rabbit.reviews

The Best Grain Free Dog Foods

Updated April 2026·Experts: Healthline, CNET, Good Housekeeping · Community: Dogowners, rawpetfood, DogFood (u/whiskey522)

Best Overall Grain-Free

Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dog Food

$55-$75 (30 lb bag)

If your dog genuinely needs grain-free due to a sensitivity, Taste of the Wild is the go-to, it's been around long enough to have a real track record and owners in forums consistently report improved digestion and coat quality.

What holds up

  • Novel protein sources (bison, venison, salmon) good for dogs with common protein allergies
  • No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial additives
  • Multiple formulas for different life stages and protein preferences
  • Widely available at pet stores and online at a competitive price per pound

What to know

  • Contains legumes (peas, lentils) which the FDA has flagged in connection with DCM heart disease risk
  • Not backed by the same level of feeding trial research as Hill's, Purina, or Royal Canin
  • Some Reddit users report soft stools when switching, requiring a slow transition
From the community
Only switch to it if your dog has an allergy or sensitivity to grains. I had 2 yorkies previously who were extra sensitive to grains which would cause diarrhea so had to switch.
r/DogownersView source
From the community
hey! i feed my dog half raw and half kibble (he's half gsd half lab). i have my boy on taste of the wild but i've been reading about grain free/high legume being bad.
r/rawpetfoodView source
View at Amazon
Read the full breakdown →
Best Grain-Free Fresh FoodThe Farmer's Dog

The Farmer's Dog

$60-$360/month

For dogs with genuine grain sensitivities who also struggle with kibble, The Farmer's Dog is the cleanest solution, real food, no mystery ingredients, and the personalization means you're not guessing on portions.

What holds up

  • Human-grade ingredients prepared in USDA-certified kitchens with no preservatives
  • Fully personalized meal plan based on breed, age, activity level, and sensitivities
  • Naturally grain-free without heavy legume substitutes
  • Eco-friendly packaging, ships frozen, ready to serve

What to know

  • Expensive, $2 to $12 per day depending on dog size
  • Must be refrigerated or frozen; not convenient for travel or boarding
  • Some Reddit users report it caused pancreatitis in their dogs
Expert verdict
The Farmer's Dog creates a personalized profile and diet for your dog based on breed, age, activity level, ideal weight and sensitivities. The service also makes adjustments to your dog food plan as needed.
CNETView source
Expert verdict
Prepared in USDA-certified kitchens. No preservatives used, shipped frozen. The brand can also teach you to make your dog's food. Eco-friendly packaging.
Good HousekeepingView source
From the community
Farmers dog is bad. I've seen a lot of people say it gave their dogs pancreatitis. It's also not raw? It's cooked and then frozen and sent to you.
r/rawpetfoodView source
From the community
I started mine out on Farmer's Dog as well when I was still learning about all this and transitioned over to We Feed Raw and my shepherd is the happiest he has been in years.
r/rawpetfoodView source
View at Amazon
Read the full breakdown →
Best Grain-Free for Allergies

Open Farm Grain-Free Dog Food

$70-$100 (22-24 lb bag)

Open Farm is what serious grain-free feeders actually use, the sourcing transparency is unmatched in the kibble category, and it's one of the few brands that shows up in Reddit rotation lists from owners who've tried everything.

What holds up

  • Full ingredient traceability, every batch traceable to source farm or fishery
  • Multiple protein options including wild-caught salmon, pasture-raised beef, and turkey
  • No corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives
  • Humanely raised and sustainably sourced proteins

What to know

  • Premium price point, one of the more expensive grain-free kibbles
  • Still contains legumes (lentils, chickpeas) which carry FDA DCM advisory concerns
  • Not as widely available in physical stores as Blue Buffalo or Purina
From the community
I rotate 5 different foods, and from those I mix 2 at a time one fish and one meat, half and half: Open Farm RawMix Front Range Grain-Free Dog Kibble, Wild-Caught Salmon Grain-Free Dog Kibble... Those are very few foods that don't cause soft stools for them.
r/DogFood (u/whiskey522)View source
From the community
Grain-free doesn't mean carb-free. I'm sure I've tried every dog food you can name, and like I said, even after 2, 3 months none of them solved the soft-stool issue.
r/DogFood (u/whiskey522)View source
View at Amazon
Read the full breakdown →
Best Grain-Free Raw

We Feed Raw

$100-$250/month

If you want grain-free without the legume DCM risk, raw is the cleanest path, and We Feed Raw is the most beginner-friendly commercial option that the raw feeding community actually trusts.

What holds up

  • True 80/10/10 prey-model ratio with no grain or legume substitutes
  • Multiple protein options to rotate (beef, lamb, turkey, duck, chicken)
  • Subscription delivery with pre-portioned patties for easy serving
  • Avoids the FDA DCM concern entirely, no peas, lentils, or chickpeas

What to know

  • Requires freezer space and advance planning for thawing
  • More expensive than kibble on a per-day basis
  • Raw feeding carries bacterial contamination risks that require safe handling
From the community
I use We Feed Raw for my 7 yr old GSD. I started mine out on Farmer's Dog as well when I was still learning about all this and transitioned over to We Feed Raw and my shepherd is the happiest he has been in years.
r/rawpetfoodView source
From the community
fully balanced commercial raw brands that are fairly accessible here in the US include Viva Raw, We Feed Raw, Omas Pride, Steve's.
r/rawpetfoodView source
View at Amazon
Read the full breakdown →
Best Grain-Free Budget Pick

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free

$55-$75 (24-28 lb bag)

Blue Buffalo Wilderness is the grain-free option you can actually find at Walmart or PetSmart tonight, it's not perfect (watch the legume content), but for accessibility and palatability it's hard to beat at this price.

What holds up

  • Real deboned meat (chicken, salmon, or duck) as the first ingredient
  • No chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors
  • Widely available at Walmart, PetSmart, Target, and Amazon
  • Multiple protein varieties and formulas for different life stages

What to know

  • Contains peas and legumes, carries the same FDA DCM advisory concern as other grain-free kibbles
  • Some owners report inconsistent batch quality and palatability issues
  • Not tailored specifically to small or large breed needs in all formulas
Expert verdict
Blue Buffalo now also has a grain-free variety. Blue Buffalo is available in various locations, including online, pet stores, supermarkets, and mass-retail chains.
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
On Amazon, it receives tens of thousands of five-star reviews, with many reviewers describing it as their dog's favorite.
Good HousekeepingView source
From the community
There are terrible heart consequences to going grain free. These are not reversible. DO NOT GO GRAIN-FREE!
r/DogownersView source
From the community
My vet has specifically said grain free isn't good for them unless there's a specific reason for it.
r/DogownersView source
View at Amazon
Read the full breakdown →