Various dog breeds make excellent hunting dogs. Labrador Retrievers, Mountain Curs, Vizslas, and even Beagles are just a few examples of perfect hunting companions. Although these dogs look completely different in color, size, and structure, they share the same instinctual nature to hunt. A hunting dog must have boundless energy to complete the tasks set by their owners. They also need good muscle strength and strong bones to catch or retrieve game and walk long distances.

A hunting dog’s diet is vital for them to excel in their abilities and must include plenty of good nutrition. You should always take your dog’s energy level, age, sensitivities, and weight into consideration when buying food for them.

Here, we listed the top hunting dog food options, complete with in-depth reviews to help you in your search. However, remember that due to these foods’ high protein and fat content, they’ll lead to weight gain if fed to an inactive dog. So, you may want to switch your dog’s food when it’s not the hunting season.

A Glance at Our Winners in 2024

The 12 Best Dog Foods for Hunting Dogs

1. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe — Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe stands out as the best dog food for hunting dogs for several reasons. Each recipe is crafted with fresh, all-natural ingredients. This recipe in particular has USDA chicken and chicken liver as the first two ingredients, mixed with nutritious vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. It is also packed with essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring that your dog is getting everything that they need to live a long healthy life.

All recipes from The Farmer’s Dog are prepared in USDA kitchens using a low-temperature cooking process that maximizes nutrient retention. The meals are then frozen and conveniently delivered to your doorstep. Offering the right amount of nutrition means your dog will thrive after hunting and be the perfect companion during your outings.

The only drawback to The Farmer’s Dog is its exclusive availability through a subscription plan, which means you won’t have the option of a spontaneous visit to your local pet store if you run out of food. However, the shipping schedule enables you to coordinate deliveries based on your pet’s meal needs.

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2. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food — Budget Buy

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food has excellent first ingredients of water buffalo, lamb meal, and chicken meal, resulting in a high protein content of 32% for a low and affordable price. This makes it the best dog food for hunting dogs for the money.

It has a fat content of 18% and contains complex carbs to give your hunting dog the energy they need while keeping them feeling full until their next meal. It contains prebiotics to improve your dog’s gut, resulting in less gas and healthier poop. The omega-3 also improves their coat, leaving it soft and shiny. This dog food isn’t every dog’s pick, however, as some simply refuse to eat it.

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3. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Beef Recipe Subscription Service

 

Hunting dogs work up quite the appetite in a day’s work. That is why it’s important to choose a hardy dog food that will satisfy their hunger while ensuring that they receive the proper nutrients to maintain an active lifestyle. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Beef Recipe Subscription Service is good for hunting dogs because this recipe is appealing, nutritious, and filling. With a limited ingredient list, starting with real meat proteins (also available in chicken, turkey, or lamb) and fresh vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, you can trust that your dog will be happy and healthy. Ollie’s meals are free of any byproducts or additives and are suitable for all life stages.

Once you complete a short questionnaire about your dog based on their age, weight, breed, and dietary needs, Ollie provides you with customized meal plans. You can also adjust the frequency of your deliveries, which eliminates the risk of running out of stock and making last-minute trips to the store.

If you are looking for a dog food that’s rich in antioxidants, promotes healthy digestion, and supports an active lifestyle, look no further than Ollie Dog Food.

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4. Adirondack Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Puppy Food

Puppies need the best, and Adirondack Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Puppy Food gives them just that at an affordable price point. This puppy food is well-balanced and contains 30% protein and 20% fat to develop your pup into a strong and healthy dog that has lean muscles, ready for the hunting grounds.

This tasty meal is slow-cooked to preserve as many nutrients as possible and is free from fillers and artificial flavors. All the ingredients are from the U.S.A. and are of high quality. It’s suitable for pups with sensitive tummies, and they will quickly regain any weight that they’ve lost. The kibble pieces are small, which is great for puppies but a struggle for bigger dogs.

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5. ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Although expensive, ORIJEN Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is well-loved by both dogs and owners and has every reason to be at the top of this list. With beef, wild boar, goat, lamb, and lamb liver as the first few ingredients, you already know that this is a meal suited for a high-performance dog, with a 38% protein content. It includes essential vitamins and minerals, with the remaining 85% consisting of animal ingredients.

The kibbles are freeze-dried coated, locking in the fresh, tasty ingredients. Dogs on this kibble often experience better skin and a reduction in rashes and shedding. They often start smelling better too—from their breath to their body odor. The only downsides are that it’s expensive and that the bag isn’t resealable.

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6. Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food

Specifically designed for hunting dogs is the Inukshuk Professional Dry Dog Food. With its 30% protein and 25% fat, your dog will receive the high nutrition and energy necessary for a high-performance lifestyle. It’s also packed with prebiotics and omega-3 fatty acids to keep your dog healthy and their coat flourishing, along with aiding in good joints for their activities.

This kibble is nutrient-dense and contains 578 kcal/cup, which means that you can give your dog everything that they need in a smaller serving of food, which ultimately saves you money. Inukshuk is a family-owned business that cares about dogs, and they give you the option to buy straight from them too.

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7. VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food

The VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food is a great dog food for hunting dogs. Over 85% of this dog food is made of meat protein, with a few of the ingredients being beef meal, pork meal, and chicken meal, thus giving your dog plenty of nourishing proteins.

It’s also high in fat, with a crude content of 20%, so your hunting dog has the energy that they need for high performance. It’s suitable for active puppies and adults, as well as lactating females. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals to maintain your dog’s health and is highly digestible.

All the ingredients in this product are sourced from the U.S.A., and none of them contain gluten, corn, wheat, or grain. The kibble is small, though, and may prove challenging for large dogs to eat.

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8. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food

Even though the Wellness Core Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food is pricey, it’s highly worth it and acts as one of the best foods that you can get for your hunting dog. Since it’s made from human ingredients, it’s packed with nutritious value. Most dogs love this food and tend to get upset if you switch from it.

Overall, it’s good for your dog’s coat and gives them a strong muscle tone. It’s pricey, but if you have the budget for food of this quality, we highly suggest that you get it.

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9. Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance All Life Stages High-Protein 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

The Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance All Life Stages High-Protein 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is specially made for high-performance canines, making it a perfect option for hunting dogs.

It’s a high-calorie food that will keep your dog energized and happy. The ingredients focus on protein, which is the main reason that this food will keep an active pup energized. On top of that, it includes live probiotics that aid in your dog’s health.

Unfortunately, the food’s price has steadily increased, leading many people to switch their dogs to something more affordable.

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10. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult High Protein Natural Chicken & Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food

One interesting thing about the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult High Protein Natural Chicken & Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food is that it comes in small kibble sizes. While this may frustrate some dogs, it’s great for hunting dogs that tend to eat their food incredibly quickly.

We love that it includes healthy carbs in the ingredients from foods like peas and sweet potatoes. It’s also made with real chicken to help your dog put on lean muscle.

If you do not want small kibble, you can skip this particular option, but if you’re happy with the kibble size, your hunting dog is sure to love the taste of this food.

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11. Nature’s Logic Canine Duck & Salmon Meal

Nature’s Logic Canine Duck & Salmon Meal is dog food for puppies and adults that are active in hunting, working, and sporting. It has one of the highest crude protein levels on this list at 38% and contains ingredients like duck meal, turkey meal, and salmon meal.

This recipe is natural, right down to the packaging, which was produced with renewable electricity. There are a couple of kibble options to choose from, so you can change up your dog’s food a bit and never give them the chance to get bored. The price has increased over the yeras, though, which has left a few consistent customers unhappy.

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12. Holistic Select Adult Health Lamb Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food

The Holistic Select Adult Health Lamb Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food is excellent for picky eaters. Sometimes, all the different flavors can be too much for a sensitive dog, and they may do better on a single-protein dog food. The first three ingredients of this food are lamb meal, oatmeal, and peas, and the rest are made up of probiotics, antioxidants, omega-3, glucosamine, and taurine that protect your dog’s heart and body.

The protein content is lower than the other dog foods on this list, at 23%, and the fat content is 15%, but that means this food can be enjoyed during the off-seasons when your dog doesn’t need as much energy as on the hunting grounds but enough to keep them active for hiking and other outdoor activities. The downside is that there have been a few quality-control issues around this particular dog food.

Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Dog Food for Hunting Dogs

All the dog foods listed here are good, but how do you know if they’re good for your dog specifically? You’ll need to make the decision based on your dog’s lifestyle, weight, health issues, and age. If your dog doesn’t have any health concerns, any of these foods will do them well. However, if you’re considering a different option for your hunting dog, there are a few factors that you should take into consideration.

Protein

First, your hunting dog needs a high-protein diet. Protein builds strong, lean muscles that give them the force to run, catch, and retrieve game while hunting. Make sure that an animal-derived protein is first on the list of ingredients because that’ll indicate its high quantity in the product, which is what your hunting dog needs.

Also, look for dog foods that have the name of the meat at the start of its name, as this indicates that the product will have at least 95% of the ingredients in the product. Venison, chicken, fish, and lamb are good, tasty protein options.

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Carbohydrates and Fat

Your dog food should contain around 20% carbohydrates. Carbs provide your dog with energy, but fats do too. Fats offer longer-lasting energy and are calorific. The good fat content will give your hunting dog the energy and endurance that they need, produce a healthy coat, and increase wound healing. However, it can also increase the risk of obesity.

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Avoiding Fillers

Many people have a negative understanding of by-products when it comes to dog food; however, most are completely safe and nutritious for your dog. Although they’re not suitable for people to eat, dogs will benefit from them, as they come directly from an animal. By-products include the lungs, brain, liver, bone, intestines, etc., which aren’t dangerous to canines.

Large amounts of fillers, however, should be avoided. These are used in place of natural, high-quality ingredients and can lead to health issues, allergic reactions, and problematic weight gain. Most dog foods contain a few fillers, which is okay if they’re near the bottom of the ingredients list. Certain fillers, such as rice, are considered “good,” but you should always avoid MSG and syrups.

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Energy

The number of calories that you should serve your dog will depend on their weight and energy levels. During hunting season, your dog will burn more calories and require more energy to perform well. Even the weather has an impact on their energy levels. If they’re hunting in the cold, they’ll be burning even more calories because their bodies will be working harder to keep them warm.

When your dog isn’t hunting, they won’t require as many calories because they won’t be burning as much energy. Feeding your dog the same number of calories as you fed them during the hunting season may result in unhealthy weight gain.

A hunting dog burns more energy than a normal dog and therefore, requires high-performance food, which differs from normal dog food with its higher protein and fat content.

Final Thoughts

At the top of our list is The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe, thanks to its fresh, all-natural ingredients. The best budget dog food among these reviews is the Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. It may be cheaper but it doesn’t skimp on quality.

Remember to only use these food options during hunting seasons, as the high protein and fat content will cause weight gain if consumed in the same way during the off-season.

• See Also: Healthiest Dog Breeds

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Featured Image Credit: Nadezhda Zaitseva, Shutterstock