Redbarn Dog Food started its journey in Canada and has expanded over the years to include nine buildings for manufacturing and a plant in Paraguay.
The company’s founders created Redbarn out of their love for animals and produce high-quality foods that help dogs improve digestion and maintain vigor.
Redbarn has a wide range of products, but its mainstay is the famed Redbarn bully stick. You’ve probably seen those, but the brand’s foods could also be next on your list for your furry companion.
Let’s take a look at the recipes and see if they’re your next solution. Below is our comprehensive Redbarn Dog Food Reviews.
Brand Quick Look
Parent Company: Redbarn
Founded in: 1996
Made in: Kansas
Available at: Chewy, Amazon, Redbarn
Types of Food: Rolled, Canned & Dry Dog Food
Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
Recalled in Past? : No
Behind the Brand
Redbarn was started by two friends who played hockey together in Canada. After a few separate business ventures, the pair decided that their mutual love of animals made them the perfect people to start a new dog food company.
The company worked out of makeshift manufacturing facilities (i.e., their garages) for a while, but the pair soon relocated to California to be closer to the bulk of their customers. They expanded into a second build and then another until they were working out of nine buildings.
They began looking for a much larger facility, settling on a former plant in Kentucky with a built-in water system that helped return only clean water to the earth after manufacturing. Now, they manufacture all their recipes from this plant and use only manufacturing best practices to produce safe meals for dogs.
The company expanded recently into a bully factory in Paraguay to increase the quality of production. Having those types of connections allows the company to increase production without compromising quality.
Specially made for supplemental feeding only, this rolled food can be stored in a dry, cool place prior to opening. Made from real lamb and lamb organ boasting 50% protein content plus a blend of garden veggies and fruits for superior nutrition.
Lamb is a rich source of protein, and this roll is over 50% lamb. Whole lamb plus organ meat offers a dense source of protein and fats that can give your dog energy all day long.
Most dogs love the taste of lamb, and the roll has a pleasing, crumbly texture that can encourage even picky or senior dogs to eat everything.
Other ingredients include whole fruits and vegetables for essential vitamins and minerals. The recipe also includes a vitamin pre-mix to ensure balanced nutrition.
It does contain peas, which could make some dog owners nervous because of a suspected link to an enlarged heart, but peas don’t make it into the top five ingredients.
The rolls are convenient to store and serve. They’re shelf stable in a cool place until you’ve opened them so you won’t have to take up your entire fridge just to store your dog food. When you serve, you cube the portions, so there are no messy liquids that can cause spills.
Most dogs love the texture, and with the blessing of your vet, this could be a good option for puppies or seniors that have trouble chewing kibbles.
Overall, it’s a pretty good blend of ingredients from excellent sources. If you’ve been wanting something to spice up your dog’s meals or you need an option that isn’t a dry kibble, the rolls could be just the thing to get your dog’s diet back on track.
High-quality beef is the very first ingredient in every roll and accounts for over 50% of the entire recipe. Ideal for the dog with food sensitivities or allergies.
Beef is one of the most popular meats in dog foods and a favorite among canines. It’s the very first ingredient here, and it accounts for more than 50% of the recipe. Beef is a high-quality meat that contains all the essential amino acids your pup needs.
We like that the food contains a lot of meat, not only to give your pup enough energy to last him throughout the day but also to make the food more filling for him.
It doesn’t contain any veggies which we’d have liked to see, although it has flaxseed. Flaxseed contains a heavy load of magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamin B-6, and omega fatty acids.
It is formulated with a single protein only, which makes it ideal for pups who are sensitive to specific types of animal protein. So if your pet is not allergic to beef, then this food might be suited to him.
As for the food itself, the rolls have a dense texture that you can easily cut through to get the desired shape or size (if you want to use it as a training treat or to give to little pups), but it can crumble when pressed hard. There’s a smoky smell, so perhaps there’s a smoky flavor too.
With 784 reviews under its belt and 80% of reviewers saying they recommend the food, we know that this food is highly liked by dogs.
Looking at the ingredients, we can’t find any troubling ingredients either. We might wish for a little fruit or vegetable but that’s about it.
Highly versatile – can be used as a complete and balanced meal, a protein supplement to dry food, as a treat, training tool, or as an aid for administering medications.
This recipe is Redbarn’s answer to dogs who are sensitive to grains but who would benefit from the brand’s meaty diet. Unlike the other formulations for Redbarn’s meat rolls, the Grain-Free Chicken Roll uses sweet potatoes and peas in place of grain ingredients.
There is no need to worry about the amount of legumes or sweet potatoes in this diet. The different chicken meats in this food make up over 50% of the total diet.
Even if you see chickpeas in the top five ingredients, the volume of legumes doesn't overwhelm the meat.
Unlike its beef counterpart, this Chicken Roll contains vegetables but no corn, wheat, grain, or soy to cause any allergic reaction or digestibility problems in sensitive pups.
However, it does contain sucrose, which is a form of sugar. The brand explains that it uses sucrose to preserve the meat naturally but there shouldn’t be enough of it to place in the top five.
The texture of the food is soft, although some reviewers say that it is also crumbly and quite dry.
The non-gooey texture makes it easier to feed as a training treat, to bring on travels, or to place on top of regular dog food as a topper. For main meals, it can be a bit too dry, which may turn some pups off.
Out of 82 reviews, only 62% recommend the food, mostly because of the texture. We have found no problems with the ingredients except for one — the sucrose.
While it enhances palatability and helps in preserving food, sucrose can also contribute to tooth decay, hyperactivity, or obesity in your pup.
Taking the customer reviews and the ingredients into consideration, we give this recipe a passing mark.
Every dog has an inner wolf that loves prey animals, yes, even the sensitive pups. This Redbarn stew recipe provides dogs with game bird meat with its star ingredient — quail. Quail is not often seen in dog food, making it a novel protein that may suit your sensitive pet.
If you haven’t encountered quail in dog food yet, it’s one of several options that’s being billed as alternative animal proteins.
Quail is a relatively lean and low-calorie option for canines but high in essential nutrients, especially phosphorus and iron, both of which play a big role in muscle development.
The recipe is meaty with quail making up a huge bulk of the meal. Peas, carrots, and dandelion greens only act as support to provide naturally-sourced nutrition and a more wholesome flavor to the stew. There are also superfoods included, such as turmeric and salmon oil, which supports healthy skin and a lavish coat.
Currently, there are only three customer reviews for this formulation on Chewy, all giving it a perfect 5-star rating. However, this product has sadly been discontinued.
They highly recommend the food because it’s a non-chicken diet (sensitive pet owner) that’s lean and healthy and also because it looks and smells appealing, unlike other dog food. It’s also reportedly easy to transition to as well.
Each scoop of this dry recipe contains carefully selected functional ingredients. With added omega 6 and 3 fatty acids from salmon oil and flaxseeds help support healthy skin and a beautiful, shiny coat
This meal is a fish feast for pups. It’s a functional diet that is headlined by five kinds of fish proteins to provide your canine with a beautiful coat and healthy skin.
Fish is an excellent source of omega fatty acids, and these ocean fish are particularly oily, meaning they contain an abundance of omegas. Not only that, because the first five ingredients are fish, the protein content of the meal is at a high 27% minimum.
A few healthy grains like oatmeal, brown rice, barley and millet provide the carbohydrate content. There are probiotics, prebiotics, and miscanthus grass to aid your dog’s digestion. Dried pumpkin and supplemental vitamins and minerals provide all the required vitamins and minerals.
100% of reviewers recommend this food to other pet owners. According to reports, picky dogs have no problem licking their bowls clean. Even pups who are mostly fed raw diets don’t hesitate to eat this fishy diet when offered.
We’d have to give this superb diet our top marks for scoring high in customer feedbacks and containing nothing but premium quality ingredients.
This grain-free recipe help support your dog’s overall health, wellness, and longevity into their senior years. With pumpkin, prebiotics, and probiotics help support healthy digestion.
Combining three types of land animal proteins and filling in the first five slots of the list wholly with meats, this recipe promises to make meat-loving canines extremely happy.
The diet is functional too since it supports a healthy digestive system and contains guaranteed levels of methionine, l-carnitine, and taurine (for heart health).
Instead of grains, the formulation uses potatoes, garbanzo beans, peas, and sweet potatoes to provide the necessary carbohydrate content.
Now there’s no need to worry about DCM (legumes and potatoes have been linked with DCM occurrence in dogs) because these ingredients only play a supporting role and are not considered the main ingredients here.
Because of the high volume of meats included, the protein level of the food is also high at 16% minimum. There are also guaranteed levels of vitamins, omega fatty acids, and probiotics in the meal.
Out of the 50 people who reviewed this product, 96% recommend it. So far, there are no negative reviews and only one 3-star rating.
Many are happy that their pets’ coats seem healthier and shinier. Dogs also love the taste and don’t have to be given toppers to finish their doggie bowls.
Because we’ve reviewed the label and did not see any problematic ingredients, nor seen any bad feedbacks (all feedbacks were glowing), we highly recommend this recipe for your pet too.
Packed with meat in the first five ingredients, this recipe has guaranteed methionine, taurine & l-carnitine to support heart health and vitamins A & E help support a healthy immune system.
If your dog loves poultry meat, he’ll find great satisfaction in the Whole Grain Sky recipe. It’s packed with meat in the first five ingredients and there are three kinds.
Each scoop of kibble contains functional ingredients like prebiotics and probiotics for digestion; omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for shiny coats; and taurine, methionine, and l-carnitine for heart health.
High-quality grains like barley, oatmeal, brown rice, milo, and millet are used to supply the carbohydrate content of the food. Carbs are the first used-up macronutrient (fat and protein come next) when dogs need energy, so it’s an essential part of any dog food diet.
The crude protein level of this recipe is at a minimum of 26%, which is considered at the upper end of average. The menhaden fish meal, which isn’t included in the first five ingredients, also lends its protein support.
93% of consumers gave this diet a 5-star rating, while the rest gave it a 4-star. Most are happy that their pups love the taste and flavor of this diet, but some are pleased that their pets’ digestive issues have cleared up with the Whole Grain Sky Recipe.
We’re happy with the selection of ingredients here. Even the grains used are high-quality and not the cheap ones like brewer’s rice, which are found in many other dog food diets.
And based on many feedbacks, the dogs are thriving on this diet. We’re giving it top marks.
All-natural cowhide is coated in their secret bully gravy and then slow roasted to lock in all that irresistible flavor. This irresistible treat keeps your pup entertained for hours and helps reduce boredom and anxiety.
Dogs love to chew, and the Bully Sticks provide them with natural but long-lasting treats they can nibble on. The food is made of beef rawhide packed with flavor from beef parts, fruits, and chicken cartilage.
The all natural cowhide is coated in the bully gravy for more flavor. It’s fully digestible and contains nutrients for joint health and mobility.
It does not contain grains or glutens. What it does have are dried cranberries and dried blueberries for their vitamin and mineral content.
The Bully Sticks are extremely popular with 605 reviews to date and a score of 4.4 stars out of 5. The reviews are mixed, although there are more favorable than negative. Dogs of all sizes are reported to enjoy the treats and will stay up all night just to chew.
On our end, however, we have to say that we are not in favor of rawhide treats for all dogs. In fact, rawhides are quite dangerous for some pets.
The chews may start out hard but constant chewing can give them the consistency of a bubble gum, which makes them an intestinal and choking hazard.
Dogs who are not heavy chewers should not have a problem with rawhide. But dogs who are strong chewers are particularly at risk since they may bite off a larger chunk which can then cause an obstruction in their esophagus or intestinal tract. The chunks won’t be broken down with the rest of your dog’s food and may even last for months in his stomach.
Since these treats carry such a risk, we can’t rate them high to be safe. (Also, the treats contain fructose as well as caramelized sugar, which are not ideal in food or in treats.)
This treat combines white, cut femur bones and a wholesome, peanutty mixture. Helps promote dental health, hard exterior helps clean teeth as pet chews.
Bones are natural treats that dogs love. They come with benefits too, such as preventing plaque buildup through chewing. Dogs that are chewing on bones are also less likely to excessively scratch or lick paws.
Redbarn made bone treats more interesting by filling beef bones with delicious stuffing that’s also filled with nutrients. Inside the beef bones are stuffings with peanut butter, chicken meal, and more.
According to reviews, the bones are very sturdy and can withstand lots of chewing. Once the filling is gone, you can refill them again with stuffing of your own choosing.
However, some have also said to watch the bones carefully. After a while of chewing, pieces of bone might break off which your pup could swallow.
As for us, we’re fine with natural bone chews. However, what we do not like is that the first filling ingredient is corn syrup. That’s just another form of sugar.
What's more worrying is that the fourth ingredient is also sugar. Dogs that frequently consume sugar on a regular basis are at risk for diabetes and obesity.
The recipe also contains artificial colors, which are not necessary. It has titanium dioxide and Yellow 6. Artificial colors do not benefit dogs. Their only purpose is to make the food more appealing to pet owners.
These natural cow hooves are cleaned, trimmed and stuffed with a tasty cheese n’ bacon filling – an irresistible, highly palatable treat your dog will absolutely love!
Cow hooves are durable and palatable treats that dogs like to chew on. This recipe is made of natural cow hooves that have been cleaned, trimmed and stuffed. The fillings are a tasty mixture of chicken meal and bacon bits with a cheesy flavor.
These chewy treats have 161 reviews on Chewy as of this moment with a rating of 4.2 stars out of 5. Many pet owners have reported that their pups love chewing on these. And once the fillings are gone, the hooves are easily refillable with canned food or other stuffing.
On our end, we’d like to caution customers about the treats. Hooves can be safe but it all depends upon your dog’s level of chewing.
Pieces that break off can be sharp and may be a hazard for your dog’s mouth and digestive tract. In fact, some of the reviews already tell of sharp pieces breaking off and lodging themselves into dogs’ mouths and gums.
If your pet is a strong chewer with powerful jaws, it might be best to steer clear of the hooves. If your pet can chew lightly without crunching down excessively, then these might be fine., although we personally wouldn’t take the risk.
Aside from the possible danger posed by the hooves, we also have to point out that the ingredients of the filling are not to our liking.
The main ingredient of the filling is corn syrup, which is sugar. There’s also another sugar ingredient in the fourth slot, which means you’re giving your pet a very sweet treat that might put him at risk for obesity.
Apart from the sugar, the treats also contain two other unsuitable ingredients. There are two artificial food colorings involved — Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.
What Types of Food Do They Offer?
Redbarn makes four types of dog foods along with their numerous treats. The company offers rolled, canned, dry, and air dried dog food choices.
Rolled: The “rolled” food or semi-moist food is a step between canned foods and kibbles, designed for convenience and taste. The brand’s rolled foods are single protein varieties and suitable for serving alone or as a supplement. There are grain-inclusive and grain-free choices.
Canned: Canned foods are also high-quality proteins that are suitable for solo or supplemental feedings. They’re formulated for all life stages, but you should check with your veterinarian before feeding your puppy, just to make sure the ingredients line up. As of this writing, all of Redbarn’s canned food are grain-free.
Dry: There are three basic recipes for kibbles that Redbarn offers. These are Land (3 types of meat), Ocean (5 types of fish), and Air (3 types of poultry). All of these have grain-inclusive and grain-free options.
A new line of food is also coming soon. Called Gently Air Dried Dog Food, these feature slow-cooked foods that are made up of 90% beef, chicken, or fish. The foods will be all-natural and grain-free and balanced with wholesome ingredients like flaxseed, salmon oil, and miscanthus grass.
All styles of foods provide balanced nutrition and all the building blocks for health and wellbeing. There are a range of proteins designed to help ease digestion and satisfy even picky dogs.
The foods use no artificial preservatives. There are no artificial colors or flavors that can encourage dogs to overeat or cause reactions.
The recipe uses no cheap fillers such as corn or soy which can also cause difficult digestion and skin irritations in dogs. Wholesome ingredients and whole meats are used for proteins, giving dogs energy all day.
In early 2018, some of Redbarn’s treats were recalled for possible salmonella contamination. The recall involved several lots of Redbarn Naturals Bully Stick, Naturals Steer Stick, Chewy Louie Bully Stick, Good Lovin’ Bully Stick, Good Lovin’ Steer, Good Lovin’ Prime Cuts, Dentley’s Bully Stick, and Good Lovin’ XL Bully.
The recall was limited to products that were distributed from March 2017-February 2018 with best by dates ending in “BC.”
No illnesses, injuries, or complaints were reported.
Customer Reviews
Customers love that Redbarn’s options are healthier and still premium without stressing their budgets. Dogs love the taste and texture of the rolls and respond really well to the canned options.
If your dog has a particular circumstance (joint issues, weight gain), you can still find a quality wet food that works for that situation without switching your dog to food it doesn’t like.
What Customers Like and Dislike about Redbarn?
Customers like the price of Redbarn a lot. It’s still a premium tier, but some of the options are better priced than other premium tiers. Also, there are so many options in protein sources and specific situations that it was easy for owners to find flavors their dogs liked.
Picky dogs could still get weight control options, for example, and none of the recipes use any kind of cheap filler, artificial ingredients, or unnamed meat meals and by-products.
Some dogs don’t always like the taste of specific proteins, so pet parents were stuck with some foods their dogs wouldn’t eat. Even when the food satisfies the majority of dogs, there will always be picky ones out there.
Some owners noted an increase in gas, which can happen with higher protein foods and some wet foods. Transition your dog slowly from the previous food to the new food to help ease digestion or change to a different protein source to help alleviate digestive issues. Most customers saw an improvement in digestion, however.
Customers really loved that the rolls were shelf stable until opened, making it so much easier to store them without having to take up the refrigerator. This is a unique feature of some rolled foods and one that’s a pleasant surprise for many customers.
Positive
“My 2 girls are both finicky eaters with semi-fragile digestive systems. I ordered the smaller packages of all 3 flavors for them to try as snacks. The lamb was the 2nd most loved. They had no problems with digesting this, no tummy upsets. This seems to have a perfect balance of moisture, not too dry, nor too wet.” Waninahi1, chewy.com
Negative
“My picky little dog said “no” to this. It was worth the try. Smelled a bit artificial. I don't know how to explain my dog's preferences.” Dm63, chewy.com
Final Say
This brand offers high-quality, natural ingredients with a focus on protein-rich formulas and limited fillers, making it a solid choice for pet owners seeking nutritious meals for their dogs.
Their unique recipes, including options like bully sticks and air-dried foods, provide variety and appeal. However, some of their products can be on the pricier side, and occasional discontinuations may disappoint loyal customers.
Overall, the company delivers reliable, premium nutrition, but availability and cost might be a consideration for some.
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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.
Parent Company: Redbarn
Parent Company: Redbarn
