Front of the Pack Dog Food Review 2024

Front of the Pack is a US-based dog food brand serving up air-dried human-grade meals for your fur-baby. Each of Front of the Pack's grain-inclusive recipes are gluten and dairy-free, with no fillers or artificial preservatives. Air-dried at low temperatures, Front of the Pack's dog food is loaded with nutrients and shelf-stable for significantly longer than fresh or raw foods. 

Formulated by veterinary experts and nutritionists, Front of the Pack's dog food contains over 86% whole meats and GMO-free, organic produce. We give Front of the Pack 5 paws up for its protein content and high-quality, nutritious ingredients, including beetroot, pomegranate, and fish oil.

Scroll down to read our Front of the Pack review, which includes recalls, brand history, pros, cons, and more!

Front of the Pack has two varieties of air-dried dog food. Here's a quick look at each flavor. 

Grass-Fed USDA Beef

Front of the Pack Grass-Fed USDA Beef dog food is air-dried to preserve nutritional value and is made with 100% human-grade ingredients. 

The first five ingredients in the Grass-Fed USDA Beef recipe are: 

• 88% USDA grass-fed beef
• Bone concentrate
• Pumpkin seed oil
• Organic beets
• Organic blueberry

With 35% protein as dry matter, Front of the Pack's Grass-Fed USDA Beef contains protein levels usually seen in premium dog foods. Bone concentrate is safe for dogs and a great source of protein and fatty acids.

Healthy ingredients like beets are a great source of nitric oxide, which helps manage blood pressure and boosts heart health. This recipe also contains blueberries, a superfood loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that keep your pup's brain in tip-top shape. 

Front of the Pack's Grass-Fed USDA Beef recipe meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages.

Try the Grass-Fed Beef Recipe for 1 month FREE!

Cage-Free Chicken recipe

Front of the Pack Cage-Free Chicken recipe is air-dried at a low temperature to preserve nutritional value and is made with 100% human-grade ingredients. 

The first five ingredients in the Cage-free Chicken recipe are: 

• 86% cage-free chicken
• Organic sweet potato
• Organic oats (gluten free)
• Organic guar fiber
• Organic beets

Front of the Pack Cage-Free Chicken recipe contains over 37% protein as dry matter, making it the most protein-rich of Front of the Pack's two recipes. It's worth noting that the chicken recipe contains a higher quantity of oats than the beef recipe. 

Guar gum is a thickener derived from guar beans which has a low nutritional value. Sweet potatoes are nutritious for dogs, with high levels of beta-carotene and antioxidants. 

Front of the Pack's Cage-Free Chicken recipes meets the AAFCO nutrient profile for maintenance (adults).

Try the Cage-Free Chicken Recipe for 1 month FREE!

Here are a few reasons why Wag! highly rates Front of the Pack dog food. 

Made with high-quality human-grade ingredients

Front of the Pack formulates its dog foods with 100% human-grade ingredients, including whole meats and organic produce. The two main protein sources in its food — grass-fed beef and cage-free chicken — constitute at least 86% of each recipe's ingredients. Each recipe contains no fillers or artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors. 

Common ingredients in both recipes, like pumpkin, guar fiber, pomegranate, and gluten-free oats aid digestion, support the immune system, and improve skin health. 

Air-drying preserves nutrients and prolongs shelf life

Air drying dog food at low temperatures is the next best thing to serving your pup raw dog food (feeding a raw diet can harm your health). Front of the Pack air-dries at 142 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest temperature for killing harmful pathogens and bacteria. 

Air-drying ensures your dog's food is safe to consume while preserving as much nutritional value as possible. Plus, it massively improves a dog food's shelf life — unsealed Front of the Pack dog food has a shelf life of up to 6 months. 

Recommended by Wag!'s pet nutrition expert and vet consultant

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, one of Wag!'s veterinary consultants, personally recommends Front of the Pack to her own clients:

“Front of the Pack dog food offers balanced nutrition, good digestibility, high-quality protein, and has eliminated common allergens such as corn, wheat, and soy. This food is also fortified with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that promote wellness and an improved immune system.”

Committed to sustainability

Front of the Pack uses minimal plastic in its products to meet high sustainability standards. Front of the Pack's "stay-fresh pouches" are plastic-free, biodegradable, and made with 100% recycled paper. Its shipping boxes are also sustainable, plastic-free, and made from 90% recycled cardboard. 

Generous money-back guarantee

Front of the Pack has an excellent refund policy to keep pet parents and fur-babies happy. You can get a full refund within 90 days of purchase if there's a problem or your dog simply doesn't like Front of the Pack. You'll just need to return the product to Front of the Pack. Alternatively, you can keep the product and get a 30% refund (these are granted on a case-by-case basis).

Here are a few concerns and considerations to think about before purchasing Front of the Pack for your pup. 

High quality means higher prices

Front of the Pack is more expensive than some other dog foods due to its ingredient quality and manufacturing processes. At the time of writing, a 2.5-pound pouch of its Cage-Free Chicken recipe costs around $64 when bought with a Meal Plan subscription, which reduces the cost by 20%. 

A 2.5-pound pouch equates to roughly 11.5 cups of dog food, which will last a 40-pound dog between seven and nine days. That works out to around $3.04 per meal a dog Front of the Pack dog food. While Front of the Pack is on the pricey side, it's one of the best air-dried dog foods available and is well worth the price tag.

Looking for a high-quality, cheaper alternative? Check out our Best Budget-Friendly Dog Foods guide!

Lack of flavor varieties

Front of the Pack only produces two flavor varieties: beef and chicken. So if your dog is sensitive or allergic to beef or chicken, or your pooch is a fussy eater, Front of the Pack may not be the right option for your fur-baby. Chat with your vet if you're unsure about switching your dog to Front of the Pack. 

Only available through Front of the Pack

Front of the Pack is unavailable on Chewy, Amazon, or local pet stores. You'll have to order directly through Front of the Pack to receive your dog's food. That said, ordering through Front of the Pack is easy and flexible, with five delivery frequencies ranging from every 14 days to every 42 days and free shipping for orders over $20.

No options for puppies

At the time of writing, Front of the Pack doesn't offer recipes formulated to meet AAFCO's nutrient profiles for growth (puppies). But the good news is the beef recipe is suitable for all life stages, which means you can feed your pup the same food throughout their life — no need to transition them to a new food in their old age!

"2 of my dogs are very particular about their food. If they don’t like it they won’t eat. They love [Front of the Pack] chicken."

"My pup loves his new food. I’m so happy that he does because he is very picky. Definitely will recommend this product to friends and family."

Read more reviews on Front of the Pack.

Chris Wilkinson and Neil Hutchinson founded Front of the Pack in October 2019 in California. They founded Front of the Pack after seeing a rise of preventable health conditions and issues in dogs, including obesity, joint failure, and dental hygiene. 

Realizing that a dog's diet significantly affects these conditions, Chris and Neil decided to develop a range of supplements and dog foods specially formulated to provide pups with as much nutritional support as possible. 

With the help of experts like Chief Science Officer Dr. Jamie Peyton, DVM, and nutritional biochemist Anthony L. Almada, MSc, Front of the Pack created high-quality supplements and air-dried dog food recipes. All Front of the Pack recipes are made in the USA with ingredients from trusted global suppliers.

There's no evidence that Front of the Pack has been recalled in its history.

All product images sourced from the Front of the Pack website. Copyright Front of the Pack.