Rating: 
TimberWolf Wild and Natural dog food earns the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
TimberWolf Wild and Natural is a grain-free kibble claiming to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
TimberWolf Wild and Natural Canid Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, chicken, chicken fat, dried potato product, salmon meal, natural flavors, salmon oil, dried egg product, dried kelp, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dried carrots, dried celery, dried beets, dried parsley, dried lettuce, dried watercress, dried spinach, dried tomato pomace, dl-methionine, dried whey product, casein, potassium chloride, salt, lecithin, taurine, brewers dried yeast, dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried 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 extract, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.7%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken 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 chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The fourth item is potato product… a leftover of the potato processing industry containing about 71% carbohydrates.1 Potato product is commonly associated with cattle feeds.
Potato product is equal to corn in energy value yet contains 50% more protein.2
The fifth ingredient is salmon meal. Like chicken meal, salmon meal is another protein-rich meat concentrate.
We are pleased to note that, unlike most fish meals, this particular item3 appears to be ethoxyquin-free.
After the natural flavor, we find salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The eighth ingredient is dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
Next, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly microorganisms 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 Wild and Natural Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, TimberWolf Wild and Natural appears to be an above-average 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 40%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 33%.
High protein. Above-average fat. And low carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
TimberWolf Wild and Natural is a grain-free dry dog food using a generous amount of chicken and salmon as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for other quality kibbles from the same company may wish to check out our review of TimberWolf Dog Food.
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
07/17/2010 Original review
09/04/2011 Updated (new recipe)
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.