5 Taste of the Wild Alternatives

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If you’re looking for dog food similar to Taste of the Wild, you’ve come to the right place!

Taste of the Wild is a great brand but it isn’t always feasible for dog owners. It can be quite expensive, and their foods aren’t always available in larger sizes — upping the cost even more. 

However, there are several good alternatives to Taste of the Wild out there. 

My favorite is American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food. This dry dog food includes salmon as the first ingredient, as well as many other kinds of animal proteins. These raise the overall protein diet quite high — which is exactly what many dogs need. 

Below, I’ve reviewed several dog foods similar to Taste of the Wild. Many of these are considerably higher value with better ingredients. 

Taste of the Wild Alternatives

  1. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food (Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Alternative)
  2. Purina ONE True Instinct Turkey & Venison Dry Dog Food (Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Alternative)
  3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Dry Dog Food (Taste of the Wetlands Alternative)
  4. Natural Balance Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food (Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Alternative)
  5. VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food (Taste of the Wild PREY Angus Beef Alternative)

Dog Food Similar to Taste of the Wild

Whether you’re looking for a food that is nearly identical to Taste of the Wild or for one that is comparable but more affordable, I’ve reviewed many options for you below. 

These dry dog foods range from moderately priced to extremely inexpensive. It mostly depends on your budget and exactly what you’re looking for in a Taste of the Wild alternative. 

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Grain-Free

If you’re looking for a dry dog food that is basically identical to Taste of the Wild, this option may be what you’re looking for! 

American Journey produces recipes that are extremely similar to Taste of the Wild. Their salmon and sweet potato dry dog food is comparable to Taste of the Wild’s own salmon recipe. 

This dog food starts with salmon, followed by chicken meal and turkey meal. All of these ingredients provide the protein and fat your canine needs to thrive. Plus, the use of salmon increases the overall omega fatty acid content. 

This recipe is completely free from corn, wheat, and soy. It doesn’t include any fillers or potentially controversial ingredients. 

Like Taste of the Wild, this formula is grain-free and gluten-free and so may be suitable for dogs with sensitivities to grains and gluten. 

Thanks to the heavy use of fresh fruits, this formula is very high in antioxidants. These prevent oxidative stress, which has been linked to many different health conditions.


Purina ONE True Instinct Turkey & Venison Dry Dog Food

Purina ONE True Instinct with Real Turkey & Venison

Purina One is a budget brand that still includes great ingredients. If you’re looking for something more affordable than most dog foods out there, this is a solid option.

This formula includes turkey and chicken meal as the main protein sources, even though venison is listed on the ingredient list. It does appear, but only after many other items. 

(This is a good example of why reading the ingredient list is so important!)

Purina One True Instinct is not grain-free like Taste of the Wild PREY. Instead, it includes quite a few sources of grains, including wheat and corn. Not all dogs need a grain-free diet, though. If your dog isn’t sensitive to grain, there is little reason to avoid it. 

For so much value for your money, you really can’t beat it. 

It is a complete and balanced dog food, and it doesn’t include any artificial flavors or preservatives.


Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken

Blue Buffalo is a well-known brand, but they are on the more expensive side. 

Blue Buffalo’s chicken recipe is comparable to the Taste of the Wild Westland recipe. It includes similar ingredients and provides very similar nutrition. 

However, Blue Buffalo’s recipe is focused on chicken, while Taste of the Wild includes more niche proteins. 

Deboned chicken and chicken meal start the ingredient list. However, like with most Blue Buffalo recipes, peas are added very high up. Of course, this is also the case with Taste of the Wild’s fowl recipe.

Peas are potentially linked with certain heart conditions and are currently being investigated by the FDA, so they’re not our favorite. 

This dry dog food is high in omega fatty acids, and antioxidants are also added to improve immune health. 


Natural Balance Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance LID Grain Free Salmon

Natural Balance is extremely tasty and is also moderately priced. 

This formula is similar to Taste of the Wild’s Pacific Stream recipe, but it includes only salmon. If your canine has sensitivities like my Husky does, this may be a better option thanks to the shorter ingredient list. 

Natural Balance has high-quality ingredients as well. Their salmon and sweet potato formula contains very few components, and all of them are good.

The ingredient list starts with salmon and menhaden fish meal. These increase the overall omega fatty acid content and provide plenty of protein. 

Sunflower oil and flaxseed are added to increase the omega fatty acid content even further — perfect for dogs with skin, coat, or joint problems. (Just like my husky, who has all three!)

Plus, my favorite part about this recipe is that it doesn’t include any peas, pea protein, lentils, legumes, corn, wheat, or soy. For grain-free dry dog food, this is rare.


VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food

VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula

VICTOR is known as a premium, expensive dry dog food. However, you can purchase their formulas in giant bags, which helps you save a bit of money. The bulk discount can really make this food worth it.

This particular formula is made for active dogs. It includes a crude protein content of 30% and a crude fat content of 20%. That’s comparable to Taste of the Wild’s Prey Angus Beef Recipe macronutrient content. 

This dry dog food also includes many different types of meat. For instance, the list starts with beef meal, but it also includes pork meal, chicken meal, and fish meal

Of course, it is also quite high in omega fatty acids. The fish meal helps, but other ingredients are also included to improve this. 

A unique VPRO blend provides premium digestive support. I highly recommend this dry dog food for any dog with digestive issues — if you shop smart, you’ll save some money and provide improved digestive support.


How to Switch Your Dog’s Food

If you decide to go for one of the alternatives listed above, be sure to switch your dog’s food gradually. You don’t want to suddenly switch their food, as this can cause digestive upset. 

If you only ate the same thing every day, you’d probably find yourself with some digestion issues if your food was suddenly switched too! 

Start by switching only 25% of your dog’s old food with the new kind. If your dog eats a cup at every meal, switch out only ¼ cup. 

Slowly increase this by increments of 25% every two days as your dog tolerates the new dog food. After about a week, they should be eating the new dog food exclusively. 

If your dog suddenly develops digestive problems, backup and offer a smaller amount of the new food. Wait a few days, and then try it again. 

Some dogs have a more sensitive digestion system than others and need to be switched to a new dog food very slowly.

Conclusion

If I were buying a Taste of the Wild alternative for my dog, I would pick American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food. It includes salmon as the first ingredient, providing heightened levels of omega fatty acids. 

Plus, it is quite high in antioxidants, which can help support your dog’s immune system. 

However, if you’re looking to save money with a budget dog food, I’ve also included many other brands above that may be suitable!

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Kristin Hitchcock
AUTHOR
Kristin has been writing about dogs and their nutrition for the last four years. She enjoys educating pet parents on the best things to feed their beloved furry friends using the latest scientific research.

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