Here is my list for 2010. I base my recommendations on the report published annually by WDJ (Whole Dog Journal) – however I have my own criteria, as outlined below, as to which foods make MY list.

What criteria do I base my recommendations on?
1. Food contains no corn, wheat or soy. Grains limited in top 5 ingredients.
2. Company discloses where their food is manufactured.
3. Food contains a good amount of animal protein in the top ingredients (prefer a named meal as #1 or at least a named meat as #1 followed by a named meal in the top ingredients).
4. Food does not contain by-products.
5. Food does not contain synthetic Vitamin K (menadione).
6. Food does not contain ethoxyquin.
7. Food has only named ingredients.
8. Food does not contain gluten meals.
9. If food contains grains or fruits/vegetables, they are whole ingredients, not fragments.
10. Food does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, flavors or sweeteners.

If your food is not on this list, but passes the above criteria, then your food is likely fine. Should you have questions about an individual product, please feel free to email me and I will add it to this thread.

The listing contains the following information: Brand Name, Manufacturing Info, Company Website. These are not listed in order of preference, they are listed alphabetically.

Grain Free Dog Foods

• Addiction Foods – *Salmon Bleu and Viva La Venison ONLY* – [made by Taplow Ventures, Vancouver BC; Pied Piper, Hamlin TX; and Texas Farm Products, Nacogdoches TX] – www.addictionfoods.com
• Champion Pet Foods, *Acana Grain Free and Orijen* – [made in their own plant, BC Canada] – www.championpetfoods.com
• Diamond Pet Products, *Taste of the Wild* - [made in their three facilities in Lathrop CA, Meta MO and Gaston SC] – www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com (Best By date of May 15, 2011 or later ONLY)
• Firstmate Pet Foods, *Firstmate Grain Free* – [made in their own plant in Chilliwack BC Canada] – www.firstmate.com
• Fromm Family Foods, *4 Star Surf N Turf* – [made in their facility, Mequon WI] – www.frommfamily.com
• Horizon Pet Nutrition, *Horizon Legacy* – [made in their own plant, Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada] – www.horizonpetfood.com
• Merrick Pet Care, *Before Grain* – [made in their own plant, Hereford TX] – www.merrickpetcare.com
• Natura Pet Products, *EVO* – [made in their own plant, Fremont NE] – www.naturapet.com
• Nature’s Variety, *Instinct* – [made by Pied Piper Mills, Hamlin TX] – www.naturesvariety.com
• Petcurean Pet Nutrition, *Now! and Go!Natural Grain Free* – [made by Elmira Pet Products, Ontario Canada] – www.petcurean.com

USE CAUTION IN FEEDING GRAIN FREE FOODS TO GROWING DOGS! Many grain free foods (for instance, EVO) have calcium and phosphorus levels that are too high for growing giant pups. Feeding those foods can harm your puppy. So the general rule is steer clear of those foods until your dog’s growth plates have closed (usually around 2 years of age). If you have any questions, please email me for further information.