The Canidae Dog Food Review: Tested & Evaluated 2023

Does your dog have food allergies or sensitivities like mine?

For dog owners looking for novel kibble recipes or just a way to help with their pup’s itchy skin, Canidae dog good is a great option loved by owners and dogs alike. 

Other Canidae Dog Food reviews only focus on their better-known PURE Grain-free line, but we did in-depth research on all their products available in Australia. We partnered up with veterinarians, canine nutritionists and dog parents and tested their dog food over the course of several months. After tonnes of testing and plenty of conjecture, our team of experts came up with this detailed review. Here’s everything you need to know to make the right nutritional choices for your pup:

Related: The Best Dog Food Australia.
Related: How To Choose The Right Dog Food?
Related: How Is Australia’s Dog Food Industry Regulated?
Related: What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
Related: AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison Australia.
Related: Understanding Guaranteed Analysis Levels in Dog Food.
Related: Real Meat vs Meat Meal.

Australia's Canidae Dog Food Review

Taste 3.5/5

Most pups love the taste of their Canidae food! Both the PURE Grain-free and whole-grain lines are popular among dogs of all ages. Even their weight-management options (with fewer carbs and fat) are well-received by most dogs. Plus, if you have a super picky eater at home, their wet food options are extra tasty.

However, compared to the grain-free version of Ziwi Peak, the taste of this brand is not as great. But it is good enough that most dogs belonging to our team of expert panel had no problem eating and finishing a bowl of their dog food.

Our dogs like this dog food and dives right into their meal. You just have to determine if your dog prefers the dry or wet food option to see if they will eat this, too. Considering this, we are giving 3.5 out 5 stars.

Ingredients 3.5/5

While Canidae has both “regular” and specialty dry dog food, most owners recognise them for their PURE Grain-free line.

Keep in mind that only the Canidae PURE line has a limited ingredient list. Other options available in Australia & NZ, like the “All Life Stages” line, are NOT grain-free nor have a limited ingredient list, while some PURE products have grains (mainly brown rice). It’s important to be aware of these differences and always read the packaging, especially when buying online.

But, if you really want a grain-free option to secure that your dog is not eating any ingredients that can be harmful to them, Ziwi Peak, one of the best-rated dog food in Australia, is a much better choice in terms of an allergen-free meal.

All Canidae products use wholesome, easily recognisable ingredients with animal protein and a healthy carb source. If your dog has food allergies or sensitivities like mine, the limited ingredients of the Canidae PURE Dog Food line are a good option, especially in the case of pups that can’t eat common ingredients like poultry or peas.

Before giving them this food, our team of experts recommend reading the ingredients and making sure that your dog is not allergic to any of its ingredients, specifically if it is not grain-free. Still, it has a good combination of ingredients than other cheap dog foods on the market.

Overall, we really like the composition of the PURE line, but we’re taking off 1 star because the labelling can be confusing (some PURE products are grain-free, others aren’t) and some products from the All Life Stages line use sunflower or soybean oil.

Protein content 4/5

Canidae dog food’s #1 ingredient in all their products is an animal protein. We really liked that in the PURE line most products have animal protein as the first two ingredients, usually from two different sources (i.e. Bison flavour has bison and lamb). Some items even have 3 different animal protein sources.

Their PURE grain-free products have between 30% and 32% of protein, which is well above the AAFCO-recommended amount of 18% minimum [1].

When compared to Eureka, which has one of the highest protein percentages in Australia, this percentage is slightly lower, but it is higher than most of the dog foods on the market. Also, it is more than enough for dogs who have an active lifestyle.

That means that your pup will have enough protein to build muscle and thrive without any supplementation. Keep in mind that most Canidae Grain Free reviews forget to mention that part of the protein sources in the line are presumably plant-based (like peas and chickpeas).

Still, we like the protein source and content of this dog food which can be given for all life stages. But it would be better if they were able to include all of the protein sources on the list for dog owners to know. Considering this, our expert team is giving Canidae a 4 out of 5.

Additives 4/5

Since experts at RSPCA Australia advise against pet-grade food with sulphites (linked to dangerous B1 deficiencies [2]), it’s really important to keep an eye out for the additives in your dog’s food.

When compared to Petzyo, this brand can compete in terms of being a healthy option for not using any sulphites as a form of preservation for their dog food. As dog owners, we want to ensure that our dogs are not only satisfied with their meals but also with their nutritional needs.

Canidae prides itself on only adding human-grade ingredients and no fillers to their food, so you can be sure your pup won’t ingest harmful additives. Canidae uses tocopherols (a form of Vitamin E), lecithin and rosemary extract as healthier preservatives that won’t threaten your dog’s health.

On top of the usual minerals and vitamins your pup needs to thrive, Canidae also includes live probiotics in their dry kibble: probiotics help your dog digest their food, feed their gut microbiome and avoids excess bloating.

We love the addition of vitamins and minerals to this dog food. But this can improve with more fruits and veggies. However, because of all the healthy additives and zero sulphites, we’re giving Canidae 4 out of 5 in this category.

Variety 4/5

Pups and their owners have many options to choose from! On top of their better-known PURE line (with both grain-free and whole-grain options), you also have the “All life stages” line and several other products to fit your dog’s needs.

Canidae is better in terms of wet and dry options when compared to Eureka, which offers only air-dried dog food. For those dogs who might have a hard time eating dry food, Canidae is a good choice.

Their PURE limited-ingredient line offers great variety for dogs like mine that have allergies or food sensitivities. And you can usually find at least 4 or 5 different flavours from that line to choose from when you get it in-store.

Canidae also carries dry and wet dog food options, as well as treats (both grain-free and regular) that you can use during training or just daily life. They have puppy and adult options, as well as products targeted at senior dogs (with extra add-ins for joint support) and others for weight management. This is especially important since obesity can be very dangerous to your dog. As researchers from a UK University found:

If you have a multi-dog household, many owners recommend the Canidae All life stages line that feeds dogs of all sizes, ages and needs. Keep in mind the latter doesn’t have grain-free options.

We’re taking a star off because while they do offer size-specific food in Australia, it’s difficult to find in-store and not all online retailers carry it. Plus, their small-breed options are much more limited flavour-wise. This is especially important for those with toy and small dogs and seniors that can have a harder time eating large kibble.

We love the variety of options that Canidae offers. They consider all life stages and even specifically formulated options that can be consumed by dogs that have food allergies. We also appreciate how they made their food easier to consume for puppies and senior dogs.

Price 4/5

While this isn’t the cheapest dog food available, it is pretty affordable considering the wholesome ingredients. On top of it, most retailers offer free shipping on orders over a certain threshold, and dog food in general is above that value especially if you buy for large dogs (so 10 kgs or more at a time).

Unlike Ziwi Peak, which is quite expensive but also contains high-quality ingredients, this is a pretty good deal for our dogs' everyday consumption and most Australian dog owners can definitely afford buying more.

We’re big proponents of investing in high-quality foods to save in vet bills down the road, so paying a bit more upfront is worth it. 

We like how low the price of this dog food is that anyone can buy, but at the same time, it considers healthy and nutrient-dense ingredients for our dogs to try. Because of this, our panel of experts is giving this a 4 out of 5 rating.

Canidae Puppy Food Review

This article wouldn't be complete without a puppy food review.

Unfortunately, while Canidae has different puppy options, Canidae Dog Food Australia only carries one.

That means puppy owners only have access to their Puppy Grain-free chicken & sweet potato flavour or will have to feed them the All Life Stages food. While less-than-ideal, it isn’t too bad since you do have access to both grain-free (the PURE Puppy option) or whole-grain options (All Life Stages).

However, we don’t like that there are no other options based on your dog’s size. As such, small and toy puppies will have to eat the same kibble as larger dogs. The lack of large-breed options is a concern with large and giant breeds since overfeeding or feeding a diet that’s too calorie-dense can cause brittle bones and decalcification.

Of course, you can always portion control your pup’s intake, but this can be tiresome and you need vet’s advice. This isn’t as much of an issue with puppy food targeted at large and giant breeds. If that’s your case, we recommend a puppy food adapted to your particular dog’s size.

Do Not Buy If

While this is a great option for many pups, our team of independent experts say you shouldn’t buy this brand if:

The Verdict

Every member of our team of independent experts really like this brand, especially if your pup needs a limited-ingredient diet. In general, both dogs and owners love Canidae, and their grain-free options are reasonably priced, taste great, and have no unhealthy fillers or preservatives, so it is a fairly good brand for us. We say, give it a chance!

Want to read more dog food brand reviews? Check out the below:

• Ivory Coat Dog Food Review
• Black Hawk Dog Food Review
• Advance Dog Food Review
• Farmers Market Dog Food Review
• Supercoat Dog Food Review
• Applaws Dog Food Review
• Optimum Dog Food Review
• Royal Canin Dog Food Review
• Nature's Gift Dog Food Review
• Baxters Dog Food Review
• Leaps & Bounds Dog Food Review
• Stay Loyal Dog Food Review
• Pedigree Dog Food Review
• Science Diet Dog Food Review
• Savour Life Dog Food Review
• Scratch Dog Food Review

References

1. AAFCO. “Calorie content – Pet food”. Available https://petfood.aafco.org/Calorie-Content#protein  
2. RSPCA Australia. “Are preservatives in pet food products a concern?”. Available https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/are-preservatives-in-pet-food-products-a-concern/
3. RSPCA Australia. “What should I feed my dog?”. Available https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-should-i-feed-my-dog/  
4. A.J. German, S.L. Holden, M.L. Wiseman-Orr, J. Reid, A.M. Nolan, V. Biourge, P.J. Morris, E.M. Scott. “Quality of life is reduced in obese dogs but improves after successful weight loss”. The Veterinary Journal. Volume 192, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 428-434, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.09.015. Available https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023311003698?via%3Dihub