Canidae Heartland Dog Food Review (Dry)

Canidae Heartland product range consists of four recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 4.5 stars.

Recipes are made with regeneratively farmed ingredients and are coated with live probiotics with every bite to support digestive health.

The table below shows each recipe in the range, including our rating. The AAFCO nutrient profile is not included on the company website.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Canidae Heartland Farm-Raised Chicken & Ancient Grains Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.¹

Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.

Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.

The sixth ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals.

The seventh ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast 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, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.

The ninth ingredient is pork meal. Pork meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh pork. Yet it can also be high in ash – about 25-30%.

However, the ash content of the final product is typically adjusted in the recipe to allow its mineral profile to meet AAFCO guidelines.

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 the product.

This recipe has four notable exceptions.

First, salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.

Next, we find taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient. 

We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

Lastly, flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Canidae Heartland Farm-Raised Chicken & Ancient Grains Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28.8%, a fat level of 12% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 45.9%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 28.8% and a mean fat level of 12%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 45.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 42%.

This means this Canidae product line contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, and below-average fat, when compared to typical dry dog food.

Canidae Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Canidae through August 2026.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Canidae Heartland Dry Dog Food

Canidae products are made from premium and sustainable ingredients and are vet-formulated. This range is certainly worthy of the 4.5 stars they have earned in our review.

Highly Recommended

About

Canidae was founded in 1996 by Scott Whipple and John Gordon, who met while working at a local pet store.

In 2012, Canidae acquired a manufacturing facility in Brownwood, Texas. Called Ethos, it’s one of the smallest pet food plants in the US, the company controls every step of manufacturing. It’s also a research and development center equipped with a lab that tests all incoming ingredients and outgoing products.

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