11 Best Raw Dog Food Brands for Australian Shepherds

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you purchase by means of hyperlinks on our web page, we might earn an associate fee at no additional value to you.

Many Australian Shepherd folks are turning to the most productive uncooked pet food manufacturers for Australian Shepherds for their puppy’s nutritional wishes. Kibble may well be the handy choice, nevertheless it regularly lacks the protein and vitamins that canines get pleasure from. Raw pet food is a nutrition that may lend a hand stay your Australian Shepherd in form whilst additionally interesting to choosy eaters.

However, switching to uncooked pet food calls for a little analysis to be sure you select a recipe that’s splendid for your Australian Shepherd’s wishes. Consider your Australian Shepherd’s weight, well being prerequisites, hypersensitive reactions, and personal tastes when deciding what sort of uncooked meals to get them.

What is Raw Dog Food?

“Raw dog food” generally describes any form of pet food that makes use of uncooked, raw components, reminiscent of meat, organs, bones, culmination, and greens. It’s designed to imitate the high-protein diets of your Australian Shepherd’s ancestors.

In the wild, it’s not unusual for canine to devour complete animals after looking them, bones and all. So, your Australian Shepherd’s ancestors ate meals that used to be excessive in protein with minimum carbohydrates. Dogs have modified so much since their time within the wild, however they nonetheless get pleasure from a nutrition that accommodates numerous actual meat.

Most Australian Shepherd folks feed their canines dry meals, which is excessive in carbohydrates to present it a crunchy texture and building up its shelf existence. Kibble regularly has extra carbs than canines are supposed to ingest, which can result in weight achieve and different well being issues in some circumstances. Thus, many Australian Shepherd folks at the moment are attempting uncooked pet food to present their domestic dogs foods which are upper in actual, nutritious animal merchandise.

Raw pet food is generally served in frozen or freeze-dried paperwork.

 Raw Dog Food vs. Fresh Dog Food

Fresh pet food is some other form of pet food that’s rising in recognition because of its excessive protein and high quality components. Both uncooked and recent meals comprise complete components, together with meat, culmination, and greens. However, the primary distinction is that recent meals is going via a cooking procedure whilst uncooked meals doesn’t.

If you’d somewhat serve your Australian Shepherd recent meals as a substitute of uncooked meals, take a look at the easiest recent pet food manufacturers.

Can You Make Your Own Raw Dog Food Recipes?

Yes, many Australian Shepherd folks select to create their very own uncooked pet food recipes as adverse to shopping for a logo. However, this may also be dangerous for those who don’t know what you’re doing. You’ll wish to be sure that your Australian Shepherd will get a correct stability of protein, fats, carbs, and vitamins. If you’re no longer assured you’ll be able to get ready that for your canine, you’ll be able to communicate to a vet or dog nutritionist for recommendation.

Even regardless that developing uncooked pet food recipes is difficult for newcomers, it permit you to really feel extra assured about your Australian Shepherd’s well being ultimately. You’ll know precisely what’s going into your Australian Shepherd’s foods, so you’ll be able to cater the ones components to suit your canine’s wishes, reminiscent of together with their favourite meals and apart from their hypersensitive reactions.

However, uncooked pet food manufacturers are in most cases more secure and extra handy for Australian Shepherd folks the usage of uncooked meals for the primary time. They’ll already supply a nutritionally-balanced meal for your bushy buddy, so there are much less dangers concerned.

Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds: Pros and Cons

Like all varieties of pet food, there are advantages and drawbacks to uncooked pet food. Here are some execs and cons to imagine.

Benefits of Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds

• Uses restricted, top of the range components
• Appeals to choosy eaters
• Improves digestion
• Reduces hypersensitivity signs
• Improves pores and skin and coat well being
• Leads to less assailable stools
• Assists with weight control
• Increases power ranges

Downsides of Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds

• It’s pricey
• Has a better possibility of spreading micro organism
• Can be more difficult to retailer
• Takes extra time to organize and serve

Best Raw Dog Food Brands for Australian Shepherds

Below are one of the crucial easiest uncooked pet food manufacturers for Australian Shepherds in the marketplace to lend a hand making a decision which one is your only option for your bushy buddy.

1. Darwin’s Natural Pet Products

Darwin’s is a subscription-based uncooked pet food logo for Australian Shepherds, making it one of the crucial easiest uncooked pet food supply products and services. Customers get started through filling out a questionnaire about their Australian Shepherd, after which, the corporate will counsel the most productive uncooked meals to suit their puppy’s wishes. The meals is auto-shipped on your door frozen for no further value. So, you’ll have to thaw it within the refrigerator in a single day prior to serving it on your canine.

There are 3 primary varieties of uncooked formulation: Natural Selections, BioLogics, and Intelligent Design. Natural Selections are made the usage of free-range meats and natural greens whilst BioLogic makes use of conventionally-sourced components at a extra reasonably priced value. Then, Intelligent Design has formulation catered to express well being prerequisites. There are many protein choices to be had, together with hen, duck, turkey, red meat, and lamb. Canine nutritionists helped formulate the recipes.

All of Darwin’s meals is excessive in animal protein, with over 70% protein in every meal. This meals can send national within the United States, however you gained’t to find it in any puppy retail outlets. Many Australian Shepherd folks love this logo as it gives balanced uncooked diets in easy-to-open programs. The best drawback is this meals is pricier than different standard uncooked meals manufacturers.

Benefits:

• Offers personalised feeding plans
• Variety of meal choices
• You can choose from other ingredient-sourcing choices
• Free transport on your door
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Recipes formulated with the assistance of dog nutritionists

2. We Feed Raw

We Feed Raw is some other pet food corporate that creates meal plans that cater on your Australian Shepherd’s wishes. All you must do is solution some questions on your Australian Shepherd, after which the corporate will counsel the perfect meals for them. During the questionnaire, the corporate takes under consideration your Australian Shepherd’s age, weight, breed, hypersensitive reactions, and present nutrition.

This corporate gives uncooked pet food in numerous proteins, together with hen, red meat, turkey, duck, lamb, and venison. All the formulation are created through a PhD animal nutritionist who has over 30 years of revel in within the business. The meals is all the time excessive in protein, so the primary 4 to 5 components come from actual animal merchandise. All the beef comes from animals raised on farms within the United States and New Zealand.

This corporate best makes use of USDA-certified and human-grade meats for its merchandise. The meals is distributed on your door at no further value. It may also be shipped to any of the 48 contiguous states. The meals ships chilly, and it could actually keep recent within the fridge for as much as 4 days. In the freezer, it could actually remaining for as much as six months.

Benefits:

• Offers personalised feeding plans
• Free transport on your door
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Only makes use of human-grade meats
• Formulated through PhD animal nutritionist
• iHeartDogs Offer: Save 20% for your first order

three. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Patties

If you’re no longer having a look to decide to a questionnaire or subscription to get uncooked Australian Shepherd meals, Stella & Chewy’s is a extra handy choice. Their uncooked meals comes within the type of freeze dried uncooked patties, which is helping give it an extended shelf existence whilst nonetheless retaining the vitamins of uncooked meals. The corporate gives all kinds of protein choices, together with hen, lamb, red meat, rabbit, red meat, turkey, and venison.

Since the meals is in patties, it’s clean to portion out your Australian Shepherd’s foods. You can serve the freeze dried patties as-is, however Stella & Chewy’s recommends rehydrating them to present your canine some added moisture. To rehydrate, you’ll be able to disintegrate the meals and upload a 1/four cup of water for each two patties. These patties can be utilized as complete foods, however many puppy folks use them as meals toppers as a substitute.

95% of the components comprises meat, organs, and bones. The recipes even have natural vegetables and fruit in them. The components used can get advantages pores and skin and coat well being, center well being, and digestion. The patties also are grain-free to cater to Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions. This corporate’s merchandise are bought in puppy provide retail outlets around the United States, and the meals is formulated in USA amenities.

Benefits:

• Easy to portion
• Easy to retailer
• Several tactics to serve
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Variety of choices

four. Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Meals

Instinct gives some other one of the crucial easiest uncooked freeze dried Australian Shepherd meals because of its comfort. It is available in small, freeze dried pellets which are concerning the dimension of kibble items. You can feed the items as-is or you’ll be able to combine them with heat water, which is perfect for ensuring your puppy will get sufficient moisture. These freeze dried items may also be served as complete foods or meals toppers.

85% of the components comprises meat, organs, and bones. Then, the remaining accommodates non-GMO culmination, greens, nutrients, and minerals. Despite having a look like kibble, this Australian Shepherd meals hasn’t ever been cooked and it’s minimally processed to keep the vitamins. All the pet food is made in USA kitchens. This meals comes with both red meat, hen, or lamb as the principle protein.

The freeze dried uncooked foods are the extra standard selection, however there also are frozen uncooked foods to be had. If you’re no longer able to modify totally to uncooked, Instinct additionally gives “Raw Boost” recipes, which might be kibble blended with freeze dried uncooked items.

Benefits:

• Convenient to retailer
• Several tactics to serve
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Other varieties of uncooked meals also are to be had

five. Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw

Open Farm gives all kinds of Australian Shepherd meals, together with dry, rainy, recent, and uncooked. Their uncooked pet food is freeze dried to show you how to retailer and serve on your puppy. Like different freeze dried choices, it may be used as a complete meal or a topper. Freeze dried uncooked meals may also be pricy, such a lot of puppy folks lower your expenses through blending it’s going to kibble.

The freeze dried items are concerning the dimension of kibble, so that they’re able to serve whilst you pour them out of the bag. If you’re anxious your Australian Shepherd isn’t consuming sufficient liquid, you’ll be able to combine heat water with the meals. Otherwise, ensure that blank water is available on your canine whilst they’re consuming.

There are six formulation to be had: surf & turf, grass-fed red meat, pasture-raised lamb, dwelling house turkey, harvest hen, and farmer’s desk red meat. Each recipe accommodates meat from humanely-raised animals, at the side of natural vegetables and fruit. On Open Farm’s website online, the supply of each component is indexed.

Benefits:

• Convenient to retailer
• Can be served in numerous tactics
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Lots of protein choices
• Lists component sourcing at the website online

6. Sojos Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food

Sojos’ uncooked pet food is designed to supply entire uncooked foods in a handy shape. Their recipes are splendid for Australian Shepherds of every age, sizes, and breeds. They recently have 5 formulation: turkey, red meat, lamb, hen, and senior turkey & salmon. They even have “Mix-a-Meal” recipes which are uncooked pet food toppers.

To serve this meals, you want to combine and measure the proper quantity of meals and water as directed at the bag. Then, you’ll let the meals soak within the water for 15 mins prior to feeding it on your Australian Shepherd. The preparation time is a bit of longer than it’s for different manufacturers, however the additional soaking is helping turn on the vitamins and enzymes within the meals. Every pound of Sojos pet food makes as much as 5 kilos of meals when rehydrated.

Sojos makes use of component lists which are “short and sweet” to steer clear of allergies in canines. The USDA-approved animal protein is paired with human-grade, air-dried vegetables and fruit. All the formulation are made in kitchens within the United States.

Benefits:

• Uses USDA-approved and human-grade components
• Rehydrating turns on the vitamins
• Variety of choices
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Easy to retailer

7. Wysong Raw Dog Food

Wysong gives a couple of several types of uncooked Australian Shepherd meals diets. Their unique uncooked nutrition is named Archetype, which is a bag of freeze dried uncooked pet food that must be rehydrated prior to serving. Some recipes of the Archetype meals additionally come within the type of burgers for shoppers that need better amounts. They additionally promote “UnCanny” rainy meals recipes, which might be designed to be blended with the Archetype formulation.

This logo’s uncooked meals is available in hen, rabbit, quail, and red meat. All choices are excessive in herbal protein and fats. They additionally comprise plant vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, nutrients, and minerals. These “Non-Thermal” uncooked pet food choices are designed to imitate your Australian Shepherd’s ancestral nutrition through specializing in excessive protein. The meals is best bought in small programs that keep vitamins, so it could actually make an ideal meals topper for those who don’t need to use it as a meal.

If you prefer this logo, however your Australian Shepherd isn’t a fan in their uncooked meals, additionally they have dry and rainy meals formulation. All the goods may also be ordered on-line or bought at choose puppy provide retail outlets.

Benefits:

• Various uncooked pet food choices
• Contains numerous vitamins
• Packaging preserves vitamins
• Good for Australian Shepherds with hypersensitive reactions
• Several tactics to serve it
• iHeartDogs Offer: 10% off wholesome meals with the code 10OFFWYSONG

eight. Primal Freeze Dried Raw Nuggets

Primal’s freeze dried uncooked pet food comes within the type of cushy nuggets. The nuggets make it clean to portion out foods for your Australian Shepherd in line with their weight. To flip the freeze dried items into wholesome foods, you’ll be able to disintegrate up the nuggets after they’re portioned and upload heat water, broth, or goat milk to it. You’ll combine the selected liquid with the meals to rehydrate it, making it extra nutritious and flavorful for your Australian Shepherd.

These freeze dried nuggets make nice complete foods or meals toppers. They are available in numerous protein choices, together with red meat, lamb, red meat, duck, venison, and rabbit. This corporate additionally gives some frozen uncooked choices.

All the components utilized in primal meals are sourced from sustainable ranchers and inspected through the USDA. In addition to high quality animal protein, additionally they have natural vegetables and fruit, at the side of non-synthetic nutrients and minerals. Overall, it is a handy selection for Australian Shepherd folks who’re new to uncooked pet food. However, some shoppers complained that the nuggets had been crumbled after they won them.

Benefits:

• Comes in numerous proteins
• Easy to portion
• Can be served in numerous tactics
• Packed with vitamins
• Easy to retailer and trip with

nine. Raw Wild LLC

Raw Wild is an internet uncooked pet food subscription carrier. The meals will send on your door in a Styrofoam cooler, and it must be saved within the freezer to keep its freshness. When getting ready to serve the meals on your Australian Shepherd, you must thaw it within the fridge in a single day. You can get a cut price for those who order the trial for the primary time.

All of Raw Wild’s meals is constructed from wild elk and deer. Over 99% of the meals comprises meat and bones from wild animals. The corporate selected to not come with organs as a result of they didn’t need to upload organs that might doubtlessly contaminate the wild meals. The remainder of the meals is made up of crucial nutrients and minerals.

Raw Wild is a bit of pricier than many different uncooked pet food manufacturers as a result of they’ve a restricted inventory since all of the meat comes from wild animals. They hand-pack and hand-inspect each product to verify it’s the perfect high quality. All the goods meet AAFCO requirements, and the beef is processed in a facility that still processes elk and deer for human intake. So, the criteria and stage of high quality are all the time excessive with this logo.

Benefits:

• Only makes use of meat from wild animals
• Over 99% of the meals is meat and bones
• Avoids organs to cut back the chance of contamination
• Subscription ships on your door
• Uses uncommon varieties of human-grade meat

10. Halo Meal Bites Freeze Dried Raw

Halo Freeze Dried Raw Meal Bites was known as TruDog Feed Me Freeze Dried Dog Food. The branding modified in July 2022. Even regardless that the title and packaging are other, the meals nonetheless has the similar nice recipe and style. The corporate freeze-dries uncooked components into crunchy pellets to fasten within the herbal vitamins and flavors.

The meals may also be served as-is, however the corporate recommends rehydrating it to present your Australian Shepherd additional moisture. If you don’t rehydrate the meals, ensure that your puppy has get entry to to scrub water. The first a number of components of the meals are animal meat and organs, at the side of nutrients and vitamins. Looking on the component record may no longer sound interesting to you, nevertheless it’s wholesome and mouth-watering for Australian Shepherds.

You can choose from red meat, turkey, whitefish, or turkey & duck recipes. Some Australian Shepherd folks aren’t keen on this meals as it has sturdy odors, however that implies that it generally pursuits choosy eaters.

Benefits:

• Convenient to retailer
• Locks in herbal vitamins and flavors
• Multiple tactics to serve
• Appeals to choosy canines
• Good for canines with delicate stomachs

11. Raw Paws Pet Food

Raw Paws has the most productive selection with regards to uncooked pet food. They be offering uncooked meals recipes in patties or ground-up. They have merchandise with and with out vegetables and fruit, they usually even be offering uncooked meat by itself. So, you’ll be able to both order pre-made uncooked recipes or you’ll be able to order more practical merchandise and upload components to them to create customizable foods for your Australian Shepherd.

They be offering hen, red meat, turkey, salmon, lamb, goat, and venison merchandise. So, there are many merchandise to make a choice from without reference to your Australian Shepherd’s personal tastes. Most of the meals must be saved within the freezer, after which you’ll be able to thaw it within the refrigerator whilst you get ready for your canine’s upcoming foods. There are a number of uncooked deal with choices too. The meals can all be ordered on-line and shipped on your door. It’s no longer to be had in any puppy provide retail outlets.

The vast choice of uncooked pet food merchandise may also be overwhelming for new shoppers, nevertheless it permits you to select the one who is easiest for your Australian Shepherd. All the goods use components sourced from “responsible and ethical farms.” One of the most productive portions of this corporate is they send the goods temporarily so that they don’t thaw all through transport. US orders put on weekdays send out at the identical day, and weekend orders send out the next Monday.

Benefits:

• Wide number of merchandise are to be had
• Fast transport
• Full foods, portions of uncooked foods, and treats to be had
• Good for choosy eaters
• Offers loose meal plans

Transitioning Your Australian Shepherd to Raw Dog Food

It’s all the time a good suggestion to do a steady transition when switching your Australian Shepherd to a brand new meals as it is helping save you tummy troubles. Transitioning is particularly necessary when there’s a drastic alternate in nutrition, reminiscent of from kibble to uncooked pet food.

Here’s our beneficial transitioning procedure:

• Days 1 to three: Serve 80% previous meals with 20% new uncooked meals
• Days four to 7: Serve 50% previous meals with 50% new meals
• Days 7 to 14: Serve 20% previous meals with 80% new meals
• Day 15: 100% new meals

Since uncooked meals is way other than dry pet food, it’s easiest to have a sluggish transition. It must take no less than one to 2 weeks prior to you feed your Australian Shepherd a 100% uncooked nutrition. If you already know your canine is delicate to new meals, you could need to make the transition much more slow. It’s higher to be secure than sorry with regards to your Australian Shepherd’s well being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some not unusual questions canine folks switching to uncooked meals ask.

Are Raw Dog Food Diets for Australian Shepherds Safe?

Yes, uncooked diets are secure for Australian Shepherds, so long as they supply a balanced nutrition. Australian Shepherds have shorter digestive tracts and better acidity of their digestive techniques, permitting them to tolerate micro organism higher than people. So, so long as you select a logo with a perfect stability of components and observe via with a steady transition, your Australian Shepherd might be not likely to stand problems.

How Will Raw Food Change My Australian Shepherd’s Stool?

Once a Australian Shepherd will get used to a uncooked nutrition, their stool will probably be smaller and less assailable. However, all through the transition duration, you could understand unfastened stool as their frame adjusts to the brand new nutrition.

Can Australian Shepherds Get Salmonella From Raw Chicken?

Yes, canines can get Salmonella from uncooked meals, however canines can care for a better stage of micro organism than people can. So, uncooked pet food poses a larger possibility for people than it does for Australian Shepherds. To save you the unfold of micro organism, all the time wash your fingers and the rest the uncooked meals touched after getting ready your canine’s foods.

Are Bones in Raw Dog Food Dangerous?

No, uncooked bones are really useful for your Australian Shepherd’s well being. They don’t splinter the best way cooked bones do, so that they’re more secure to devour. However, uncooked bones aren’t beneficial for domestic dogs underneath six months as a result of their enamel aren’t sturdy sufficient to bite them.

Can Dogs With Allergies Eat Raw Food?

Yes, uncooked pet food is in most cases higher for canines with hypersensitive reactions as it has fewer components. So, it’s more uncomplicated to stay monitor of what components your Australian Shepherd is consuming so you’ll be able to steer clear of possible allergens.

Can You Switch Between Meat Sources When Serving Raw Dog Food?

Yes, as soon as your canine has transitioned to a uncooked nutrition, you’ll be able to transfer between meat assets frequently. Using numerous meat assets is superb for your Australian Shepherd’s well being and assists in keeping them within the meals, so long as you don’t use meat they’re allergic to.

Why Isn’t Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds More Popular?

The selection of Australian Shepherd folks the usage of uncooked diets is expanding, nevertheless it’s no longer very talked-about for a couple of causes. The greatest explanation why is value. Numerous Australian Shepherd folks aren’t ready to devote additional time and money to getting ready pet food, so sticking to kibble is the better selection. Also, many puppy folks are blind to the advantages and the number of choices with regards to uncooked pet food.

Australian Shepherd folks having a look to check out uncooked meals with out short of to modify the meal solely can check out uncooked meals toppers.

Is Raw Dog Food Right for Your Australian Shepherd?

If you’re having a look for a more fit nutrition for your Australian Shepherd, the most productive uncooked pet food manufacturers must be regarded as. Raw pet food may also be nice for choosy eaters or canines who aren’t getting sufficient vitamins of their present diets. However, uncooked meals may also be pricy and might take extra time to organize for your canine, so it’s no longer for everybody. If you don’t need to must stay your canine’s meals chilly, you’ll be able to decide for a few of the most productive dehydrated uncooked pet food for more uncomplicated garage.

No subject what logo you select, the most productive uncooked pet food nutrition can lend a hand your Australian Shepherd have a more fit way of life. Any of the manufacturers in this record are nice choices to modify to, so long as you supply a steady transition.

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you purchase by means of hyperlinks on our web page, we might earn an associate fee at no additional value to you.