Review Summary

Our Final Verdict We give Instinct dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

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Introduction

Instinct dog food is made by Nature’s Variety, a brand that’s been in operation since 2002 and specializes in holistic pet food. None of its formulas contains wheat, corn, by-product meals or artificial colors or flavors.

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

Veterinarian, MVZ

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

Veterinarian, MVZ

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

We give Instinct dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

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The Instinct Raw Boost line is one of the brand’s most popular, which combines kibble with pieces of freeze-dried raw meat. This is for safety and to allow owners to provide the perceived benefits of raw without committing to a full lifestyle change. This food has advantages and disadvantages, which you can check out in this review.

At a Glance: The Best Instinct Dog Food Recipes:

Image Product Details

Our Favorite

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Real Beef

High protein

Fatty acids and antioxidants

No artificial ingredients or by-products

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Instinct Original Grain-Free Real Chicken

Real chicken and raw chicken bites

US-made

Grain-free

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Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Real Chicken

Real chicken and raw chicken bites

US-made

Wide variety of fruit and vegetable ingredients

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Instinct Be Natural Chicken & Brown Rice

Grain-inclusive formula

Brown rice

No fillers, by-products, or artificial ingredients

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Instinct Original Natural Wet Dog Food

Wet food, high in moisture

Grain-free

Protein from Chicken and Turkey

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Instinct Dog Food Reviewed

Who makes Instinct and where is it produced?

Instinct is made by Nature’s Variety, a pet food company owned by the Barcelona-based Agrolimen company. Nature’s Variety has manufacturing facilities in Lincoln, NE, and headquarters in St. Louis, MO. The company focuses on natural, raw, and grain-free foods for dogs and cats in both dry and wet varieties.

Which type of dog is Instinct best suited for?

Instinct formulas provide whole and balanced nutrition for adult maintenance diets and offer formulas for puppies or different dietary needs. The line is grain-free and features freeze-dried raw pieces, which may be appealing to most dogs. Active dogs will likely thrive with Instinct foods.

Which type of dog might do better with a different brand?

If you’re concerned about feeding a raw diet or your dog wouldn’t do well with raw or grain-free food, this may not be the best choice for you. Be sure to speak with your vet about whether this food is appropriate for your dog or if you have concerns about feeding raw or grain-free diets.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Instinct offers a good balance of ingredients and nutrients, such as animal protein from deboned meat, meal, and fat. The carbohydrates primarily come from peas and tapioca. You’ll also find chicken heart, chicken liver, fish meal, and other animal protein sources to create the raw bites.

Animal Protein Sources

Regardless of recipe, the animal protein sources in Instinct foods come from high-quality sources like deboned meat, meals, and organ meats. No questionable by-products from unknown sources with unknown food safety standards.

High-Protein Recipes

With so many animal protein sources, it’s expected that Instinct recipes boast a lot of protein. This is ideal for active dogs but may not be ideal for all dogs. Excess protein may be stored as fat, which contributes to obesity. In addition, some dogs with medical conditions may be harmed by diets that are too high in protein.

Freeze-Dried Raw Still Has Risks

While high-pressure processed and freeze-dried raw meat and animal products are generally regarded as safer than handling the raw meat yourself, there are still contamination risks. If you handle your dog’s food, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward. You should also clean anything that comes in contact with the raw bits, such as the counter, food scoop, dog bowls, and floor where your dog eats.

Grain-Free Is Not Always Appropriate

Dogs evolved alongside humans and adapted to many of the same foods we eat, so they do best with a diet consisting of protein, fat and healthy carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can come from vegetable and fruit sources, but they can also come from grain-based sources like rice or wheat. Consider whether a grain-free diet is appropriate for your dog.

Instinct does make a line of natural dog food that includes high-quality grains like brown rice, which is a good way to get the benefits of the brand in a more appropriate food formula.

A Quick Look at Instinct Dog Food

Pros

High in protein

No fillers or artificial ingredients

Appetizing raw bites

Range of products

Cons

Pricey

Requires stringent cleaning for food safety

Fewer grain-inclusive options

Recall History

Instinct has been recalled several times spanning from 2010 to 2015. It was also one of the brands discussed in the FDA investigation into grain-free diets and a possible link to canine dilated cardiomyopathy.

High in protein

No fillers or artificial ingredients

Appetizing raw bites

Range of products

  • High in protein
  • No fillers or artificial ingredients
  • Appetizing raw bites
  • Range of products

Pricey

Requires stringent cleaning for food safety

Fewer grain-inclusive options

  • Pricey
  • Requires stringent cleaning for food safety
  • Fewer grain-inclusive options

Reviews of the 3 Best Instinct Dog Food Recipes

Pros

High protein

Fatty acids and antioxidants

No artificial ingredients or by-product meals

Cons

Grain-free may not be suitable for all dogs

Some dogs don’t like it

Expensive

2. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food

Pros

Real chicken and raw chicken bites

US-made

Wide variety of fruit and vegetable ingredients

Cons

Grain-free and raw only

Pricey

Pros

Grain-inclusive formula

Brown rice

No fillers, by-products, or artificial ingredients

Cons

Expensive

Only available with freeze-dried raw pieces

What Other Users Are Saying

Wondering how users (and their pets) like the food? Take a look:

This dog food features real beef and freeze-dried raw pieces made of USA-raised beef. In addition to being a high-protein formula, this recipe has probiotics to support digestive health and high levels of omega-fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin. It also has antioxidants for immune health. There are no grains, potatoes, corn, wheat, by-product meals, soy, artificial colors, or preservatives. Though many dogs will find the raw pieces appetizing, it may not be appropriate or tasty to all dogs. It was also a little expensive.

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High protein

Fatty acids and antioxidants

No artificial ingredients or by-product meals

  • High protein
  • Fatty acids and antioxidants
  • No artificial ingredients or by-product meals

Grain-free may not be suitable for all dogs

Some dogs don’t like it

Expensive

  • Grain-free may not be suitable for all dogs
  • Some dogs don’t like it
  • Expensive

This chicken recipe combines real deboned chicken with fish meal protein sources in their raw coated kibble. Vegetables, probiotics, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants round out the diet for complete and balanced nutrition. Like other Instinct recipes, this recipe is made with premium ingredients in a US-based facility, and contains no grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, or artificial colors and preservatives. This is only a grain-free option with raw bites, however, and it’s a little expensive.

Real chicken and raw chicken bites

US-made

Wide variety of fruit and vegetable ingredients

  • Real chicken and raw chicken bites
  • US-made
  • Wide variety of fruit and vegetable ingredients

Grain-free and raw only

Pricey

  • Grain-free and raw only
  • Pricey

If you want a grain-inclusive formula with the same benefits of Instinct brand food, the Be Natural line is a good solution. This recipe features freeze-dried raw bites and real chicken with brown rice for whole and balanced nutrition. This recipe uses rice as the primary grain source, but contains no fillers, wheat, corn, chicken by-product meal, or artificial colors or preservatives. It’s made in the US with ingredients sourced from trusted retailers. This formula is also a little expensive and uses raw bites.

Grain-inclusive formula

Brown rice

No fillers, by-products, or artificial ingredients

  • Grain-inclusive formula
  • Brown rice
  • No fillers, by-products, or artificial ingredients

Expensive

Only available with freeze-dried raw pieces

  • Expensive
  • Only available with freeze-dried raw pieces

Conclusion

Instinct is a good dog food brand that’s made by Nature’s Variety. Based in the US, the company focuses on natural, holistic pet food free from fillers and artificial ingredients. Most recipes are grain-free and contain freeze-dried raw pieces, which may not be appropriate for all dogs. There are a few grain-inclusive recipes, however.

Sources

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/natures-variety-instinct-dog-food-dry/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature%27s_Variety https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/evr_dg_dangers_of_high_protein_dog_foods https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/natures-variety-instinct-dog-food-dry/ https://www.petsmart.com/featured-brands/instinct/dog/instinct-raw-boost-dog-food—natural-grain-free-freeze-dried-raw-chicken-44222.html?cgid=5000070 https://www.amazon.com/Instinct-Recipe-Natural-NatureS-Variety/product-reviews/B06XDPJJYP/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

 

Sources

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/natures-variety-instinct-dog-food-dry/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature%27s_Variety https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/evr_dg_dangers_of_high_protein_dog_foods https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/natures-variety-instinct-dog-food-dry/ https://www.petsmart.com/featured-brands/instinct/dog/instinct-raw-boost-dog-food—natural-grain-free-freeze-dried-raw-chicken-44222.html?cgid=5000070 https://www.amazon.com/Instinct-Recipe-Natural-NatureS-Variety/product-reviews/B06XDPJJYP/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews