Dog Standards is a newer fresh dog food brand available in Ontario, Canada (founded at the end of 2021). Currently, they offer three different lightly cooked dog food recipes that are balanced for both adult dogs and puppies. Each recipe is higher in protein, moderate in fat, and lower in carbohydrates – making them a great option for moderately active dogs, or as a topper for a picky pup. All recipes are single protein making it easy to avoid potential dog food allergens.
Overview:
Company Responded to Questions Asked via Email: Yes, a company representative answered questions via email in February 2023.
Who formulated Dog Standards lightly cooked dog foods?
Dog Standards works with a team of Veterinary Nutritionists. Each vet nutritionist is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN). Their qualifications include:
- Vet Nutritionist #1: D.V.M., Ph.D.
- Vet Nutritionist #2: D.V.M., DACVN, DACVIM
- Vet Nutritionist #3: Ph.D., D.V.M., DACVN
Where are Dog Standards Human-Grade Dog Food Recipes Manufactured?
Dog Standards is manufactured in a local human-grade food production facility. The facility is federally inspected and adheres to the safety standards of human-grade food production and is HAACP and CFIA certified. Dog Standards staff members are on-site for every batch produced as the facility is located in Ontario.
Where does Dog Standards source their ingredients from?
Dog Standards ingredients are sourced from trusted, federally inspected human-grade Canadian suppliers. The Dog Standards supplement is manufactured just for Dog Standards and is produced in a Health Canada licensed facility as well as registered with the FDA and is also a human-grade facility. The supplement also undergoes microbiological and heavy metals testing.
What Quality Control Procedures does Dog Standards Lightly Cooked Dog Food perform on their foods?
Dog Standard’s quality control team requires a Certificate of Analysis and a Letter of Grantee for every ingredient used in their recipes. Ingredients are audited upon arriving at their facility to see if they are to spec, ensuring that color, smell, temperature, etc. are all checked for.
Pathogens (Clostridium perfringens, salmonella, listeria and E.coli) are tested on every batch produced. All product goes through a metal detector to look for metal foreign objects. Following clearance from the Dog Standards lab, the lot is then released and transferred to the fulfillment center.
Dog Standards utilizes a “test and hold” protocol to ensure that all products test negative for pathogens before being delivered to our customers.
Has Dog Standards done Digestibility or AAFCO Feeding Trials?
No Digestibility or AAFCO Feeding Trials have been performed thus far. However, there are plans to perform Digestibility Trials in 2023.
Are Full Nutritional Profiles Found Online for the Dog Standards Recipes?
Guaranteed analysis and typical analysis are not available online, however are available if requested via email.
Has Dog Standards Dog Food ever been recalled?
No.
Dog Standard Recipes:
Chicken and Sweet Potato Dog Food Recipe
The Dog Standards chicken and sweet potato dog food recipe is moderately high in both protein and fat, and more moderate in carbohydrates. In comparison to the other two recipes from this brand, the chicken and potato recipe is slightly higher in fiber and lower in caloric density, making it potentially a better option for dogs who have a lower activity level, or a senior dog who needs a diet slightly higher in fiber. But overall composition is still most appropriate for a moderately active dog.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 36% | Protein | 32% | Protein | 77.7 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 18% | Fat | 41% | Fat | 40.9 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 32% | Carbs | 27% | Carbs | 65.5 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Ground chicken, sweet potato, white potato, carrots, chicken liver, broccoli, coconut oil, salmon oil, Dog Standards Nutrient Blend (taurine, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, vitamin D3, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamin, choline).
AAFCO Statement: Dog Standards Chicken and Sweet Potato Dog Food is formulated to be complete and balanced according to AAFCO nutrient profiles for all lifestages.
Balanced for puppies and adult dogs.
Beef and Carrot Recipe Dog Food Recipe
The Dog Standards beef and carrot recipe is moderate in protein and fat, and moderately low in carbohydrates. This composition typically works well for moderately active dogs.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 41% | Protein | 33% | Protein | 74 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 23% | Fat | 45% | Fat | 42.3 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 27% | Carbs | 22% | Carbs | 49.4 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Ground beef, brown rice, carrots, butternut squash, spinach, beef liver, safflower oil, salmon oil, chia seeds, Dog Standards Nutrient Blend (taurine, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, vitamin D3, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamin, choline).
AAFCO Statement: Dog Standards Beef and Carrot Dog Food is formulated to be complete and balanced according to AAFCO nutrient profiles for all lifestages.
Balanced for puppies and adult dogs.
Turkey and Pumpkin Recipe
The Dog Standards turkey and pumpkin dog food recipe is high in protein, moderately high in fat, and lower in carbohydrates. This composition may work well for a moderately active dog.
Estimated Nutrient Breakdown based on Guaranteed Analysis:
| Dry Matter | Caloric Distribution | Nutrient Density | ||||
| Protein | 45% | Protein | 35% | Protein | 80.2 | g/1000 kcal |
| Fat | 27% | Fat | 52% | Fat | 48.8 | g/1000 kcal |
| Carbs | 14% | Carbs | 12% | Carbs | 27.9 | g/1000 kcal |
Ingredients: Ground turkey, pumpkin, chickpeas, brown rice, carrots, kale, chicken liver, salmon oil, Dog Standards Nutrient Blend (taurine, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, vitamin D3, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamin, choline).
AAFCO Statement: Dog Standards Turkey and Pumpkin Dog Food is formulated to be complete and balanced according to AAFCO nutrient profiles for all lifestages.
Balanced for puppies and adult dogs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ( FAQ )
Where to buy Dog Standard fresh Dog Food?
Dog Standards Dog Food can be purchased through their website, and is currently only available across Ontario, Canada.
How do you store and feed Dog Standard Pet Food?
Dog Standards dog food recipes are shipped on dry ice in a thermal lined box. Shipping materials can be recycled after the Dog Standard fresh food packages are removed.
After foods are removed simply place 1-2 days worth of food in your fridge, and the rest into your freezer. Each package will have feeding instructions available with how much to feed per day.
With any diet change it’s recommended to weigh your dog one month after transition, then you can contact Dog Standards help desk if you need to adjust calories up or down.
Is Dog Standard cooked Food Balanced for Puppies?
Yes, all the Dog Standard recipes are complete and balanced for “all life stages”, which means they are balanced for puppies and adult dogs.
Dog Standard Dog Food vs. Kibble – how does it compare?
Generally speaking, we find that fresh foods offer lower caloric density, and higher digestibility when compared to the typical kibbled diet. We also find that most dogs prefer lightly cooked food over a kibbled diet. Thus picky dogs, dogs who have trouble maintaining a healthy weight, or dogs that benefit from a food with higher digestibility may find a fresh food diet more beneficial.
Is Dog Standard a Raw Dog Food?
No, Dog Standard is lightly cooked to remove pathogens such as e-coli, salmonella, and listeria.
Can Dog Standard Dog Food be Used as a Topper?
Of course! You can use Dog Standard’s fresh food as a complete and balanced topper to your dog’s kibble, or as a sole diet. This can be a great option for picky eaters, those looking to keep within their budget, or as an enrichment option on a lick mat or in a westpaw.
Just keep in mind that calories will need to be adjusted if you are feeding the recipes as a topper. Currently, the Dog Standards ordering software calculator will give you feeding recommendations for their diets as a sole diet, or fed at 50% of calories. If you are looking to feed less than 50% of the diet as Dog Standards, you will need to adjust your delivery to the amount you need and will need to purchase a minimum amount of food for shipping.
How much does Dog Standard Dog Food Cost?
For a typical 50 lb dog who eats 1000 kcals per day, it would cost about $15.40 (Canadian) per day to feed the Turkey recipe.
Are Dog Standard Recipes Good for Dogs with Allergies?
Since each of the Dog Standard lightly cooked dog food recipes is limited in their ingredients and does not use multiple protein sources – dogs with food allergies may find these formulations beneficial. The most common dog food allergens we see are chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs – thus most dogs with food allergies may find the Turkey Recipe to be the best option. However, it’s important to understand that dogs can be allergic to any protein. So discussing which might be most appropriate with your veterinary team might be the best option.
For dogs with environmental allergies, any of these recipes may be beneficial as they are higher in protein and fat – which provides the body with the building blocks it needs to repair the skin after trauma.
Are Dog Standard Meals Good for Dogs with Loose Stools or Diarrhea?
There are many different types of gastrointestinal diseases seen in dogs. For dogs who have a gastrointestinal disease that would benefit from a highly digestible diet the turkey or beef recipe might be good options since they are higher in protein and fat, and lower in carbohydrates (which typically leads to a highly digestible diet). However since digestibility trials have not been done, we don’t have definitive data that these diets are highly digestible at this time.
For dogs prone to pancreatitis, these recipes are likely, not ideal, as they are not low-fat recipes. Typically for dogs prone to pancreatitis, we look for recipes that are less than 25-30g/1000 kcal of fat. And none of these recipes meet this requirement.
Dogs with food-responsive IBD may benefit from the limited ingredient nature of these diets (similar to dogs with food allergies), however, in some cases dogs with IBD will require a lower fat diet, or a higher fiber diet in order to control symptoms – which these diets do not offer.
Overall if your dog has a sensitive stomach it’s likely a good idea to discuss your dog’s diet history with your veterinary team prior to switching your dog’s diet.
About the Author: Nikki is a Registered Veterinary Technician (Veterinary Nurse) and Dog Mom with over a decade of experience with dogs and cats. Since graduation from college (BS Biology, Dip. Animal Nutrition, AS Animal Science) she has adopted two mixed breed dogs – Ranger and Ash, and has focused her time learning about pet food and nutrition.
Nikki shares information on a range of dog nutrition topics: from how to create a homemade complete and balanced dog food recipes, to how to choose a dog food. Nikki strives to give dog parents the information they need in order to make the best nutrition decisions for their pup!
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