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True Acre is leaving its mark in the market of dog food. One of its main selling points is being relatively affordable without too much loss in nutritional value.
I’ve dumped hours of research and many cups of tea while surfing multiple True Acre dog food reviews. In this post, I’ll give you the fruits of my research, so continue reading.
Rating
Based on True Acre dog food's nutritional value, ingredients, and overall quality, we give the brand a rating of 3.5/5.
Based on True Acre dog food's nutritional value, ingredients, and overall quality, we give the brand a rating of 3.5/5.*Find out more about our editorial & review standards
True Acre Overview
True Acre Foods is a relatively new competitor on the scene. It’s owned by Chewy inc., and it’s manufactured and distributed in the United States.
You may consider True Acre to be a private-label Chewy brand, as it’s not available to purchase from local retail stores.
Also, while other food brands have various food types and selections, True Acre remains humble with only a handful of selections.
Don’t let that hold you back, though, as those selections are more than enough for your dog to grow and thrive.
Is True Acre Dog Food Good?
To cut to the chase, True Acre dog food is a “decent” product. The production line contains slightly above-average protein, above-average carbs, and below-average fat.
It’s not as nutrient-rich as more premium products like Annamaet, for example. If I give Annamaet a score of 5, I’ll give True Acre a score of 3.5–4.
Pros
- Decent protein content to promote your dog’s diet
- All recipes have no artificial colors and preservatives
- All recipes meet the nutritional value of the AAFCO
- To date, there hasn’t been a single recall of this product
- It’s fairly more affordable than other dog food brands
Cons
- Minced meat or by-products from unnamed sources is used in some recipes
- Plant-based protein is found in some recipes, which, despite being healthy, isn’t as nutritious as meat-based protein
Best of True Acre Products
Here’s my selection of True Acre dog food recipes:
1. True Acre Chicken and Vegetables Grain-Free Dog Food
True Acre Chicken and Vegetables dry dog food is one of the grain-free recipes you can get for your dog. Grain-free dog food can reduce inflammation and improve digestion.
The product also meets the standards of the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. It has the A symbol, which means it’s suitable for all life stages of your dog.
Keep in mind that this product has a weight-control variant with reduced calorie intake to help your dog through his weight-loss journey. There’s also a large breed variant with extra calories to help large dog owners reduce their expenses.
Remember that the nutrient content mentioned below is for the current variant only. Others will have slightly different values.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 13% | 46% |
Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 15% | 30% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 32% | 44% |
Ingredients List: Chicken, pea starch, peas, soybean meal, canola meal, tapioca starch, flaxseed, carrots, cranberries, fish oil, chicken fat, poultry by-product meal, poultry fat with mixed tocopherols, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, copper sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, folic acid, rosemary extract, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, calcium carbonate, calcium iodate, d-calcium carbonate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ferrous sulfate, d calcium pantothenate, zinc oxide, riboflavin supplement.
Ingredients Analysis
As you can see, the list of ingredients is quite generous. However, we’ll focus on the primary nutritional value more than supplements and filler ingredients.
The first primary ingredient is chicken, which is a good source of protein content and helps strengthen the muscles and bones of your dog.
Keep in mind that raw chicken can contain up to 73% water and most of that water is lost when the chicken is cooked. Moreover, processing could lower the protein content a bit more. All of these are to be considered when judging the protein content of the kibble.
The second main ingredient we have is peas and pea starch. Peas are a good source of carbohydrates and protein as they have 25% protein. Pea starch is often used to bind the kibble. It provides a decent amount of calories, but the nutritional value isn’t considerable.
Our third ingredient is the poultry by-product meal, which is basically a mixture of slaughterhouse waste. Such waste can contain high amounts of protein, but the exact percentage varies depending on the raw materials used.
Next on the list are canola meal and soybean meal, two ingredients that some people might consider controversial. Canola meal can be made from genetically modified rapeseed, which raises some questions.
Soybean meal, on the other hand, contains 48% protein. Why is it a controversial ingredient? It’s because it has a low biological value. What that means is that your dog’s body won’t be able to retain the greater portion of that protein.
- Controversial Ingredients: Canola meal, soybean meal, sodium selenite, dried plain beet pulp
- Estimated Meat Content: Chicken
2. True Acre Beef and Vegetables Grain-Free Dog Food
The beef and vegetable grain-free dog food is an almost identical product to its chicken counterpart. The only major difference is using beef for dogs who prefer the taste of meat.
Once again, it meets AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
However, unlike the chicken product, the beef product doesn’t have weight loss or large breed variants.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 13% | 46% |
Dry Matter Basis | 27.27% | 14.77% | 52.27% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 23.63% | 31.08% | 45.29% |
Ingredients List: Beef, pea starch, peas, soybean meal, canola meal, tapioca starch, flaxseed, carrots, cranberries, fish oil, chicken fat, poultry by-product meal, poultry fat with mixed tocopherols, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, copper sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, folic acid, rosemary extract, vitamin E supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ferrous sulfate, d calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement.
Ingredients Analysis
The primary ingredient is beef, which can be acquired from any cattle breed and can be fresh, ground, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. Beef is an essential source of protein to allow for the healthy development of muscles and bones.
Just like the chicken variant, pea and pea starch follow. This product uses high-quality milled peas as a source of protein and grain-free starch to hold the whole thing together.
Unfortunately, canola and soy meal are also present here.
- Controversial Ingredients: Canola meal, soybean meal, sodium selenite
- Estimated Meat Content: Beef
3. True Acre Foods Hearty Stew Lamb & Vegetable Recipe
This lamb & vegetable stew from True Acre is the only wet dog food on our list.
In comparison to other wet dog foods, this is a meat-based food that’s rich in protein, low in fat, and moderate in carbohydrate content.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 2% | 1.5% |
Dry Matter Basis | 55.56% | 11.11% | 8.33% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 51.66% | 25.09% | 23.25% |
Ingredients List: Lamb animal liver, lamb broth, meat by-products, chicken, peas, carrots, rice, wheat gluten, guar gum, corn starch, soy flour, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, niacin supplement, biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, fish oil, natural flavor of chicken liver, vitamin E supplement, folic acid.
Ingredients Analysis
Our main ingredient is lamb meat and lamb broth. The meat is often acquired from young lamb as it can be a great source of natural protein, amino acids, and animal fat. As for lamb broth, it’s made by boiling lamb meat to obtain a liquid rich in nutrients. It’s the main reason for moisture in this dog food.
We also have meat by-products obtained from various organs like kidneys, lungs, and hearts. With the exception of horns, teeth, hooves, and hides, any butchering leftovers can be made into meat by-products for dog food.
The third ingredient on the list is animal liver, which can be a great source of minerals like copper, zinc, selenium, and iron. However, the richness and nutritional value of the liver depend on the source.
Last but not least, we have chicken. In addition to lamb and liver, chicken serves as another source of protein. Combining these three sources together makes this wet dog food the highest protein source on my list.
- Controversial Ingredients: Sodium selenite
- Estimated Meat Content: Lamb, liver, chicken
4. True Acre Foods Hearty Bones Long-Lasting Treats
These dental treats aren’t exactly dog food. While they’re edible by your dog, their nutritional value is fairly low. The point of dental treats is to allow your dog to chew, which can preserve teeth and gum health. They can also be used as training rewards.
Dogs that are actively chewing food have a reduced chance of plaque formation and gum inflammation. Plaque is food and bacterial remnants that can adhere to teeth and cause caries and inflammation.
With occasional treats, the gum will be massaged and the plaque will be actively removed by the chewing mechanism.
True Acre dog treats come in three flavors; beef, chicken, and peanut butter.
The calorie content in this dental treat pack is 2,930 kcal/kg and 220 kcal/treat.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 7.50% | 4.0% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Calorie Weighted Basis | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Ingredients List: Brown rice flour, tapioca starch, cane molasses, potato starch, ground flaxseed, powdered cellulose, oat flour, cultured skim milk, dried blueberries, cranberries, rosemary extract, dried egg product, pea starch, omega fatty acids.
Ingredients Analysis
If you choose chicken or beef flavor, there will be a small amount of protein content in the treats. This protein source isn’t enough for healthy growth; it’s just enough to provide some nutritional value as your dog chews.
The second ingredient is potato starch and it’s present in all three flavors. Potato starch is a natural, gluten-free ingredient that we acquire from potatoes. This starch is mainly to hold the treats together and it hardly provides any nutritional value.
Our third ingredient is tapioca starch, which is extracted from cassava roots. It serves a similar purpose to potato starch.
Brown rice flour is the fourth ingredient. It provides natural sources of fiber and minerals, such as manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium, and can be found in brown rice flour.
Finally, we have powdered cellulose, which is purely a filler. It’s made from plant fibers and wood pulp and doesn’t provide any extra nutritional value.
- Controversial Ingredients: Powdered cellulose
- Estimated Meat Content: Chicken or beef
5. True Acre Foods Farmhouse Blend with Lamb/Chicken & Vegetables Dry Dog Food
This meat and vegetable farmhouse blend is a more affordable option from True Acre. For a slightly reduced protein content and a richer carbohydrate intake, you get a tasty meal that your dog is sure to enjoy and look forward to.
Much like all products in this review, this farmhouse blend meets AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 17.5% | 4% |
Dry Matter Basis | 29.55% | 19.89% | 4.55% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 23.85% | 38.99% | 37.16% |
Ingredients List: Chicken or beef (depending on the product you choose), chicken by-product meal, soy flour, chicken fat, natural flavor, beet pulp, dried plain, carrots, peas, salmon oil, salt, calcium carbonate, niacin supplement, vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, dried cultured whey, chondroitin sulfate, copper proteinate, choline chloride, sodium selenite, copper sulfate.
Ingredients Analysis
The primary ingredient is either chicken or lamb, which, as discussed earlier, is a great source of protein.
Our second ingredient is wheat, a cereal grain commonly used in baked goods. Wheat is used in pet food as a protein, carbohydrate, and fiber source. And it can improve food crunchiness.
The third ingredient is the chicken by-product meal. This by-product is made by mincing and grinding any chicken part that’s not fit for human consumption. For pets, this can be a rich protein source.
The fourth ingredient on the list is corn. Just like wheat, it’s a cereal grain used in various pet foods. It’s a gluten-free ingredient that’s used as a bulking agent and a carbohydrate source.
Chondroitin sulfate, a natural anti-inflammatory agent, is the fifth ingredient here. It’s added to dog food to improve joint function.
- Controversial Ingredients: Sodium selenite
- Estimated Meat Content: Chicken or lamb
Product Recalls – 0 Recall
To date, based on extensive research, there has never been a recall of an Acre dog food product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are True Acre Dog Foods Approved By the AAFCO?
All products of True Acre dog foods meet the standards set by AAFCO. All variants of this dog food (except for the treats) fulfill all the growth requirements per the respective growth stage.
Can My Dog Eat Both Wet and Dry Dog Food?
Dry food is often richer in carbohydrates and promotes dental health better than wet food. On the other hand, wet food contains more protein content than dry food.
You can switch between dry and wet dog food occasionally, but it’s best to consult your vet before that to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach.
Is True Acre Dog Food Suitable for All Dogs?
True Acre has different types of dog foods that can suit the needs of most dogs. For example, there’s a grain-free type to aid weight loss and a calorie-rich type for large breeds.
So, while the same bag can’t be consumed by all dogs, there’s still a bag of food for every dog.
The Wrap Up
True Acre dog food may not be the most premium product out there. It goes behind richer foods like Nulo, but it won’t dig a hole through your wallet.
It’s true that the collection of foods is humble, but it utilizes tastes that most dogs love, like chicken and lamb.
Whether it’s this product or any other, it’s always best to consult your vet before switching between food brands.