Made in Canada Dog Food Brands: Ultimate Source List

Want the best for your furry friend? Choosing dog food made right here in Canada can be a great option! This list is your guide to finding Canadian dog food brands.

We’ll explore different companies, the types of food they make, what makes them special, and where you can find them for your canine companion.

Why Choose Canadian Dog Food?

• Supports Canadian Businesses: You’re helping Canadian companies, farmers, and workers.
• High-Quality Standards: Canada has strict rules for pet food safety and quality.
• Great Ingredients: Many Canadian brands focus on using locally sourced meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Variety of Formulas: You can find food tailored to different needs, like puppy food, senior food, grain-free, or limited ingredient diets.

Our Big List of Canadian Dog Food Brands

We’ve organized this list mostly by the type of food, as well as highlighting some well-known brands.

Widely Known / Highly Rated Brands

These brands are often recognized across Canada and frequently recommended for their quality.

Orijen (Made by Champion Petfoods, Alberta):

Orijen is a top-tier Canadian brand known for its very high meat content and “biologically appropriate” recipes, meaning they try to mimic a dog’s natural diet.

They use lots of fresh, regional ingredients from Western Canada. Their kibble is grain-free and packed with protein.

It’s considered a premium food and is often recommended for active dogs.

You can find Orijen in pet specialty stores. Best for: High protein, grain-free diets. Visit Website: [https://www.orijenpetfoods.com/]

Acana (Made by Champion Petfoods, Alberta):

Acana is made by the same company as Orijen but offers a slightly different approach, often with slightly less meat content but still very high quality.

They also focus on fresh, regional ingredients from Western Canada.

Acana offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive kibble options, catering to different dietary needs and preferences.

They have formulas for puppies, adults, and seniors.

Find Acana in pet specialty stores. Best for: High-quality regional ingredients, grain-inclusive options. Visit Website: [https://www.acanapetfoods.com/]

Go! Solutions (Made by Petcurean, Chilliwack, BC & Elmira, ON):

Go! Solutions focuses on formulas for dogs with specific dietary needs.

They have recipes for food sensitivities (limited ingredient diets), grain-free options, and high-protein options.

They use quality proteins like chicken, salmon, duck, and lamb. Petcurean is a Canadian-owned company committed to quality.

Go! Solutions kibble and wet food can be found in pet specialty stores.

Best for: Dogs with food sensitivities. Visit Website: [https://go-solutions.com/]

Now Fresh (Made by Petcurean, Chilliwack, BC & Elmira, ON):

Now Fresh, also by Petcurean, uses 100% fresh meats (like turkey, salmon, duck) and avoids rendered meats or by-products.

Their kibble recipes are grain-free and minimally processed. They also include fruits and veggies like cranberries and spinach.

They offer formulas for different life stages and breed sizes.

Find Now Fresh kibble and wet food in pet specialty stores. Best for: Fresh meat ingredients, grain-free. Visit Website: [https://nowfresh.com/]

Gather (Made by Petcurean, Chilliwack, BC & Elmira, ON):

Made by the Canadian company Petcurean (makers of Go! and Now Fresh), Gather focuses specifically on certified organic and sustainably sourced ingredients.

Their recipes often feature single-source proteins like organic chicken or sustainable cod. It’s a great grain-inclusive or grain-free choice for pet parents prioritizing sustainability.

Find it in pet specialty stores. Best for: Sustainable and organic ingredients. Visit Website: [https://gatherpetfood.com/]

Nutrience (Made by Hagen Group, Baie d’Urfé, QC; Facilities in BC & QC):

Nutrience is a well-regarded Canadian brand offering several lines of food, including high-protein Subzero (with freeze-dried raw pieces), Grain Free, and Original grain-inclusive formulas.

They cater to different life stages and budgets while using quality ingredients.

Owned by the long-standing Canadian Hagen Group, Nutrience is widely available in many pet stores across Canada.

 Best for: Variety of formulas, wide availability. Visit Website: [https://www.nutrience.com/]

Kibble (Dry Food)

This is the most common type of dog food.

Nutram (Elmira, ON):

Nutram is a Canadian-owned company making kibble in Ontario.

They focus on a “holistic” approach, meaning they consider the whole health of the dog.

They use quality ingredients and have different lines tailored to life stages (puppy, adult, senior) and specific needs (like weight control or sensitive skin/stomach).

They offer both grain-free and grain-inclusive options.

You can find Nutram in pet specialty stores and some vet clinics. Visit Website: [https://nutram.com/]

Horizon Pet Nutrition (Rosthern, SK):

Horizon is a family-owned Canadian company making kibble in Saskatchewan.

They focus on using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, including grains like barley and rye grown nearby.

They offer several lines, including Pulsar (grain-inclusive) and Legacy (grain-free, higher protein).

They manufacture their food in their own facility.

Horizon products are often found in independent pet stores and feed stores.

Best for: Using locally sourced prairie ingredients. Visit Website: [https://horizonpetfood.com/]

FirstMate Pet Foods (Chilliwack, BC):

FirstMate is a family-owned Canadian company making kibble and wet food in BC.

They have their own manufacturing facility.

They offer both grain-friendly and grain-free options, often using single protein sources like fish or lamb, which can be good for dogs with allergies.

They also have a line called Kasiks. FirstMate is known for its quality control. Find them in pet specialty stores.

Best for: Limited ingredient diets, single protein sources. Visit Website: [https://firstmate.com/stores/]

Canadian Naturals (Multiple facilities across Canada):

They offer a variety of formulas including grain-free and grain-friendly options, using quality ingredients like fresh meats and locally sourced grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Best for: Wholesome ingredients. Visit Website: [https://canadiannaturals.com/]

Valens (Made by Elmira Pet Products, Elmira, ON):

Although it is a Canadian brand, it is made by Elmira Pet Products, a large private label manufacturer in Canada.

Valens focuses on high-protein, grain-free kibble that incorporates fresh meat ingredients.

Best for: High-protein, grain-free. Visit Website: [https://valenspetfood.com/]

Boréal (Beamsville, ON):

Boréal is a Canadian family-owned brand focused on low-glycemic diets, using beans, peas, and quality proteins instead of common grains like corn or wheat.

They offer both grain-inclusive (using low-GI grains) and grain-free formulas, often with limited ingredients, making them suitable for dogs with sensitivities.

Their food is made in Canada. Find Boréal in independent pet specialty stores. 

Best for: Low-glycemic diets, limited ingredients. Visit Website: [https://borealpetfood.com/]

Oven-Baked Tradition (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC):

This Canadian-owned company uses a unique slow oven-baking process instead of high-heat extrusion for their kibble.

They claim this method helps preserve nutrients and flavour.

They offer grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas with various proteins for different life stages.

Made in Quebec, it’s found in many pet specialty stores. 

Best for: Oven-baked kibble, potentially higher digestibility. Visit Website: [ https://ovenbakedtradition.com/]

Crumps’ Naturals Gutsy (Brampton, ON):

While famous for their Canadian-made treats, Crumps’ Naturals also offers Gutsy, a limited ingredient kibble line.

Focusing on gut health, it uses single proteins and minimal ingredients, including pumpkin and probiotics.

Made in Canada by this Canadian-owned company, Gutsy is available in some pet specialty stores. 

Best for: Limited ingredient focus, complementing their treats. Visit Website: [https://crumps.ca/]

Wet Food (Canned)

While many kibble brands also offer canned options, here are some points to note:

Go! Solutions & Now Fresh (Made by Petcurean, Chilliwack, BC & Elmira, ON):

As mentioned before, both these Canadian brands offer wet food recipes, often in Tetra Pak cartons or cans.

They mirror the quality ingredients found in their kibble, providing grain-free and grain-inclusive options with fresh meats and wholesome additions like fruits and vegetables.

Best for: Pairing with their kibble or as a meal mixer. Visit Website: [https://nowfresh.com/]

FirstMate Pet Foods (Chilliwack, BC):

FirstMate also produces canned food options alongside their kibble.

They often feature limited ingredient formulas with single protein sources (like salmon or tuna), making them a good choice for dogs with sensitivities or allergies.

They manufacture these in their own Canadian facility.

Best for: Limited ingredient wet food. Visit Website: [https://firstmate.com/]

Raw Food

Raw food diets aim to mimic what dogs might eat in the wild.

These foods require careful handling and storage (frozen). Always talk to your vet before switching to a raw diet.

Big Country Raw (Smithville, ON):

Big Country Raw is a very popular Canadian raw food brand based in Ontario.

They offer a wide variety of raw meals, including complete dinners, single-protein options, and blends with fruits and vegetables.

They focus on using human-grade, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

They have different product lines to suit various needs and budgets.

Best for: Wide variety of raw options, focus on local sourcing. Visit Website: [https://bigcountryraw.ca/]

Bold Raw (Erin, ON):

Bold Raw (often associated with Mega Dog Raw) is another well-regarded Ontario-based raw food company.

They offer straightforward, balanced raw diets, often focusing on affordability while maintaining quality.

Their Mega Dog line includes blends with vegetables and kelp. They emphasize sourcing Canadian ingredients.

Best for: Balanced and affordable raw diets. Visit Website: [https://boldbynature.com/]

Carnivora (Saskatoon, SK):

Carnivora is a Saskatchewan-based company offering whole animal raw diets.

This means they try to include meat, bone, and organs in proportions found naturally.

They offer a variety of proteins like chicken, beef, lamb, and bison.

Their approach is focused on mimicking a natural prey diet. They are available in many independent pet stores across Canada.

Best for: Whole prey model raw diets. Visit Website: [ https://carnivora.ca/]

K9 Choice Foods (Tofield, AB):

K9 Choice Foods is an Alberta-based raw food company. They process their food in their own facility and focus on using Canadian-sourced, human-grade ingredients.

They offer various protein options and blends, including chicken, beef, bison, and llama.

They aim for high-quality, nutritious raw meals for dogs and cats. Best for: Alberta-sourced ingredients. Visit Website: [https://k9choicefoods.com/]

Smack Pet Food (Winnipeg, MB):

Smack specializes in raw dehydrated dog food, offering the benefits of raw ingredients in a convenient, shelf-stable form.

They use Canadian-sourced meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Their food is hand-made in Winnipeg. It can be served dry or rehydrated. It’s a great option for raw feeders looking for convenience or travel food.

 Best for: Convenient raw alternative (dehydrated). Visit Website: [https://smackpetfood.com/]

Brands with Canadian Production (But Not Canadian-Owned)

These major international brands have manufacturing plants in Canada, supporting Canadian jobs.

Purina (Pro Plan, Purina ONE, etc.) (Factories in Canada – Owned by Nestlé):

Purina is one of the world’s largest pet food companies, owned by the Swiss company Nestlé.

However, they operate significant manufacturing facilities in Canada (e.g., Mississauga, ON; Innisfail, AB) where many of the Purina products sold in Canada are made.

They offer a vast range of kibble, wet food, and treats for various needs and budgets. Visit Website: [https://www.purina.com/]

Royal Canin (Factory in Guelph, ON – Owned by Mars, Inc.):

Royal Canin specializes in breed-specific and veterinary diets.

Owned by the American company Mars, Inc., Royal Canin has a large manufacturing plant in Guelph, Ontario, producing food for the Canadian and international markets.

Their formulas are often developed based on scientific research and specific health needs. Visit Website: [https://shop.royalcanin.ca/]

Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Science Diet, Prescription Diet) (Factories in Canada – Owned by Colgate-Palmolive):

Hill’s is another major player, known for its science-backed formulas and veterinary prescription diets.

Owned by American company Colgate-Palmolive, Hill’s operates manufacturing facilities in Canada where food for the Canadian market is produced. Visit Website: [https://www.hillspet.com/]

(Note: While these brands are made in Canada, their recipes, ingredient sourcing, and overall company decisions are often directed by their international parent companies.)

Conclusion: Nourishing Your Dog!

Choosing the right food for your dog is important, and Canada offers many excellent options!

From high-protein kibble using local ingredients to specialized wet foods and complete raw diets, Canadian brands provide quality choices.

Selecting a food made in Canada, especially from a Canadian-owned company, supports our local economy and farmers.

Remember to consider your dog’s specific needs (age, breed, health) and always talk to your veterinarian when choosing or changing your dog’s food. Happy feeding!