American Journey was the first dog food brand by the popular online retailer Chewy.
This pet food brand is known for its high-quality, budget-friendly products.
The American Journey dog food uses only natural ingredients. The recipes do not include wheat, soy, chicken by-products, or fillers.
Still, some dog owners want slightly different formulas than those of American Journey’s, or more premium ingredients.
Our favorite alternative is Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.
This dog food is high-protein, grain-free, with water buffalo as the first ingredient.
Let’s look at the American Journey dog food alternatives and find your next favorite.
American Journey Alternatives
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (American Journey Grain-Free Formula Alternative)
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (American Journey Limited Ingredient Formula Alternative)
- Purina Pro Plan High Protein Formula with Probiotics Dog Food (American Journey Active Life Recipe Alternative)
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Dry Dog Food (American Journey Grain-Free Puppy Formula Alternative)
- Wellness Beef Stew Grain-Free Canned Dog Food (American Journey Stews Beef & Vegetables Grain-Free Recipe Alternative)
Dog Food Similar to American Journey Reviewed
American Journey produces both dry dog food and canned food.
Their products include high-protein diets, grain-free formulas, and limited ingredient diets.
Let’s look deeper into the selected alternatives to American Journey dog food.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Taste of the Wild is well-known for using natural ingredients with an excellent macronutrient profile. Their premium formulas are nutritious and balanced and offer everything a dog needs.
This recipe is a great alternative to American Journey Chicken & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Formula.
The first three ingredients are animal protein sources: water buffalo, lamb meal, and chicken meal. That’s plenty of proteins and minerals for your canine.
Both formulas are pretty high in protein. Taste of the Wild has 32% crude protein content, which is more than enough. Your dog will get plenty of amino acid goodness.
Taste of the Wild dog food is rich in novel meats, like water buffalo, bison, and venison. It also contains sweet potatoes as the primary carb source. Sweet potatoes bring in dietary fiber, vitamins, and extra minerals to the kibble.
Will your dog enjoy it? Probably so, knowing that it also includes fresh fruits and veggies. Dogs love blueberries and raspberries in this formula.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
Natural Balance crafts premium pet food backed by scientific research. It’s a reputable brand with high-quality protein sources and even a vegetarian dog food line.
Natural Balance Salmon & Sweet Potato formula is a highly recommended alternative to American Journey Limited Ingredient dog food.
The recipe is rich in salmon and menhaden fish, which bring in animal protein and those essential Omega-3s. The Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for our furry friends’ heart health, skin, and shiny fur.
More importantly, this is both a limited ingredient and grain-free dog food. The formula does not contain any peas or legumes.
Instead, they opt for sweet potatoes and cassava flour. These are great grain substitutes, unlikely to cause reactions in sensitive dogs.
This dog food is enriched with vitamins, minerals, and taurine to further strengthen the heart and vision. These compounds are involved in numerous bodily functions — like the immune system, cardiovascular health, and many other vital processes.
Purina Pro Plan High Protein Formula with Probiotics Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan is a range of world-renowned Purina dog food, which includes specialized diets for canines. The formulas in this range provide targeted nutrition and premium-quality ingredients.
Purina Pro Plan High Protein formula is an excellent choice if you want to change the American Journey Active Life recipe.
The formula starts with a whole chicken, a high-quality animal protein source. The animal sources include a poultry by-product meal, fish meal, beef fat, and fish oil. These bring extra amino acids, highly digestible fat, and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.
The protein is high, but not super high — it sits comfortably at 26% of crude protein content. This amount will provide enough support to muscles and the overall body without exerting pressure on the kidneys.
Purina’s recipe includes whole grains, like whole wheat and whole grain corn. These are more nutritious than their refined counterparts. However, if your dog has a gluten or grain allergy, this product is not suitable for them.
Furthermore, this dog food contains soybean meal and glycerin. Glycerin is used in dog food as a sweetener and flavor-enhancer, but some dogs might be allergic to it or soy.
Always check with your vet for potential dog allergies before choosing a new food.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo caters to customers who want premium ingredients with as few fillers and additives as possible. The company doesn’t use animal by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial additives.
The Life Protection Formula is a worthy alternative to American Journey Puppy Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe.
This specific formula is grain-inclusive (unlike the American Journey). But it includes a selection of premium-quality grains — brown rice, oatmeal, and barley. In that regard, we think it’s more nutritious than its grain-free American Journey counterpart.
The protein content is at 27%, which is enough for puppies. It will support their growth and muscle development.
Compared to the American Journey, the real advantage of this product is its fat content. Both recipes contain plant, animal, and fish sources of fat.
The Blue Buffalo dog food includes a higher percentage (16%), which is crucial for puppies’ brain development.
The formula also includes probiotics that help puppies with digestion and introduce healthy bacteria to the gut.
The flavor is rounded with a selection of fresh fruits and veggies your little furball of joy will surely love.
Wellness Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Wellness is all about high-quality recipes. The company specializes in dogs’ dietary needs and limited ingredient diets.
Wellness Beef Stew is a fantastic and highly recommended alternative to the American Journey Beef Stew & Vegetables canned dog food.
This yummy recipe includes whole beef, beef broth, and beef liver. Animal sources provide plenty of protein for your furry family member. Furthermore, they make this stew particularly tasty and juicy.
Wet food is further enhanced by loads of antioxidants and beta-carotene. These come from carrots, peas, and potatoes in the formula.
Did you know that dogs love carrots? They might be one of their favorite foods (other than meat, of course).
Salmon oil brings in healthy fats, omega fatty acids, and boosts the immune system. It also contributes to heart health and shiny fur.
The formula is fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, with notes of rosemary, sage, and thyme.
How to Transition to a New Food
Every dog is unique, and different foods can cause different reactions. Even when they are suitable for them in the long run.
Most dogs experience digestive problems if you switch up their food too fast. To avoid that, start by introducing 25% of new dog food to their kibble, and do so for 2-3 days. If there are no stomach problems, you can increase the amount to 50% for the next couple of days.
After that, increase to 75%, and finally to 100% over the course of 5-6 days. That’s it! Your dog is now accustomed to the new food.
However, if your dog experiences digestive issues, ease up on the new food and try again after some time. If the problem persists, call a vet to determine if there are any food allergies involved.
Our Verdict
American Journey is loved by both pet parents and their furry family members. It is a budget-friendly, affordable brand with many great formulas.
We’re thrilled if you found your new favorite among the dog foods included in this article.
Our favorite is Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.
The recipe is tried-and-tested, with many positive reviews. It offers premium nutrition, with novel proteins and remarkable carb sources.
Not only that but Taste of the Wild is a reputable company with many great products. If you’re still looking for an alternative, make sure to check them out.
