Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

American Journey Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons & Recalls

Written by: Patricia Dickson

Last Updated on April 12, 2024 by Dogster Team

American Journey Dog Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons & Recalls

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give American Journey dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Introduction

American Journey dog food has quickly become a favorite of dog parents everywhere. However, if you’re searching for it in your local pet store or even online, you’re not likely to find it. This brand of food for dogs is specific to Chewy.

Cutting out the middleman in the equation gives Chewy the chance to produce high-quality, nutritious dog food that rivals the competition’s prices. It helps that the company also offers an automatic system where you can set up your dog food to be delivered each month and not have to worry about it again.

What are the pros and cons of American Journey? Have there been any recalls? We’ll talk about that and more in the guide below.

divider-dog paw

At a Glance: The Best American Journey Dog Food Recipes:

The American Journey dog food line carries more than a few different formulas. You can find them on Chewy’s website at any time. We’ve listed our top four favorites below and will review some of them specifically later in our guide.

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
American Journey Chicken & Sweet Potato American Journey Chicken & Sweet Potato
  • Deboned chicken as the first ingredient
  • Contains veggies and fruits
  • Made for dogs with grain allergies
  • Second place
    American Journey Healthy Weight Dog Food American Journey Healthy Weight Dog Food
  • Salmon is the first ingredient
  • Encourages weight loss
  • Full of protein
  • Third place
    American Journey Active Life Formula American Journey Active Life Formula
  • Salmon as the first ingredient
  • Made in the US
  • Contains fruits and veggies
  • American Journey Limited Ingredient American Journey Limited Ingredient
  • Lamb as a single animal protein source
  • Easily digestible carbs for all-day energy
  • Antioxidant-rich ingredients
  • American Journey Dog Food Reviewed

    While dog owners like that their dogs enjoy the taste of American Journey dog food, that’s not the only reason that modern pet owners are turning to the brand.

    Other reasons include the convenience of ordering pet supplies online, the fact that it’s cost-effective, and Chewy has a much larger supply than you’ll find at a local brick-and-mortar store.

    However, you shouldn’t change your dog’s food just because of those reasons.

    So, why should you switch your pet over to American Journey dog food? We’ll give you a few reasons, the pros, the cons, and more in our next sections.

    AMERICAN JOURNEY Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag

    Who Makes American Journey Dog Food, and Where Is It Produced?

    As previously stated, American Journey dog food is made and owned by the online pet supplier Chewy.com. American Journey is Chewy’s house brand.

    Most pet owners will be happy to know that the dog food is made right here in the United States, meaning you don’t have to worry about inferior ingredients. On top of that, you’re supporting your country when you purchase American Journey as well.

    Which Type of Dog Is American Journey Dog Food Best Suited For?

    Since American Journey is only sold online, you would think the choices would be limited. However, Chewy provides a wide variety of options with its dog food brand. You can find the popular dry food, wet food, and even treats for your dog.

    At the moment, there are four options for American Journey dry dog food. These are Limited Ingredient, High-Protein, Brown Rice, and Grain-Free. When searching through the categories, you’ll find specific formulas designed for puppies, senior dogs, weight management, and large breed dogs.

    This means that American Journey has pretty much whatever you need to keep your dog healthy and happy in the dry food line, but there aren’t as many options for the wet food.

    dog eating dog food
    Image Credit: Ayla Verschueren, Unsplash

    Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    The only place Chewy is lacking in its American Journey dog food lineup is small breed dogs. Unfortunately, they don’t have small breed formulas, but many pet owners don’t have a problem feeding their small breed dogs traditional food. While it’s possible to do so, it might not be the best idea.

    If you’re considering American Journey for your small breed dog, it’s best to consult with your vet before making the switch, just to be on the safe side.

    divider-dog

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    As with all dog foods, American Journey has good and bad primary ingredients.

    Protein

    American Journey products contain at least 31% protein, which is essential for your dog to be healthy and happy. What we like about this brand is that the protein is most often featured as the first ingredient in their recipes.

    Fiber

    As you know, fiber aids digestion, speeds up the process of elimination, and helps reduce or prevent constipation and diarrhea.

    dog eating in a food bowl
    Image Credit: cottonbro, Pexels

    Fat and Carbs

    Fat and carbs are essential to the health of your pet; American Journey contains 33% fat and 36% carbs.

    divider-paw

    A Quick Look at American Journey Dog Food

    Pros
    • Available online
    • Autoship available
    • Made in the USA
    • Transparent ingredient sources
    • No recalls
    Cons
    • Only available at Chewy
    • Started in 2017
    • No information on factory ownership available

    Recall History

    While there has been no recall history for American Journey dog food, it’s important to realize that the brand has only been around since 2017.

    There is also no information on the factory or factories that produce this brand, and there’s no way to see if they have other products that have been recalled.

    divider-dog paw

    Reviews of the 3 Best American Journey Dog Food Recipes

    While there are plenty of options on Chewy.com and for American Journey, we’ll give you a quick review of our favorites below.

    1. American Journey Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe

    AMERICAN JOURNEY Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag

    Our favorite blend of American Journey Dog food goes to the Chicken & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. We like that deboned chicken is listed as the first ingredient, it has quite a few veggies and fruits, and it’s high in protein.

    This is a grain-free recipe that is perfect for dogs with grain allergies, and it’s produced in the USA. It has 34% protein, 10% moisture, 15% fat, and 5% fiber.

    The drawbacks we found were that this brand is only sold at Chewy, and some users reported their dogs didn’t really like the flavor of the blend. There have also been some concerns raised by the FDA about feeding dogs grain-free dog foods. Therefore, it’s best to consult your vet to determine if this is indeed the right way to go when feeding your pet.

    Pros
    • Deboned chicken listed as the first ingredient
    • Contains veggies and fruits
    • Made for dogs with grain allergies
    • Produced in the US
    • Extremely high in protein
    Cons
    • Sold only on Chewy.com
    • Grain-Free concerns have been raised
    • Some dogs didn’t like the flavor

    2. American Journey Healthy Weight Formula

    AMERICAN JOURNEY Healthy Weight Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag

    At number two on our list is the Healthy Weight Salmon & Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog Food because dogs seem to enjoy the taste and can lose weight at the same time. The first listed ingredient is fresh-caught salmon, which is an excellent source of protein for your pet.

    Not only does the recipe promote healthy weight loss for your pet, but it’s also a great source of food for joint support as well. The breakdown of this blend includes 30% protein, 10% moisture, 9% fat, and a high 9% in fiber.

    The high fiber content is a concern because it can lead to digestive issues in some dogs. Since it is grain-free, it could cause issues that the FDA is checking into, so consult your vet before feeding grain-free food to your pet.

    Pros
    • Salmon is the first ingredient
    • Encourages weight loss
    • Full of protein
    • Produced in the USA
    • Healthy joint support
    Cons
    • May cause digestive problems
    • Only available on Chewy
    • Grain-Free may pose a problem

    3. American Journey Active Life Formula Dry Dog Food

    AMERICAN JOURNEY Active Life Formula Salmon, Brown Rice & Vegetables Recipe Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag

    Last but not least on our list is the Active Life Formula Salmon, Brown Rice, and Vegetable blend. This is another of the dry food lines, but it contains grains. It lists deboned salmon as the first ingredient on the list and has quite a bit more in the way of protein than other grain-inclusive dog foods on the market today.

    It also contains its fair share of fruits and veggies and skips on the soy, wheat, and corn. Active Life Formula has 25% protein, 6% fiber, 10% moisture, and 15% fat.

    The recipe has pea protein listed pretty high on the ingredients list, and as with the other blends, it’s only available at Chewy.

    Pros
    • Salmon as first ingredient
    • Made in the US
    • Contains fruits and veggies
    • Skips the soy, wheat, and corn
    • Has quite a bit of protein
    Cons
    • Pea protein is high
    • Available only at Chewy

    divider-dog

    What Other Users Are Saying

    As with any other dog food, American Journey dog food has its share of reviews. However, the general consensus is that most pet owners are happy with the food and their dogs love the taste.

    Of course, there are those that are worried about the grain-free controversy, and there are also those whose pets won’t eat the food. Also, some users are upset that the brand isn’t offered anywhere but on Chewy. However, all in all, the reviews are positive for American Journey.

    divider-paw

    Conclusion

    It seems that American Journey is a huge hit with pet owners and their dogs. The only problem we have overall is that the food isn’t designed for small breed dogs, but we hope that will change in the future.

    If you’re searching for healthy dog food for your canine pal that is cost-effective and can be auto-shipped, American Journey could be the right choice for you.

    Get Dogster in your inbox!

    Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.
    Dogster Editors Choice Badge
    Shopping Cart

    Pangolia

    © Pangolia Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.