Like most dog mamas out there, I highly prioritize the health of my two pups. Halle and Indy are part of my family and I want them to live and thrive as long as they possibly can. Halle is, somehow, already eight years old! I want to supplement her and Indy’s daily meals with beneficial ingredients so that both of them can continue to thrive and stay active.

However, sometimes making them a homemade and nutritious meal – on top of making meals for my partner and myself, working all day, fitting in the gym, and doing chores – seems nearly impossible. Time just always tends to run out!

Picking the “Woof” freeze-dried dog food from New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. seemed like an easy choice because of the quality of ingredients and the additions of superfoods; like organic virgin coconut oil, Manuka honey, New Zealand Green mussels, and more. I don’t think I have ever seen a kibble with Hoki oil added to it! An extra bonus is that by choosing their freeze-dried wild goat dog food and air-dried venison treats, I get the opportunity to support a women-owned, sustainable business!

Additionally, I have a total crush on the country of New Zealand. I studied abroad in Auckland in 2014 and was devastated when my student visa ran out. After visiting countries around the world, I still think New Zealand is by far one of the most beautiful. Why wouldn’t I want my dogs’ food and treats to come from there?

The best part is that both Indy and Halle love this food! I have used the freeze-dried dog food as a food topper to get them both to be a little more excited about meals. Both of them are picky eaters and have loved this addition.

 

At a Glance: The Best New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Dog Products

 

About The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co.

Amber and Jacqueline started The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Company to ensure their fur babies and others, cats and dogs alike, were fed wholesome and nutritious meals and treats. The “Woof” dog product line and the “Meow” cat food line are manufactured in New Zealand in small batches and are made of whole ingredients, chosen for their benefits to our pets’ skin, fur, gut health, and overall well-being.

None of their products include artificial colors, flavors, and/or preservatives. Their line of cat and dog food products are all grain-free, corn-free, and soy-free. Instead, the New Zealand Pet Food Co. chooses natural and simple ingredients like wild goat, venison, lamb liver, kelp, rosemary, Hoki Oil, and more to make their foods delicious and equally nutritious for our furry friends. Each ingredient is sourced sustainably from local farms and suppliers across New Zealand and is freeze-dried or air-dried for our convenience.

 

 

Product Overview

Here is everything you need to know when ordering the “Woof” Freeze-dried and Air-dried dog food and treats. The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Company incorporates only raw and natural ingredients into their pet food recipes and focuses on high-quality meats and superfood additives. Their variety of different flavors, sizing, and drying methods allows you to conveniently add nutrient-dense food to your pets’ existing diet plan and improve your pets’ overall health!

Where to Buy

You can find The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Company’s line of dog and cat food treats all over the world including in New Zealand, the U.S., Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan. In the U.S. you can find some of their options at local pet stores, on Amazon or Chewy.com.

You cannot order directly from their website currently.

Freeze-Dried or Air-Dried?

All of the food products are either freeze-dried or air-dried. These processes protect the high-quality list of ingredients, their natural enzymes, and nutrients. So no matter if you pick the products up from the shop or order them online, your pets aren’t missing out on any of the nutritional value. The air-dried food options seemed a bit bigger but the more unique flavors are only offered in freeze-dried. You can serve either air-dried or freeze-dried food as is or soak in water for 10 minutes to give the food a “meatier” texture.

Feeding Guides for All Ages and Sizes

All of the “Woof” food recipes, whether freeze-dried or air-dried, are suitable for all pet sizes and ages. They give you a feeding guide on how much to give your dogs based on their size. They even show you how much you should be using to top your dog’s food or mix it in, depending on what you’re using the food for. This food is also not harmful when it is mixed in with other kibble, which is great! All of the “Woof” dog recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by “AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages”.

Sizing and Value

The food bags are not large. My Wild Goat Recipe for freeze-dried dog food weighs 9.9 oz. While this dog food is on the pricier side, the quality of ingredients and the higher nutritional value it has over other kibbles on the market make it worth it. I have been using the freeze-dried dog food as a “topper” on my dogs’ Blue Buffalo chicken recipe kibble, which will allow it to last longer. Something to keep in mind is that this dog food has no preservatives, making it have a nearer expiration date. This is printed on the back of the bag.

 

Reviews of Our 2 Favorite Woof Recipes

1. “Woof” Freeze-Dried Food – Wild Goat Recipe

This freeze-dried food is a great topper or alternative to canned wet food. Personally, both of my dogs get terrible diarrhea when they eat canned wet food. But rehydrating this food and using it as a supplement to their dry food was a hit! They loved it, ate every bite, and we didn’t have to wake up every hour on the hour to let them out to the backyard to do their business. I also love that Indy and Halle are getting all their nutrients just by adding a bit of this food to their bowls every meal.

---

2. “Woof” Air-Dried Dog Bites – Venison Recipe

These are great treats to use for any occasion, both Indy and Halle love them! They’re not too big, but big enough that one treat for each dog is enough to be their dessert after a meal. I think they may be slightly too big to be used as training treats. These treats do not require rehydration and can be served as is.

Our Experience With The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co.

I opted for the freeze-dried “Wild Goat” dog food recipe to use as a topper to make meals a bit more appetizing for my pups. I also got the air-dried Venison recipe dog bites as a fun treat for my pups to try. I was so excited to try these when they came in the mail for my pups. I loved the company’s ideals and goals and thought it might be a great addition to their existing meal plan.

The variety of flavors that The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. offers are super unique and my two dogs typically get a chicken and rice recipe so I wanted to offer them something different.

For context, my dogs are three and seven years old. Halle is a Border Collie mix, is the older of the two, and she has always been a grazer. She never eats her full breakfast in the morning, and instead snacks on it throughout the day, and then eats her dinner way later than everyone else. Indy eats as soon as the bowl hits the floor. However, they are both equally picky when it comes to human food, treats, and kibble. I have seen them both spit out banana slices, homemade puppy cupcakes, and bacon-flavored dog treats.

Halle has some minor joint issues from getting older and Indy has always had skin issues, especially in the summer. I have looked at supplements to address both issues for both dogs in the past and have been met with a lot of overpriced or over-processed products.

Additionally, Halle technically became an “elderly” dog this year –  according to our vet. And with that in mind, I really wanted to ensure she was getting nutrient-dense food that would help her continue to stay active in her old age. That food has to be packed with superfoods, nutrients, and all the healthy enzymes because she really only eats once a day.

I used the freeze-dried food as a topper and gave it to them both dry. Immediately, Indy ate it all. Halle was a little more hesitant, but she did eventually eat it. Halle fell in love with the venison treats right away. I hydrated the freeze-dried wild goat food and tried that as a topper the next morning for her breakfast and she loved it! I could tell that the pellets took on a wet-food consistency that she clearly enjoyed. She ate it all in one sitting, which is a huge deal for us in this household.

Indy loved the food dry or hydrated. She also got into her sitting position and waited patiently when we pulled out the venison treat bag, I didn’t even have to give her a command.

I love that they are both getting all of those added health benefits from the oils, honey, mussels, and kelp, plus all of the nutrients from the meat-focused food. I also love that this is a woman-owned company and all of their products are sustainable. All of these factors contribute to making this brand an easy choice.

 

Conclusion

If you are looking for a sustainable and healthy supplement to add to your dog’s current diet routine, I highly recommend choosing one of the freeze-dried or air-dried dog food recipes from The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Company.

While they might be a tad more expensive, the benefits they offer your furry friends for their metabolism, digestion, skin, coat, and even brain and eye development are well worth the cost. Lastly, your pups will love the taste and you can rest easy knowing you are giving your dogs the best of the best with real ingredients from all over New Zealand.