American Journey Active Life Formula Salmon, Brown Rice & Vegetable Recipe Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Deboned Salmon
    2. Menhaden Fish Meal
    3. Brown Rice
    4. Peas
    5. Rice Bran
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 345 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 25%
  • Fat: 15%
  • Fiber: 6%

American Journey is a well-balanced diet which contains a high-quality single-origin protein source as its first ingredient. The food formulation is also comprised of a wide sampling of healthy fruits and vegetables as well as more easily digestible carbohydrates in the form of grains. Rich in fiber, this diet promotes excellent digestion. A food available at an excellent price point, American Journey loses points only for its inclusion of both peas and pea proteins, two items which are linked to reduced fertility in breeding dogs.

American Journey hits all the high points required to rate it as one of the best dog foods for Beagles today.

Pros

  • Dogs really enjoy the taste of this food and look forward to their every meal.
  • Owners reported that dogs that were struggling with regular anal gland issues found complete relief with a switch to this diet.
  • Owners are pleased to share that their dogs’ stool quality has greatly improved when fed a steady diet of American Journey Active Life Adult.
  • Owners love that this diet includes some whole grains in its recipe, attributing their inclusion to their dogs achieving ideal digestion.
  • Dogs consistently fed this diet saw a change in their skin and coat quality. Their skin was well-hydrated and no longer itchy, and their coat was lustrous, thick, shiny, and soft.

Cons

  • A few owners noted a lot of dust and crumbs in their recently purchased bags of American Journey Active Life Adult.
  • Some dogs don’t enjoy the flavor of this diet. A different American Journey formulation may be a better choice for them.
  • In a few cases, some dogs had mild gastrointestinal distress when fed this diet. This may be a result of too quick a change to the new food.
  • Some owners felt the kibble pieces were too large for small breeds to break down well and may prove a choking hazard.
  • A few owners indicated they would prefer to feed a diet that is grain-free. American Journey does offer several formulations that include no grains.

Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream with Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Salmon
    2. Salmon Meal
    3. Ocean Fish Meal
    4. Grain Sorghum
    5. Millet
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: All life stages
  • Calories: 392 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 30%
  • Fat: 15%
  • Fiber: 3%

Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream Dry Dog Food is an excellent choice for a well-balanced, high-quality diet for a Beagle. Its main ingredient is whole smoked salmon, a protein that is of excellent nutritional value and that promotes good coat and skin condition through its naturally occurring omega fatty acids. The carbohydrates contained in this diet are grain-based for easier digestion. Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream Dry Dog Food contains no corn, wheat, filler, coloring, added flavors, or preservatives. This food is also enriched with probiotics to aid the digestive process, making it one of the best dog foods for Beagles with sensitive stomachs.

Pros

  • Owners are pleased that their dogs’ shedding has been greatly reduced with a switch to this diet.
  • Dogs love the flavor of this food and look forward to their every meal.
  • Owners love that Taste of the Wild offers several different formulations with other meat proteins as their basis, allowing them to offer their dogs variety in their daily diet.
  • Several owners commented that they like the focus on limited, high quality ingredients in Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream, believing this diet is a great choice for dogs with allergies or food sensitivities.
  • Owners expressed they felt this food was very reasonably priced, offering them excellent nutrition at an affordable price.

Cons

  • Some owners would prefer to feed their dogs a diet that includes no grains. Taste of the Wild offers several different formulations that are grain-free. These may be a better choice for those dogs and their owners.
  • Some dogs did not like the flavor of this diet and would not eat it. A different Taste of the Wild food with another protein base may be a better fit.
  • A few owners noted their dogs’ skin seemed dry after a regular diet of Taste of the Wild Ancient Stream. This can be remedied by adding an oily fish such as sardines to the food or through an omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplement. Alternatively, a change to a different Taste of the Wild food may be the ideal solution.
  • Some owners expressed they felt this diet was costly.
  • In a few instances, some dogs had loose stool when fed this diet. This may be a result of too quick a change from the old diet to the new.

ACANA Freshwater Fish Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Rainbow Trout
    2. Catfish
    3. Catfish Meal
    4. Whole Red Lentils
    5. Whole Pinto Beans
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 396 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 29%
  • Fat: 17%
  • Fiber: 6%

For a premium quality diet that hits all the high points Beagles need from their diet, it’s hard to go wrong with Acana Freshwater Fish Grain-Free. This high performance diet is often ranked among the best dog foods for Beagles available for purchase today. Based on a variety of lean and nutritionally dense fish proteins, the two main ingredients in this diet are rainbow trout and catfish, two meats that offer a powerhouse punch of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

A diet that is completely grain-free, this premium shelf food formulation takes antioxidant and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables as the basis of its carbohydrate content. Among the superfoods found in this recipe are whole pumpkin, apples, pears, and collard greens. Acana Freshwater Fish Grain-Free contains no corn, soy, wheat, or tapioca in its recipe.

Each piece of kibble has an outer coating of cod liver to boost the flavor profile of this diet to keep Beagles coming back for more. Acana Freshwater Fish Grain-Free is proudly manufactured in the United States using ingredients sourced from all over the world.

Pros

  • Owners report that their dogs love this food, lapping up every morsel in their bowl at every meal.
  • Owners like that this diet contains no grains, making it a great selection for dogs with food-based allergies.
  • Dogs suffering with skin issues related to yeast found complete relief with a dietary change to Acana Freshwater Fish Grain-Free.
  • Owners are pleased that Acana offers many different formulations with other protein bases, allowing them to offer their dogs some variety in their diet.
  • Dogs regularly fed this diet had coats that were shiny, healthy, and soft.

Cons

  • Some dogs were uninterested in this diet and would not eat it. A different Acana formulation may be a better option for those dogs.
  • In a few instances, some dogs had mild gastrointestinal distress after eating this food. This may be a sensitivity to one of the diet’s ingredients or could be the result of too quick a change to the new diet. This should resolve in time.
  • Several owners felt this diet was too cost prohibitive for their budgets.
  • Some owners prefer to feed their dogs a diet that includes some grains in its formulation.
  • Acana Freshwater Fish Grain-Free includes a number of controversial ingredients in its recipe including lentils, peas, and chickpeas.

Stella & Chewy's Chicken Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Chicken With Ground Bone
    2. Chicken Liver
    3. Chicken Gizzard
    4. Pumpkin Seed
    5. Organic Cranberries
  • Type: Raw Patties
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 50 kcal/patty
  • Protein: 48%
  • Fat: 28%
  • Fiber: 5%

Stella and Chewy’s earns high marks with Beagles for its similarities to a diet enjoyed by its ancestors in the wild. The diet is based on a single, high-quality protein source and is enriched with fruits and vegetables obtained from organic origins. The food is crafted in the United States.

The only downside to this food is the fact that it lacks carbohydrates in the form of grains, the preferred source for easy digestibility.

Stella and Chewy’s is highly recommended by owners and veterinary professionals as one of the best dog foods for Beagles.

Pros

  • Owners love the convenience Stella & Chewy’s offers them. They report that they are pleased to be able to offer their dogs a premium quality raw diet without the work of additional preparation required of homemade raw dog food.
  • Dogs love the taste of this food and enjoy every last bite to the fullest.
  • Dogs with sensitive stomachs did very well on this food, making it a great choice for dogs with allergies.
  • Owners were pleased to share that their dogs’ coats were healthy, soft, and shiny when fed a regular diet of Stella & Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties.
  • Several owners commented that the freeze-dried patties absorbed water well and were easy to reconstitute.

Cons

  • A few owners noted that several of their freeze-dried raw patties were reduced to crumbs in their bags.
  • Some owners feel this diet is very expensive.
  • A few owners indicated that prices can fluctuate for this dog food, making it difficult for them to afford on a regular basis.
  • Some dogs disliked the taste of this food and would not eat it. This is likely simply a matter of preference and not a fault with the food itself.
  • In a few rare instances, some owners found these patties to be very hard and difficult to reconstitute with water.

Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Hero's Banquet Recipe Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Deboned Beef
    2. Pork Meal
    3. Turkey Meal
    4. Sweet Potatoes
    5. Potatoes
  • Type: Freeze-dried raw and dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 396 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 38%
  • Fat: 17%
  • Fiber: 3.5%

Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Hero’s Banquet Recipe Dry Dog Food is a diet that is rich in several types of protein to support the Beagle’s active lifestyle. This premium level food, ranked among the best dog foods for Beagles, is a combination of both dry kibble and freeze-dried pieces of meat to provide the Beagle with maximum eating satisfaction and nutritional benefits. The food is simple to digest and extremely tasty. Made in very small quantities, this food is certain to be safe and unlikely to be subject to a recall.

The main disadvantage to this excellent dog food is its hefty price tag.

Pros

  • Owners love that this diet contains both dry food and freeze-dried meat pieces, encouraging even the pickiest dogs to eat their meals with hearty abandon.
  • Dogs that regularly suffered with gastrointestinal distress found relief when transitioned to Merrick Backcountry Raw.
  • Owners report their dogs’ coats were shiny, healthy, and soft when fed a regular diet of this food.
  • Several owners noted that they love that Merrick Backcountry Raw is available in several different flavors, allowing them to offer their dogs some variety in their daily diet.
  • This diet is great for dogs with allergies, helping them to resolve ongoing issues with itchiness permanently.

Cons

  • Some dogs pick out the freeze-dried meat pieces to eat and ignore the kibble. This can easily be resolved by reserving the freeze-dried meat to feed as a treat at the end of the meal.
  • Some owners felt this diet was too cost prohibitive.
  • A few dogs disliked the taste of this diet and would not eat it.
  • A few owners felt their bags did not contain enough pieces of freeze-dried meat given the price they pay for the food.
  • Several owners expressed they had difficulty with the Velcro closure on the bag of food.