Choosing the right dog food is a hard decision for a pet owner. You want to provide your pup with the best food possible and hope that whatever brand you choose doesn’t do too much damage to your budget. With so many food brands out there and claims of each one being better than another, comparing brands is more difficult than it’s ever been. This is where we come in. In this comparison, we’re taking a look at two popular dog food brands, American Journey and Taste of the Wild. Both of these brands are great choices for your pets, but it’s important for you, as a dog owner, to understand why. Read on below to learn more about these popular pet food brands and which one we think deserves to be the proverbial top dog.

A Sneak Peek at the Winner: American Journey

In our opinion, American Journey is the winner of this comparison. This pet food by Chewy is designed to give your dog tons of taste options, healthy ingredients, and the well-balanced meals dogs of all ages deserve. For you, the pet owner, you get peace of mind that you can trust the company you’re buying from and affordably priced foods your dog will love. One of their most popular options that we love is American Journey Healthy Weight Grain-Free Dog Food. This food tastes great for your pup and promotes activity and a healthy weight. Another of our faves is the American Journey Active Life Salmon and Brown Rice Dog Food. This food is packed with protein to help your pup get the nutrition they need. For a more in-depth look at our favorite American Journey dog foods, continue reading below!

About American Journey

When doing a comparison of dog food brands, it is important to know a bit about their history and what they have to offer. Let’s take a look at American Journey and discover more about their history and the foods they want to provide the dogs in your home.

American Journey History

American Journey is still considered the new kid on the block when it comes to dog food. That shouldn’t unnerve you when it comes to making this dog food part of your pet’s daily diet, however. Have you ever ordered anything for your pets from Chewy? If so, you’ve had interaction with the people who make American Journey. Yes, this dog food brand is owned by none other than Chewy. Their goal is to provide pets with high-quality, tasty dog food while their owners take advantage of the budget prices.

What American Journey Has to Offer

While the foods offered by American Journey are ideal for a pet parent’s budget, that doesn’t mean they are limited. The company offers 3 product lines. These lines include American Journey’s standard kibble, their limited ingredient line, and the high-protein Landmark line. Inside these lines, you’ll find 22 adult kibbles in a wide range of flavors. You’ll also find senior dog formulas for maintaining your older dog’s health. Surprisingly enough, American Journal also offers 6 puppy formulas for young and growing dogs. This is perfect for pet owners with pups in their care as they have several options to choose from for their dog’s growing needs.

About Taste of the Wild

Now that we’ve taken a look at the history of American Journey and what they have to offer, let’s do the same with Taste of the Wild. This well-established pet food brand has been around for a while now and deserves its chance to shine.

Taste of the Wild History

Just hearing the name Taste of the Wild makes you think of rare meat and tasty options for your pet. Luckily, for dogs who love this food, it’s true. Taste of the Wild uses meats like buffalo, bison, and salmon in their foods. Does this mean it’s more expensive? Not by much. One thing about the company is that it’s well established. Taste of the Wild has been providing dogs with unique flavors since 2007. Their parent company, Diamond Pet Foods, has been in the pet food game since 1970. That’s a long run, even if it has been an up and down history. That’s why Taste of the Wild was created. It was Diamond Pet Food’s way of offering a premium line of dog food that was healthier than their previous ones.

What Taste of the Wild Has to Offer

Taste of the Wild offers 2 product lines to keep dogs well-fed and healthy. These lines are their standard kibble and prey lines. The prey line features the unique meats Taste of the Wild has become known for. Within these lines, the company offers 16 adult kibbles. This allows your pup to enjoy several different flavors if they are a fan of the Taste of the Wild brand. They also offer 2 puppy formulas to help younger dogs get a healthy start in life. Unfortunately, however, Taste of the Wild doesn’t offer a senior formula and their “all life stages” kibble isn’t formulated for aging dogs.

The 3 Most Popular American Journey Dog Food Recipes

American Journey is a tasty dog food with lots of flavor options for your pet. Let’s take a look at 3 of their most popular recipes so you can see why we feel they are such a great choice.

1. American Journey Active Life Recipe

Grain-inclusive foods are ideal for a dog’s well-balanced diet. This active-life dog food uses whole grains while still keeping the protein count high for your pet. Deboned salmon is the primary ingredient. You’ll also find carrots, cranberries, blueberries, and other fruits and veggies your dog will enjoy. The nutritional breakdown of this food is Carbs 44%, 25% protein, 15% fat, 10% moisture, and 6% fiber.

The only downside we’ve found with this dog food is the peas. While it isn’t an issue to include peas in a formula, they are a bit high on the list of ingredients in this food.

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2. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Some dogs have sensitivities and require grain-free dog foods. If your pup falls into this category, then American Journey Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato is a great choice. Instead of corn and rice, this formula uses sweet potatoes and other dog-friendly veggies. Like with all of this brand’s foods, deboned chicken is the primary ingredient and main source of protein. The nutritional breakdown of this food is Carbs 36%, Protein 34%, Fat 15%, Moisture 10%, and Fiber 5%.

If you choose this food, your pet will be subject to issues concerning a grain-free diet. Some users have also noted that their pets weren’t fond of the flavor.

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3. American Journey Healthy Weight Grain-Free Dog Food

This formula by American Journey is quite popular with both pets and pet owners. It is designed to help promote weight loss by offering fewer calories. It also increases fiber intake to help your dog stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You’ll even be pleased to know this formula is designed to help large dog breeds with joint health. The main ingredient in this food is real, deboned salmon. It also includes chicken and turkey meals for higher protein. The nutritional breakdown of this food is Carbs 42%, Protein 30%, Moisture 10%, Fat 9%, and Fiber 9%.

The biggest issue we see with this formula is the high fiber content. This can cause digestive issues for some dogs.

The 3 Most Popular Taste of the Wild Dog Food Recipes

While Taste of the Wild has a long list of foods to choose from, here are reviews of 3 that we feel are great representatives of the brand.

1. Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream Canine Recipe

The first Taste of the Wild dog food we’ll take a look at is their Ancient Stream recipe. If your dog is a fan of seafood, which many are, then this dog food is one you should let them try. Whole salmon is the main ingredient and main source of protein. You’ll also find other ocean treats like salmon meal and ocean fish meal as part of this tasty recipe. The nutritional breakdown of this dog food is Carbs, 40%, Protein 30%, Fat 15%, Moisture 10%, and Fiber 3%.

The only true downside of this recipe, if your dog enjoys seafood, is the odor. The fishy odor can linger a bit, according to users. Keep this in mind before you bring it into your home.

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2. Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie Recipe

Next up is Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie Recipe. This dog food is one of Taste of the Wild’s grain-inclusive meals. Your pet will also get the benefit of the great flavors of real buffalo and pork as the primary sources of protein. With the ancestral carbs included in this recipe and the live probiotic blend inside, your dog will be getting a well-balanced meal they’ll enjoy. The nutritional breakdown of this dog food is Carbs 37%, Protein 32%, Fats 18%, Moisture 10%, and Fiber 3%.

Unfortunately, some pet owners have reported their pets to have a few digestive issues after switching to this dog food. You’ll also notice this is not a poultry-free recipe and could be an issue for dogs with allergies.

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3. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Recipe

While Taste of the Wild isn’t big on special formulas and fancy dog food, one thing they do offer is a well-balanced puppy formula to keep your little ones happy and healthy. This is one of the company’s few grain-free recipes. The main ingredient in this food is bison. Not only will your pups love the taste but you’ll be pleased with the healthy protein. You’ll also be pleased to know the food pieces are sized for puppies and easy to eat. The nutritional breakdown of this food is Carbs 41%, Protein 27%, Fat 17%, Moisture 10%, and Fiber 5%.

The only downside of this puppy formula is the same as many others on the market, it can cause upset tummies in younger dogs.

Recall History of American Journey and Taste of the Wild

Recalls are serious business in the dog food world. No brand wants its name tied to unnecessary recalls and pet owner worries. Here’s a look at the recall history of both American Journey and Taste of the Wild so you can have a better understanding of their history with these types of issues.

American Journey

We’re proud to report that during their history, American Journey has never had a recall on their dog food. Considering they’ve been in business since 2017, this is quite impressive. Another thing to keep in mind, when looking into American Journey’s recall history, is the fact they’re considered a budget brand. This goes to show they are working hard to provide pets with the best food possible.

Taste of the Wild

Yes, Taste of the Wild has been around longer than American Journey, 10 years longer to be exact. This doesn’t mean they have a long history of recalls, however. In fact, even as a well-established dog food company, Taste of the Wild only has 1 recorded recall on record. The recall in question took place in 2012 and affected other brands. While pets did become sick, Taste of the Wild quickly worked to rectify the situation and has been doing great since.

American Journey vs Taste of the Wild Comparison

Now it’s time to take things head to head. Let’s see how these dog food brands measure up to one another in a few of the most important categories for pet owners. We’ll tell you who we think has the advantage and you can see why we made that call.

Taste

When it comes to taste, both American Journey and Taste of the Wild are great choices for your pet. Both offer a variety of flavors, but in this category, we must give the edge to Taste of the Wild. Their prey line offers dogs unique meats and proteins that they are sure to love. If your dog is getting bored of beef, chicken, lamb, and steak giving them a taste of buffalo or bison may perk their appetites right up.

Nutritional Value

When it comes to nutrition, Taste of the Wild and American Journey are on equal footing. Both of these dog food brands strive to provide your pups with tons of proteins and the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. American Journey guarantees deboned meat to be their primary ingredient. They also declare they never use meat by-products. Taste of the Wild is quite similar. They use a wider array of meats and don’t include by-products. Possibly the biggest difference between these brands is grains. Most of Taste of the Wild’s foods are grain-free. They do offer a few grain-inclusive selections, however. American Journey is more open to including grains in its formulas but does offer grain-free choices for dogs with allergies.

Price

Price is where American Journey shines. While Taste of the Wild isn’t too far off in this category, pet owners on a budget can’t beat the selection, taste, and price Chewy has to offer from their dog food. With several formulas to choose from, great pricing, and the ease of ordering online, we give this category to American Journey.

Selection

Both of these dog foods have a great selection of foods to choose from. While Taste of the Wild may have the market on unique flavors, American Journey has them beat when it comes to selection. Their 22 kibbles, 6 puppy formulas, and a senior line can stay with your dog through all their life stages. Taste of the Wild isn’t too far behind in this category but the lack of a senior formula is a bit disappointing. Owners of small and toy breeds may also find it difficult to use either of these foods as they don’t cater to smaller dogs during production.

Overall

As you can see, things are quite close when it comes to American Journey and Taste of the Wild. While we’ve declared American Journey the winner, it wasn’t by much. Choosing either of these brands as your pet’s main source of food would be a smart, and healthy, decision to make.

Conclusion

Yes, we’ve chosen American Journey as the top dog in this comparison of food brands. Why? They have a great selection of healthy foods to choose from, they are affordably priced, and they work hard to make their dog food tasty. The important thing to keep in mind is, Taste of the Wild is right on its tail with its appealing flavors. If you’re trying to choose between these 2 dog food brands, don’t panic. Either of these brands would be a great food to give to your furry best friend.