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Wild Earth brings something unique to the table as a
vegan dog food brand. Although some consider it a controversial choice considering the canine’s ancestral roots, it still offers high-quality, high-protein nutrition. Wild Earth argues that since dogs are now omnivores, "they don’t need meat to thrive. In fact, plant-based dogs have been shown to live on average 1.5 years longer than dogs who eat meat.” This kibble was expertly crafted by veterinarians and food scientists, ensuring your best furry friend is nourished from nose to tail.
Although Wild Earth is still a relatively new player in the dog food industry, it’s gaining popularity, and was even featured on Shark Tank! It claims to be America’s most popular
plant-based dog food. It’s more cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and ethical than many dog foods on the market. This food is available both in-store, online, and as a subscription service (which Wild Foods often runs specials on!)
Like any loving pet parent, you likely want to do some more research before feeding them a new food. Let’s dig a little deeper into Wild Earth to understand the brand and what they offer.
Wild Earth dog food product ranges and flavors
Wild Earth has three different dry dog food flavors for your pupper to choose from. One Performance Formula flavor and two Maintenance Formula Flavors. Although this new brand doesn’t offer the widest selection, they are drool-worthy and nutritionally balanced options.

Wild Earth Performance Dog Food
Wild Earth Performance dry dog food
Wild Earth Performance Veggie Supreme recipe is packed with everything your little athlete needs to stay in tip-top shape. At Wild Earth, they understand how important it is for dog food to be tasty for their happiness, which is why this recipe has a similar aroma and flavor to chicken.
It uses yeast protein as the main ingredient, which is dense with nutrients and contains all the amino acids dogs need and more protein than any meat product. This recipe is
grain-inclusive, with barley, oats, grain sorghum, and potato protein rounding out the top five ingredients. This includes rich superfood ingredients like
blueberries,
spinach and
pumpkin as secondary ingredients.
Despite being meat-free, Wild Earth Performance Veggie Supreme dry dog food contains good protein and fat levels, with above-average
protein (31.1% as dry matter) and near-average
fat (12.2% as dry matter) compared to standard kibble.

Wild Earth Maintenance Dog Food
Wild Earth Maintenance dry dog food
Both of Wild Earth's Maintenance Formula flavors have targeted nutrition that will help keep them regular, and their skin and coat healthy, and soft. This tasty, plant-based kibble was developed by veterinarians, scientists, and nutritionists, so you can sleep well at night knowing your pup is getting all the nutrients they need to thrive, without all the nasties.
Wild Earth Maintenance formulas differ slightly from its Performance recipe, with
barley as the top ingredient, followed by brown rice, grain sorghum, dried yeast, and potato protein. Natural secondary ingredients include millet,
sweet potatoes, and
flaxseeds.
Overall, Wild Earth Maintenance dry dog foods are good quality, considering they're meat-free. Wild Earth Maintenance Classic Roast contains above-average protein (25.5% as dry matter) and average fat (10% as dry matter) compared to typical kibble.
Maintenance dry dog food flavors:
- Golden Rotisserie Flavor
- Classic Roast Flavor

Wild Earth Dog Treats
Superfood Treats with Koji
Wild Earth's Superfood treats feature an ingredient we've never seen in a pet product, koji. Koji is a group of molds that grow on starchy grains with a sweet and savory flavor that is prized in Asian cultures and is used to make pantry staples like soy sauce. While the word mold probably conjures up unpleasant images and thoughts of
food poisoning, koji is quite beneficial for gut health and is produced by natural fermentation.
These treats come in three flavors: Peanut Butter, Strawberry & Beet, and Banana & Cinnamon. These oat flour-based treats have a transparent, limited-ingredient recipe with natural preservatives like
vitamin E and,
green tea, and
rosemary extracts. They also feature real
fruits and veggies and, of course, Koji.
Why Wag! likes Wild Earth dog food
Keep reading for a few reasons Wag! highly rates Wild Earth dog food.
Eco-friendly recipes
Probably the most obvious reason why Wag! loves Wild Earth dog food is their eco-friendliness as a plant-based dog food. It’s sustainable, cruelty-free, and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional pet food companies. They even use biotechnology and cellular agriculture to lab-grow one of their main protein sources, making it one of the most eco-friendly dog food brands.
High-quality ingredients
Another reason to love Wild Earth is that they use only high-quality, natural ingredients. This means no fillers, artificial flavors or
colors, preservatives, or other junk. It’s a great dog food choice for pups that struggle with
meat allergies since there are no meat or dairy products. The recipes are formulated by experts to meet AAFCO standards, so you can be sure your canine is getting their dietary needs met.
Convenient subscription service
Wild Earth is available through a subscription service and is sold online and in stores through popular retailers like Chewy and Petco. They offer free shipping on all shipments and discounts for subscribers. Nourishing your dog doesn’t get more convenient than kibble delivered right to your door!
Concerns & considerations
Here are a couple of things to consider before purchasing Wild earth dog food.
Limited recipes
One thing to consider before switching over to Wild Earth is its limited variety of foods. They have three kibble recipes and no
wet foods. This dog food may not work for you if your dog has more specific dietary needs.
Vegan dog foods
Vegan dog food diets are still a source of controversy. Although this dog food has backing from experts and meets nutrient standards, it’s important to do your own research and consult with your veterinarian before introducing a new food to your canine.
No grain-free options
If you're on the fence about vegan dog food, and want to try a high-quality meat-inclusive option, check out our round-up of the
best dry dog foods.
What pet parents say about Wild Earth dog food
"Finally something out there for Bulldogs-Yes, Bulldogs. My Zeus has skin Allergies- we've been using Wild Earth for almost 2 years and the itchy and raw red skin has disappeared. [...] He's 65 pounds and we feed him like this twice a day with treats of course and other things thrown in during the day like bits of bananas. I hope this works for all [of] you out there whose pets suffer from skin or other allergies. Our vets couldn't help us so when I came across this tutorial on Wild Earth I had to try it and now I will never stop buying it. Great Product!"
"I’m writing this review after 3 full years of using this food for my Pug and Shih Tzu. One an older dog and one a younger. Since using this dog food [they're] regular and super healthy with their #2, they have been scratching much less, and they are full and [I] mean full of energy all the time. [I] love this dog food won’t switch off it ever."
Read more reviews on
Chewy.
Wild Earth dog food brand history
Wild Earth is a relatively new dog food, but it’s already a game changer and one of the leaders in plant-based dog food. The CEO of Wild Earth, Ryan Bethencourt, was a Biotech major who became fed up after studying the problems associated with traditional dog kibble. These problems include unethically sourced ingredients, animal cruelty, and environmental impact to name a few. A
study by UCLA states that meat-based pet food accounts for a shocking 64 million tons, or one-third, of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Bethencourt founded Wild Earth in 2017 and has broken free from the meat-heavy kibble industry. They’ve produced a vet-approved plant-based option made from cruelty-free, sustainably sourced ingredients for healthier pets.
In 2020, Bethencourt walked onto the Shark Tank stage and presented the idea of plant-based dog food as one of the solutions to kibble fillers and preservatives, pet food recalls, pet obesity, and
environmental impact. Because of his extensive research, his presentation was a success, and Wild Earth made a deal with Shark Tank billionaire Mark Cuban, who offered $550,000 to invest in the brand.
"The Sharks were understandably tough on me, and questioned the need to create healthier and more sustainable products for our pets, but Mark, the biggest Shark of them all, understood our mission and the massive opportunity best,” said Bethencourt. “Mark and his team's impact has already been huge... since their investment, we've successfully launched our first three products and gone nationwide both online and in retail."
The Wild Earth headquarters are located in Berkeley California, and the dog food is manufactured in the United States, in a facility in the Midwest. They source their ingredients from the United States, Latin American, European and Asian countries (not including China).

Wild Earth dog food recalls
There have been no Wild Earth dog food recalls as of February 2025. As Wild Earth is a relatively new and small company, this is no surprise. Wild Earth does not use any animal-based ingredients in its recipes, so the risk of recalls is lower than with other traditional dog foods.
Keep in mind that a product recall can happen at any time, so it’s important to stay up to date! To make sure your dog’s food is safe, check the
FDA’s pet food recall website.
All product images sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Wild Earth.
FAQ
Is Wild Earth dog food vet-approved?
Wild Earth dog food recipes are developed by scientists, nutritionists, and veterinarians, and vetted by their chief veterinary officer Dr. Ernie Ward among other industry experts.
What happened to Wild Earth dog food since Shark Tank?
Wild Earth has massively grown and raised additional money in the years since the Shark Tank appearance. The company is estimated to be doing several million per year in gross revenue.
Is Wild Earth formulated to meet AAFCO standards?
Yes, Wild Earth dog food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance. At Wild Earth, they believe these standards are a baseline requirement and will always strive to exceed AAFCO guidelines.
How does Wag! determine paw ratings for dog food?
Our editorial team conducts independent research when choosing which foods to feature and how to rate them. Our paw ratings are largely based on the ingredients and nutritional content of each food. Here’s a quick guide to what our paw ratings mean:
- 1 paw
: High filler content, meat not listed as first ingredient
- 2 paws
: Meat meal, bone meal or meat by-products listed as first ingredient
- 3 paws
: Named meat listed as first ingredient (e.g., chicken)
- 4 paws
: Same as 3 paws, but also made with whole, limited ingredients and minimal processing
- 5 paws
: Same as 4 paws, but is also veterinarian or veterinary body approved and includes human-grade ingredients
- Half-paws
may be awarded for extra benefits, like affordability, trustworthiness, etc.
Due to the nature of this pet food brand, our criteria was adjusted based on quality of food ingredients rather than presence and quality of named, whole meat sources.