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Feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet is vital to keep them in tip-top condition. With so many different brands of dog food on the market, it can be overwhelming to pick what’s best for your dog.
You’ve probably read countless of articles and forums to find the “perfect” food for your dog, but everything you read seems contradictory – one website tells you “this food is good”, another tells you it’s worse than giving your dog a cheeseburger! Different dog food brands claim to do all types of miracles and benefits. However, it’s never certain whether brands are actually telling the truth. This is where Instinct by Nature’s Variety comes in. The Instinct range is completely natural, nutritious, raw, and as close to a dog’s original diet as possible.
Nature’s Variety currently offers two food ranges: Instinct and Prairie. They are available for both cats and dogs in wet, dry, and treat form. In this article, I’ll be taking a closer look at the Instinct dry dog food range, as well as recalls of Nature’s Variety. There will also be reviews of the top five products the Instinct line has to offer!
What Is A Raw Diet?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. A raw diet for your dog sounds intimidating and overly complicated, but it’s really not. Here’s a brief overview of what a raw diet is.
Raw diets are extremely beneficial for your dog as they contain no preservatives, chemicals, or other artificial ingredients. Dogs initially survived on raw meat before they were domesticated, so you don’t have to worry about it harming your dog. Raw diets have a range of health benefits on dogs, including cleaner teeth, higher energy levels, healthier skin, and better digestion. Some owners decide to create their own raw diets, but this is not recommended unless you have extensive knowledge about them. Instinct by Nature’s Variety is high-quality, natural and raw food for your dog so you don’t have to do any of the hard work.
Is Nature’s Variety A Good Brand?
Like with any dog food brand you’re not too familiar with, you’re probably wondering whether Nature’s Variety is a reputable company that you can trust. The answer to this is a definite yes.
Nature’s Variety was founded in 2002 by Bob Milligan and initially started in Lincoln, Nebraska, with the sole purpose of transforming dogs’ lives by creating quality raw food that is easily accessible by people. Now based in St. Louis, Missouri, Nature’s Variety is known for its high-quality and complete natural pet food products.
They’re passionate about their craft and believe that dogs (and cats!) deserve the very best nutrition, which comes in the form of raw diets. Their raw food range called Instinct uses pure, natural ingredients that are high in protein, vitamins, and nutrients. Instinct by Nature’s Variety makes feeding raw diets simple, easy and stress-free.
In regard to recalls, Nature’s Variety has only had four, which were all for minor reasons. One in February 2010 and February 2013 were issued by the FDA on their Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet products and Raw Organic Chicken Formula foods. The former was recalled due to a worry about possible salmonella contamination, while the latter was recalled due to concerns of a choking hazard from foreign bodies. The other two recalls were completely voluntary. With only four recalls in the company’s lifetime, this shows that Nature’s Variety is a reputable and trustworthy brand.
Instinct By Nature’s Variety Dog Food Reviews – Top 5!
Here are five reviews of some of the best dog food the Instinct range by Nature’s Variety has to offer!
Instinct By Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe With Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
Nature’s Variety original formula is made with real chicken (as the name would imply!) and vegetables, as well as probiotics, natural omegas, and antioxidants. The food is well-balanced and high in protein, making it a great choice for your dog. Nature’s Variety only uses the best, natural ingredients. Their products never contain artificial colors, preservatives, or any grains, wheat, soy, or other fillers.
The chicken used in Nature’s Variety’s original dry dog food is cage-free and the primary ingredient (for high protein!). The food features 70 percent real animal ingredients, as well as healthy oils, and 30 percent fruits and vegetables. The food keeps your dog’s skin and coat healthy, aids with digestion, and supports their immune system.
This product can cause gas in dogs, so this is something to be aware of if you try it. Additionally, the food can also cause some digestion issues, especially when you first switch your dog over to it. This could be helped by mixing your dog’s old food with their new one for at least two weeks to make the transition easier.
Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free With Real Lamb Dry Dog Food
This type of dry food by Nature’s Variety is designed for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies. The ingredient list is intentionally minimal to make it easier for dogs with sensitivities to digest. The only animal protein is grass-fed lamb, which is less irritating on the gut and provides your dog with amino acids. The food also contains only one vegetable and no grains, preservatives, or artificial colors.
Additionally, as this food is made for dogs with food allergies, there are no eggs, chicken, beef, fish, sweet potato, potato, grain, chickpeas, dairy, corn, soy, or wheat present in the ingredients. This is to make sure it caters to dogs with most food sensitivities.
However, not all dogs are fond of the taste of the Limited Ingredient Diet range. This could be due to its very short ingredient list, which could indicate a lack of flavor.
Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe With Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
If you’re on the hunt for a grain-free nutritious food for your small dog, then the small breed formula by Nature Variety’s Instinct line might be for you. It’s specifically tailored for small breeds to keep them fit and strong. The kibble is mixed with small pieces of freeze-dried raw meat to make it high in protein. Featuring cage-free chicken as the main ingredient, the food has a great balance of fat, protein, and calories to make sure your small dog keeps an ideal weight. Also included in the ingredients are probiotics, omegas, and antioxidants. These aid with digestion and promote a healthy coat and immune system.
You also don’t have to worry about your small dog’s bones and teeth as this food by Nature’s Variety contains calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth, as well as natural glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.
The only downside for this product is that some dogs may leave the kibble and only eat the freeze-dried chicken pieces. This is especially true for fussy eaters. Additionally, there isn’t a huge amount of the freeze-dried chicken bits mixed into the food.
Raw Boost Mixers Lamb Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food Topper
To add some extra flavor and nutrition to your dog’s ordinary food, Nature’s Variety’s Instinct range has you covered with their tasty toppers. Food toppers are not a complete meal and should only be used to complement your dog’s normal diet. The ingredients in the Raw Boost Toppers contain no potato, corn, wheat, soy, grain or other fillers. There are also no artificial colors or preservatives. This topper is full of protein from grass-fed lambs and lamb organs, as well as non-GMO fruits and vegetables.
The Raw Boost Toppers by Nature’s Variety’s Instinct line is good for dogs who aren’t too keen on the taste of their normal diet and for when you want to give them an extra boost in nutrients. This topper helps with digestion, supports healthy skin, and gives your dog the energy they require to be fit and healthy.
However, the bag sizes for this product are fairly small and don’t contain a huge amount of servings. This wouldn’t be much of an issue for small dogs but could be for large breeds who require bigger portion sizes.
Raw Boost Senior Grain-Free Recipe With Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
The Raw Boost line from Instinct also offers a formula designed for elderly dogs. Senior dogs need a bit of a boost in nutrients, as well as higher protein to keep them healthy. Despite the graying fur and slower movements, your elderly dog still has a lot of energy left in them. This dry food gives them the strength and nutrition to be the best versions of themselves.
Made with real chicken, this food is packed with animal protein to keep your dog’s muscles strong and fit. DHA from chicken eggs is also included for good brain and eye health, as well as phosphorus and calcium to keep teeth and bones strong. The inclusion of L-Carnitine keeps your dog’s metabolism in good working order, while also burning excess fat. Natural chondroitin and glucosamine also keep your dogs’ hips and joints in great condition.
There isn’t a lot of negatives with the senior formula by Nature’s Variety’s Instinct range, but similar to the Raw Boost Dry Food for small dogs, there isn’t a huge amount of freeze-dried chicken pieces included in the mix.
Final Thoughts
Instinct by Nature’s Variety is an excellent line of dog food. The company is fantastic, and they genuinely care about the well-being and nutritional needs of your dog. Nature’s Variety uses only the best and natural ingredients in their products, making their dog food stand out from other brands of a similar price. You can rest assured knowing that Nature’s Variety has only had four recalls in their lifetime, which is minor compared to how long the company has been around. Nature’s Variety is a reputable, safe, and completely trustworthy brand that you can rely on.
If you’re looking for a high-quality, natural, and nutritional food for your dog, then Instinct by Nature’s Variety is a great choice. There is a huge selection of products in the line, which means you can find a diet for your dog no matter their age, size, and dietary requirements. If you take a scroll through websites like chewy.com, you can see for yourself the huge number of great reviews Nature’s Variety’s Instinct range has. Dog owners are obviously very satisfied with the company and hopefully, you will be too!
Top Picks For Our Dogs
- BEST PUPPY TOY
We Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs - Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. - BEST DOG CHEW
We Like: Bones & Chews Bully Sticks - All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. - BEST DOG TREATS
We Like: Crazy Dog Train Me Treats - One of our favorite treats for training our service dog puppies. - BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.
For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog.