Are you a hunter? One of the crucial things that you need for your excursions to be successful is a hunting dog.
They are the elite athletes in the canine world, and you need to feed them on the right diet. So, what is the best food for hunting dogs?
The hunting dog meal that you select should contain a rich blend of essential nutrients to keep the canine’s bones strong, immune system healthy, and digestive system highly efficient.
However, choosing the perfect option for your four-legged canine can be challenging because of the extensive collections in the market.
We went into the market, identified the best dog food for hunting dogs, and reviewed them. Keep reading to discover the perfect one for your pooch.
Table of Contents
The Best Dog Food For Hunting Dogs Are:
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food |  Top Pick |
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| 2. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Dog Food |  |
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| 3. Solid Gold Wolf King Dog Food |  |
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| 4. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Premium Dry Dog Food |  |
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| 5. Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance Dry Dog Food |  |
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| 6. Canidae Grain Free Pure Dry Dog Food |  |
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1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food — Best Hunting Dog Food
Winning the first position in our list is this Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food from Blue Buffalo, a meal formulated to satisfy the natural hunter in your dog.
Like a wild wolf, your dog craves for real meat to build lean muscles and power the sprints that you need when hunting. The meal is also tasty, and most canines love it.
The main ingredient used to prepare the food is protein, which is sourced from deboned chicken and chicken meal.
It also contains other easy-to-digest protein sources, including peas and fish meal that help to supply a wide range of amino acids.
The rich combination has made the food one of the top recommendations by vets and pet dieticians.
Apart from high-quality amino acids, your hunting dog should also have strong bones, claws, ligaments, and cardiac system.
This is why Blue Buffalo used a wide range of minerals and vitamins. Other ingredients that make this dog food stand out include loads of antioxidants that help to clear free radicals from the body, and taurine for strong eyesight.
Specs
- Proteins: 34% (minimum)
- Fat: 15% (minimum)
- Fiber: 6% (Maximum)
- Moisture: 10% (maximum)
- Omega-6 fatty acids: 2.75% (minimum)
Pros
- Grain-free recipe formulated particularly for a hunting dog
- A rich blend of antioxidants and vitamins for a strong immune system
- Balanced with vitamins, minerals and quality carbs for whole-body health
- Enriched omega fatty acids
- Free from corn, soy, wheat, or artificial preservatives
Cons
- Not very good for sensitive stomach
2. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Your hunting dog is your lead in the wild, giving you the perfect option to drive the target game to your trap or shooting range.
This L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Food from Natural Balance is formulated to help your hunting dog deliver its mandate excellently.
The grain-free diet is developed with a set of limited ingredients for sensitive dogs and turning the canine into the perfect hunter.
The food contains single-sourced protein derived from salmon, which supplies all the proteins needed for strong lean muscles.
Furthermore, it is enriched with sweet potatoes that supply quality carbs, dietary fibers for good digestion, and calcium for bone development.
Other ingredients that make the food awesome for your canine include vitamins, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and omega fatty acids.
We also liked the food because it is free from preservatives and food colors that can result in allergic reactions.
Also, the food is free from wheat, corn, or grains, allowing your dog to enjoy strong health and have fun when you go out hunting.
Specs
- Proteins: 21% (minimum)
- Fat: 10% (minimum)
- Fiber: 4.5% (maximum)
- Moisture: 10% (maximum)
- Omega fatty acids: 2% (minimum)
Pros
- Prepared with real salmon as the primary source of proteins
- Made to provide nutrition, quality and taste that your hunting dog deserves
- Balanced with quality vitamins and omega fatty acids for strong dog immunity
- Good for both small and large dog breeds
- Does not contain peas, lentils or corn
Cons
- Not certified as organic
3. Solid Gold Wolf King Dog Food
Next on our list is this Wolf King Bison, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Dog Food from Solid Gold, which is prepared to energize your doggie when working or hunting outdoors.
We liked the formulation because it also helps to keep your hunting dog happy.
The first ingredient used to prepare this food is bison meat, which is rich in amino acids for building lean muscles that a hunting dog requires.
The food is also rich in calories derived from proteins, sweet potatoes, and brown rice to keep your dog energized during outdoor activities and hunting.
When preparing this food, Solid Gold went a notch higher and included probiotics that help to promote the right environment of your dog’s gut.
In every pound of this food, your dog gets 90 million probiotics, meaning that it will digest the food easily and absorb the bulk of the nutrients.
Specs
- Proteins: 22% (minimum)
- Fat: 9% (minimum)
- Fiber: 4% (maximum)
- Moisture: 10% (maximum)
- Vitamin E: 100 IU/kg (min)
Pros
- The food is prepared for large hunting breeds
- Rich in essential proteins and balanced with vitamins for whole-body health
- Enriched with omega fatty acids and fibers for a strong immune system and healthy skin
- No corn, wheat, or soy
Cons
- Might not be suitable for dogs with urinary tract problems
- Not good for small hunting dog breeds
4. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Premium Dry Dog Food
Prepared with roasted bison as the primary ingredient, Taste of the Wild is one of the best dog food for active dogs.
The food contains optimal levels of protein, vitamins, and everything that your hunting doggie needs to develop strong muscles.
The high-quality proteins are combined with vitamins and minerals that help to make your dog strong and healthy.
Furthermore, it contains quality fruits and veggies that supply fibers for a healthy digestive system.
Because the food is free from artificial flavors, fillers, or preservatives, it is considered a great option for dogs with digestive disorders.
Another outstanding thing about this food is that it is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and vitamin C for strong skin and a good immune system.
The minerals are also balanced well to help strengthen your hunting dog’s muscles and ligaments.
Specs
- Proteins: 22% (minimum)
- Fat: 9% (minimum)
- Fiber: 4% (maximum)
- Moisture: 10% (maximum)
Pros
- Prepared with real meat from bison and ocean fish meal that are rich in quality proteins
- Enriched with useful probiotics for a healthy digestive system
- Contains high-quality vitamins and antioxidants needed for a strong immune system
- Has loads of omega six fatty acids
- Free from corn, soy or artificial preservatives
Cons
- Only recommended for highly active pooches
5. Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance Dry Dog Food
Let us face it – what does a hunting dog require? Vets and pet nutritionists will tell you that it needs strong muscles, good eyesight, and cognitive abilities to follow your orders, and this Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is formulated to deliver all of that.
From the ingredient mix to food enrichment, this meal contains everything that you would look for in a premium dog food.
The food is prepared with high-quality protein that helps to build strong lean muscles and keep your dog strong.
With salmon as the main source of proteins and whole-grain corn supplying bulk of the calories, this food helps to promote endurance by about 30%. We found this enough to power your dog even on long hunting sessions.
The combination of amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants further help to keep the dog’s metabolism and immune system strong.
You will also like the food because it is rich in DHA and EPA omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, essential vitamins, and selenium, which help with cognitive development and good eyesight.
Specs
- Protein: 30% (minimum)
- Fat: 20% (minimum)
- Fiber: 3% (maximum)
- Moisture: 12% (maximum)
- Vitamin E: 500 IU/kg (minimum)
Pros
- Rich in proteins that help to promote strength and endurance
- Optimized for oxygen metabolism
- Enriched with minerals and vitamins
- Contains omega fatty acids
- Rich in glucosamine for healthy mobility
Cons
- Contains corn gluten
6. Canidae Grain Free Pure Dry Dog Food
Who does not like turkey and chicken? Even the hunting dogs do, which is why this Canidae prepared this Grain-free pure Dry Dog Food with chicken meal and turkey as the first ingredients.
It is a vet formulated meal that works well in dogs of all stages, meaning you will not need to look for separate food for different hunting canines. The flavor is also lovely, and our dogs looked forward to every meal.
What makes this dog food outstanding is that Canidae made it pretty easy and nutritious for your canine’s digestive system.
In addition to premium proteins that help build lean dog muscles, the meal is complete with vitamins that help your dog fight common ailments.
To make it easy for your dog to extract most nutrients from the food, it is loaded with probiotics, fibers, and antioxidants.
It is also free from wheat, soy, and artificial additives, which is why most pet nutritionists recommend it for dogs with sensitive stomachs and other allergies.
Specs
- Proteins: 24% (minimum)
- Fat: 14.5% (minimum)
- Fiber: 4% (maximum)
- Moisture: 10% (Maximum)
- Omega-6 fatty acids: 3.7% (minimum)
Pros
- Prepared with high-quality proteins from turkey, lamb, chicken and fish meals
- Contains omega fatty acids and antioxidants
- Contains essential vitamins and minerals for strong bones and ligaments
- Free from allergens like soy, wheat, and corn
- Suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds
Cons
- Expensive
Buying Guide
A hunting dog can be considered the equivalent of the best human athlete, and the food you give it is very important in maintaining top performance.
Therefore, it is prudent to have a good feeding strategy, which ensures they only get the best nutrients to nourish their bodies.
So, when selecting the best dog food for hunting dogs, here are the things to guide you:
Proteins
Hunting dogs require a lot of proteins to build strong muscles, which will facilitate regular runs when hunting in the wilderness.
The best proteins should be animal-based because they have high-quality amino acids. If the food you select contains some plant-based proteins, over 50% should be animal-based.
Fat
Just like their cousins, such as coyotes, your dog would largely rely on meat for all its energy supply if it was living in the wild.
When it comes to energy, it should be sourced from fat as opposed to carbohydrates. So, check for the food that comes with high-fat content, which can power the dog for longer hunting sessions.
Like proteins, some dog food might also contain plant-based carbs, but they should only be in small quantities. Note that some plant-based carbs, such as sweet potatoes are better than grains like wheat.
Fibers
To help your dog’s intestines work efficiently, you should go for the food with high-fiber content. They help to promote good health of the digestive system and encourage the absorption of nutrients.
Enrichments
Other ingredients that make a dog meal for a hunting dog stand out are vital enrichment with vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids that help to strengthen immune systems.
Also, check for ingredients like taurine and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).
Final Thoughts
If you have hunting dogs, they need to be strong and energetic, making them perfect companions when out in pursuit of a kill.
The six pooch foods for hunting dogs we have reviewed above are the best you can get in the market.
They are rich in quality proteins, loaded with fats and useful enrichments, which help to turn your doggies into the best hunting “machines.”
Although the best dog food for hunting dogs that we discussed above are excellent (we loved them, really loved them), our favorite was Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food.
It is prepared with natural ingredients, including loads of quality proteins, and calories to power your hunting dogs.
