The Ins and Outs of This Puppy Food Brand

As a new puppy owner, one of the most important decisions I had to make was choosing the right puppy food. Like any pet parent, I wanted to make sure I was feeding my pup the very best diet to set him up for a lifetime of health. That’s why I ultimately chose WholeHearted puppy food.

After doing extensive research and consulting with my veterinarian, I felt confident that WholeHearted offers quality nutrition tailored specifically for puppies. In this blog, I’ll share my experience using WholeHearted puppy food, the benefits I noticed, key info about their ingredients and formulas, where to buy it, and more. Let’s dig in!

Primary Ingredients in WholeHearted Puppy Food

The first thing I look for in any pet food is the ingredient list. I want to make sure real, whole ingredients are used, and that the food doesn’t contain any artificial additives or fillers.

WholeHearted puppy food packs protein-rich meat as the first several ingredients. This includes fresh chicken, lamb, salmon, or turkey depending on the formula. Whole ground grains like oats, barley, and brown rice are also used. These provide steady energy and fiber for a growing pup. Instead of controversial fillers like corn, wheat, or soy, they use digestible carbohydrates like peas, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes. This gives puppies a gentle boost of plant-based nutrients.

Several key extracts are also included like blueberries, cranberries, oranges, and spinach. These offer antioxidants and phytonutrients to support overall wellness. I also appreciate that WholeHearted adds supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin, probiotics, vitamins, and chelated minerals. This gives puppies a balanced variety of nutrients.

Meeting AAFCO Nutritional Standards

One of my top priorities was finding a puppy food that adheres to AAFCO standards. AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, conducts animal feeding tests to determine nutritional adequacy. I wanted a food proven with tried-and-true studies, not just marketing claims.

The good news is WholeHearted puppy food formulations meet AAFCO standards for all life stages. This tells me WholeHearted has scientifically formulated their recipes for proper canine nutrition. Their foods have undergone rigorous feeding trials to support healthy growth and development. It gives me peace of mind that I’m feeding my puppy a diet with his unique nutritional needs in mind.

Formulas for Different Breeds and Sizes

Since there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to puppy nutrition, I appreciated that WholeHearted offers tailored recipes based on a puppy’s breed size and unique needs. Their product line includes…

• Small Breed Puppy Food – With smaller kibble pieces and adjusted protein and fat levels, this formula is designed for pint-sized and small-breed puppies under 25 lbs.
• Large Breed Puppy Food – To support controlled bone growth for large and giant breed puppies, this formula contains optimal calcium and phosphorus levels along with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
• Grain Free Puppy Food – For puppies with grain sensitivities, this grain-free recipe uses lentils, peas, and potatoes as the carbohydrate sources.

No matter your puppy’s needs or dietary preferences, WholeHearted likely has a tailored formula to give them the very best start.

Grain-Free Options

In addition to traditional puppy recipes using grains like barley and oats, WholeHearted also offers grain-free alternatives.

I appreciate this, since some puppies may have difficulty digesting grains or benefits from a low-carb approach. The grain-free diets use peas, lentils, chickpeas, and tapioca as the carbohydrate sources instead.

There are a few different grain-free puppy food options to choose from including chicken, salmon, lamb, and large-breed variations. The key is that even without grains, WholeHearted grain-free formulas still deliver balanced nutrition fueled by quality protein sources. This makes it easy to cater to your pup’s unique needs and sensitivities.

Promoting Healthy Growth

My number one goal in puppyhood is setting up my little furball for healthy growth and development. I want him to reach his full genetic potential and avoid health issues related to diet or nutrient deficiencies.

Based on my experience, WholeHearted puppy food provides complete and balanced nutrition to do just that. The tailored calorie counts with optimal protein and fat levels ensure pups grow at an ideal rate, not too quickly which can stress bones and joints.

The added vitamins, minerals, glucosamine, antioxidants and other supplements also provide nutritional insurance. Things like DHA from fish oil, for example, directly supports healthy brain and eye development. All of this gives me confidence I’m giving my pup everything he needs to thrive during this crucial developmental stage.

WholeHearted Puppy Food Price Ranges

When shopping for quality puppy food, cost is naturally a consideration. I wanted nutrition my puppy would benefit from without breaking the bank.

I’ve found WholeHearted puppy food to be very reasonably and competitively priced. Their puppy formulas range from about $12-$18 for a 5 lb bag, and $33-$45 for a 25 lb bag. This is quite affordable compared to many premium and veterinary-recommended puppy food brands.

Considering the optimal nutrition and tailored formulas WholeHearted offers, I feel the price point is a great value. My puppy’s health is worth investing in, and this brand makes it easy to provide quality food on a budget. I appreciate that it’s accessible and cost-effective for all pup parents.

Where to Buy WholeHearted Puppy Food

The convenience of being able to easily purchase my pup’s WholeHearted food both online and locally was a major perk.

Nationwide, WholeHearted can be found at PetSmart locations. This made it simple for me to grab bags quickly on my normal pet supply runs. Many neighborhood PetSmart stores carry a wide range of WholeHearted puppy formulas.

For even more selection and delivery right to my door, I often order on Chewy.com. They offer free and fast shipping on WholeHearted puppy food, and I can sign up for Autoship recurring deliveries. I never have to worry about running low on my pup’s diet.

Whether I’m out running errands or wanting home delivery, it’s been great having these options to purchase WholeHearted foods. I imagine most pup parents would appreciate that convenience and accessibility.

Customer Reviews on WholeHearted Puppy Food

Before purchasing any pet food, I read through customer reviews carefully to see what other pet owners are saying. I look for patterns pointing to a product’s benefits or potential issues to watch out for.

Overall, WholeHearted puppy food reviews are very positive. On both PetSmart and Chewy, most formulas have between 4-5 star ratings, indicating highly satisfactory experiences.

Many reviewers mention their puppies eagerly gobble up the food, which is always a good sign! They love the taste. Numerous owners of large breed puppies also say the large breed formula supported steady growth without too much weight gain. Several remarked on noticeable improvements to coat softness, sheen, and digestive regularity after transitioning to WholeHearted.

Really, I found minimal negative feedback on WholeHearted puppy foods. Any concerns seemed specific to individual pups, not widespread quality issues. Based on the stellar reviews from other pup parents, I felt reassured about choosing this brand.

Comparing WholeHearted Puppy Food Formulas

To choose the ideal WholeHearted variety for my pup, I compared the different puppy formulas side by side. Here are some of the key differences:

• The salmon recipe has omega-3s from fish oil for skin/coat health. It’s a great single protein option for sensitive pups.
• The large breed recipe has controlled phosphorus and calcium levels tailored to support big pups. It also includes joint supplements.
• The grain free recipe uses lentils, chickpeas, and peas rather than grains. It’s ideal for pups with grain allergies.
• The small breed recipe has smaller kibble for tiny pup mouths. Protein and fat levels are adjusted for small-breed puppies’ needs.

No matter which formula best fits your puppy, you can feel confident the nutrition is specially designed for growing puppies. The ingredients may vary slightly, but quality protein sources and vitamins/minerals are consistent across all recipes.

Feeding Guidelines Based on Puppy Age and Weight

To ensure I was feeding proper portions for optimal growth, I followed the feeding guidelines on WholeHearted puppy food bags. The charts provide recommended daily serving sizes based on your puppy’s current age and weight.

For example, my pup weighed about 15 lbs at 4 months old. The guidelines recommended feeding him 2 1⁄4 to 2 3⁄4 cups per day split into two or three meals. I started there and tweaked amounts based on his appetite and body condition. The feeding guidelines gave me an excellent starting point.

The charts also specify proper switching timelines when transitioning puppies to the food. This prevented any upset stomachs during the switch. I appreciated having this tailored guidance right on the packaging.

Recalls on WholeHearted Puppy Food

Researching any history of recalls is crucial before choosing a pet food brand. I’m always wary of products that have faced contamination issues or recalls in the past.

I was thrilled to find no recalls have been issued for WholeHearted puppy food or any of their products. Their rigorous safety protocols give me serious peace of mind. This is a sign of a high-quality brand using proper manufacturing procedures.

Knowing WholeHearted puppy food has no recall history gives me confidence I’m making a safe choice for my vulnerable pup. I never have to worry about health risks associated with possible contaminations or quality issues with this brand.

WholeHearted Puppy Food Contains Added Supplements

An area I wanted to dig into was whether WholeHearted puppy foods contain sufficient vitamin and mineral supplementation. Growing puppies have increased nutritional needs, so making sure these bases are covered is essential.

After inspecting the ingredient lists, I was pleased to see **WholeHearted **does enrich their formulas with complete vitamin and chelated mineral blends. They also include supplemental probiotics for digestion and omega fatty acids from fish oil for skin and coat health.

Key additives like glucosamine, chondroitin, and antioxidants support joint, brain, eye, and immune system development. All of these additions provide nutritional insurance to fuel my puppy’s growth and wellbeing.

I appreciate that WholeHearted enriches their recipes with these extras so I don’t have to supplement separately. It gives me confidence my puppy is getting absolutely everything he needs from his food.

WholeHearted Puppy Food for Sensitive Stomachs

Since my puppy had occasional digestive issues, I wanted to choose a puppy food that wouldn’t aggravate his sensitive tummy. Harsh grains, artificial additives, and low-quality ingredients can all be triggers, so I read labels very carefully.

I’ve found WholeHearted to be a great option even for sensitive puppies. Their recipes are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives that can be irritating. They use easy-to-digest carbohydrates like brown rice and gentle fiber sources like peas.

The natural supplements like probiotics also support good digestion. My pup did great with no stomach upset after transitioning to WholeHearted. I really believe it’s an excellent choice for puppies prone to digestive issues and food sensitivities. The quality ingredients are very gentle on the gut.

The Protein Content in WholeHearted Puppy Food

Puppy foods should always have increased protein levels to support rapid growth. I made sure to analyze the guaranteed analysis on WholeHearted bags to determine the protein content.

Their traditional puppy formulas contain 28-32% protein minimum, while grain-free recipes are slightly higher at 32-38% protein. This comes primarily from quality animal-based ingredients like chicken, lamb, salmon, and turkey.

I’m satisfied these protein percentages meet my puppy’s needs for proper development. The amounts align with other top-quality high-protein puppy diets recommended by vets. It gives me peace of mind my puppy is getting sufficient protein from his WholeHearted food.

Trial Sizes of WholeHearted Puppy Food

One question I had when first trying WholeHearted was whether trial or sample sizes were available. As I like to transition puppies slowly, having smaller trial bags is always helpful before committing to a big bag.

Unfortunately, WholeHearted doesn’t offer trial or sample sizes of their puppy foods currently. The smallest bag size is 5 lbs.

However, I realized this wasn’t too big of an issue. Since the food is very affordable, purchasing a small bag wasn’t a huge investment. I was able to transition my puppy gradually without wasting too much. Just something to be aware of – try to purchase the 5 lb bag first when wanting to sample a new WholeHearted variety.

Caloric Content of WholeHearted Puppy Food

To make sure I was feeding proper portions, I needed to know the caloric content of WholeHearted puppy food. I checked the feeding guidelines and nutritional information to get these details.

The traditional puppy formulas provide approximately 415-440 calories per cup. The grain-free varieties are slightly higher at 450-470 calories per cup.

This gave me a baseline for estimating the right amount to feed my pup based on his expected calorie needs for growth. The calorie counts allowed me to use WholeHearted food to help my puppy reach an optimal weight. Knowing these numbers is key for any growing pup!

Return Policies and Guarantees

When purchasing from major retailers like PetSmart and Chewy, WholeHearted puppy food is covered by standard return policies if your pup ends up disliking it. You can return unopened food for a full refund.

However, WholeHearted itself does not offer any guarantees like “buy one get one free” promotions if your pup rejects the food. Be sure to check return policies at individual sellers when buying.

If your puppy seems to dislike the WholeHearted formula, reach out to their helpful customer service team. They’re very responsive and may be able to provide tore guidance to help transition your pup to the food. But no direct guarantees are offered by the brand itself.

Discounts and Promotions for WholeHearted

One great perk of choosing this affordable brand is that WholeHearted puppy food already comes at a reasonable price point. So you may be wondering – are there any additional discounts or promotions available?

The answer is yes! WholeHearted offers occasional coupons on their website that you can redeem at PetSmart locations. I’ve seen discounts like $5 off, percentage discounts, and buy one get one half off deals.

It’s worth signing up for the mailing list on WholeHearted’s website to get alerts on coupon offers. PetSmart also runs sales on WholeHearted food from time to time. Look out for these to get your pup’s food at an even more budget-friendly price.

Frequency of WholeHearted Puppy Food Formula Updates

I’m always curious how often pet food brands review and update their recipes. I want to choose a company that continually evaluates their formulas based on the latest nutrition research.

From what I can tell, WholeHearted updates their puppy food lines approximately every one to two years. While not extremely frequent, this is reasonable to account for advances in pet nutrition science.

I’m satisfied they are reviewing their recipes regularly and not just relying on old formulations for ages. This ensures my puppy is getting diets formulated with relatively current nutritional findings in mind.

How WholeHearted Ensures Food Safety

Given that our puppies’ wellbeing depends on the safety of their food, I had questions around how WholeHearted monitors food quality. Especially with no history of recalls, they must have excellent safety protocols in place.

As a PetSmart-exclusive brand, WholeHearted partners with top-notch manufacturing facilities to produce their recipes. Each batch is tested for quality control before being approved for sale. They also source ingredients from trusted suppliers to reduce risks.

Additionally, WholeHearted’s customer service team assured me they track all consumer feedback very closely. Even singular complaints are investigated fully in partnership with the manufacturer. They even do extensive product testing before new recipes or suppliers are introduced.

Based on their meticulous quality control and manufacturing standards, I’m thoroughly impressed with WholeHearted’s commitment to puppy food safety. They take every precaution to ensure my puppy’s meals are nutritious and free from contaminants or dangers. It’s clear this brand prioritizes food quality.

Final Takeaways on My WholeHearted Puppy Food Experience

After months of feeding my pup WholeHearted recipes tailored for his unique needs, I’m incredibly satisfied with this brand. My puppy eagerly devours every meal with delicious ingredients he loves. I’ve noticed fantastic improvements in his energy, body condition, coat, and digestion.

The budget-friendly pricing makes providing quality nutrition easy and stress-free as a pup parent. With optimal protein levels and added supplements, I’m confident this food fuels healthy development in puppies of all breeds and sizes.

Based on my first-hand experience, I highly recommend WholeHearted to any puppy owner looking for a nourishing and affordable option. This brand has certainly won over my pup and me! To all the pup parents out there, give WholeHearted a try – your puppy will thank you.