Do you ever stare at the rows of dog food in the pet store and feel completely overwhelmed? You want the best for your furry best friend, but the labels are confusing and the options seem endless. Many pet parents want the health benefits of a raw diet, but they struggle with the mess, the cost, and the safety concerns of handling fresh meat every single day.
Dry raw dog food is changing the game for families everywhere. It offers the high-quality nutrition of a raw diet with the simple convenience of traditional kibble. However, not all brands are created equal, and knowing which one provides real value for your dog can be a challenge. You need to know exactly what is in your dog’s bowl to ensure they stay happy, energetic, and healthy for years to come.
In this post, we will break down the science behind freeze-dried and air-dried raw foods. You will learn how to read ingredient labels like a pro and identify the red flags that many companies try to hide. We will also compare top brands so you can find the perfect match for your pup’s unique needs and your busy lifestyle. Let’s dive into the details and find the best way to fuel your dog’s adventures.
Top Dry Raw Dog Food Recommendations
- PREMIUM BLEND - Nutra Complete is veterinarian-developed with 95% ranch-raised beef & organs. Each delicious bite contains hand-selected ingredients for nutrition that help support healthy digestion, a thick coat, healthy immune function, and overall health and happiness.*
- HIGH QUALITY BEEF - Premium, ranch-raised beef and organs make up 95% of Nutra Complete. Our beef is 100% freeze-dried, so your dog gets easily digestible protein from every bite.*
- SEEDS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES - Our unique blend of seeds, fruits, and vegetables provides your dog with health-supporting nutrients. This includes flaxseed, blueberry, carrot, sweet potato, spinach, and more.*
- HEALTH-SUPPORTING VITAMINS AND MINERALS - Our food contains a variety of ingredients, carefully selected to offer your dog high-quality nutrition to help support their daily well-being and happiness.*
- USE AS FOOD OR AS MIXER - If you’d like to boost your dog’s diet with freeze-dried nutrition but don’t want to replace their current food, you can use Nutra Complete as a mixer. To add, simply reduce the amount of your dog’s food and replace it with the desired amount of Nutra Complete to avoid overfeeding. Each 1lb bag contains about 7 cups of food.
- Raw Food Made Easy : Simply Raw combines the safety, easy prep and shelf stable convenience of kibble and canned food with the unsurpassed nutrition offered in real, fresh raw food. Just add water to make this 3 lb bag into over 18 lbs of raw whole food, ready to serve in minutes.
- Ingredients With Purpose : Simply Raw is made with only the freshest human grade ingredients. Every ingredient is chosen with care to support holistic health and provide functional benefits for lasting wellness : Freeze-dried raw beef muscle, organ meat, chicken bone broth, whole egg, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, OMEGA fatty acids, probiotics & prebiotics. Raw, whole food ingredients you can see.
- All Natural Nutrition : At Nature’s Diet, we believe in honest, transparent labels. We are proud of the wholesome, clean ingredients we use to make Simply Raw - unlike some other brands, we never put anything into our dog food that isn’t listed on the label. No fillers, no grains, no GMOs, no unnatural preservatives, no soy, no added flavorings or dyes. Just honest, raw, whole food nutrition. Key Product Features
- USA Sourced, Sustainable, Thoughtful : Made lovingly in small batches in the USA with regionally sourced ingredients & humanely raised meat. Real food for healthy dogs and a healthier planet.
- Safe Raw : Freeze-Drying is a natural food preservation process which removes moisture while maintaining the nutritional integrity of food. Freeze-Dried Raw is always free of pathogens, making it the safest way to feed a raw diet. Shelf stable, safe to handle & easy to store.
- FREEZE DRIED RAW MEAT: Kibble in the Raw locks in the nutrients and flavor of raw meat through our freeze-dried process. Unlike traditional kibble, it delivers optimized nutrition and digestibility without high-heat cooking and overprocessing.
- EASY SCOOP AND SERVE: Skip the prep and mess! Kibble in the Raw is ready to serve straight from the bag, offering the convenience of dry dog food with the nutrition of a raw diet. No preparation or hydration necessary.
- BEEF RECIPE: Made with 100% freeze dried raw protein and grass-fed beef, this recipe delivers protein-rich nutrition to help maintain muscle health and support sustained energy. Packed with flavor, it’s a meal your pup will love with every bite!
- ONLY REAL WHOLE FOODS: We use organic apples, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, and kale—no synthetic vitamins or minerals. Our minimally processed recipes preserve natural nutrients to help support healthy digestion and overall wellness.
- GENTLE ON DIGESTION: Primal freeze dried dog food is crafted without fillers or common allergens to help support digestive health, leading to smaller, firmer stools.
- HIGH PROTEIN DOG FOOD TOPPER: 5g of protein per serving from responsibly sourced meat
- POWER OF RAW: Raw ingredients are freeze‑dried at peak freshness to lock in nutrients that support digestion, skin & coat, energy, and overall vitality
- PICKY EATER APPROVED: Perfect as a flavorful dog food topper to enhance mealtime, or given as a tasty treat
- NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Made with real meat and non-GMO vegetables and fruits— free from grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors and preservatives
- CRAFTED IN THE USA: Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world
- HUMANELY SOURCED POULTRY - Crafted with a blend of 100% animal welfare certified chicken and turkey, this flavorful recipe includes nutrient-dense meat, organ, and bone with non-GMO grains, fruits, and veggies.
- RAWMIX - These recipes offer pet parents whole-prey, meat-focused, nutrient dense, kibble recipes with the added benefits of bone broth and freeze dried raw. These diets include meat, organs and bone broth, and deliver optimal taste and nutrition for your pet!
- REWILD YOUR DOG’S BOWL - Perfect for pet parents that are seeking to feed animals as they thrive in the wild, with protein-focused diets, and the convenient, added nutrient of freeze-dried raw. For those pet parents curious about raw nutrition, but not yet ready to fully switch to raw, RawMix is a great option for your furry friend.
- QUALITY & SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES - At Open Farm we believe that great nutrition is rooted in the integrity of our ingredients. All of the meat, organ and bones included in these recipes are sourced from 3rd party animal welfare certified farms. By working exclusively with farmers who share our commitment to exceptional quality and sustainable practices, we can make better food for your pets, while also doing some good for family farms, farm animals and the environment.
- 100% TRANSPARENCY: As a part of our commitment to transparent sourcing practices, we provide owners with the ability to trace the origin of every ingredient using the lot number on the bag, because where pet foods come from shouldn’t be a mystery.
- HIGH PROTEIN, NUTRIENT DENSE: Featuring free-range Beef, Organs, Bone, and New Zealand Green Mussels, this grain-free dog food delivers nutrition with a mouth-watering taste for all dogs. Gentle air dried processing retains the goodness of the raw ingredients. This food offers stimulating crunchy texture small enough for puppy food but soft enough for senior dog food.
- GRAIN FREE RAW ALTERNATIVE: Gently air-dries raw ingredients for a nutritious, raw alternative dry dog food with a delicious jerky-like texture that dogs love. This process preserves the nutrition and flavor and is perfect for all life stages, from puppy food to senior dog snacks, with added vitamins and minerals. This formula is free from fillers commonly found in kibble.
- FRESH FOOD NUTRITION with SHELF STABILITY: This superfood blend of cold-washed Green Tripe, New Zealand Green Mussels, and Organic Kelp supports digestion, joint health, and healthy shiny coats. The air-dry process provides all the shelf stability of freeze dried dog treats and food with the nutritional benefits of fresh dog food.
- MEALS, TREATS, and FOOD TOPPERS: Serve as a complete balanced meal. Useful as a treat reward, or dog food toppers to provide texture stimulation with a supplement boost.
- ETHICALLY SOURCED: ZIWI sources only 100% free-range, grass-fed, grass-finished meats, and wild-caught seafoods, all from New Zealand farms and pristine oceans. Farmed without added hormones, antibiotics, or growth promotants.
- EXCEPTIONAL FOR PICKY EATERS – Consistently entices even the most finicky dogs to eat when other foods fail – our freeze-dried raw patties deliver irresistible taste that transforms mealtime for selective dogs.
- VERSATILE SERVING OPTIONS – Perfect as complete meals, crumbled food toppers, or high-value training treats – ideal for puppies and adult dogs with options to serve dry or rehydrated with water.
- 95% GRASS-FED BEEF & ORGANS – Premium freeze-dried raw nutrition with whole-prey approach delivers muscle-building protein, enhanced digestibility, and natural nutrients that support coat, skin, and overall health.
- BALANCED NUTRITION FOR ALL LIFE STAGES – Complete and balanced diet for growing puppies and adult dogs with probiotics for digestive health and omega fatty acids for skin and coat – free from grains, gluten, fillers, and artificial preservatives.
- MADE IN USA WITH PREMIUM INGREDIENTS – Small-batch production with 100% organic fruits and vegetables, responsibly-sourced ingredients, and no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors – trusted by thousands of pet parents.
- HUMANELY SOURCED MEAT - Crafted with a blend of 100% animal welfare certified grass-fed beef, pasture-raised lamb and pork, this irresistible recipe includes nutrient-dense meat, organ, and bone with no grains, legumes or any byproducts.
- RAWMIX - These recipes offer pet parents whole-prey, meat-focused, nutrient dense, kibble recipes with the added benefits of bone broth and freeze dried raw. These diets include meat, organs and bone broth, and deliver optimal taste and nutrition for your pet!
- REWILD YOUR DOG’S BOWL - Perfect for pet parents that are seeking to feed animals as they thrive in the wild, with protein-focused diets, and the convenient, added nutrient of freeze-dried raw. For those pet parents curious about raw nutrition, but not yet ready to fully switch to raw, RawMix is a great option for your furry friend.
- QUALITY & SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES - At Open Farm we believe that great nutrition is rooted in the integrity of our ingredients. All of the meat, organ and bones included in these recipes are sourced from 3rd party animal welfare certified farms. By working exclusively with farmers who share our commitment to exceptional quality and sustainable practices, we can make better food for your pets, while also doing some good for family farms, farm animals and the environment.
- 100% TRANSPARENCY: As a part of our commitment to transparent sourcing practices, we provide owners with the ability to trace the origin of every ingredient using the lot number on the bag, because where pet foods come from shouldn’t be a mystery.
The Ultimate Guide to Dry Raw Dog Food
Dry raw dog food, often called air-dried or freeze-dried raw food, is changing how we feed our pets. It offers the nutritional benefits of a raw diet with the convenience of traditional kibble. If you want to boost your dog’s health, this guide will help you choose the best product.
1. Key Features to Look For
When shopping, look for high-quality protein as the first ingredient. The best brands list specific meats like beef, chicken, or salmon. Check for a “complete and balanced” label. This ensures your dog gets all necessary vitamins and minerals in every bite.
2. Important Materials and Ingredients
Quality ingredients make a huge difference. Look for these items on the label:
- Single-source protein: Great for dogs with allergies.
- Organ meats: These provide essential vitamins.
- Bone content: Provides natural calcium for strong teeth and bones.
- Superfoods: Ingredients like blueberries or kale add antioxidants.
Avoid products with “meat meals” or “by-products.” You want whole food sources to ensure your dog digests the nutrients easily.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The processing method matters most. Freeze-drying and air-drying are the gold standards. These methods remove moisture without using high heat. High heat destroys natural enzymes and vitamins. Avoid foods that contain artificial preservatives, dyes, or corn fillers. These ingredients add weight to the bag but offer no real health value for your pet.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
Dry raw food is perfect for busy owners. It is lightweight and easy to store. You do not need to keep it in the freezer like traditional raw meat. Many owners use it as a full meal. Others use it as a healthy topper to improve their dog’s current kibble. It is also an excellent training treat because it is small, dry, and clean to handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is dry raw food safer than fresh raw meat?
A: Yes. The drying process removes moisture, which stops harmful bacteria from growing. It is much safer to handle in your kitchen.
Q: Can I mix this with regular kibble?
A: Absolutely. Adding a handful of dry raw food to kibble provides a nutritional boost and makes mealtime more exciting.
Q: Does this food need water added to it?
A: Some brands recommend adding a splash of water to rehydrate the food. Check the specific bag instructions to see if your brand requires this.
Q: Is it good for puppies?
A: Yes, but look for a bag labeled “All Life Stages” or “Puppy Formula” to ensure it has enough calories for growth.
Q: How long does a bag stay fresh?
A: Most bags stay fresh for several months if you keep them in a cool, dry place and seal the bag tightly after every use.
Q: Will this help with my dog’s skin allergies?
A: Many owners report shinier coats and less itching after switching to a raw diet because it lacks the fillers found in cheap kibble.
Q: Is it more expensive than regular dog food?
A: It usually costs more per pound. However, since the food is nutrient-dense, you often feed your dog smaller portions.
Q: Can I travel with this food?
A: Yes. It is the best option for travel because it does not require a refrigerator or cooler.
Q: How do I transition my dog to this food?
A: Mix a small amount into their current food over seven days. Slowly increase the raw portion until they are fully switched over.
Q: Does the food contain grains?
A: Some formulas are grain-free, while others include healthy grains like oats or quinoa. Choose what works best for your dog’s digestion.