Oh Canada, my home and now source of all my pet food. The list of Canadian made dog food is getting long, and that’s a good thing for all pet owners considering the country’s reputation for food safety.

I thought I knew all the brands that sport a red maple leaf in my local pet store, but it turns out there’s even more to learn about. That’s something I discovered after spending an afternoon at Pet Connects Expo, an industry trade show in Niagara Falls this year. More and more pet food is being made by family-owned businesses from sea to sea across the Great White North, and most are premium brands.

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Each of the pet food companies I investigated has unique formulas and marketing strategies, but one thing they all have in common is a focus on the healthiest formulas possible and a willingness to source primary ingredients from within Canada. Generally, beef, chicken, and pork are sourced from Canadian farms. However, some turkey comes from the US, and all lamb used in Canadian pet food is from New Zealand.

Canadian Suppliers Important

What goes in determines what comes out. Therefore, carefully chosen suppliers are significant to quality pet food – some manufacturers are even sourcing from their own family farms. Most companies proudly highlight proteins raised on Canadian farms, sustainably harvested fish from Canadian waters, and formulas free from unnecessary fillers or artificial additives. Buying Canadian isn’t just about patriotism — it’s about knowing exactly what ends up in the bowl and where it comes from.

Fortunately, quality, local, and home-grown are selling features of all the Canadian made dog food brands I researched after attending Pet Connects Expo (and then playing tourist along The Falls with my dog). Here are the dog food brands I found, several new to me, but none are new to the country.

Here’s the dogtrotting.net guide to five independent Canadian premium dog food brands:

COEVO Pet Nutrition, British Columbia

Nutritional formula is the selling feature of premium dog food brands and COEVO is a good example. Produced in Surrey, B.C., COEVO dog food claims to “mirror the animal proteins that hail from North America’s wild and cultivated landscapes.” What does that mean?

First, the company offers three lines of dog food named after Canadian landscapes: Wild Shores, Open Plains, and Valley Farms. Second, the formulas contain primarily meat, with some organ meat for flavour – or what they call “hereditary needs.” In essence, the kibble contains freeze-dried meats, flavours appealing to dogs, and no grains.I haven’t tried this one with my dog yet, but it is available in pet stores across Canada, especially along the west coast.

Norman’s Naturals, Ontario

Unlike other premium dog food brands, Norman’s Naturals doesn’t produce several lines but one quality food for all life stages. The focus of this brand of dog food is dried kelp and salmon oil – both are added to the kibble. According to the company, kelp can help support healthy digestion, immune function, skin and coat health, and everyday vitality. What’s not there are wheat, corn, or soy.

Yes, there was a Norman – he was a golden retriever and family member that inspired this dog food produced by Bio-Ag, a family business with more than four decades of experience in natural animal nutrition. Based in Wellesley, Ontario, Bio-Ag was primarily known for dog treats, including Bullwrinkles Beef Chews and Pork Roll, before developing the Norman’s Natural formula.

Horizon Pulsar, Saskatchewan

The Horizon Pulsar is a family-owned company established in 2006 that’s dedicated to sourcing locally. The company says they know their suppliers personally – and the fact Horizon is located in the country’s heartland makes it easier. Saskatchewan is a source of much of Canada’s produce and meat, even for people.

Horizon Pulsar (affiliate link) states the dog food formulations reflect an ‘ancestral way of eating,’ with added supplements to support immunity and digestive health. They achieve this by adding ingredients, such as probiotics and pineapple, two ingredients (along with New Zealand lamb) that aren’t sourced from Canada. Also, Horizon’s dog food is cooked slowly at a lower temperature for maximum nutritional retention.

Happy Tails Holistic Pet Food, British Columbia

Happy Tails is another premium Canadian brand produced on the West Coast and promotes itself as ‘holistic.’ What does this mean? It means whole: wholesome ingredients that are digestible and nutritious.

The company is family-owned, and raw ingredients are 86 per cent sourced from Canada – once again, the lamb comes from New Zealand. Because Happy Tails food contains no chemical preservatives, the shelf life is 18 months unopened. Once opened, consume within six months.

What’s a little different about this brand from others on the list is that Happy Tails pet food lines are produced according to life stages: puppy and kitten, adult, and senior. The need for protein changes at different stages in a pet’s life. Happy Tails uses an in-house veterinarian and pet nutritionist to help develop the formulas supporting healthy growth and longevity.

Canadian Naturals, British Columbia

Canadian Naturals, based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, has been small batch producing three lines of dog food: a gold label food with limited ingredients, a grain-free option, and the regular two-main-ingredient formulas in two different kibble sizes. Note that the last one is what I feed my dog regularly.

I alternate feeding my pup Canadian Naturals with chicken and brown rice and Canadian Naturals with lamb and brown rice (affiliate link). I give my spaniel the smaller-sized kibble, which contains grains. Research abounds about the grains versus grain-free in dog food, so it’s worth researching. (That could be a dogtrotting.net post for later).

Why did I select Canadian Naturals? Simple clear ingredients, Canadian produced and sourced, and a fair price point. (Added bonus – buy ten and get one free at Ren’s Pets). All ingredients are sourced in Canada – including lentils from Saskatchewan – except for the New Zealand lamb. Also, there are added probiotics, glucosamine, flaxseed, garlic, and herbs. And my dog eats it. She’s fussy.

NOTE: Chewy (affiliate) is currently delivering in selection areas of Ontario, Canada (and across the US). I use this service, and it’s fast, efficient and reliable. Please check to see if your favourite dog food is available:

Overall…

Clearly, if you’re not in Canada, some of these brands won’t be available to you. But if you are in Canada, I urge you to support this country’s pet industry if you’re not already. The pet industry is growing exponentially in many countries around the world. And that’s good news, because pets enhance our lives significantly, and good food enhances (and hopefully extends) theirs.

Premium brands are often more expensive, granted, especially if you’re comparing bag prices. But note that the recommended feeding amounts of all these brands listed are smaller than other types of food because the nutritional content is concentrated.

Smaller portion sizes also help stave off extra weight gain. Ultimately, Canada has respected food safety regulations, and this includes the pet food industry – especially when manufacturers source primary ingredients from Canadian food producers.

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What’s your dog food of choice and why? Let us know in the comments below…

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria.Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!