Best Raw Dog Food (Australia)

Let’s take a look at some of the best raw dog foods in Australia, but before we do that we need to cover some gotchas with raw dog food products and address some feeding strategies!

Best Raw Dog Food (Australia)

This page will be updated over time to reflect best raw dog foods in Australia, so make sure you click ctrl + D to bookmark it!

Different types of raw food

There are different ways to feed raw to your dog. Let’s take a look at the two main options – home made raw and commercial raw dog food:

Home made raw

A common way to feed your dog raw is to make it at home using fresh whole-prey ingredients. This is absolutely great if you know what you’re doing, but unfortunately if you don’t there can be long term health risks for your dog. There are many intricacies with canine nutrition and it’s vital to cover all nutrient requirements for long term health.

To offer an obvious example – feeding your pooch chicken breast or minced beef every day doesn’t address all nutritional requirements. The richest nutrition comes from organs, bones, and hard to get stinky stuff like green tripe.

Another less obvious example is feeding an excess of liver. It’s a wonderfully nutritious and essential organ, but as liver has such a high level of vitamin A it can lead to vitamin A toxicity, otherwise known as hypervitaminosis A.

Commercial raw dog food

Thankfully many home grown Australian companies have sprung up to offer raw dog food products already formulated with the correct ratios of meat, organs, and bones, so you don’t need to think about it.

Commercial raw dog food is often called BARF, which stands for “Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding”.

Unfortunately with lax regulations in Australia, and many small raw dog food companies not adhering to standards, there’s a vast range in quality between different brands of raw dog food.

Best Raw Dog Food (Australia)

Even some of the better brands don’t adhere to standards, but it’s a rather moot point as the standards are mostly in favour of the manufacturer rather than the consumer, merely offering ways to hide the truth. The reason for this is the Australian standard for pet food marketing, AS-5812, is heavily influenced by pet food manufacturers.

Thankfully there are some really good brands, some of which are covered in the best raw dog food list down below.

A caution on feeding raw dog food products / BARF

A concern I often have with many commercial pet foods, particularly wet dog foods and BARF, is they don’t address dental health, plaque, or tartar control. The reason for this is they’re soft foods with no abrasive qualities.

Wet dog foods are arguably worse given many are made from sub-standard ingredients, some not even species appropriate. At least with commercial raw dog foods they’re made with ingredients more appropriate to your dog as a facultative carnivore.

The dangers of dental health are very overlooked, even in veterinary health, yet rotting teeth is only the tip of the iceberg with a condition which can culminate in organ failure or heart disease. No matter what you feed your dog, always monitor their teeth. If there’s plaque build up, you’re doing something wrong.

Options for dental health are varied, from dental treats (yeah, nah), to regular brushing (some credibility), or chewing on a raw meaty bone (which is how wild animals retain excellent dental health).

If you consider chewing on bones as an excellent option for dental health (which they are), and you feed a BARF product with ground bones, it’s also worth considering you’re doubling calcium intake and throwing the balance out of whack – answer me that conundrum.

Human grade vs pet grade

One of the best metrics for assessing the quality of a raw dog food / BARF product is whether the ingredients used are human grade or pet grade. In Australia there is a vast difference in quality between the two, with the latter proving harmful in many cases over the years.

The last incident with pet grade meat was the toxic horse meat scandal of 2021, when a consignment of poisoned horses was sold by a knackery in Victoria as “beef” for dogs.

There have been a plethora of other issues over the years such as plastic and metal contaminants and excessive sulphite preservatives leading to renal failure in some dogs.

Needless to say, if a raw dog food product is made from human grade ingredients, then that’s a very good thing.

However, with lax pet food regulations and no accountability, some Australian pet food companies make claims such as “contains human grade ingredients” which doesn’t necessarily mean all are human grade, or “made with meats from a human grade facility” which doesn’t necessarily mean the meats in their product are human grade – many pet grade meats come from a human grade facility.

Some of these companies, and I won’t mention names, have a loyal following in Australian dog groups.

Raw dog food delivery

One of the biggest problems with raw dog food is knowing where to buy it or how to get it delivered. The “best raw dog food” list below only contains brands which are easily accessible to most Australians (including regional areas), but if you live in a city you’ll likely have options specific to you.

There’s a list of raw dog food delivery per city here.

Best raw dog food (Australia)

Here you go! Here are some of the best raw dog foods in Australia! They aren’t ordered in a particular way, so don’t work on a first in best basis.

I work on the philosophy variety is the best policy, and I see no reason not to rotate between different brands or styles of food. After all, we don’t eat the same thing every day, do we?

This list is inclusive of “dried raw”, which is a very convenient way to feed raw dog food without the problems with filling up the fridge with fresh meats with a short use by date.

For all dog food reviews click here.

Lyka

Lyka Dog Food Review

Lyka has shown to be up there with the best, and the best thing about it is it’s delivered right to your door, fresh, tailored to your dog.

I’ll mention Lyka dog food is “slightly cooked” rather than full raw, but it’s very well formulated from meat, organs, veggies, and chelated minerals (which to you and me are much more readily absorbed by your dog than cheaper inclusions found in other dog foods).

Lyka dog food has some really nice inclusions such as psyllium husk for fibre, fish oil for skin, coat, and heart health, as well as kelp, spirulina, and ginger.

I really can’t recommend Lyka enough. They’re an excellent Australian company and one of the easiest ways you can offer your dog an extremely healthy diet which is delivered right to your door!

Check out the Lyka website or read my full Lyka dog food review.

Frontier Pets

Best raw dog food Australia - Frontier Pets

Frontier Pets dog food is rated one of the highest on this website. It’s freeze-dried raw so can be kept in a bag like regular dog biscuits, and you reconstitute it with water a few minutes prior to serving.

It’s formulated with free-range meat, organs, and tripe, with a range of organic vegetables, eggs, and rounded off with nutrients and inclusions like turmeric which you won’t find in many products.

Frontier Pets are an Australian company, using human grade meats ethically farmed from Australian sources. They have a mandate to end factory farming in Australia.

If you’re looking for a really top end dog food which should maximise your dog’s health and longevity, yet want the convenience and long shelf life of a “dry” food, then Frontier Pets is an excellent choice!

Read the full Frontier Pets dog food review or why not give some a go as part of your dog’s diet by ordering some from the Frontier Pets website!

If Frontier Pets seems too much for your budget, then the next option may suit you better – Petzyo raw!

Petzyo

Petzyo raw dog food

Petzyo have proven themselves as an excellent Australian made & owned dog food company, and I’ve had great feedback about their products.

In addition to the Petzyo dry food they also offer a range of raw patties made with human-grade meats with no use of nasty preservatives.

The patties are all single protein which makes them a great option if your dog has issues with particular meat proteins.

Each patty is a mix of meat, bone, cartilage, and organs (all contain liver), along with vegetables and great inclusions like cold pressed flaxseed, Tasmanian salmon, turmeric, blueberries, kelp, and more.

It’s great to see such an inclusion of nutritious ingredients, anti-inflammatories, and anti-oxidants, which should easily boost your dog’s health and immunity!

A great choice!

You’ll also get 10% off your first Petzyo order with this link and coupon code AFPR!

Big Dog BARF

Big Dog dog food review

Big Dog has been around longer than you’d think, dating back to the early 2000s as one of the first Australian BARF foods. The other original BARF brand was Dr B’s BARF which was subsequently bought up by a larger manufacturer and makes no claims about human grade meats – not the case for Big Dog which does use human grade ingredients.

The main ingredients are a range of meats, ground bone, cartilage, heart, liver, kidney, combined with whole fish, fruits, veggies, and a range of smaller inclusions which each add their own nutritional benefits.

If you want Big Dog delivered your best option is Petbarn who offer same day delivery. It’s also available click-and-collect from   and other retailers.

Read the full Big Dog BARF review.

Proudi

Proudi dog food review

Just like Big Dog, Proudi is another great option in terms of frozen BARF patties. The two are very similar, but Proudi is slightly more “full-carnivore” in that it doesn’t have the same fruit and veg content as Big Dog. Whether that’s a good or bad thing will be debated by raw feeders for years to come, and I’ll sit on the fence with that one.

Proudi is an Australian company using 100% Australian ingredients, and best yet all of them are human grade.

If you want Proudi delivered your best option is Petbarn who offer same day delivery. It’s also available click-and-collect from   and other retailers.

Read the full Proudi review.

Quick-fire feeding tips

To round off this list of best raw dog foods in Australia I’ll also through in some quick fire tips:

Feed a variety

Firstly, I personally see more issues arise with dogs fed a single brand of dog food than I do with those fed a variety. It’s perhaps common sense when you translate it to our diets, and common knowledge that we can easily become intolerant of a food we either don’t have in our diet for a long time, or also if we eat something all the time. This is in stark contrast to what pet food manufacturers tell us, which probably has more to do with them wanting you to feed their product for the life of your dog.

Best Raw Dog Food (Australia)

Don’t be afraid to feed other foods

Kibble is a convenience food. A lot of “science” goes into ensuring all nutrients are catered for to ensure your dog has everything they need, but there’s also a lot of “marketing” – it’s a product after all.

Most of us depend on convenience, especially with our busy lives. Feeding a decent kibble over a poor one will go a long way, but there’s no reason it should be the only food you feed.

Personally I feed kibble, wet, barf, raw, and all manner of fresh foods and scraps which are species appropriate. I feed raw meaty bones for nutrition and dental health. I don’t feed anything to my dog which is unhealthy or unnecessary, especially given fresh meat will be appreciated the most.

Research

I realise books have fallen by the wayside in these days of instant gratification from social media and YouTube videos, but when it comes to feeding the dog you love a diet of raw, it’s well worth researching as much as possible.

I’ve compiled a list of great reading material which should really help, and I highly recommend the first book on the list, “Work Wonders” by Australian vet Tom Lonsdale, which despite being a short and enjoyable read contains the most powerful information to understand commercial dog food vs raw dog food (and the importance of raw meaty bones).

Take advantage of deals

There are a number of large pet food retailers in Australia, and almost always they have a deal on one brand or other. Keep an eye out. Most of our reviews have a price comparison “Where to buy” which can point you in the right direction.

Most retailers, and also some mail-order dog foods, offer a repeat delivery discount. You can tailor the delivery to suit you, not have to worry about running out, and save some $ in the process.

Your local independent may also offer a similar service, so if in doubt ask them. In recent years many independents have also started to stock all manner of fresh meats, offal, and bones. A good question to ask is “is it human grade or pet grade meat”, or check customer reviews.


Best raw dog food Australia – originally compiled April 2022.

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22 Comments
  1. Raw and Fresh are FANTASTIC. My pups have tried Frontier, Organic Paws, Lyka, and the other top tier foods – I find Raw and Fresh to be the most fresh, fantastic customer service, the pups LOVE it and they are VERY healthy.

  2. Please have a look at Whoa Nelly (https://www.whoanelly.com.au/), made in Brisbane by a canine nutritionist and former chef. They now deliver down to Sydney as well.

  3. Raw and Fresh are the best around. Human grade, reasonably priced, freshly made. The dogs love it more than even Ziwipeak, Proudi, Big Dog.

  4. Raw and Fresh are AMAZING – human grade, fantastic ingredients, fantastic company. WE are in Newcastle. You order the week ahead (they prepare fresh weekly). It is extremely inexpensive if purchased in bulk, not portioned out but also very reasonable when portioned out. LOVE this company and our pups have tried lyka, frontier, orijen, all the majors.

  5. I agree, Raw and fresh are awesome for service, convenience and quality. I am always getting comments on how healthy and shiny my boy is. It smells fresh and good enough to eat yourself. I also feed him “Stay Loyal” kibble in the morning.

  6. HI great education for me about dog food. I am all for raw dog food, the best for my 3 litle toy poodles. The two females are excellent eaters, but the boy is such a fussy eater. I have to offer him different foods, the he will except one or leave it till next feed. I know he has a sensitive stomach as get soft stools when he eats to much raw food. Won’t touch most raw food because of the veg in. Should I persevere, till he eats it. I am quite fed up with it. Thank Louisa. Also they have such small mouths, what raw bones to give, and can they also splinter.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) January 12, 2023 at 7:29 pm

      Sometimes it’s worth persevering with fussy eaters, but it’s frustrating isn’t it!

      For small dogs chicken necks (and similar) can be a good option. They only splinter when cooked (and we should never feed cooked bones). Dried raw chicken necks are also available as treats for a little more money. I’ve found the Frontier Pets chicken necks to have a really good chewy consistency.

      • Agree with above comment – Raw and Fresh are THE BEST. Made fresh weekly, arrive as ordered – reasonably priced and HUMAN GRADE. BEST dog food ever. I dont understand why this site refuses to review them….Ive been watching for over a year and – nothing. My dogs have tried all the top tier foods (including organic paws, orijen, lyka, big dog (solid product as well) – Raw and Fresh are by far the best bc fresh and made weekly/farm to table.

        • Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 23, 2023 at 6:15 pm

          Hi Maria, I actually have a review pending. I contacted Raw and Fresh a few weeks ago, but they haven’t got back to me yet.

  7. Hi,
    I have been feeding Big Dog BARF for years quite happily but noticed on the last purchase that the packaging has changed and the price increased significantly. It triggered me to compare the ingredients with the last pack. I was surprised to see that the protein has reduced from 16.5% to 15% and the fat increased from 4 to 5%.
    I queried with Big Dog but got an answer that did not address the change.
    Any comment?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 14, 2022 at 7:01 pm

      Hi Gareth, this seems to be happening a lot lately. I think price increases are across the board, and it’s quite common for pet foods to quietly change ingredients over time. It may be driven by the cost of ingredient suppliers that Big Dog use upping their prices, so they need to do something to keep the product sellable. Perhaps look at Proudi which is very similar, or something like Eureka, Frontier Pets, or Lyka as an alternative?

  8. Do you think meat from the knackeries are safe?

  9. Could you please review Leading Raw from PetStock?
    My puppy loves it and it seems to be of good quality but would appreciate your perspective.

  10. Helpful! Are you familiar with The Butcher’s Dog? https://thebutchersdog.com.au/

  11. Raw and fresh from Prospect NSW isn’t mentioned here, is that because you didn’t review them or don’t know of them

    • I have a moodle puppy and has started puppy school. I’ve been told not to mix the kibble with the raw food diet as this will cause my dog to have too much protein.
      What Should I give my little dog for dental care if I put her on a raw food diet.
      Jacqui

      • Reply
        Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 1, 2022 at 5:20 pm

        Hi Jacqui, in raw feeding it’s generally raw meaty bones which help a dog naturally maintain good dental health.

        The mixing kibble with raw concern I think mostly comes from a belief “complete and balanced” kibble is the only “safe” way to feed a dog, which I’m sure has roots in pet food marketing. i.e. pet food companies don’t want you to feed anything except their product. My dogs (and cat) have always had a mixture.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) July 15, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      Hi J, I need to update the article to include Raw and Fresh as they seem a popular brand. At the time I wrote the article I had little experience with them.

      • Have been extremely happy with Raw and Fresh. We feed R&F at night and give kibble in the morning. Excellent service, prompt response to queries, dog loves the food and delivery is cold and on time. Would be interested to hear others opinions

        • We had the worst experience with them. The food went off and completely mouldy a day later and we stored it exactly as recommended. Idk if it was a bad batch or something happened with it maybe not being kept cold enough during delivery but my trust is completely broken and we went back to big dogs.

        • Hi Jen, are you still happy with Raw & Fresh? I’m waiting on my first order to be delivered so hoping you’re still a fan?

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