Bully Max Dog Food Alternatives

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The Bully Max brand is unique on the market. Their products are intended for highly active, muscular dogs. The range encompasses dog food and supplements, pills, and powders for muscle growth and weight management.

Many dog owners love the brand. Numerous testimonials on the Bully Max website claim their dogs got stronger, bigger, and healthier because of their products.

Still, the Bully Max products are some of the most expensive in the dog food industry.

If you want an alternative to Bully Max, you’re at the right place.

Our favorite alternative is Project K-9 Hero Multiple Protein Formula.

It’s a high-protein, high-fat recipe formulated specifically for active dogs and muscle gains.

Let’s look at this and other dog food similar to Bully Max dry dog food and wet food.

Bully Max Dog Food Alternatives

  1. Project K-9 Hero Multiple Protein Formula Dog Food (Bully Max 30/20 High Performance Formula Best Overall Alternative)
  2. Eukanuba Premium Performance 30/20 SPORT Dog Food (Bully Max 30/20 High Performance Formula Best Ingredients Alternative)
  3. VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Dog Food (Bully Max 30/20 High Performance Formula Best Budget Alternative)
  4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (Bully Max PRO SERIES 31/25 High-Calorie Formula Best Overall Alternative)
  5. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (Bully Max PRO SERIES 31/25 High-Calorie Formula Best Ingredients Alternative)
  6. SPORTMiX CanineX Dry Dog Food (Bully Max PRO SERIES 31/25 High-Calorie Formula Best Budget Alternative)
  7. Tylee’s Freeze-Dried Mixers For Dogs (Bully Max Instant Fresh Raw Dog Food Chicken Recipe Alternative)

Dog Food Comparable to Bully Max Reviewed

The Bully Max dog food range used to consist of three dry dog foods and one wet food. The rest of the products include supplements, powders, and pills.

However, suppose you looked at their Gorilla Max 31/25 Ultra Performance and Bully Max PRO Series 31/25 High Calorie recipes. In that case, you’d notice these dry dog foods seem pretty similar.

We reached out to Bully Max’s customer support and asked for the difference between these two formulas. They explained there was none:

So, with that information in mind, let’s look at the best alternatives for Bully Max dog food.


Project K-9 Hero Multiple Protein Formula Dog Food

K-9 Series Project Hero Multiple Protein

The Sport dog food brand is, as its name suggests, devoted exclusively to active dogs. Their range is unique in that they offer recipes for various activities: herding, sledding, working dogs, and many others. Their K9 Hero formula is a great overall alternative to Bully Max 30/20 High Performance Formula.

This dog food has the same amount of protein like Bully Max, and a higher fat content. The animal sources include chicken meal, chicken fat, salmon oil, and pork. These bring in high-quality amino acids, steady supply of energy, and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.

The formula is filled with healthy whole and ancient grains. Sorghum, millet, and oatmeal are some of the best carb options in the dog food market, and will provide additional energy, dietary fiber, and vitamins.

The recipe is completely free of legumes — there are no peas or pea derivatives whatsoever. We think this is especially beneficial for active dogs because legumes tend to increase flatulence. And, well, your sport canine definitely doesn’t need that during a race or other physical activity.

Sport dog food is an excellent overall choice for active and working dogs. If your dog is engaged in a specific sport or activity, make sure to check out their other options. Odds are, this brand has a special formula for it.


Eukanuba Premium Performance 30/20 SPORT Dog Food

Eukanuba Premium Performance 30/20 SPORT

Eukanuba is another dog food brand crafting recipes mostly for active dogs. Their products are mid-price, so this formula hits the sweet spot between the cost and quality of ingredients. It’s an excellent alternative to Bully Max 30/20 High Performance Formula.

The Eukanuba dog food has the same macronutrients profile as Bully Max: 30% protein, 20% fat. The 30:20 ratio is optimal for active dogs, because it: a) provides enough muscle support, and b) supplies steady energy.

Besides supporting muscles, the formula also takes care of dogs’ hips and joints. The chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate in this dog food are the building blocks of cartilage. They prevent the wear-and-tear that is increased in active and sport dogs.

Your dog’s digestion is supported by a blend of probiotics and fiber. This combo ensures efficient absorption of nutrients — and subsequent muscle building.

Furthermore, this is the only formula that was tested and proven to reduce dogs’ peak temperature during strenuous activities. In other words, your dog’s body can more easily handle physical exertion.

Eukanuba is an excellent choice for sporting, tracking, and working dogs. Taking into account its price, it’s a formula that will make both dog parents and their fur babies happy.


VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus

VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula

Victor dog food brand focuses mainly on recipes for active dogs. The company is known for offering budget-friendly products without compromising the quality of ingredients.

We believe that VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus is the best affordable alternative to Bully Max 30/20 High Performance Formula.

This recipe matches the main macronutrients content of Bully Max 30/20, i.e. Victor offers 30% crude proteins and 20% crude fat.

The proteins come from the beef meal, pork meal, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal. These animal sources provide all the amino acids your dog needs to develop lean, mean muscles. 

The menhaden fish meal also provides essential Omega-3 fatty acids. Combined with chicken fat in the formula, your dog will have enough energy for physically demanding endeavors.

The grain portion in Victor’s dog food is super-premium. It includes sorghum and millet, which are ancient whole grains, pretty nutritious, and rich in healthy carbs, dietary fiber, and antioxidants.

Victor didn’t forget about digestion, either. So the recipe is fortified with probiotics to help your dog digest the food faster, absorb the nutrients, and get to building the muscles.

Overall, this super-premium dog food is an excellent bargain if you’re looking to support your active dogs’ muscles and energy levels.


Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dog Food

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain Free

Taste of the Wild dog food mimics dogs’ ancestral diet and offers high protein from premium animal sources.

If you’re looking for a fantastic overall alternative to Bully Max PRO SERIES 31/25 — Taste of the Wild High Prairie is your best bet.

The formula includes many super-premium novel meats, like water buffalo, bison, and venison. These animal protein sources are accompanied by lamb meal, chicken meal, and whole beef.

To compare, the Bully Max PRO includes only chicken meal as the primary protein source, accompanied by whitefish meal.

What’s the benefit of all the meats in Taste of the Wild? Different meats work together for great taste, fats, and superb protein. With protein at 32%, you just know your canine will get excellent muscle support, lean joints, and strong bones.

Taste of the Wild doesn’t contain as many calories as Bully Max PRO — this dog offers a standard 422 kcal/cup. Still, with 18% fat content, there is no shortage of high-quality energy.

The formula also contains healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and taurine, which protect cardiovascular health and nourish the skin.

Probiotics and prebiotics in Taste of the Wild ensure more efficient absorption of the nutrients and promote healthy digestion.


ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

ORIJEN Original Grain Free

Orijen crafts their recipes with multiple, high-quality animal protein sources. The brand focuses heavily on fresh meats and regionally sourced ingredients.

ORIJEN Original offers better nutrition than Bully Max PRO SERIES 31/25.

The Orijen formula is still at the high end of the price range, but its benefits are exceptional.

This dog food is super high in protein — the guaranteed analysis lists a whopping 38% of crude protein content. In comparison, the Bully Max PRO formula offers a minimum of 31%. In both cases, this is plenty of animal protein for your dog to develop strong, healthy muscles.

But, Orijen uses more premium animal protein sources. The first 10 ingredients are whole meats and organ meats, like chicken, turkey, flounder, mackerel, and herring. That’s an unparalleled amount of premium animal proteins, minerals, and essential Omega-3 fatty acids.

One of Bully Max’s main selling points is the high-calorie content of their food, at remarkable 600 calories per cup. The company argues that this way your dog will eat less often, which results in easier digestion.

Still, bear in mind that a bulk of these calories comes from fat — the Bully Max recipe contains 25% of crude fat content.

Orijen is not bad in the calories department either — clocking in at 473 cals per cup. However, the fat content is lower (18%), which means that there is quite enough fat to support your dog’s everyday activities, but the calories are more evenly distributed.

Overall, the Orijen recipe boasts super-premium protein sources, and a more balanced nutrition.


SPORTMiX CanineX Dog Food

SPORTMiX CanineX Chicken Meal

Sportmix brand caters mainly to active dogs. Their formulas include high protein, high fat content to provide muscle support and energy these dogs need. Sportmix is an affordable brand, so their flagship recipe CanineX seems like a great budget alternative to Bully Max PRO SERIES 31/25.

Sportmix is actually slightly higher in protein — 32%, which is plenty for your muscular bud. Both dog foods are formulated around chicken meal as the main protein source.

This dog food is also higher in fat, at 25%. Higher fat is especially beneficial for active dogs, since they need more energy for physical activities. Both Bully Max and Sportmix use chicken fat as the main fat source, which is considered high-quality.

The formula is relatively high in calories. It’s not as high as Bully Max PRO, but 542 kcal/cup is more than most dog foods.

One of the main selling points for CanineX is the use of novel krill meal. Krill is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, but also fats and protein. The bulk of energy and proteins will be coming from this sustainably sourced fish.

CanineX is great for active dogs with high energy requirements looking to pack on muscles — at a fraction of the cost.


Tylee’s Freeze-Dried Mixers For Dogs

ylee's Freeze-Dried Mixers for Dogs

Tylee’s is a dog food brand owned by Chewy. The range focuses on human-grade dry, wet and frozen dog foods.

Bully Max Instant Fresh is a different kind of wet food. According to Bully Max, the formula is a raw food alternative with no special preparation requirements. You just need to add water to it, and — voila — you get wet food for your dog.

Tylee’s Freeze-Dried Mixers is an excellent alternative to this recipe and even better in some regards.

So what exactly does Tylee’s offer?

First off, the formula contains a lot of proteins. 45% crude protein is a pretty high amount for this type of food. The protein comes from whole chicken and chicken organ meat. Together, they will support your dog in everyday activities and muscle mass development.

Chia seeds and flaxseed further enrich this recipe. Both bring in healthy doses of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. A proper ratio of omega fatty acids is vital for heart health, shiny coat, and nourished skin.

Both protein and fat are significantly higher in Tylee’s mixers. The fat content revolves around 30%, which is plenty of energy for active dogs. Fat is essential for cognitive function and muscle exertion. Remember: if your dog is not active, this amount of fat would quickly lead to weight gain.

The taste of Tylee’s formula is rounded by a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. Pumpkin is the most prominent one, but organic blueberries, broccoli, and cranberries are also there.

Fruits and veggies aren’t there just for the taste — they also bring in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So it’s a win-win: your dog will gobble up the mixers and get high-quality nutrition along the way.


How to Transition to a New Food

Athleticism is definitely something to admire, but even the best food for active dogs shouldn’t be introduced overnight. Dogs (yes, even the muscular ones) tend to react poorly to sudden dietary changes and develop digestive problems.

So, instead, get your dog accustomed to a new food first. Start by mixing in only 25% of the new food with your dog’s kibble. Continue feeding your canine like this for the next 2-3 days, after which you can increase the portion to 50%.

If the dog isn’t having digestive problems after another few days, you can increase the new food’s ratio to 75%. After that (and a couple more days), you’re ready to switch it up to 100%.

However, if your canine shows symptoms of digestive distress, you should decrease the amount of new food for a few days. If the problems persist even after that, it’s best to talk to a vet and determine what might be the problem.

Our Verdict

Bully Max brand offers high-quality and distinct products for active dogs.

Still, the price might deter some of the pet parents. Or, they might be looking for a higher value for money.

Our favorite alternative to Bully Max dog food is Sport K9 Hero Multiple Protein Formula.

Sport dog food offers the same amount of protein, premium ingredients, and fantastic nutrition — at a fraction of the cost. Not only that, but the range has specific formulas for various sports and physical activities of canines.

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AUTHOR
As a dog breeder's daughter, I've always been surrounded by many dogs of many breeds. I've made it my job to learn about our furry best friends and share my findings with other conscious dog owners. My Bichon is called Piper by the way :)

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