Ziwi Peak Dog Food Review 2026: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Introduction

When it comes to commercial dog food, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find something better than Ziwi Peak. It offers high-quality, environmentally friendly ingredients that combine the nutrition of a raw diet in a convenient dry food form.

Switching your dog to another brand is a big step. You take the risk of spending money on something they might not like or on food that is low in quality, hiding behind excellent marketing.

We’ve collected everything you’ll need to know about Ziwi Peak so that you can make an informed decision for your furry best friend.

At a Glance: The Best Ziwi Peak Dog Food Recipes:

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Our Favorite		Ziwi Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried	High-quality protein Filled with vitamins and minerals GMO, glycerin, and grain-free	Check Price
		Ziwi Peak Beef Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food	High-quality protein High-quality ingredients Suitable for all ages and breeds	Check Price
		Ziwi Peak Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food	High-quality protein Lower in protein and fat High-quality ingredients	Check Price
		Ziwi Peak Mackerel & Lamb Dog Food	Lower in protein and fat High-quality ingredients No unnecessary carbohydrates or fillers	Check Price

Ziwi Peak Dog Food Reviewed

Ziwi Peak dog food is considered a high-end dog food that uses quality ingredients from New Zealand. The connection between their food and where it is sourced is important to the Ziwi Peak Beef Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food.

Who Makes Ziwi Peak Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?

Ziwi Peak manufactures natural dog food using an innovative air-drying system. The idea was to produce ready-to-serve dog food with no fillers, artificial additives, or binders.

In 2002 the founder, Peter Mitchell, wanted to create food that had the benefits of a raw diet with the safety and convenience of dried food. As the company has grown, it has stayed true to its founder’s values and vision.

Ziwi Peak strives to use the most nutritious raw ingredients, sourced only from sustainable, free-range farms. While the brand is accessible in the United States, some recipes will be harder to locate than others.

What Is Air-Dried Food?

While conventional dog foods are mass-produced and cooked at high temperatures, Ziwi Peak takes a different approach. The recipes are made in small batches and blended. Each recipe includes fresh or raw meat, seafood, organs, and bone, which is boosted with superfoods.

The mixture is poured onto trays and placed into dryers, which gently dries the food in a circular motion. This process removes pathogenic bacteria; once dried, the food is cut into bite-size pieces and quality tested.

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

Ziwi Peak’s recipes primarily consist of meat and fish ingredients (96% of the ingredients are meat). As a consequence, the nutritional benefits are impressive, but it also means they are extremely high in animal-based protein and fat.

This is beneficial for active pups, but if your dog is not very active, slightly older, or susceptible to weight gain, the high-fat content could cause a problem.

High-fat recipes include the Beef or Lamb recipes, but customers looking for a diet that’s high in protein and low in fat should consider the Venison or Mackerel & Lamb recipe.

If your dog needs something even lower in fat which is also high in protein, look into Annamaet Dog Food. The Lean recipe has a crude protein of 30.0%, and maximum fat sits at 9.0%. Other suitable options are Eagle Pack and Nulo Freestyle if you’re seeking dog food with low-fat content.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good & Bad)

We’ve already mentioned the choices Ziwi Peak makes regarding its recipes, but we think it’s worth going into more detail. Their recipes aren’t outsourced to third parties. Instead, they’re produced in dedicated facilities in New Zealand.

Each recipe is made without unnecessary carbohydrates and is free from artificial preservatives. Ziwi Peak avoids high glycemic ingredients such as potato and grain, which are associated with diabetes and obesity.

Their recipes are made with the idea that, in nature, dogs consume whole animals to obtain all their nutritional needs. This means they don’t just eat muscle meat but also organs and bones. Ziwi Peak’s PeakPrey recipes feature a minimum of 30% organs and bones.

Each recipe features a minimum of 10% superfoods, such as cold-washed green tripe or poultry heart, organic kelp, or mussels. These nutritional boosts are a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support your pet’s heart, brain, and joint function while promoting the health of the skin and coat.

Grain-Free Diets and Heart Disease

You may have also heard of the link between grain-free dog food causing canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and wonder if you should be worried. However, the investigation by the FDA seemed to connect recipes labeled “grain-free” that contained lentils, peas, and other legume seeds (pulses), and potatoes in various forms (flour, protein, etc.) as the primary ingredients, which Ziwi Peak does not produce.

There is still plenty of confusion about the link between DCM and grain-free diets, and experts don’t know enough about what is causing heart disease in dogs that eat grain-free food.

Are Dogs Carnivores?

Ziwi Peak has promoted its brand around the idea that all dogs are carnivores, which is why there is such an emphasis on meat in its recipes. However, like humans, dogs are actually omnivores. This means that most canines will thrive on a balanced diet of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

PetMD argues that excessive protein consumption is unnecessary for dogs at the very least but could be harmful to dogs with medical conditions.

A Quick Look at Ziwi Peak Dog Food

Recall History

Currently, Ziwi Peak doesn’t have any reported recalls.

Reviews of the 3 Best Ziwi Peak Dog Food Recipes

1. Ziwi Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food – Our Favorite

The Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, like all Ziwi Peak recipes, is made up of lamb, lamb organs, and bone. This recipe is high in fat (33.0% minimum) and high in protein (35.0%), which means it’s unsuitable for dogs that are not active or tend to put on weight.

The recipe has new green mussels as a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which promote long-term joint health and mobility. Kelp is also a great addition, as it’s easy to digest and rich in protein. It’s also packed with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Another notable ingredient is inulin, which is a starch-like compound and is a natural source of dietary fiber. It’s also a prebiotic that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract.s

The recipe is GMO, glycerin, and grain-free and avoids high glycemic ingredients like tapioca starch and potatoes.

2. Ziwi Peak Beef Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food

The Ziwi Peak Beef Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food is part of the Provenance recipes, which aren’t available in all markets. The recipe features five types of meat and fish and is suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds.

Just like the previous recipe, it also includes inulin from chicory and dried kelp. The recipe also has eggs, which are a great source of fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins.

The fat and protein are similar to the previous recipe, with the protein sitting at 38.0% minimum and the fat at 32.0% minimum. This, of course, means there would be problems for dogs prone to putting on weight or that don’t lead a particularly active lifestyle.

The recipe is named after the Hauraki Plains farmlands, which were the inspiration for the ingredients. Hauraki Plains can be served as a complete meal or as a topper.

3. Ziwi Peak Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food

The Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food is moisture-rich and contains 92% meat, organs, bone, and New Zealand green mussels.

It is noticeably lower in protein and fat than the dry dog food examples, with the protein sitting at 9.0% minimum and the fat 5.5% minimum. The ingredients follow the same pattern, with chicken, chicken organs, and bone appearing at the top of the list. Chickpeas are listed in this recipe, and like peas, lentils, and beans, they are nutrient and fiber-rich.

Like the company’s dry dog food, this is a grain-free recipe without cheap fillers.

What Other Users Are Saying

• DogFoodAdvisor: “Ziwi Peak is a grain-free air-dried raw dog food using a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein…” and they rate it as “Highly Recommended.”
• Watchdog Labs: While they say the food “is a great quality dog food at a high price,” they also mentioned the company was not transparent when contacted. However, they state, “Overall, Watchdog Labs recommends this product.”
• Amazon - As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.

Conclusion

Ziwi Peak is undeniably one of the most high-quality dog foods on the market. They are also one of the more expensive options, and their recipes are not suitable for all canines. If you are unsure about starting your dog on a new diet, contact your vet for some advice. Ziwi Peak may be costly, but they are an excellent choice if you have the money to spare.

Related Reads:

• When To Switch to An Adult Dog Food? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

• 10 Best Dog Foods on Chewy - Reviews & Top Picks