Why feed a grain-free diet? In recent years, pet parents became concerned with the amounts of wheat (which is a common allergen in dogs), corn (which is prone to mycotoxins), and soy (for several reasons) in dog food. This began a trend toward avoiding grains altogether. Legumes and sweet potatoes are an excellent alternative to grain, providing high-quality fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

Some dogs are sensitive to grains. If your dog exhibits symptoms such as chewing their paws or excessive scratching, they may have an allergy to grain. The only way to find out is to feed a hypoallergenic, grain-free diet for at least a month, avoiding all treats and other foods. This recipe does not contain meat or poultry, including chicken fat, or fruits and berries; this makes it significantly different than our other dog foods and a perfect starting point for determining what your dog is allergic to. Read more about feeding grain-free here.

This hypoallergenic grain-free recipe does NOT contain:

• corn
• wheat
• soy
• dairy
• beef (and is made in a certified beef-free facility)
• chicken
• by-products
• artificial colorings, flavorings, preservatives, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides
• GMO ingredients
• supplements, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, or yucca schidigera extract

Should you be concerned about feeding a grain-free diet? The FDA is currently investigating a link between grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs because there is an increase in the number of dogs being diagnosed with heart disease and some of these dogs are eating grain-free foods; however, there is no conclusive evidence of any connection. We think dogs benefit from a variety of meat, poultry, and fish proteins, as well as a variety of freshly-ground grains, legumes, fruits and berries. Read more about this FDA announcement.

Reasons to feed our grain-free food:

• The animal proteins are salmon and herring, which also supply high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Herring is a large sardine; we use herring meal so that your dog benefits from the entire fish just like we eat the entire sardine! And because herring are relatively small and near the bottom of the food chain, they don't accumulate contaminants that are so common in large, predatory fish. Furthermore, herring are plentiful and are not endangered!
• Provides natural sources of taurine; the amount as tested is shown below, as well as the amounts of cysteine and methionine (which dogs require to synthesize taurine).
• The only legumes are chickpeas and green lentils. Lentils are known for being uniquely high in protein and fiber, and also contain iron, folate, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamins B1, B3, B5, and B6. Chickpeas are a great natural source of fiber and protein, as well as lecithin, potassium, and vitamins A, B, and C, and can aid your dog's digestive system.
• We don't "split ingredients."
• This recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult).
• This recipe is complete and balanced for dogs of all life stages. "Complete" means it has all the nutrients that dogs of all ages require, and "balanced" means the nutrients are in the correct ratios.
• Our recipes are baked (not extruded) and you won't find a fresher kibble!

If your dog is not allergic to grains, and you prefer to avoid legumes or white potatoes until more information is available, we recommend you feed our Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe for Dogs or Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe for Dogs. None of our recipes contain wheat, corn, or soy.

Why feed puppy food? It's important to feed food formulated for puppies so that they get the proper amount of nutrients to support fast growth, but not too fast! It's especially important that large breed puppies don't grow too fast. AAFCO stipulates puppy food meet a different nutrient profile than adult food for important reasons.

Growing puppies eat a lot—as much as three times that of an adult dog! And puppies burn calories fast. Feed at least 3 times per day; feed smaller breeds hourly or have food available at all times. Refer to the feeding guidelines below for more information.

It's easy to rotate Pinto Canyon recipes! All of our dog foods have similar amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber, and they are all baked; after growth stops, you can feed our recipes interchangeably. No transition is needed when switching between Pinto Canyon dog foods.

All of our recipes are designed to be fed with Buddy Boost Probiotics.

You may wonder why our recipe doesn't include all the probiotics found in other pet foods. Our research and experience has taught us that probiotics are best kept separate from food — another reason why Pinto Canyon is unique and better! Read why it's best to have probiotics separate from food.

All of our Pinto Canyon recipes are slowly baked in our ovens at lower temperatures in small batches, just like you'd bake at home. This gentle process protects the vitamins and minerals and maintains the integrity of the ingredients while enhancing the aroma and taste. Ask your dog!