Amazon released “Wag” dry dog food in May 2018. Since I am very excited about buying things on Amazon, I purchased it right away! Of course, what everyone wants to know is, is Amazon Wag a quality dog food?
Here’s Aura trying it out for the first time:
Is dry dog food (kibble) even good for dogs?
So… I’m not here to debate the whole “raw food” thing or even dog food at all. I do, however, welcome all comments below! Of course, there are many pros and cons to wet dog food, dry dog food and the raw diet. A raw diet can be wonderful, IF you do it correctly. I personally use dry dog food. I understand the cheap, 40 cent a pound garbage they sell in 100lb bags at the feed store is terrible. I personally use “premium” dry dog foods. These are dog foods which have no grain and get their protein from something such as salmon. In other words, they have decent quality ingredients and are well balanced and have an acceptable nutritional value. Dry dog food works for me as it is easy and convenient to store, doesn’t spoil easily and I can just grab a scoop out when it’s dinner time. Dry dog foods I’ve used include Taste of the Wild, Blue Wilderness and Royal Canin. I used to make my own food for my previous German Shepherd as she had allergies, but after she passed, my new girl gets dry food.
I’m no scientist but I am certain that all foods probably fall short somehow… Not enough protein? Too much calcium? Too much grain? Who knows. Every veterinarian out there seems to have a different opinion, and the various lines and breeds of dog vary so wildly I don’t think one specific food is perfect for one specific breed. Besides, I do supplement Aura’s good with eggs and occasionally she eats some meats, fruits and vegetables as well!
Amazon Wag Dry Dog Food Review
Since so many people have such varying opinions on dog foods I am just going to start off here with the facts.
Amazon’s Wag food has a “Guarantee of quality” on the back of the bag. It reads “We manufacture all our pet foods in the USA, with US and imported ingredients, testing each batch to ensure safety and quality. Our recipe uses real fish as the first ingredient, and we don’t add any grains, so each service is comprised of 35% protein.”
The “guaranteed analysis” from the back of the bag reads:
- Crude protein – 35% minimum
- Crude fat – 15% minimum
- Crude fiber – 5.5% maximum
- Moisture – 10% Maximum
- Zinc – 150 mg/kg Minimum
- Selenium – 0.35 mg/kg Minimum
- Vitamin E – 150 IU/kg Minimum
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids* – 2.5% Minimum
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% Minimum
- Glucosamine* – 750 mg/kg Minimum
- Chondroitin* – 250 mg/kg Minimum
- Total microorganisms* – 2,000,000 SFU/b Minimum (Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animals)
- * = Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
Nutritional Statement:
The back of the bag reads: “Wag Salmon and Lentil Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).”
Ingredients:
Salmon, salmon meal, lentils, pea protein, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), brewers yeast, dried plain beet pulp, flaxseed, natural flavor, salmon oil, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, yucca schidigera extract, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried lactobacillius acidophilus fermentation product, dried enterococcusfaecium fermentation product, dried bifidobacteriumadminals fermentation products, Vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, mananous oxide, ascorbic acid (preservative), Vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, puridoxine hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B12 supplement), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.
Comparison to Taste of the Wild
So I am going to start off here by stating that I am pretty happy with Taste of the Wild. I may just stick with Taste of the Wild. You can get Taste of the Wild on Amazon for only about $4 more than Wag. I didn’t even know that until I was typing up this review; I’ve been spending $59 on it locally. I do enjoy supporting local businesses though, so I have some things to think about now. However, if my German Shepherd does well with Wag I may stick with Wag. I’ll update this article after we’re through our first 30lb bag.
I can say that Taste of the Wild has some ingredients I really like. That said, I am unsure of just how much of these are in the food. The items Taste of the Wild has which Wag does not include
- sweet potatoes
- tomatoes
- blueberries
- and raspberries.
| Name | Amazon Wag (Salmon & Lentil) | Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream (Salmon) |
|---|---|---|
| Crude protein | 35% minimum | 25% minimum |
| Crude fat | 15% minimum | 15% minimum |
| Crude fiber | 5.5% maximum | 3% maximum |
| Moisture | 10% Maximum | 10% maximum |
| Zinc | 150 mg/kg Minimum | 150 mg/kg Minimum |
| Selenium | 0.35 mg/kg Minimum | 0.35 mg/kg Minimum |
| Vitamin E | 150 IU/kg Minimum | 150 IU/kg Minimum |
| Omega 6 Fatty Acids | 2.5% Minimum | 2.4% Minimum |
| Omega 3 Fatty Acids | 0.4% Minimum | 0.3% Minimum |
Transitioning to Wag
Not all dogs have that sensitive of a stomach. I can switch Aura’s dog food out on the fly. I do transition her slowly when I can. Almost all dog foods recommend that you do so gradually. Some dogs will get diarrhea if you’re not careful. Here’s the transition instructions from the back of the Wag bag:
What do you feed your German Shepherd?
Have you tried Wag?
Do you do a raw food diet?
Do you like Taste of the Wild?
Please feel free to let us know below. We’ll follow up here with more thoughts about Wag as they become available.
Hey Len, how is the dog food transition coming along?
So.. I can’t quite place my finger on it but after this bag we moved to a different food. I’ll post more details here asap.
HI Len,
I do not have Shepherds, but Siberian Huskies. I just got a 5 pound bag of Wag Salmon & Lentil and was debating on buying more (or a bigger bag). I saw your review on Wag today and now I am curious as to why you moved on from Wag after the your trial with the 30 pound bag.
Prior to Wag, I was feeding my dogs Nulo Cod and Lentil formula. My younger female wasn’t always eating it, but she gobbled up the Wag. Again, I am curious as to why you switched. Can you elaborate?
Thanks for dropping by! You know… I can’t totally place my finger on it. It was like she was always “hungry” after eating Wag. I ended up going with Taste of the Wild for now.. Aura loves it, although she’s never really been a picky eater. And, she seems more “satisfied” after eating it. I could be imagining some of these things, or maybe the formula in Taste of the Wild is just better suited for her. I’m not sure! The Taste of the Wild is only a couple of bucks more and my locally owned pet store carries it, so I am slightly biased there, too…
Have you tried “Merrick” dog food? I feed my Shepherd one cup dried Merrick dog food brand and a half a cup of Merrick canned food. You can buy Merrick at Tractor Supply or PetCo. Their canned food is expensive $2.99 a can. (Their canned food is pricey. So sometimes I feed my dog 4Health canned food instead of the Merrick canned food.
Never heard of that one… We’re currently using Taste of the Wild.
Thanks for dropping by!!
My two dogs (12 yo 70# mutt & a 20 mo 80# GSD) have been fed exclusively on all four (alternating) flavors of the Wag brand since it came out. Prior to that they were generally fed regular Purina – which I’d depended on for 50 years (I sometimes tried/fed the various Blue brands but never noted any preferences). Feeding them Wag I’ve not noted any problems, but for me … the Salmon from Wag (as well as other brands) stinks and I now avoid purchasing that flavor.
When I dog sit my friends large dog and/or my daughters two GSPs they readily eat the Wag up.
Is Wag the best? Do I need the best? I’m happy – and they’re healthy – with the Wag brand.
When i first get my gsd 3 years she was on wagg i charged her on to aldis dry food after been told it was good my gsd eat but started to loose weight so charged back to wagg and shes a lot happier and gaining weight again it gone though a back of 16kg bag of wagg in 3 weeks were aldi 10kg she didnt eat much of it so i with keep my dog on wagv
So glad that you care about your GSD ! Maybe throw some raw meat or egg or peanut butter mixed in the food too !
So I’m now guessing that this is another example of “click and bait”. The original poster “evaluates’ the Wag brand and then basically never returns to the subject.
Well I can (and will) return, after 12-13 months of Wag feedings my two dogs remain happy and healthy. The only unhappiness comes from my postmistress who must lug it up my porch steps.