Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Taste of the Wild: review and giveaway!

I used to feed Elka Taste of the Wild. When the voluntary recall happened back in May, though, I jumped ship for the time being. My most recently purchased bag of food had fallen in the recall, and I was just squidged out, frankly. Well, as it turns out, no Taste of the Wild actually tested positive for the Salmonella. Which is a pretty rad thing.

Interestingly, when I was contacted by a rep to see if I wanted to sample Taste of the Wild's new flavor, Southwest Canyon, and do a (very generous, I feel) giveaway for my readers, it was exceedingly good timing. Elka, though she'd previously been happy with the Blue Buffalo switch, appears to have become disillusioned with it. Overall, Elka is not a picky eater. Back in November, I groused about how she only wanted to eat from puzzle toys, but after I'd put them away for awhile, she returned to the bowl well enough. Poking around in her mouth, she doesn't appear to have developed anything wrong in there which would make eating kibble aversive, either, so I wondered if it was time for a switch. And then I got the email.

Previously, I fed Elka Taste of the Wild Wetlands formula, which is a six star food on Dog Food Analysis. The Southwest Canyon formula does not yet have a review on dog food analysis, but one of the reasons it's interesting is that it's grain free (as Taste of the Wild is) but also does not have potato in it; it has chickpeas. It also somewhat smells like chickpeas when you open the bag (yes, I smelled it. Wouldn't you?) The meats in it are beef, lamb, and wild boar (wild boar!)

Elka was super interested in the Taste of the Wild. We did the usual "mix some with the old food", and she really just pushed the old food out of the way and snarfed the new stuff. We went through the sample bags rather quickly, and wouldn't you know my local Tractor Supply doesn't have Southwest Canyon yet? Of course, right? I got the Sierra Mountain for now, in a small bag to make sure it wasn't a fluke, and while Elka frequently waits to eat until I've come home from work (why is my dog so weird?) she does seem to like that as well. 


I do like the ingredients in Taste of the Wild, the size of bag and the price for said bag, and the quality of Elka's stool and coat when she's fed on it. So, despite Elka's quirks, and the fact that the actual TOTW end of the recall was precautionary and did not result in any illnesses, I do feel comfortable both feeding it again and recommending it to others.

All of that aside, it's giveaway time!

The winner of the prize pack will receive: sample packages of Southwest Canyon formula, a $25 Petflow.com gift card, and a $25 gift card to Omaha Steaks.

To enter to win, leave me a comment with what you feed your dog now, and whether you would share your Omaha Steaks haul with him or her as well ;)  The giveaway will be open from today, January 15, to Sunday, January 20. Elka will draw the winners and I'll post the good news next Tuesday!

38 comments:

  1. Woof! Woof! That's good that they did not find any Salmonella. I'm good with my current dog food. Happy Tasty Tuesday. Please add this post/url to the hop. Lots of Golden Woof,s Sugar

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    1. I'm glad you're happy with your current food! I'll hopefully just be able to happily stick with TOTW for the forseeable future, as I would have, without the bump in May.

      (bog hop added, thanks for reminding me!)

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    2. I to fed TOTW Pacific Salmon until recall. After hearing it was ok I have gone back to Pacific Salmon. I would love to try this new flavor out on my 4 Cocker Spaniels. I have bought TOTW from PetFlow until Atwoods started carrying it and it is only 18 miles away. Yes....as spoiled as my babies are they would be sharing a steak with me!

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    3. I fed my red boy, Gunnar, TOTW until the recall also. I tried all kinds of the "higher end" brands and ended up feeding them (I have 2 boys! the other is Tanner!) Purina One and Purina Pro Plan. The boys easily switch from these foods with no stomach upset....so if i am at the petstore or feed store it is TOTW or Pro Plan.....and if it is last minute grocery store pick up it is Purina One......some of the foods tho are just too high priced, and feeding 175lbs worth of Dober Boys the totally top of the line stuff would mean that the rest of the family would have to stop eating!!
      And OF COURSE my boys would get some steak!
      and this is a interesting fact i need to look up...but have been told that the Salmonella is dangerous to humans, not dogs. That the dogs can eat it with no problem...its their owners touching the food and getting the salmonella themselves!

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  2. My dogs eat raw currently. I use kibbles for toys, treats, and sometimes while traveling if I need to talk Pallo into eating something. And, I would probably share the steaks with them for sure!

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  3. We feed all three dogs TOTW Pacific Stream. We never jumped ship during all of the recalls. Our dogs have always done very well on this formula. (Before we used TOTW, we tried A LOT of foods.) It would take a lot for us to change. I hope they don't reformulate at some point.

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  4. I'd share Omaha Steak with my little Chi, but she'd get her's raw. I have her on a raw diet. Mostly chicken & turkey. But have something bagged as a backup and for treats would be great. It would really help when we travel as well.

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  5. mmm we love TOTW

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com

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  6. Yum, sound like a yummy thing to try!! Of cuorse my mom would share her Omaha steaks with me....why wouldn't she...BOL!!!!!

    ~Higgins

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  7. That's funny! I had just changed over Blueberry's food when I heard about Taste of the Wild's recall as well! I am feeding her Ranchlands (Acana) - I think it is bison, lamb and beef formula. Good stuff. I know, it's made in Canada and not the US - but I trust Canada. Blueberry loves it!

    And I don't think she'd let me slide on NOT sharing any Omaha steak with her! ;)

    I also think Elka just doesn't like to dine alone which is why she waits for you. Sweet, isn't it? :)

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  8. Hi! Great timing. I currently feed R a homemade cooked diet with grass-fed beef as the protein, and I feed Shyla Wellness Core Turkey kibble, although I'm not yet sure it's the best for her.

    We would most definitely share the steaks with our dogs. We bought R 150 lbs of grass-fed beef recently, and he loves his steaks!

    I'm glad that Elka likes her new food so much!

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  9. I actually never tried Kyuss on TOTW and I've wanted to a few times; I ate wild boar not too long back and boy is it good! I bet he would love it.

    As for if I would share the Omaha Steaks gift card, I dunno... their selection looks very good and I think I would have a tough time even sharing with my husband!

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  10. I eat TOTW. When they had the recall we got scared since we didn't have the bag to check the numbers so mama had me tested at the vet. Something showed up and they put me on some antibiotics. Never knew what it came from? Anyway I'm eating it again in my rotation of foods so a new flavor would be fun. Never eaten boar before! As for the steak - mama would share!

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  11. Well, I eat Hills Science Diet Active Large dog and my sister eats Pro Plan Senior Large dog. I tried the Pro Plan but developed an allergy, so back to Hills for me. The wild stuff sounds really yummy and of course, mommy would share steaks with us, she always shares with us, we are her girls ;)

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  12. We feed TOTW and rotate through the protein sources. Like you, I got scared away with the recall, but switched back about a month ago.

    I would, of course, share the stakes with my wonderful Smooth Collie (Fidelity's Manhattan Gamble, TT, HIC, hopefully soon RN).

    His gotcha day is coming up soon! February 6, 2010, I drove from Denver to Manhattan, KS, to pull him from the pound. Little did I know I was driving to meet my next heart-dog! So I'd LOVE to share a steak with him for Gotcha Day 2013

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  13. My two black labs have ALWAYS had TOTW salmon. It gives them both beautiful coats and keeps my older female fit and trim. I would share a steak bite with each of them because they are a true blessing and everyone needs the taste of meat every now and than.

    p.s. My two cats love TOTW too!

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  14. We feed TOTW Pacific Stream Salmon for the older dogs and the younger dogs get the higher protein in the Prairie formula. We've been feeding them TOTW for a couple of years, but I do tend to switch foods every so often for some change in their diets.

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  15. My Dobie, Kita, Loves Taste of the Wild!! She is full of energy and needs the grain free diet...

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  16. My aussie LOVES the TOTW Pacific Stream formula, and I love his silky coat (from the fish) and great skin when he's on it. Our bag wasn't one of the recalls, and we never switched off. We tried a sample of the new one and he at it up quickly... I may consider it as a mix-in when this bag gets low.
    The foster dogs in our house get Purina One (free from the rescue) mixed with Fromm (since it's better for them). We have to watch our pocketbook, so the samples would probably go to helping them get better nutrition.
    And I of course would share my steaks. Anything for my babies.

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  17. my Golden retriever loves the Sierra mountain formula, I switch him over from Iams premium protection, because it had corn and gluten in it. He is my mobility and balance assistant, so I need the best food out there. he is a little heavyset so I probably feed them just a little of stake, the samples would be nice that would save me at least $50 thank you

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  18. Both Sassy (Manchester terrier/mini-pin) & angel (all American mix) eat Taste of the Wild's Sierra Mountain Canine formula with Roasted lamb. They have shown a vast improvement over their past food. And, yes of course they would share the steaks

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  19. All 3 of my babies are on TOTW Pacific stream, but I'm sure they would love to try the new flavor! Of course I would share my steaks with them!

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  20. My girl is on the TOTW's Pacific, her fur looks gorgeous! & I would def. share my steak haul with her. ^_^

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  21. We love taste of wild makes our coats shine and yard clean up a whole lot less

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  22. My dog Blue, an aussie-blueheeler cross loves Taste of the Wild. She started out with the new Southwest Canyon & is now enjoying the Wetland. She eats it better than any other brand I've given her & living in Montana with the cold winter, she needs that great nutrition, no grain fillers!

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  23. I & my furry kids love TOTW Vandy Girl was having allergy problems when I found TOTW She has done awesome on it. Would I share my steak? Probably if I had just one furry kid but I have 4 & that would just cause hate & discontent between the kids but I share my bed, my couch, my chair & everything else with them

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  24. Levi and Maggie (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels) love Highland Prairie and Pacific Stream, dry and canned dog foods. This is the only food that I have not had to add cheese, beef or chicken to get our dogs to eat, they love it! As far as sharing the Omaha Steaks haul, well yes, they would love for us to share and would be happy campers to be included.

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  25. Not sharing the steaks with the NSDTR! Besides, he loves his TOTW too much to care. timorapole@yahoo.com

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  26. I feed my Austrailian labradoodle TOTW Highland Prarie and occasionally mix it up with Pacific Stream -- dry.

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  27. I currently feed natural balance but the dogs are acting a bit bored with it...would love to try something new! And YES both babies would get to share in the steaks!

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  28. Im feeding my cocker wetlands(15Lb bag) since she has been 2 months. Now he is the healthiest cocker I know. All the cockers I know have become fattish and lazy because of pedigree, royal canin and stuff like that. Id love to have my puppy get a taste of the new formula.

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  29. My Girls used to eat Taste of the Wild but money is tight and now they get Diamond Naturals. I'm sure they'd love to try out this new formula, and those steaks as well!

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  30. Before we switched to raw we fed TOTW, I really liked the quality of the food and the fact that it was grain free. I've actually been planning on picking up a bag just in case of emergency.

    And no, I probably wouldn't share my Omaha steaks with the dogs. :-)

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  31. Right now my dogs eat Avoderm, but are not really interested anymore, so I need a good change for them.

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  32. I took Simon - my Cocker - off TOTW because you didn't have a light fromula. Guess what - not only did he not like the new food and I had to mix it with broth to get him to eat it he developed an eye infection. Simon is back on TOTW, eyes clear and no bribes to get him to eat.
    Share with the boys, ( I have 2 Cockers ) mmmmmmmmmm - maybe just a little lol. Of course I would :)

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  33. I love Taste of the Wild for my dog because of the great ingredients but the fact that he loves it so much has me sold. I have had him on the Pacific Stream since he was a puppy , then as soon as the puppy formula was available I switched to that ( it has smaller kibbles) Scout is a Parsons Terrier , has the healthiest coat and never has gas ( which I am attributing to this dog food). I have occasionally picked up samples of the other flavors just for a fun "add-in" to spice up his food. I would love to try the new flavor for him since he already likes chick peas. And yes if I won I would share my steak haul with him :)

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  34. We feed our 7 year old Westie, Mitzi, Pacific Salmon TOTW adult formula. We just started her on that 2 weeks ago after a trip to the vet confirmed she had a yeast infection in her ear and on her skin :( Doc March recommended along with medication that we change her food to an all natural one. After many hours of researching Taste of the Wild was it! She LOVES it. A bit expensive for our tight budget but she's worth it. I will say, it helps with the price that I can feed her a bit less as it's not filled with junk. Looking on putting our other 2 dogs on something similar. Looking forward to trying the new flavor, chickpeas? Interesting! And sharing the steaks......ya, let's be honest, you bet I will!

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