Rating: 
TimberWolf Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-tier rating of four stars.
The TimberWolf product line lists seven dry dog foods, three (*) claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and the rest not specified on the website.
- TimberWolf Wilderness
- TimberWolf Ocean Blue*
- TimberWolf Black Forest*
- TimberWolf Dakota Bison
- TimberWolf Wild and Natural (5 stars)
- TimberWolf Lamb and Barley with Apples
- TimberWolf Southwest Chicken and Herbs*
TimberWolf Ocean Blue dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
TimberWolf Ocean Blue
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: White fish meal, herring, potatoes, salmon meal, salmon oil, blueberries, figs, basil, dill, anise seed, caraway seed, lemon balm, watercress, spinach, celery, parsley, marigold flowers, sea salt, sesame seed, almonds, spirulina, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product, Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, zinc amino acid complex, choline chloride, iron amino acid complex, vitamin E supplement, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A acetate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, biotin, cobalt proteinate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative), citric acid, Yucca schidigera, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 18% | 46% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 37% | 39% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is white fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Whitefish, is a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears2 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The second ingredient is herring. Although it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, raw herring contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The third ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is salmon meal, another fish-based protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fifth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The fifth item is salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
After the natural flavor, we find a series of dried fruits… nutrient rich items all high in natural fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
TimberWolf Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, TimberWolf appears to be an above average dry dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 46%.
Due to its apparently greater meat content, the Wild and Natural product has been upgraded to our next higher category.
Excluding that 5-star recipe, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 17%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.
Average protein. Average fat. And average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
TimberWolf is a plant-based dry dog food utilizing a moderate amount of poultry and fish meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a grain-free kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of TimberWolf Wild and Natural.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
03/21/2010 Original review
07/17/2010 Review updated
10/22/2010 Review updated
09/05/2011 Updated (new recipes)
02/27/2012 Updated (new recipes)
02/27/2012 Last Update
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
- TimberWolf Myths and Misconceptions, 9/5/2011 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.