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Dog Food for Camping

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Camping with a dog who gets fed raw!

Hey Peak Family Pets Pack!

If you feed your dog raw and are and avid camper, then this blog is just for you! Each year our biggest question is “What can I feed my dog when we are camping?”

Well good news, we have added a lot of dried raw options. This year there have been a lot of new products for Adventure Dog Owners. We have listed our favourite ones below and have tried them all with our dogs who have given them all a paws up.

Why choose raw for camping?

  • No Thawing Needed: Say goodbye to bulky coolers and the worry of spoiled food.
  • Nutrient-Packed: Give your dog the fuel they need for those long hikes with high-protein, energy-dense meals.
  • Lightweight & Easy to Pack: Raw dehydrated and freeze-dried options are significantly lighter and more compact than traditional raw food, leaving more room for other essentials.
  • Perfect for Trail Treats: Use dried raw food as a healthy and motivating treat during your hikes, ensuring your dog gets the nutrition they need while enjoying the adventure!

Here are some top brands we carry that make raw feeding on the go a breeze:

  • Smack: Known for their gently dehydrated raw food, Smack offers a variety of recipes made with high-quality, whole-food ingredients. This food is made in Manitoba by a Canadian family, and is easy to pack and rehydrate, making it a convenient option for camping trips.
  • Red Dog Blue Kat Raw Everyday Everywhere: This is their newest line of dog food, designed specifically for travel and on-the-go feeding. This line is eco-responsible, with 75% lower emissions than freeze-dried options. It provides the benefits of raw food in a convenient, shelf-stable form. RDBK is a BC based company.
  • Grand Cru Dehydrated: Grand Cru, a Canadian company based in Montreal, offers a selection of dehydrated raw foods that are easy to store and serve. Their recipes are made with premium ingredients and provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs of all life stages.
  • Open Farm Freeze Dried: Open Farm’s freeze-dried raw recipes are made with humanely raised meats, poultry, and sustainable seafood, combined with organic fruits and vegetables. Their freeze-dried food is minimally processed, preserving the natural nutrients and flavors of the ingredients. Open Farm is based out of Toronto, ON.
  • Acana Freeze Dried: Acana’s freeze-dried food is crafted with a high concentration of animal ingredients, offering a protein-rich and biologically appropriate diet. It’s a convenient and lightweight option for pet owners who want to feed their dogs a raw diet while traveling. Acana although is now owned by American owners it uses food sourced in Alberta and BC so buying Acana supports Canadian farmers and fishermen.

All these brands offer the convenience of serving the food dried, or with water added to reconstitute it, providing flexibility for feeding on the go.

What’s the difference between these types of food?

Dehydrated Dog Food

  • Process: Dehydration involves using low heat over an extended period to remove moisture from the ingredients. This slow process helps preserve some of the food’s nutrients.
  • Characteristics:
    • Shelf-stable (doesn’t require refrigeration).
    • Lighter weight than fresh food.
    • Typically needs to be rehydrated with water before serving.
    • Some nutrient loss can occur due to the heat involved.

Air-Dried Dog Food

  • Process: Air-drying involves using a gentle flow of warm air to evaporate moisture from the raw ingredients. This method uses lower temperatures than dehydration.
  • Characteristics:
    • Shelf-stable.
    • Dense and nutrient-rich.
    • Retains more nutrients than dehydrated food due to the lower temperatures.
    • Often has a jerky-like texture.

Freeze-Dried Dog Food

  • Process: Freeze-drying involves freezing the raw ingredients and then removing moisture through a vacuum process (sublimation). This process minimizes nutrient loss.
  • Characteristics:
    • Shelf-stable.
    • Very lightweight and has a soft consistency
    • Retains most of the nutrients, flavor, and texture of raw food.
    • Can be served dry or rehydrated.

Gently Cooked Dog Food

  • Process: Gently cooked dog food is prepared using lower temperatures than traditional cooking methods (like those used for kibble). The aim is to retain more of the food’s natural nutrients.
  • Characteristics:
    • Typically requires refrigeration or freezing.
    • More moisture than dried foods.
    • Closer to a “home-cooked” diet.

At Peaks Family Pets, we understand that your dog’s health and happiness are a top priority, even when you’re on the go. That’s why we’re proud to offer a wide selection of these premium raw food brands.

Happy Trails!
The Peaks Family Pets Team