How I Choose the Best Food For My Dachshunds (and Which Ones I Like)

I’m often asked about dog food for Dachshunds – what I think is the best, what type is best (ie. kibble vs raw), or what I think about the quality of a specific food.

I can definitely answer: Each owner should do their own research in order to make the right decision for themselves, their budget, and their individual, unique dog.

However, while I stress that there isn’t one right food for every dog, I do have some favorite go-to brands and am comfortable sharing what works best for us.

UPDATED: July 22, 2025

After all, I did used to work at a boutique pet store, and I have worked in the pet industry for 15 years, and thus seen a lot of different dog foods, so I have more insight into foods than many pet owners.

When deciding what to feed my Dachshunds, I primarily consider these things:

• Quality of ingredients
• Cost
• Convenience
• Form of food (kibble, raw, cooked, etc.)

Why I I Feed My Dogs a Variety of Foods

I don’t have just one food, or even food type, to list. I don’t feed my dogs the same thing for long periods of time.

Instead, I rotate (change) my dogs’ food frequently so they benefit from the different nutrient profiles and it keeps meal time interesting for them.

Note: unless your dog is used to changing foods frequently, it’s best to transition to a new food slowly, at least the first few times. Find out how to do it properly at the link above.

Think about it: Would it be healthy for us to eat the same food at each meal for a lifetime, or even for weeks on end? Even if we did, wouldn’t we start to get really bored with eating?

Also, over their lifetime, and depending on our current activities, the form of the food may change. I do prefer to primarily feed them fresh, raw food, but they may also eat kibble for cost and convenience or freeze dried raw when we are traveling or backpacking.

In addition to varying the food itself, I am constantly rotating toppers and supplements. Again, doing this provides a variety of nutrients and flavor profiles.

I am extremely passionate about the benefits of changing up what a dog eats. I think it makes their gut more resilient to change, it helps foster a diverse gut microbiome, and helps to ensure that they don’t become nutrient deficient.

Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase.

How I Examine the Ingredients

There are a few things pay attention to when I’m reading pet food labels to determine if it’s a food that I would feed my dogs or not.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrates. They’re essential nutrients that the body needs in large quantities to function properly. I like to think of them as the “big picture” nutrients.

I primarily choose dog foods that are high in protein and moderate to high in fat since my Dachshunds are very active.

Protein is important for muscle development, which is really important for active dogs. According to the Association of American Feed Control Professionals (AAFCO), adult maintenance dog food should contain at least 18% protein on a dry matter basis, while growth and reproduction stages (puppies and pregnant/lactating dogs) require at least 22.5%.

Fat provides dogs a concentrated form of energy for dogs (more than protein or carbohydrates) and is an essential nutrient for various bodily functions. The generally-recommended amount of fat for dogs is around 10-15% for adult dogs and closer to 15-20% for highly active dogs, growing puppies, and nursing mothers.

Note: High protein and fat content works for my dogs. It doesn’t work for all dogs so be sure to check with your vet if you suspect your dog.

One very important thing to be aware of when you are comparing dog foods is that the percentage of these macronutrients is calculated differently, depending on whether the food contains natural moisture levels (raw and cooked) or it has been dehydrated (freeze dried, air dried, kibble). Foods with moisture removed will be calculated on a “dry matter basis” and the others will not.

The TL;DR point of this concept is that you can’t compare the two among different types of foods. Only use these numbers to compare between similar food types – raw to raw, kibble to kibble, etc.

The more technical and accurate answer is to use an equation to convert the nutrients of the food with moisture in it to the equivalent “dry matter basis” numbers and then compare the two.

The reason you will need to convert to a dry matter basis is that when moisture is included, the percentages for protein, fat, and carbs look low because they’re “diluted” by the water in the food. When the water is removed (dry matter basis), the nutrient numbers look higher because you’re only looking at what’s left — the actual food.

The order of ingredients

After looking at the macronutrients, I examine the ingredients list. I pay particular attention to the first 5 ingredients on the list.

Ingredients are listed in order by weight before cooking. That means the first few ingredients make up most of the food. I do keep in mind that fresh meat contains a lot of water, which ads to it’s weight, so it may appear first on the list but may actually be a “smaller amount” once processed (moisture removed) than, say, something that is already dehydrated like oats.

Still, the most important ingredients are the first 5 on the list because it gives me a good snapshot of the overall quality and type of ingredients used. I look at what kind of protein, whether there are any carbohydrates and what kind (corn vs oats for example).

What if I see meat byproducts on the list? I actually like to see that if it’s a brand that I trust and the source is clearly labeled (e.g., “animal byproduct” vs. “chicken byproduct”). Meat byproducts include organ meats like liver, kidneys, and lungs, which are more nutrient dense than protein from muscle meat.

What about corn and other carbohydrates? While I prefer to feed my dogs grain-free foods, I do occasionally feed them non-grain-free foods.

Dogs are what is called facultative carnivores, meaning they do best on a meat-based diet but can also digest and benefit from some plant-based foods. I think that fruits and vegetables are important, but I generally see grains as empty calories that they don’t need. The same goes for potatoes and pea starch.

What about the grain-free DCM scare?

A quick note about the grain-free dog food scare a few years ago: I’ve watched this issue unfold from the beginning. The key takeaways are:

• There appeared to be an uptick of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) cases in dogs, even in breeds not typically prone to it.

• In 2018, the FDA began investigating reports of DCM in dogs eating grain-free diets, especially those with legumes like peas and lentils high on the ingredient list (i,e. within the top 5 ingredients).

• At one point, it was speculated that dog foods containing high levels of legumes may be lacking in taurine, and that was what was causing heart issues.

• Later research seems to show that taurine is not the primary problem in the diets, but may play a secondary role in dogs with DCM. Other possibilities being examined are the role of fiber content, complex nutrient interactions, or even some unidentified toxin.

• Many veterinarians will recommend against feeding grain-free foods out of caution, but there is no proof grain-free food, or even food at all, was the cause in the uptick of DCM cases.

• If you are worried about this potential connection, then choose a version of the foods below (when possible) that do contain grains.

Personally, I am not concerned about grain free foods, Dachshunds as a breed are at low risk for DCM, and I am reasonably confident that my dogs are getting any of the potential “missing nutrients” in grain free foods via toppers, supplementation, and rotating foods.

Bells and whistles

Next, I look closer at the ingredient list and scan the rest of the package for relevant information.

I note any supplements that are added to the food. Things like Vitamin E might be added since the food itself typically lacks those important vitamins.

Some foods will add probiotics or glucosamine. I actually prefer foods that don’t include these things, because I like to have more control over the source and amount of these things through additional supplementation.

I do like seeing organic ingredients, although that is of less importance to me.

My Top Food Picks for My Dachshunds

Favorite Frozen Prepared Raw Dog Food

My Dachshunds primarily eat raw dog food. However, it is one of the more expensive foods, so sometimes I have to only feed a half raw diet to save money.

I give them frozen prepared raw because I’m not interested in learning how to create a balanced diet and making my own raw meals at this time.

As I said previously, I am an advocate for rotating foods, so they don’t always eat the same brand. However, below are some of the “core foods” that I give them most frequently.

Nature’s Variety Instinct® Raw

I like Instinct® Raw dog food because it’s high quality and pretty to easy to find in any major city (and some not so major) when we travel.

Their balanced, complete meals are made with 85% real meat and organs and 15% fruits, vegetables and vitamins and minerals. They use ingredients closest to their natural state like real meat and non-GMO fruits and vegetables.

Their raw meals never include grain, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives.

Meal choices include beef, chicken, and lamb.

You can find Instinct® Raw at many pet stores around the country.

Vital Essentials

Vital Essentials (VE) was the first frozen, prepared raw food that I fed my Dachshunds.

VE is Prey Model Raw (PMR) food, which means it doesn’t contain any fruits or vegetables. Your dog gets all of the nutrients it needs from only meat, organs, and bone.

In the case of Vital Essentials, the ratios are 45% muscle meat, 45% organs and 10% bone content (all from the same protein source).

Vital Essentials raw meat materials are harvested in the U.S.A and they process 100% of our own food in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Meal choices include beef, chicken, duck, rabbit, and turkey.

It’s available in stores around the US.

Darwin’s Natural Selections™

Darwin’s Natural Selections™ raw dog food is convenient because you can sign up for a subscription and it arrives on your doorstep every 4-6 weeks (your choice) packed in dry ice.

All of their balanced, complete meals – chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, and duck – are made of 75% grass fed or cage-free meat and 25% organic vegetables. They are also free of gluten, grain, steroids, hormones, and antibiotics.

You can customize your order by choosing the meats you want and the amount of each.

Darwin’s Food can be shipped anywhere in the United States for a $6.50 minimum (shipping costs vary depending on where you are located). If you live in the Seattle or Portland metropolitan areas, you may be in their free home delivery area.

If you’re new to Darwin’s and not sure what or how much to feed you can contact them for a free menu consultation.

Wild Coast Raw

Wild Coast Raw dog food is a “seasonally sourced craft raw food” created with oversight from a veterinarian with 25 years experience.

One of my favorite things about this raw food is that the ingredients are ground but not as small as with most raw foods. You can actually still see chunks of meat in there.

While “flavor” choices can vary by season, their grass-fed beef and free-range turkey meals seem to be available most of the year.

All formulas are made with organic vegetables.

This food is made in Olympia, WA and it appears that it’s only available to purchase in Washington State pet stores.

Favorite Kibble

A long time ago, my dogs only ate kibble. Then I transitioned them to 100% raw. Currently, they are eating a diet of 60% raw (food and toppers) and 40% kibble because my budget is tighter these days.

I love feeding raw, but there are a lot of good quality kibbles out there too.

Orijen Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe

I’ve been a long-time fan of Orijen “Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free” dry dog food, so it’s the most common brand that I feed my dogs. My confidence in it was bolstered when I learned that Otter’s breeder, who is a canine and human nutrition researcher, fed him this food as a puppy.

I like the small bites kibble because I also use their food as training treats (they like it that much) and smaller “treats” mean fewer calories consumed. Unfortunately, it only comes in one flavor – turkey + chicken + fish – but there are many flavors in the larger kibble such as Regional Red, Original, Tundra (poultry free), and Six-Fish flavors.

I love that Orijen also makes a grain inclusive version of their kibble and a high-quality Fit & Trim food

Their grain free kibble is at least 80% meat/game/fish ingredients, 10% vegetables/fruits/botanicals, and 0% grain/potato/tapioca/plant protein concentrates. The Ancient Grains formula is still 90% premium animal ingredients and the grains used are low on the glycemic index.

A full 2/3 of their meat ingredients are fresh (refrigerated, without preservatives) or raw (flash-frozen, without preservatives), including the top 10 ingredients.

It’s available at many locations around the US and on Amazon using the links above.

Instinct Raw Boost

Instinct Raw Boost Dog Kibble combines high-protein kibble plus a boost of freeze-dried raw for added nutrition and taste.

Again, I choose the small breed recipe, which comes in beef or chicken, but there is a wide range to choose from including a light low-calorie recipe and grain inclusive recipes, including in a puppy version.

Ingredients also include probiotics and an omega oil boost.

It’s available in many stores around the US and on Amazon using the links above.

Favorite Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food

There is a disagreement over whether freeze dried “raw” dog food is actually raw. It is processed and some people claim that the drying process can diminish the benefits of fresh, raw meals.

Personally, I believe that the processing and drying doesn’t make a significant difference in the nutrition, specially if you choose those brands that make an effort to maintain as much of the original nutrients as possible during processing.

However, these foods contain significantly less moisture than raw food so it’s very important to re-hydrate them or at least add a good amount of water to the food when feeding.

Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals

Instinct Freeze-dried raw meals come in little bite-sized nuggets, which makes them versatile because they can be a meal, training treats, or hidden inside treat toys.

They make an adult food formulas – available in beef, chicken, pollock (fish), and lamb – and a puppy formula. They also make toppers that are essentially the freeze dried food with specialized supplements, which allow me to mix those in to customize the food for my dog’s needs.

To me, what sets Instinct raw apart is their dedication to safety. They use High Pressure Processing (also known as HPP or Cold Pressure) on all of their frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes to ensure they are free from pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria.

All Instinct raw and kibble recipes are made in the U.S.A. using the finest ingredients from around the world.

Use the links above to purchase online or find Instinct at your local Petco store.

Small Batch Freeze Dried Sliders

The thing I like most about Small Batch is that it’s easier to crumble and rehydrate than most.

Depending on where you buy this food, it’s either made in a facility in California or Oregon. All ingredients are sourced from those states and/or Washington and Colorado.

Small Batch is made with all-natural, certified, humanely raised and harvested meats that are free of hormones and antibiotics.  They try to use certified organic meat whenever possible. Vegetables and herbs used are certified organic, non-GMO, and free of pesticides.

Meal flavors include beef. chicken, turkey, duck, and lamb.

All of their formulas are 88% beef, 10% produce, 2% supplements (except for the lamb which is 78% lamb, 20% produce, 2% supplements)

Use the link above to purchase on Amazon using the link above.

Orijen Freeze Dried

Orijen freeze dried dog food is one of my favorites just because I trust the really high quality of Orijen foods.

They claim that their gentle freeze drying process allows their food to “provide all the benefits of a raw diet in a convenient dry form.”

This is a “Whole Prey” raw food made with 80% meat/game/fish ingredients, 10% vegetables/fruits/botanicals, and 0% grain/potato/tapioca/plant protein concentrates. It contains no grains or gluten.

Orijen freeze dried food comes in their Original, Regional Red, and Tundra formulas.

It’s available at many locations around the US and and on Amazon using the link above.

Favorite Canned Dog Food

I rarely feed my Dachshunds canned food, but I do occasionally. Occasionally, I will add it to freeze dried raw to help it feel less powdery (it never completely hydrates it seems) or use it in lick mats.

There are just as many canned food options out there as there are kibble options. To keep it simple for myself, I stick to pate consistency foods that are high in protein.

Identity Canned Dog Food

Identity Canned Dog Food stands out to me for a few reasons.

First, it’s one of the few wet dog foods that I’ve found that, in addition to being grain free, contains no potatoes or legumes. Second, the company is 100% committed to using only the finest quality ingredients.

All of the flavors, which include free range Canadian duck, free-range heritage turkey, free-range prairie pork, use responsibly raised/sourced meats that are never frozen before production.

The meats are also 100% free of added hormones and antibiotics and are 100% GMO & BPA free. The food is manufactured in Canada and the company is US family owned.

It’s a a moist, limited ingredient pate that can be fed as a complete & balanced meal or as protein-rich topper to kibble or raw dog food.

You can order this food from Amazon using the links above.

Hound and Gatos

Hound and Gatos came personally recommended to me by a friend who runs a Dachshund rescue in Florida.

It’s made of 100% Animal Protein (no plant protein), contains no fillers or meat by-products, and is manufactured in the USA in USDA-inspected facilities.

Hound & Gatos was awarded, “The Most Trusted Pet Foods” by TruthAboutPetFood.com 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.” It was also included on the Whole Dog Journal approved canned foods list for 4 years.

It’s a pate style grain free canned food that’s a complete meal for all life stages and comes in six different flavors.

You can order it from Amazon using the link above.

Instinct Wet Dog Food

Instinct wet dog food is a grain free pate style canned dog food that’s a complete & balanced nutrition from real ingredients to support your dog’s health from puppy to senior.

The meats used in the food are “responsibly sourced” and the food is at least 95% protein (more for some flavors).

It’s made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, carrageenan, artificial colors or preservatives – ingredients known to trigger food sensitivities.

It comes in three flavors – chicken, beef, and rabbit – as well as a puppy and limited ingredient formulas.

You can buy it on Amazon using the link above.