Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Deboned Turkey
    2. Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine)
    3. Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate)
    4. Lentils
    5. Peas
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 412 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 36%
  • Fat: 16%
  • Fiber: 5%

Wellness CORE Small Breed Dog Food is a top tier diet that meets all of the nutritional needs of small breeds like the Havanese. A diet consistently rated as one of the best dog foods for the Havanese, Wellness CORE Small Breed Dog Food places a high emphasis on lean proteins, taking turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal as its primary ingredients. These lean meats are rich in the amino acids the Havanese needs to develop strong and healthy muscles.

Wellness CORE Small Breed Dog Food includes both glucosamine and chondroitin in its recipe to provide a vital support for joint health. Probiotics also play a starring role in this diet, adding a natural boost for gut health and good digestion.

Pros

  • Owners noted an increase in playful behavior in their dogs when fed a consistent diet of Wellness CORE Small Breed Dog Food.
  • Dogs regularly fed a diet of this food had beautiful coats. Their fur was lustrous, thick, and shiny.
  • Even very picky Havanese enjoy the taste of this food. They look forward to their every meal and lick their bowls clean with great eagerness.
  • Owners really like that this food is designed with the nutritional needs of small breed dogs in mind. They are particularly happy with the size of the kibble pieces, feeling they are the ideal size, shape, and texture for the Havanese.
  • Some owners noted that their dogs love this food so much that they are also able to use it for training treats.

Cons

  • Some owners felt this diet was a little on the pricey side.
  • In some cases, dogs that suffered with recurring allergies saw no change in their symptoms when fed a regular diet of Wellness CORE Small Breed Dog Food.
  • Some dogs found this diet to be bland and would not eat it.
  • This diet contains lentils, peas, and dried ground potatoes, all ingredients of questionable nutritional quality and that may be linked to such health conditions as rapid spikes in blood sugar and lowered fertility rates in breeding dogs.
  • This diet is a little high in protein and may cause some gastrointestinal disturbances in some dogs during the transition process.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Venison
    2. Lamb Meal
    3. Garbanzo Beans
    4. Peas
    5. Lentils
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 370 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 32%
  • Fat: 18%
  • Fiber: 4%

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley is a diet that has been crafted to meet the unique nutritional needs of small breeds like the Havanese. A diet that offers premium nutritional value, Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley is available at an excellent price point, making it a very good choice for families seeking a high quality food while not exceeding their budget.

The basis of this diet, considered to be one of the best dog foods for the Havanese, is buffalo, a novel protein source that is lean and easy for dogs to digest. Because it is a lesser seen meat in dog foods today, this protein is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction in stomach sensitive dogs. A high protein diet, Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley reinforces the meat content in this food through the addition of lamb meal and salmon, providing a powerhouse punch of essential fatty acids.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley is free from grains, making fruits and vegetables the foundation of the food’s carbohydrate content. Each carbohydrate in this recipe was selected for its high fiber and antioxidant profile to encourage healthy digestion and a thriving immune system.

This high performance food contains no corn, wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. A probiotic has been added to encourage the development of healthy gut flora to promote fluid digestive processes.

Pros

  • Owners were pleased to report that dogs fed this food displayed coats that were soft, shiny, and healthy.
  • Owners fed this diet on a regular basis had appropriate energy levels for their age and breed.
  • Dogs with allergies saw permanent relief from their ongoing symptoms when regularly fed a diet of Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley.
  • Owners love that this diet is designed with the needs of small breed dogs like the Havanese in mind. They felt the kibble pieces were the perfect size and shape for their dogs.
  • Owners are very pleased with the price of this food, noting they felt it was highly affordable.

Cons

  • Some owners shared they felt this diet was on the pricey side.
  • Some dogs were uninterested in this food and would only eat it if a topper, broth, or some meat was mixed into it. Taste of the Wild is available in many different flavors. One of these foods may be a better choice for those dogs.
  • Some owners did not like that this diet is grain-free. They indicated that it is their preference to feed a grain-inclusive food to help the Havanese achieve ideal digestion.
  • A few owners shared that they didn’t like the smell of this food. They found its aroma very strong and off-putting.
  • Some dogs struggled to achieve proper stool quality when consistently fed Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley. This sometimes occurs with a dietary change that takes place too quickly for the dog’s system.

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Deboned Chicken
    2. Chicken Meal
    3. Brown Rice
    4. Barley
    5. Turkey Meal
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 404 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 27%
  • Fat: 16%
  • Fiber: 3.5%

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed is a diet that is primed to fuel the energy reserves and ongoing health and wellness of small breeds like the Havanese.  A food that prioritizes the use of high digestible ingredients, this food formulation includes whole grains in its recipe. These powerhouse carbohydrates are supported through the addition of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants and fiber, providing a vital help for digestion and a strong immune system. Among the powerhouse foods found in this diet are carrots, apples, and blueberries.

This diet, considered to be one of the best dog foods for the Havanese, contains no preservatives, fillers, corn, wheat, soy, or gluten. To ensure ample amounts of essential fatty acids, Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed has been enriched with oils to ensure support for healthy skin and coat.

Pros

  • Dogs that regularly struggled with itchy skin found relief from this problem when fed a steady diet of Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed. Their skin returned to well-hydrated and healthy over time.
  • Dogs love the taste of this food. They look forward to their every meal with great anticipation.
  • Owners love that this diet is manufactured in the United States. They like the idea of locally sourced ingredients in their dogs’ daily food.
  • Dogs that normally suffered from gastrointestinal distress saw a return to ideal digestion and alleviation of their tummy troubles when fed this diet regularly.
  • Owners are pleased with the price of this food, indicating they felt it was highly affordable.

Cons

  • A few owners felt this diet was a little too expensive.
  • Some dogs dislike the taste of this food and will not eat it.
  • Some owners were unhappy that this diet contains whole grains, preferring to feed their dogs a grain-free food. This was particularly important to owners of Havanese with food-related allergies.
  • Some owners noted their dogs had an increase in flatulence when fed a steady diet of Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed.
  • A few owners expressed they were disappointed that their bags of food no longer had a resealable closure, making it more difficult for them to keep their dogs’ food fresh.

Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Salmon & Whitefish Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Salmon Meal
    2. Potatoes
    3. Sweet Potatoes
    4. Chicken Meal
    5. Peas
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 381 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 24%
  • Fat: 14%
  • Fiber: 3.5%

Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food offers Havanese owners excellent quality nutrition at a price point that is extremely reasonable, allowing them to maximize their dog food dollar. This diet places an emphasis on ingredients that are easy on the dog’s digestive system. As a result, Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food is unlikely to contribute to stomach upsets in the Havanese.

Considered to be one of the best dog foods for the Havanese, Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food contains no corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Pros

  • There are no supplements added to this diet to support joint health in the Havanese.
  • Whole Earth Farms is available in a wide variety of flavors. This allows owners to give their Havanese lots of different protein options without the fear of stomach upsets.
  • This diet is highly flavorful. Dogs love the taste of it and eagerly lap up every morsel in their bowls at every meal.
  • Dogs that suffered with itchy skin saw a return to normal, well-hydrated, itch-free skin when fed Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food regularly.
  • Owners love the price of this food, feeling they are getting a top quality diet for an affordable cost.

Cons

  • Some dogs dislike the taste of this food and will not eat it. A different Whole Earth Farms flavor may yield better results for those dogs.
  • Some owners felt the kibble pieces in this diet were far too big for small breed dogs like the Havanese. They were concerned their dogs may choke on the morsels of food.
  • A few owners were unhappy with the price of this food, expressing they found it a little bit expensive.
  • This diet contains potatoes, peas, and chickpeas, all controversial ingredients of questionable nutritional quality for dogs.
  • There are no supplements included in this diet to support optimal joint health in the Havanese.

Solid Gold Mighty Mini Small & Toy Breed Grain-Free Lamb, Sweet Potato & Carrot Dry Dog Food review

At a Glance

  • Top 5 Ingredients:
    1. Lamb
    2. Lamb Meal
    3. Ocean Fish Meal
    4. Chickpeas
    5. Peas
  • Type: Dry food
  • Lifestage: Adult
  • Calories: 470 kcal/cup
  • Protein: 30%
  • Fat: 18%
  • Fiber: 4%

Solid Gold Mighty Mini Small Breed is a food Havanese owners can feel good about feeding their best canine pal. A premium tier diet formulated to meet the unique needs of small breeds like the Havanese, Solid Gold Mighty Mini Small Breed focuses on high quality proteins such as lamb, lamb meal, and ocean fish meal to ensure adequate servings of amino acids to fuel optimal health and wellness in small breed dogs.

Probiotics have been included in this diet to help establish healthy gut flora in small breeds. A diet often recommended as one of the best dog foods for the Havanese, Solid Gold Mighty Mini Small Breed contains no grains or gluten in its recipe.

Pros

  • Owners really like the size of the kibble pieces in this diet, feeling they are ideal for small breed dogs like the Havanese.
  • Owners love that this diet is available in several different flavors. This allows them to offer their dogs some variety in their daily meals without sacrificing any nutritional quality.
  • Dogs regularly fed this diet had excellent quality stool.
  • This diet is available at a reasonable price. Owners are pleased they are able to offer their Havanese such a high quality diet and for such an affordable cost.
  • The coat quality of dogs transitioned to this food was greatly improved. Their fur was soft, healthy, and shiny.

Cons

  • Some owners noted their dogs became exceptionally gassy when fed a steady diet of Solid Gold Mighty Mini Small Breed.
  • Some dogs disliked the taste of this food and would not eat it. Another Solid Gold formulation with a different protein may yield better results.
  • Some owners felt the kibble pieces in this diet were a little too small for the Havanese. They expressed concern that their dogs may choke on the morsels when eating their meals.
  • This diet contains chickpeas, peas, and pea protein, all ingredients of questionable nutritional quality for dogs.
  • There are no supplements added to this diet to support joint health in the Havanese.