Tender & True Dog Food Review 2024

Since its founding in 2014, Tender & True has been breaking new ground in the pet food world. It's the only brand to sell solely Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certified foods.

GAP is one of the world's leading animal welfare standards and labeling organizations. It ensures that animals are humanely raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. GAP-certified farms must provide animals with access to outdoor pastures and feed them a healthy vegetarian diet.

Tender & True also offers USDA-certified organic dog foods, which are free of fillers like corn, soy, or grains. Its recipes also do not include artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Due to its focus on sustainability and the quality of ingredients used in its recipes, we rate Tender & True dog food an outstanding 4.5 out of 5 paws up!

But is Tender & True the best choice for your dog? Keep scrolling for Wag!'s comprehensive Tender & True dog food review, where we examine different product lines, recalls, considerations, and more!

Tender & True's line of dog food features 12 recipes, with kibble, canned, and freeze-dried sub-ranges. Tender & True also has a large treat range.

All Tender & True's wet, dry, and freeze-dried recipes are "complete and balanced," meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages. Tender & True treats are for supplemental feeding only.

Tender & True dry dog food

You'll find six Tender & True dry dog food recipes on the market, four of which are USDA-certified organic. Grain-free and grain-inclusive options are available.

All Tender & true dry dog food recipes list a quality cut of meat as the top ingredient. That said, each recipe includes meat meal as a secondary protein source and can't be considered human-grade. Nutritionally-rich ingredients include flaxseed meal, which is added as an omega-3 fatty acids and fiber source.

The most common grain in grain-inclusive recipes is brown rice, which is among the best grains for dogs. Brown rice is high in amino acids, B-vitamins, high-quality carbs, and fiber.

Some recipes contain lower-quality ingredients, like potato starch and tapioca starch. Both ingredients are good binding agents that are high in fiber, but have modest nutritional value, especially as they're in the top five ingredients.

Small breed recipes feature smaller kibble pieces, with the Turkey & Oats recipes containing an antioxidant-rich blend of spinach, blueberries, and sweet potatoes.

Tender & True dry dog food recipes contain an average of 28.8% protein as dry matter, which is above average for dry dog food.

Tender & True dry dog food flavors:

• Organic Chicken & Liver
• Organic Turkey & Liver
• Chicken & Brown Rice
• Turkey & Brown Rice
• Small Breed Organic Turkey & Oats
• Small Breed Organic Chicken Premium
• Limited Ingredient Salmon and Sweet Potato

Tender & True wet dog food

Tender & True produces five canned wet dog foods, two of which are USDA-certified organic.

Tender & True wet dog foods are made with only quality cuts of muscle and organ meat — no meat meals in these recipes! You can choose from grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes for your canine compadre.

Two recipes are poultry-free, making them suitable for dogs with poultry allergies and sensitivities. Tender & True wet dog foods aren’t human-grade due to the quality of some ingredients and the manufacturing process.

Common top ingredients include pea flour, which is rich in iron, calcium, and plant-based protein but is considered a protein filler replacement for meat. Another common ingredient is sunflower oil, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids.

Tender & True wet recipes contain an average of 38.5% protein as dry matter, which is high for canned wet dog food.

Tender & True wet dog food flavors:

• Organic Chicken & Liver
• Organic Turkey & Liver
• Chicken & Brown Rice
• Limited Ingredient Whitefish & Potato
• Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato

Tender & True freeze-dried dog food

Tender & True became the first company to produce a USDA organic freeze-dried pet food. This recipe is raw and freeze-dried to lock in as many nutrients as possible while still being shelf-stable.

Tender & True Farmer's Market recipe lists organic chicken and organic turkey as the top two ingredients. On paper, Farmer's Market is Tender & True's best-quality recipe. Many key nutrients for dogs come from produce instead of supplements.

For example, Tender & true adds carrots, which are high in fiber and beta-carotene. Pumpkin is vitamin A and zinc, while apples are rich in vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.

Tender & True freeze-dried dog food contains an average of 42.2% protein as dry matter, which is above average for raw dog food.  

Tender & True freeze-dried dog food flavors:

• Organic Farmer's Market

Tender & True dog treats

Tender & True dog treats come in two varieties: jerky and peanut butter treats. Overall, ten flavors are available, all of which are sure to get your pup's tail wagging.

Tender & True Jerky dog treats consist of only a handful of ingredients, with a quality cut of meat as the top ingredient. Novel proteins like bison and wild hare mean these recipes are ideal for dogs with specific meat protein allergies. Most jerky recipes are USDA-certified organic.

The calorie content for most Tender & True Jerky dog treats is around 26 calories per eight grams, meaning they're best used as a high-value training reward.

Tender & True PB+ treats are meat-free and made with healthy ingredients, like berries, bananas, and honey. All recipes list sweet potato as the first ingredient, which is rich in vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as calcium, potassium, and iron. At 22 calories a piece, these treats are best used as high-value rewards.

Tender & True dog treat flavors:

• Bison Jerky
• Organic Chicken Jerky
• Turkey Jerky
• Beef Jerky
• Wild Hare Jerky
• Pork Jerky
• Salmon Jerky
• Peanut Butter + Berry Treats
• Peanut Butter + Banana Treats
• Peanut Butter + Honey Treats

Check out a few reasons why we highly rate Tender & True dog food!

Quality protein sources

All Tender & True dog food recipes list a quality cut of meat as the top ingredient. This improves digestibility and ensures each recipe has a premium protein source.

Including quality meat as the top ingredients means Tender & True recipes are of higher quality than most run-of-the-mill dog food.

Tender & True also includes meat meals as secondary protein sources. While meat meals have lower nutritional value in some respects, they contain around three times more protein than standard meat.

Global Animal Partnership-certified

One of Tender & True's big selling points is its focus on sustainability. It's the only pet food brand to produce solely GAP-certified recipes.

North America's largest welfare food labeling organization, GAP, ensures its partners source ingredients from farms that prioritize animal welfare and sustainable practices.

Additionally, Tender & True uses Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fish. The MSC is a non-profit organization that aims to end overfishing.

USDA-certified organic

Tender & True serves up six USDA-certified organic recipes, including the first certified organic freeze-dried dog food. This means Tender & True's organic recipes are at least 95% organic.

Foods must meet many strict standards to be considered organic in the USA. For example, farms must grow produce without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while livestock must live naturally in conditions that allow natural behaviors, like grazing.

Need a little extra help deciding if Tender & True is right for your barking buddy? Here are a few things to consider before you buy!

Limited protein variety

Tender & True dog food comes in three main flavors: chicken, turkey, and fish. While its fish recipes are poultry-free, you won't find any food options for your pup if they have a fish or poultry allergy. Unlike many companies, Tender & True doesn't produce foods made with novel proteins like rabbit, lamb, or venison.

Supply chain issues

Several reviewers have noted that supply chain issues have made it difficult for pet parents to get their hands on certain Tender & True products. At the time of writing, several Tender & True dog food varieties are out of stock on Chewy.

On the pricey side

True & Tender is on the pricey side due to the care and attention it puts into its dog foods.

At the time of writing, a 4-lb bag of Tender & True Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food costs $17.21 on Chewy, which is $4.31 per lb.

A case of 12 Tender & True Organic Chicken & Liver Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food costs $45.85 on Chewy, which is $4.96 per lb.

It's worth noting that you can save up to 35% on orders by using Chewy Autoship.

"Recently my husband bought a few cans of this for our Picky eater Peanut to try. They were on markdown so why not. SHE LOVED IT! I mean licked the dish clean after kinda love."

"I normally buy a different brand but I couldn't find the flavor my dog likes so I decided to try this after reading the reviews and for the first time in years he eats ALL his food in ONE sitting!"

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Matthew Michaelson founded Tender & True in 2014. Its headquarters are in Omaha, Nebraska. An independently owned company, Tender & True became the first GAP-certified pet food brand.

In 2014, Tender & True also became the first USDA-certified organic pet food brand on the market. In 2015, it began partnering with the MSC, to ensure its fish is certified sustainable.

In 2023, Tender & True upcycles certain ingredients, to help reduce food waste. The same year, its freeze-dried raw recipe became the first of its kind to be USDA-certified organic.

Tender & True dog food has not been recalled as of June 2024.

Product images sourced from Chewy. Copyright Tender & True Pet.