Choosing the right dog food is a critical decision for any pet parent aiming to provide a complete and balanced diet. With the increasing popularity of human-grade and less-processed options, air-dried dog food has emerged as a strong contender against traditional kibble. This Canine Selection Dog Food Review delves into two prominent brands in this category: Sundays For Dogs and Badlands Ranch. As an experienced owner of Alaskan Klee Kai, Copper and Skye, I’ve personally tested numerous air-dried dog foods to find the best fit for their health and palate, making this comparison particularly insightful for those considering the switch.
Transitioning from conventional kibble to air-dried formulas offers a wealth of benefits, primarily due to the gentle drying process that preserves nutritional integrity and natural flavors. However, navigating the myriad of human-grade dog food companies can be overwhelming. My mission has been to assess various dry dog food brands available in the USA, focusing not only on healthy ingredients but also on my dogs’ enjoyment and willingness to finish their meals. While both Sundays For Dogs and Badlands Ranch offer elevated nutrition, I lean towards Sundays as the superior choice for pet parents ready to explore air-dried dog food.
Sundays For Dogs vs. Badlands Ranch: A Detailed Comparison
When evaluating air-dried dog food, several factors come into play: ingredient quality, nutritional value, price, packaging, and most importantly, canine palatability. Both Sundays For Dogs and Badlands Ranch are designed to be a healthier alternative to traditional kibble, devoid of common additives and “nasties.” However, upon closer inspection, distinctions emerge that can influence a pet parent’s ultimate decision.
Sundays For Dogs offers three distinct recipes—beef, chicken, and turkey—providing a good variety for dogs with different protein preferences. Badlands Ranch, while also having four recipes, includes freeze-dried options in its range, which is a slightly different format. A key observation from examining their ingredient lists is that Sundays For Dogs features more recognizable, whole-food ingredients compared to Badlands Ranch. This transparency and simplicity in ingredients can be a significant factor for owners prioritizing natural and understandable components in their dog’s diet.
From a value perspective, Sundays For Dogs presents a more economical option in the long run. A 1.13kg bag of Sundays costs $69.99, whereas a 680g bag of Badlands Ranch is priced at $59.99. This means that for just an additional $10, you receive almost double the quantity of air-dried food with Sundays, offering better value per pound. The overall customer experience with Sundays also feels more comprehensive; their initial delivery included thoughtful packaging and detailed informational materials, enhancing the sense of a complete and supportive service.
Inside the Sundays and Badlands Ranch dog food bags
Canine Preference and Mealtime Excitement
The true test of any dog food lies in how much dogs enjoy it. For Copper and Skye, their verdict on both brands was remarkably close. They enthusiastically consumed both Sundays and Badlands Ranch, showing minimal difference in mealtime excitement initially. This suggests that both brands successfully capture the palatability factor essential for fussy eaters. However, after consistent feeding, Sundays For Dogs’ beef recipe appeared to be their slight favorite. My Klee Kai dogs demonstrated a slightly quicker and more eager consumption of their Sundays meals, indicating a subtle edge in appeal.
Based on this comprehensive evaluation, encompassing ingredient transparency, economic value, overall customer experience, and my dogs’ subtle preference for specific recipes, Sundays For Dogs emerges as the recommended choice in this canine selection dog food review.
Understanding Sundays For Dogs
Sundays For Dogs positions itself as a premium air-dried dog food brand for owners seeking a healthier alternative to conventional dry food while maintaining the convenience of a kibble-like format. Their commitment to human-grade ingredients is central to their philosophy. The air-drying process they employ is a gentle method designed to protect the nutritional integrity of the ingredients and lock in natural flavors, making the food both wholesome and palatable.
Founded by veterinarians, Sundays For Dogs exclusively uses natural ingredients, avoiding additives, preservatives, or other artificial components often found in mass-produced pet foods. This focus on purity aligns with the growing demand for clean-label pet nutrition. Sundays operates on a subscription model, personalizing meal plans based on a detailed questionnaire that gathers information about your dog’s age, breed, activity level, current diet, and any health concerns. This tailored approach ensures that each dog receives a diet specifically suited to their individual needs.
Sundays For Dogs air-dried dog food, showing its texture
The sign-up process is thorough, requiring detailed input about your dog’s characteristics and health profile. Sundays then suggests a suitable air-dried dog food recipe, though pet parents retain the flexibility to select their preferred protein source from options like beef, chicken, and turkey. This selection ensures that even picky eaters, like my Alaskan Klee Kai, have palatable choices. After completing the sign-up, a monthly price is provided, and the customized meals are conveniently delivered directly to your door.
My Dogs’ Experience with Sundays
After relocating from the UK to California, my search for high-quality human-grade dog food led me to try Sundays. Initially, I was apprehensive about how Copper and Skye would react to an air-dried diet, given their previous lukewarm response to traditional kibble. To my pleasant surprise, they absolutely adored their Sundays meals. Mealtime became an exciting event, consistently resulting in clean bowls. The treat-like texture of Sundays’ air-dried food likely contributed to its initial acceptance.
The high meat content—up to 90% meat—in Sundays’ dog food recipes ensures a rich flavor profile that keeps even the most discerning eaters engaged. While both the beef and chicken recipes were a hit with my Klee Kai, the turkey recipe proved less popular. This suggests that while overall quality is high, individual dog preferences for specific proteins still play a role. For those considering Sundays, starting with beef or chicken might be a good strategy to ensure immediate acceptance and enjoyment. For more insights on similar options, consider reading a stella and chewy freeze dried review.
An Overview of Badlands Ranch
Badlands Ranch is another relatively new player in the air-dried dog food market, aiming to provide high-quality “Superfood Complete” recipes. Notably, the brand was co-founded by actress Katherine Heigl, a well-known dog advocate and owner of multiple dogs. Like Sundays, Badlands Ranch utilizes an air-drying method, which, according to their website, is designed to preserve maximum freshness and nutritional value by avoiding the harsh, high-temperature cooking methods associated with conventional kibble.
In 2025, Badlands Ranch expanded its offerings with the release of Superfood Nuggets, a freeze-dried dog food available in beef and chicken. This diversification provides pet parents with more texture and format options. True to its “Superfood Complete” name, Badlands Ranch recipes are crafted from premium, nutritious meats combined with healthy fruits and vegetables. Similar to Sundays, their air-dried food is free from meat meal, byproducts, and artificial preservatives, reinforcing their commitment to quality ingredients.
Badlands Ranch Superfood Nuggets, a freeze-dried dog food option
A key difference in the customer journey is that Badlands Ranch does not require pet parents to complete an extensive sign-up questionnaire. This streamlined approach means that dog owners need to be more proactive in carefully following the brand’s feeding guidelines to ensure appropriate portioning and nutritional intake for their dogs. For a comparison with another popular brand, you might want to look into victor hi pro plus dog food reviews.
Copper and Skye’s Experience with Badlands Ranch
Given the treat-like texture of Badlands Ranch, which is similar to Sundays but slightly chunkier, I was confident that Copper and Skye would enjoy it. As expected, they readily ate Badlands Ranch without hesitation, with the beef recipe being a particular favorite among my fussy eaters. This reaffirmed that Badlands Ranch offers a highly palatable option for dogs.
However, there were minor aspects of the Badlands Ranch experience that stood out. The dog food bags often arrived somewhat squished, which, while a small detail, impacted their structural integrity and required them to be stored flat. Furthermore, Badlands Ranch did not include any extra materials or a welcome package in the first delivery, a common practice among many dog food delivery services that enhance the initial customer experience. In terms of pricing, a 680g bag of Badlands Ranch costs $59.99, which I found to be on the pricier side when compared to other air-dried dog food brands, although buying in bulk can offer some savings.
Final Verdict on Canine Selection Dog Food Review
This canine selection dog food review, based on firsthand experience with my Alaskan Klee Kai, Copper and Skye, highlights the strengths of both Sundays For Dogs and Badlands Ranch. While both brands represent a significant upgrade from traditional kibble, offering human-grade, air-dried nutrition, Sundays For Dogs ultimately stands out as my top recommendation.
The decision between these two premium air-dried dog food companies wasn’t clear-cut, as both offer high-quality nutrition and were well-received by my dogs. However, factors such as the better value per pound, the more comprehensive customer experience, and the slight edge in palatability for Copper and Skye’s specific preferences, led me to favor Sundays For Dogs. This brand delivers a slightly more complete package, making it an excellent starting point for dog owners venturing into the world of air-dried food.
Nevertheless, if you are eager to try air-dried dog food, you wouldn’t go wrong with either of these reputable brands. Both Sundays For Dogs and Badlands Ranch are committed to providing healthier, more natural diets for our beloved canine companions. For those ready to make the switch, consider giving Sundays For Dogs a try to experience the benefits firsthand.
