diarrhea or stomach upset.
The Simple Replacement line features meals that will help your pup get all the nutrition he needs while recovering from an illness like an upset stomach or diarrhea.
These are simple and complete meals that are easy to digest and will help your pooch get back in top form sooner. The only thing you need to do before feeding is to pour boiling water into the food to soften it up.
The chicken & rice formula features just two human-grade ingredients: freeze-dried skinless and boneless chicken breast and white rice.
There is nothing else added, not even preservatives. Because the chicken makes up a large part of the food, the crude protein level is set at a minimum of 37%.
According to reviewers, when their pets are feeling out of sorts, this food helps “reset” their pooches. The bland diet gives their ill dogs the energy and nutrition they need so they can heal faster and go back to their regular active selves sooner.
It’s a convenient food to have on hand when you don’t have time to prepare anything else. The only downside is that it is a little expensive for a simple chicken and rice recipe.
Another variant of the product above, also a meal replacement for pets who have upset tummies. It only contains wild salmon and plain white rice. Just simply add hot water and let it cool before serving.
When pets are feeling poorly, a bland diet helps their tummy adjust against stomach upsets. A simple diet also helps give them the nutrition that they need while on the mend.
This formula offers all of that. It’s an easy-to-digest diet featuring wild salmon (an excellent animal protein for sensitive pets) and plain white rice.
Made with no artificial ingredients (preservatives, color or flavor), the meal replacement food is perfect for all dogs in any stage of life. It’s a healthy recipe that’s veterinarian-recommended as a simple remedy for upset tummies.
While this recipe has only 7 reviews on Chewy as of this time, it’s very similar to the Salmon & Rice Formula, which has a positive rating on the site.
The protein content is also at the same level, so we’re pretty sure that your pup will take to this formulation well too.
This freeze-dried, grain free recipe features pork as its primary ingredient with a special blend of chosen fruits and veggies. This is ideal for pooches who have allergies or sensitivities.
The Artisan Pork Recipe is an all-natural, grain-free recipe that uses the highest-quality ingredients from restaurant suppliers.
Every ingredient in this formula is chosen with a specific function in mind. For example, the flax contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and lustrous hair. The superfoods (blueberries, cranberries, and apples) offer naturally-derived nutrients.
Like all Grandma Lucy’s recipes, these are freeze-dried. The freeze-dried food only requires warm water to be added to the mixture before feeding.
It’s a no mess and convenient way to feed pups on a daily basis, requiring no refrigeration of the dry mixture.
Based on 159 reviews, the bulk of customers happily recommend the diet to anyone. Many are pleased with the premium ingredients and the fact that their pups (who have allergies or intestinal issues) are doing well on the diet with no further upsets or flares.
The few negative scores come from purchasers whose picky pups did not find the food pleasing.
There are no fillers in the food and the list of ingredients is quite short. If you’ve got a pet that is sensitive to many types of food, it’s easy to search the list for possible problem ingredients.
This recipe is very suitable for pets who have poultry allergy. Made from USDA venison along with fresh veggies and fruits such as flaxseed, potato, apples, cranberries and blueberries.
This recipe features novel protein venison as its main ingredient. Because it uses a novel and singular animal protein, the diet is easily accessible to pups of all ages and breeds, even pups with sensitivities.
The food is rich in omega fatty acids that maintain healthy joints, hair, and skin. It has the right balance of meat, veggies, and fruits for a more holistic approach to nutrition.
The protein (28%), fat (15%), and fiber (7.6%) are all at optimal levels. Plus, there are guaranteed levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium too.
Only 68% of customers are happy with the recipe. Many pups that have been put on this diet do not lick their paws or scratch as much. Their stools have also become more regular and solid, coats are looking shinier, and best of all, dogs love it.
It might seem a little expensive at first glance, but since this does not contain any liquid (you have to add water for a nice consistency), what you’re getting is all product. A 10 lb bag will make 50 lbs of fresh food for your pup.
This grain and gluten-free, freeze-dried formula boasts pollock as its topmost ingredient. Suited for pooches who are highly sensitive, it also contains low glycemic chickpeas as additional protein source.
The Pureformance line of dog food is designed with ingredients that boost energy to give dogs that liveliness they need for all that walking, hiking, and daily adventure fun they do.
This particular formula makes use of pollock as its unique and only animal protein, and chickpeas, which is a low-glycemic legume that’s full of fiber, protein, and folic acid.
The recipe is crafted to be suitable for all dogs in any life stage as well as for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.
Despite the lone animal protein, the total minimum crude protein level of this food is 31%. That is quite high for dog food and it means that your pup is ready to take on any strenuous activity.
Because holistic nutrition is best for dogs, not only does this recipe concentrate on giving dogs the right amount of protein, but it also does not neglect giving them naturally-derived nutrients from fruits and veggies. There is a good amount of both here.
As for customer reviews, many like that this freeze-dried meal makes giving food that’s equal to a carefully-prepared home-cooked meal convenient and easy.
It’s healthier than most kibbles and can be easily brought with you on long trips, since it doesn’t need refrigeration. The consistency is also good (like fresh gravy) when mixed with water.
Features a unique protein source – rabbit. The Pureformance line from this company utilizes chickpeas instead of grains, they are low glycemic, rich in folic acid, fiber, protein, and lysine which is very good for the eyes and heart.
Some dogs need that extra burst of energy, whether they’re working canines or just highly active pooches. The Pureformance range offers them that bit of energy they need through a concentrated amount of high-quality proteins.
This unique recipe uses a single animal protein. In this case, it’s rabbit — a highly digestible and novel protein source that can be ideal for sensitive pups too.
Aside from being an excellent protein source (this recipe’s minimum crude protein content is an amazing 36%!), rabbit is also a low calorie and low cholesterol meat.
Since this is designed to be a holistic diet, the ingredients all have a specific purpose. The chickpeas are low glycemic sources of fiber, folic acid, and lysine.
The flax is for magnesium content, which is heavily involved in energy production at the cellular level. And so on.
Majority of the customers who bought this Grandma Lucy’s recipe recommend the diet, although some picky canines account for a few negative ratings.
Allergic dogs are said to be doing well on the food, and the premium ingredients are also something many are pleased about.
As for product, you get a whole lot more when you mix the food with water (per instructions) so it doesn’t come out expensive at all.
Grandma Lucy’s Organic range is certified kosher and features recipes that use only USDA organic ingredients.
The oven-baked treats are free of trans fat and hydrogenated oils. They also do not contain any artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors.
The Organic Pumpkin Recipe is low in protein but high on the other good things that matter, like vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. There is cane juice in it as a sweetener, so be careful in doling out the treats.
These treats are suitable for dogs of all sizes and ideal for canines with sensitive stomachs. Pumpkin is beneficial for digestive health, which will benefit those struggling with irregular bowel movement.
The texture of the snacks is hard and crunchy but you can easily break them off into smaller pieces if you have a small pup.
As for reviews, out of 698 of them, 82% recommend these snacks. Those who did not rate the treats favorably did so because of the sugar content. There is a lot of it, and we agree.
The second ingredient is cane juice (sugar) and the fourth, which is cane juice syrup is also another form of sugar. If you do give your pets these, do so very sparingly.
This protein-rich snacks are made with 100% USDA organic, whole chicken livers. It is also freeze-dried to lock in the freshness and nutrients as well as retain its flavor.
This is the ultimate snack to curb your pup’s cravings! These freeze-dried treats are crafted without compromise, using high-quality, single-source proteins: USDA whole chicken livers.
Unlike ordinary treats, these are carefully freeze-dried to lock in flavor and nutrients while delivering a light, satisfying crunch.
Serve them whole for a tasty reward or break them into smaller pieces for training—either way, your furry friend is in for a mouth-watering treat.
Plus, each batch comes in a convenient ziplock pouch to maintain freshness, ensuring every bite is just as delicious as the first!
What Types of Food Do They Offer?
Grandma Lucy’s offers freeze-dried, grain free foods designed to be rehydrated for palatability. Mouth-feel is very important for many dogs, so this allows dogs to feel like they’re eating home-cooked meals without the hassle of raw foods.
The recipes never use any artificial ingredients, colors, or flavors, and no cheap fillers such as corn or soy. They’re balanced with real meats and whole fruits and vegetables for a balanced meal.
There are four different lines you can use to make sure your dog will eat and receive nutrition suited to his individual digestive system.
Artisan
The artisan recipe uses simple ingredients designed to mimic the home-cooked meals you make for yourself. The recipes are single sources of whole protein with fruits and vegetables plus healthy fats for all-day energy. Plus, there’s a premix option if you need a base to add your own meat.
Artisan Recipes
Chicken
Pork
Lamb
Venison
Pre-mix
Pure-formance
The Pureformance line is a low glycemic recipe designed to support active dogs by releasing energy slowly throughout the day.
The recipes use whole proteins with plenty of fruits and vegetables for sources of vitamins and minerals. Chickpeas offer the basis of the recipe with plenty of fiber and slow release energy.
Pure-formance Recipes
Chicken
Lamb
Rabbit
Fish
Pre-mix
Macanna
Macanna makes use of superfoods to blend superior nutrition while reducing inflammation. These recipes are designed for more sensitive dogs who have trouble with digestion or itchy skin.
Foods like coconut, kale, hemp, and turmeric provide a holistic approach to healing the body and settling digestion.
Macanna Recipes
Beef
Salmon
Turkey
Pre-mix
Moxie
Moxie was a high-protein, freeze-dried dog food line designed as a convenient scoop-and-serve meal or mixer for pets of all life stages.
Its nutrient-dense recipes consisted of 93% protein, 6% fruits and vegetables, and 0% grains, making it a “keto-like” diet that supported overall pet health.
Offering all the benefits of a raw diet without the challenges, Moxie provided a wholesome and hassle-free feeding option. Unfortunately, this product line has been discontinued.
Treats
Grandma Lucy’s makes treats for pups too. There are two lines of dog treats available. One is called Organic Oven-Baked, while the other is the Singles range.
The Organic dog treat range features baked snack recipes that use only certified USDA Organic ingredients. And we mean all of the ingredients are organic, from the flour used down to the oil and herbs. The dog treat line is also distinct for its low protein formula and certified kosher status.
The brand’s Singles line, meanwhile, is just what its name implies. It uses a single ingredient only, so your pup will get a pure and healthy snack that works well with sensitivities.
Organic Recipes
Organic Pumpkin
Organic Blueberry
Organic Cranberry
Organic Apple
Organic Lemon Honey
Organic Banana & Sweet Potato
Singles Recipes
Chicken
Pollock
Sweet Potatoes
Liver (Chicken)
Tuna
Mahi
Recall History
Grandma Lucy’s has never been recalled. The company follows rigorous processes to ensure that the food is the highest quality and production is clean.
The company is present even during production, which is what contributes to their clean track record. In nearly 20 years, they haven’t had an incident, an impressive feat.
Customer Feedback
Many customers were very pleased with the health results of the food. Many liked that this was a way to switch their dogs to raw menus without the hassle of preparing the meals at home and storing them.
Freeze dried foods are shelf stable but reconstitute to a pleasing texture. The meals from Grandma Lucy’s are highly rated from customers, reaching nearly five stars for many of the recipes, and is highly rated by several trusted dog reviewers online.
What Customers Like and Dislike about the brand?
Customers with picky dogs often found that they had an easier time getting dogs to eat these recipes. They also liked that the foods are easy to store and don’t require room in the freezer. Many noticed a significant improvement in their dog’s health and well-being.
Some customers noticed that their dogs had trouble with gas after switching to the new food. It’s important that you transition dogs slowly to allow their digestive systems to adjust. Also, the cost of the food was prohibitive for some customers, especially with multiple dogs or large breed dogs. You may be able to offset the cost some because serving sizes will be smaller and you may not have as much reason to go to the vet once digestion and irritation settle.
Positive
“I raw feed all of my dogs. I have one dog that has a small intestinal disease & has a hard time absorbing & digesting food. He has allergies to MANY things & several proteins as well. I found that he reacts well to this food & can digest it too. I feed & rotate him on raw sources of rabbit, beef, green tripe, white fishes (things he can eat with no problems). Now. I have one more protein & food source to add to his limited arsenal of food choices.” Gayle, chewy.com
Negative
“I have been feeding this per the instructions on the bag and my two Frenchie’s are losing weight rapidly. I have supplemental wet dog food to get their weight back up to where it needs to be. The price of this product and the quantity it needs in order to maintain a healthy weight is a little much.” Sophie, chewy.com
All in all
Grandma Lucy’s is a brand that stays true to its mission of providing high-quality, minimally processed pet food.
Their freeze-dried recipes use premium ingredients, including whole meats, fruits and vegetables, to deliver a nutritious and flavorful diet for dogs of all life stages.
With a commitment to grain-free and limited-ingredient formulas, they cater to pets with food sensitivities while ensuring balanced nutrition.
While their food offers the benefits of a raw diet without the hassle, freeze-dried meals can be more expensive than traditional kibble.
However, for pet parents looking for wholesome, human-grade ingredients in an easy-to-serve format, it remains a trusted choice in the world of natural pet nutrition.
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Noreen possesses a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from Informatics International College. While this credential might not elucidate her passion for pets, it does demonstrate her technical expertise and diverse character.
Founded In: 1999
Founded In: 1999
