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Kindfull Pet Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Lorre Luther

By Lorre Luther

Kindfull Pet Food Review1

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Kindfull Dog Food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Kindfull, Target’s proprietary dog food brand, hasn’t been around for long. It’s only been available since August 2021, but the high-quality offering has received rave reviews from pet parents and pets alike. Developed with the guidance of veterinary nutrition experts, it hits all the high points for quality ingredients. None of the brand’s products contain preservatives, artificial flavors, or meat by-product meals. You won’t find corn, soy, or wheat in any of the company’s wet food, dry food, or meal toppers.

Real, whole, healthy protein is the first ingredient on every product’s ingredient list. Options include beef, fish, turkey, chicken, and fish. Kindfull only includes protein sources that are good for your dog and the planet, such as sustainably caught fish and pasture-raised beef. While the company sources products from around the world, the food is made in the United States.

Kindfull’s dry and wet foods meets the requirement set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for pet nutrition. The line is amazingly affordable, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality yet affordable dog food. As an added bonus, Kindfull’s meal toppers can convince finicky eaters to finish their regular food. Read on for our review of this high-quality, affordable dog food!

Divider 8At a Glance: The Best Kindful Dog Food Recipes:

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Kindfull Chicken and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food Kindfull Chicken and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • Real chicken is the first ingredient
  • Made with wild-caught salmon*
  • Made in the U.S.A. with ingredients from around the world
  • Our Favorite
    Second place
    Kindfull Chicken and Whitefish Recipe Wet Dog Food Kindfull Chicken and Whitefish Recipe Wet Dog Food
  • No by-product meals, wheat, corn or soy
  • No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
  • Made in the U.S.A. with ingredients from around the world
  • Best for Growing Dogs
    Third place
    Kindfull Chicken Recipe Puppy Wet Dog Food Kindfull Chicken Recipe Puppy Wet Dog Food
  • Real chicken is the first ingredient
  • Natural dog food with added vitamins, minerals & other trace nutrients
  • Carrageenan free
  • Best for Overweight Dogs
    Kindfull Chicken and White Fish Recipe for Healthy Weight Wet Dog Food Kindfull Chicken and White Fish Recipe for Healthy Weight Wet Dog Food
  • Carrageenan free
  • Formulated with wild caught whitefish*
  • Made in the U.S.A. with ingredients from around the world
  • Best for Small Dogs
    Kindfull Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food Kindfull Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food
  • No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
  • No by-product meals, wheat, corn or soy
  • Real chicken is the first ingredient
  • Kindfull Dog Food Reviewed

    Who makes Kindfull Dog Food, and where is it produced?

    Kindfull is one of the latest entries into the healthy dog food market. It’s produced and sold by Target and was developed with the help of animal nutrition experts and veterinarians. The brand contains high-quality ingredients, and all its products meet AAFCO requirements for pet wellness. Kindfull’s wet and dry dog foods feature whole, healthy proteins such as beef, fish, or chicken as the first ingredient, so you know you’re giving your dog a healthy option.

    Which type of dog is Kindfull best suited for?

    Kindfull makes various recipes, including options for puppies and dogs with sensitive stomachs. It even has an option for overweight dogs.

    a white fluffy pomeranian dog not eating the food
    Image Credit: Varvara Serebrova, Shutterstock

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

    Dogs with true food allergies might do better with a different brand, mostly because Kindfull products often include multiple protein sources. Keep in mind that as omnivores, dogs can’t obtain all the nutrients they require only from meat. They require food from a variety of sources to obtain all the amino acids they need to process animal-based products properly. If you choose to give your dog a grain-free diet, Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dry Dog Food is a high-protein, “grain-free” option featuring 32% protein and tons of omega-fatty acids.

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    Kindfull products are made with healthy ingredients and supplemented with essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E to improve your dog’s overall health. Below we’ll discuss some of the key benefits of Kindful’s most common ingredients.

    senior beagle dog eating food from the bowl
    Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock

    Whole Proteins

    Kindfull’s wet and dry foods feature whole proteins as the first ingredient in all products. The Chicken and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, for instance, has chicken as its first ingredient. The brand’s Chicken and White Fish Recipe Wet Dog Food lists chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, and whitefish as the first four ingredients. Several of the recipes feature more than one animal protein, making these choices less than ideal for dogs with allergies to animal proteins.

    Barley and Rice

    Kindfull’s products don’t contain wheat, corn, or soy. Barley and brown rice are the brand’s go-to choices for healthy carbohydrates. None of Kindfull’s products will work if you’re looking for a grain-free option, but keep in mind that there’s plenty of debate on the efficacy of truly grain-free diets. Most canine food allergies can be explained by environmental causes, such as allergies to dust mites or grass. Dogs with food allergies tend to react to a specific animal protein instead of grain.

    dogs eating
    Image Credit: Phuttharak, Shutterstock

    Added Vitamins And Nutrients

    Most of Kindfull’s wet and dry foods contain added vitamins and minerals chosen to support your dog’s overall health. Almost all contain added omega-3 fatty acids, which may help keep inflammation under control and improve the condition of your dog’s coat. Most formulas feature vitamin E, which is critical for keeping your dog’s liver and heart functioning smoothly. As recommended by AAFCO guidelines, the products also contain zinc to encourage optimal immune and metabolic function.

    A Quick Look at Kindfull Dog Food

    Pros
    • Made with healthy whole proteins
    • Affordable
    • Developed with input from veterinary nutrition experts
    • Made in the USA
    Cons
    • Only available through Target
    • Often sold out and difficult to find
    • Many formulations contain pea protein which may contribute to canine heart disease

    Recall History

    Kindfull has only been on the market since August 2021, so it’s a relatively new product. There haven’t been any product recalls involving Kindfull dog food in the few months it’s been available for purchase.

    Divider 2

    Reviews of the 3 Best Kindfull Dog Food Recipes

    Here’s more information about three of Kindfull’s most popular dog food formulations:

    1. Kindfull Chicken and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Kindfull Chicken and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Kindfull’s Chicken and Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food is packed with healthy, nutritious ingredients. Chicken is the first ingredient listed, and it’s made with wild-caught salmon. The formula consists of 24% crude protein (over 26% crude protein on a dry matter basis), which is just right for most healthy adult dogs.

    It provides healthy carbohydrates from brown rice and barley, and it’s not grain-free. The recipe has 14% crude fat (over 15% fat on a dry matter basis), which is essential for muscle strength and energy production and critical for your dog’s skin and coat.

    Pros
    • Made in the United States
    • Features wild-caught salmon
    • 14% crude fat (more than 15% crude fat on a dry matter basis)
    Cons
    • Salmon isn’t one of the first three ingredients

    2. Kindfull Chicken and Whitefish Recipe Wet Dog Food

    Kindfull Chicken and Whitefish Recipe Wet Dog Food

    This recipe has whole chicken listed first on the ingredient list and provides a whopping 36% protein once you remove all the moisture content and do a bit of mathematical analysis. The product’s first four ingredients are ​​chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, and whitefish

    Kindfull also provides a nice amount of fat with 5% crude fat by volume (over 22% on a dry matter basis). With 87% moisture by content, it’s a great choice if you’re trying to increase your dog’s water intake. It also includes plenty of vitamin A to support your dog’s vision and bone health.

    Pros
    • Carrageenan free
    • Features wild-caught whitefish
    • More than 36% protein on a crude matter basis
    Cons
    • Contains pea protein

    3. Kindfull Chicken Recipe Puppy Wet Food

    Kindfull Chicken Recipe Puppy Wet Dog Food

    This powerhouse of a puppy food delivers a stunning 45% crude protein on a dry matter basis, more than enough to ensure your puppy has all the energy they need to support their growing body. It also contains approximately 34% crude fat on a dry matter basis to support healthy brain and coat development.

    The product provides several nutrients essential for growing dogs, such as folic acid, to support optimal red blood cell production and DNA health. The recipe also contains vitamins E and A to provide antioxidant protection for growing dogs’ cells.

    Pros
    • 8% crude protein (45% on a dry matter basis)
    • Comes in 5.5 and 12-oz cans
    • Single source of protein
    Cons
    • Contains pea protein

    hepper-dog-paw-divider2

    What Other Users Are Saying

    Below you’ll find a few reviews from dog owners who’ve tried Kindfull. The Target website is full of these sorts of enthusiastic reports.

    • “This food is wonderful! My dogs have never had an upset stomach on it and like the ingredients!”
    • “My dog loves this food! Her skin and coat have been the shiniest it’s ever been!”
    • “My picky eater LOVEEEEEEES this!!”

    Divider 8Conclusion

    Kindfull is a fantastic option that provides owners with several affordable, healthy wet and dry dog food options. Almost all of its formulations were developed with input from veterinary nutrition experts, and all meet AAFCO requirements for protein and fat, ensuring your canine companion will get all the nutrients they need. Kindfull’s products are made in the United States and feature ethically sourced products such as pasture-fed beef and wild-caught salmon, and its range of food toppers help finicky eaters finish their food.

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