By Theresa Gibilisco, owner, The Hungry Puppy
Taste of the Wild is one of the brands people ask me about most. Is it good? Is it worth it? Is it safe after all the grain-free news? Here's my honest take, with the facts checked against the company's own website and the FDA, so you can decide if it fits your dog.
The short answer
Taste of the Wild is a solid kibble with named meats at the top of the ingredient list, a good range of proteins and a probiotic in every dry dog recipe. It isn't perfect. Several recipes that sound like "bison" or "duck" also contain chicken meal, most of the line is grain-free, and the brand was one of the names that came up in the FDA's heart disease (DCM) reports. None of that rules it out, but you should know it before you buy.
Who makes Taste of the Wild
The company's FAQ says Taste of the Wild is a wholly owned brand of Diamond Pet Foods and that it is family owned. It's made in the USA in seven company plants: two in California and one each in Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kansas and Indiana.
The three dog food lines
- Grain-Free: High Prairie, Pacific Stream, Pine Forest, Sierra Mountain, Southwest Canyon and Wetlands, plus High Prairie Puppy, Pacific Stream Puppy and Appalachian Valley Small Breed. Canned versions come in gravy.
- Ancient Grains: Ancient Prairie, Ancient Stream, Ancient Mountain and Ancient Wetlands. These use grain sorghum, millet, quinoa and chia seed for people who want grains in the bowl.
- PREY limited ingredient: Angus Beef, Trout and Turkey. The company says each dog recipe is built around four key ingredients: the meat, lentils, dried tomato pomace and chicken fat.
If you want every recipe side by side with protein, fat and calories, see our Taste of the Wild formula comparison.
What I like about it
- Real meat first. The first ingredient is a named meat or fish: water buffalo in High Prairie, lamb in Sierra Mountain, salmon in Pacific Stream, duck in Wetlands, venison in Pine Forest.
- Probiotics in every dry dog recipe. Every dry canine recipe has the company's K9 Strain probiotics.
- Taurine added. The company says taurine is added to all of its recipes.
- Protein choices. Bison and venison, salmon, lamb, wild boar, fowl and venison with legumes give you real options for picky dogs or for rotating.
- Grain or no grain. The Ancient Grains line lets you stay with the brand if you or your vet prefer grains.
- Good protein levels. The dry dog recipes we checked run from 25 to 32 percent minimum crude protein.
- Bag sizes for every household. Most dry recipes come in 5, 14 and 28 lb bags. Cost per day varies by your dog's size and the bag you buy, so check the product page.
What you should know before you buy
Many recipes contain chicken
This is the one that surprises people. High Prairie lists water buffalo, lamb meal and then chicken meal. Wetlands and Ancient Wetlands both include chicken meal, and Ancient Prairie does too. Even the recipes without chicken as a main protein (like Pacific Stream, Sierra Mountain, Pine Forest and Southwest Canyon) contain "natural flavor," which the company says is derived from chicken. The PREY recipes use chicken fat. If your dog truly can't have chicken, talk to your vet before choosing any Taste of the Wild recipe.
Grain-free and the FDA heart disease reports
In 2018 the FDA started looking into reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain diets, many of them grain-free with peas, lentils or potatoes high on the label. In June 2019 the FDA published how often brands were named in those reports, and Taste of the Wild was named in 53 of them. The FDA also said report numbers alone do not show that a food caused the illness, and in December 2022 it said it would not post more updates until there is meaningful new science. Taste of the Wild says the FDA has not received enough data to establish a causal link. My advice: if your dog has heart concerns, or you're simply worried, ask your vet whether a grain-free or a grain-inclusive recipe is the better fit.
Recall history
The company's own FAQ notes a voluntary recall in 2012 and says there have been no recent recalls on any of its recipes. When I checked the FDA's pet food recall list on October 27, 2026, there was no Taste of the Wild recall listed.
It's calorie dense
The dry recipes we checked run about 408 to 445 calories per cup. Measure meals and adjust if your dog starts gaining weight.
Not every recipe is for puppies
Several adult recipes (High Prairie, Pacific Stream, Wetlands and Appalachian Valley Small Breed) are labeled for adult maintenance only. For a puppy, pick a recipe labeled for all life stages, and for a big-breed puppy look for the line about growth of large size dogs on the bag.
My recommendations
- Active adult dog that loves red meat: High Prairie or Ancient Prairie.
- Dog that does well on fish: Pacific Stream, or Ancient Stream if you want grains.
- Puppies, including large breeds: High Prairie Puppy or Pacific Stream Puppy. Both are labeled for all life stages including growth of large size dogs.
- Small dogs: Appalachian Valley Small Breed is made for small breed dogs.
- Want a short ingredient list: PREY Angus Beef, Trout or Turkey.
Switching to Taste of the Wild
The company recommends a gradual change over 7 to 10 days, starting with about 25 percent new food and 75 percent old food, then shifting the mix every few days. Go slower if your dog's stool gets soft.
How to get it from us
You'll find our full selection on our Taste of the Wild page, and some recipes are special order, so call us at 732-938-4470 if you don't see what you need. We deliver free on your town's route day, Tuesday through Friday, with a $20 minimum across Monmouth County and parts of Ocean, Middlesex and Mercer. Find your day on our local delivery page. We also ship free over $75 to the Northeast. If your dog won't eat an opened bag, our 100% satisfaction guarantee has you covered. Stop in Tuesday through Friday 9 to 7, Saturday 9 to 5 or Sunday 10 to 4 and we'll help you pick.
Taste of the Wild FAQ
Is Taste of the Wild a good dog food?
For many healthy dogs, yes. It has named meats first, probiotics and a wide choice of proteins. The main things to weigh are the chicken in many recipes, the grain-free question and calorie density.
Is Taste of the Wild chicken-free?
No recipe is fully chicken-free. Some use chicken meal or chicken fat, and the company says the natural flavor in its other recipes comes from chicken.
Has Taste of the Wild been recalled?
The company notes a voluntary recall in 2012. We found no Taste of the Wild recall on the FDA's recall list as of October 27, 2026.
Does Taste of the Wild cause DCM?
The FDA has not shown that it does. It was named in 53 DCM reports through April 2019, and the FDA said those reports alone don't prove a food caused the disease. Ask your vet if you're concerned.
Where is Taste of the Wild made?
In the USA, in seven company manufacturing facilities in California, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kansas and Indiana.