Whole Earth Farms is a dog food brand owned by Merrick Pet Care. Introduced in 2009, it’s known for being a budget-friendly natural dog food. Its wet and dry recipes are developed by experts and feature wholesome ingredients and science-based nutrition—all while remaining affordable. Whole Earth Farms only uses “the Earth’s best ingredients.” That means no fillers, by-product meals, or artificial preservatives. 

Whole Earth Farms sounds like a great dog food and based on hundreds of online reviews, many pet parents agree. But is it the right food for your furry friend? Read on for your in-depth Whole Earth Farms dog food review for a closer look at its recipes, pros and cons, recall history, and more! 

Whole Earth Farms makes wet and dry dog food and there are currently six products under three lines. Let’s check them out!

Whole Earth Farms’ dry Grain Free line comprises three recipes that begin with meat meal as the first ingredient, specifically pork meal, chicken meal, or salmon meal. While we prefer unprocessed cuts of meat as the top ingredient, meat meals are high in protein and a common primary ingredient mid-range dog foods. 

Russet potatoes and sweet potatoes provide carbohydrates and fiber for energy and good digestion, while quality cuts of meat come in as the 7th and 8th most common ingredients. Pork, beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, salmon, and/or whitefish provide additional protein for strong muscles. 

Whole Earth Farms includes its Wholesome Harvest Blend in each recipe, which consists of carrots, apples, and flaxseed, delivers omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat and antioxidants for enhanced immunity. All Grain Free recipes contain glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, probiotics for gut health, and added vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, and zinc. 

One of the best features of Whole Earth Farms Grain Free dry dog food is its protein and fat contents. The Chicken & Turkey recipe consist of above-average protein (30.3% as dry matter) and near-average fat (15.7% as dry matter) compared to standard dry dog food. 

There are two wet food recipes in the Grain Free line, both of which list real meat as the first ingredient. Chicken or beef is then followed by chicken or beef broth, other animal proteins such as turkey and lamb, and organ meats such as chicken liver, beef liver, and pork liver. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples are also included for extra fiber and nutrients. 

These canned wet foods can be served as a complete meal on their own or on top of kibble for increased palatability. While Whole Earth Farms doesn’t have any senior-specific recipes, these finely ground pates are soft enough for elderly dogs with sensitive gums or missing teeth to chew.

Whole Earth Farms wet dog foods are high in protein, but have similar fat levels, meaning they're not be the best choice for inactive or overweight pups. Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Chicken & Turkey contains 36.3% protein as dry matter and 31.8% fat as dry matter. 

Here are some reasons why we like Whole Earth Farms dog food.

Whole Earth Farms is made with “the Earth’s best ingredients.” All of its recipes are cooked in the USA without corn, soy, wheat, fillers, animal by-product meals, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. 

Whole Earth Farms takes pride in offering high-quality nutrition backed by science. Its recipes are developed with a team of pet nutrition experts, including veterinarians, PhDs, scientists, and engineers. 

Whole Earth Farms is a reasonably priced option for pet parents who want to feed their pups natural dog food without spending a paw and a tail. For example, a 25-lb bag of Grain Free Recipe with Chicken & Turkey costs $56.98 on Chewy at the time of writing, which works out to $2.28 per lb.

Though Whole Earth Farms doesn’t have any recipes specifically for older dogs, most of its products are suitable for senior pups. Its dry foods contain glucosamine and chondroitin which help maintain healthy joints, while its wet foods have a soft texture that’s easy for elderly dogs to chew.

Whole Earth Farms offers poultry-free and grain-free options for dogs who have a poultry allergy or grain allergy. Some pet parents happily report that their dogs with sensitive tummies or itchy skin do well on these recipes.

Here are some things to consider before buying Whole Earth Farms dog food. 

At the time of writing, Whole Earth Farms only has six dry and wet dog foods. The brand previously had more offerings but had discontinued some of its recipes, including those specifically for puppies and small breeds.

 

According to pet parents, the size of the kibble has shrunk multiple times in recent years. While some don’t mind and say that it’s good for their smaller dogs, others say that their bigger dogs no longer want to eat it or are swallowing the pieces whole.

Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Chicken & Turkey wet food contains almost the same amount of fat as protein, meaning it's not the best choice for older pups or dogs who are watching their weight. 

“My Standard Poodle developed a sensitivity to dog foods with certain preservatives, I had to cook homemade food until I discovered [the] Whole Earth brand. She’s eating it with no problems and loves it.”

“Our dog has eaten this food for over 5 years, loves it, great coat, decent BMs, no GI issues.”

“We have used this food for four years. The only food we have found that is budget friendly and truly poultry free.”

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Whole Earth Farms was launched in 2009 as an accessible, natural dog food option. There isn’t much information about the brand’s history on its website or anywhere else, but we do know that it’s owned by Merrick Pet Care, which is owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. 

Merrick started in Garth Merrick’s family kitchen in 1988 when he began cooking for his dog to make sure she was eating the most nutritious food possible. The company has grown significantly since then and was acquired by Nestlé Purina in 2015; it continues to operate as an independent business unit. 

Merrick is headquartered in Amarillo, Texas and has three manufacturing facilities in Hereford, Texas. In addition to Whole Earth Farms, its family of brands includes Zuke’s and its signature Merrick brand.  

Whole Earth Farms dog food has never been recalled at the time of writing. 

Whole Earth Farms Healthy Grains image from the Whole Earth Farms website. All other product images sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.