Finding the Right Puppy Food for My Furry Friend
As a new puppy owner, I wanted to make sure I started my furry friend off on the right paw by feeding him a high-quality puppy food. With so many options on the market, I wasn’t sure where to begin my search. I started researching different brands and asking other puppy owners for recommendations. That’s when I kept hearing about American Journey puppy food. The great reviews and affordable prices convinced me to give it a try. Now, after feeding my puppy American Journey for the past few months, I’m happy to share my experience and why I think it’s one of the best puppy foods out there.
Ingredients Tailored to Support Puppy Growth
One of the first things I looked at was the ingredients in American Journey puppy food. I wanted a formula with high-quality protein sources as the main ingredients to properly support my growing puppy. The first two ingredients in American Journey puppy food are deboned chicken and chicken meal. This provides lean protein that puppies need for developing muscles and organs.
Further down the list were wholesome carbohydrates like brown rice and peas. These give puppies long-lasting energy. I was happy to see there were no fillers like corn, wheat or soy. The kibble also contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to nurture growing joints. My puppy’s coat is super shiny thanks to omega fatty acids from fish oil in the recipe. I can tell the premium ingredients in American Journey are keeping my puppy healthy as he transitions from weaning to solid food.
Provides Complete Nutrition for Puppies of All Breeds
I have a medium-sized mixed breed puppy, but American Journey makes puppy food tailored for dogs of all sizes and breeds. There are specific recipes for small breed puppies, large breed puppies, and an all life stages formula suitable for puppies of any size.
The kibbles are sized appropriately for different breed sizes. The small bites are easy for little puppy mouths to chew and digest. For larger puppies, there are bigger chunks packed with additional nutrients to properly nourish their developing bones and joints. The all life stages formula has a balance of protein, fat, and calories suitable for any pup, big or small.
American Journey understands that puppy nutritional needs vary and makes formulas to provide complete nutrition no matter your puppy’s breed. I like that they offer tailor-made recipes while keeping the same high-standard ingredient quality across all their puppy products.
Supports Healthy Growth and Development
My main goal in picking a puppy food was finding one that would set my furball up for a lifetime of good health. The premium protein sources in American Journey puppy food provide the building blocks my puppy needs to develop strong muscles. The omega fatty acids nourish his soft puppy coat. And the glucosamine and chondroitin support his growing bones and joints, especially important for larger breed pups.
I also love that American Journey includes DHA from fish oil. This supports healthy brain and eye development during these crucial early months. My puppy is playful and energetic with a soft, shiny coat – signs he’s getting great nutrition from his puppy food. American Journey provides complete and balanced nutrition so I can feel confident it has all the vitamins and minerals my pup needs for healthy growth.
Made Dog Parents’ Budgets in Mind
As much as I wanted to feed my puppy the best food possible, I had to keep costs in mind with my new pet budget. Many premium and niche puppy foods come with premium price tags. But American Journey offers quality nutrition at very reasonable prices. I was able to purchase a big bag for less than other comparable puppy food brands.
Because American Journey is Chewy’s own brand, they can keep costs low by cutting out the middleman and selling direct to consumers. As a dog owner, I appreciate that they pass those savings on to me. I don’t have to feel guilty about compromising on my puppy’s nutrition just to save money. American Journey lets me give him top-notch puppy food that fits right into my budget.
Palatable Taste Puppies Love
Of course, it wouldn’t matter how high-quality the ingredients were if my picky eater didn’t like the taste! I’m happy to report my pup gobbles up his American Journey puppy food every meal. The chicken and fish ingredients give it a tasty flavor he can’t get enough of. I love that American Journey doesn’t use artificial flavors or dyes.
My puppy licks his bowl clean every time, which shows me how palatable the recipes are. The kibble size and texture are designed to appeal to puppies. And for pup parents, it’s great knowing your furry friend is excited to eat a food that’s also nutritious. American Journey checks all the boxes by being both puppy-approved and vet-recommended.
Provides Grain-Inclusive and Grain-Free Options
One thing I appreciated about American Journey was the variety of puppy food recipes they offer. They have both grain-inclusive and grain-free options depending on your preferences. For grain-inclusive, the lamb and brown rice recipe provides carbohydrate energy from digestible rice. My pup did well with this formula.
For dogs with grain sensitivities, American Journey has grain-free options using legumes like chickpeas and lentils instead. There’s a salmon and sweet potato recipe my friend’s pup loves. It’s great having choices to find a recipe that works with your puppy’s individual needs and stomach sensitivity. American Journey offers the best of both worlds.
Offers Tailored Recipes for Different Breed Sizes
In addition to grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes, American Journey also has options tailored specifically for puppies of different breed sizes:
Small Breed Puppy Recipe: Ideal for little puppies like toy and miniature breeds. It has smaller kibble pieces and bites, higher protein and calories for small pups’ faster metabolisms, and nutrients to support delicate growing bones.
Large Breed Puppy Recipe: Designed for larger puppies like Labs and golden retrievers with controlled calories and protein for steady growth, glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, and DHA for brain support.
All Life Stages Recipe: A one-size-fits-all formula suitable for puppies of any breed size thanks to a balance of protein, fat, and nutrients.
No matter your puppy’s eventual size, there’s an American Journey formula designed just for them. My medium mutt did great on the all life stages. I like that they make food tailored to support puppies as they grow.
Offered in Both Dry and Wet Options
For puppy owners who want to add some wet food or toppers to their pup’s diet, American Journey has you covered there too. In addition to their excellent dry kibble, they also have canned wet puppy food. This adds moisture and gives an appealing, meaty texture.
The wet food comes in recipes like chicken stew and beef lasagne that sound way more gourmet than traditional canned dog food. You can mix the wet varieties with the dry kibble or serve it alone as a meal. This gives picky eaters some variety at mealtime.
I sometimes sprinkle the wet puppy food on top of my furball’s kibble as a flavor enhancer. The combo of dry and wet is a feeding routine we both love. It’s convenient that American Journey offers both types in coordinating flavors.
Sold at Affordable Prices
One of the biggest benefits of American Journey puppy food is that it doesn’t cost a fortune like some boutique or prescription pet foods. Because it’s Chewy’s own brand, they’re able to sell it exclusively on their site for reasonable prices. For a 28-lb bag of dry puppy food, I paid around $50 which is very affordable compared to competitor brands.
They also frequently offer additional discounts like buy one bag, get one free. Signing up for automatic deliveries saves you an extra 5-10%. For cost-conscious pet parents like myself, this was a huge draw towards American Journey. I don’t have to feel guilty for buying a lesser food just to save money. I can conveniently get quality puppy food delivered on a budget.
Available for Purchase Online
One of the most convenient aspects of American Journey puppy food is that it’s sold directly through Chewy.com. Because it’s their exclusive store brand, you can only purchase American Journey online from Chewy. For me, this was really convenient because I was already ordering most of my puppy supplies from them anyway.
Having the puppy food shipped along with my regular Chewy order saved me time running to multiple stores. Chewy also makes it easy to set up automatic, recurring shipments so you never risk running low. American Journey puppy food arrives right at my door along with my pup’s other essentials. The direct online purchasing from Chewy couldn’t be simpler.
High Customer Satisfaction
Before deciding on a puppy food, I wanted to know what other customers thought of American Journey. I was impressed to see over 17,000 reviews on Chewy.com giving American Journey an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. That gave me confidence I was choosing a puppy food pet parents really love.
Many reviews mentioned noticeably better skin, coats, energy levels, and digestive health after switching to American Journey. Others appreciated the affordable price point for the quality. It was great seeing so many happy pup parents and healthy pups thanks to American Journey. Reading the glowing reviews helped convince me it was the right choice.
Free of Corn, Wheat, Soy, and By-Products
When surveying puppy food ingredients, I wanted to avoid fillers like corn, wheat, and soy as well as low-quality by-products. That’s why I was thrilled to see the American Journey formulas are free of these concerning additives. Instead, they use digestible whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal. This freed up space in the ingredients list for more premium proteins and fats.
The protein comes from chicken, lamb, beef, and salmon – not mystery meat by-products. There are also no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. This gave me peace of mind that American Journey contains only high-quality natural ingredients tailored to my puppy’s needs. I didn’t have to worry about any questionable extras snuck into my pup’s diet.
Vet-Recommended Nutrition
I also asked my veterinarian for any puppy food recommendations before deciding. My vet said she recommends American Journey to many of her puppy-owning clients. She explained that it contains optimal protein, fat, and calories to fuel a growing puppy. I trusted her experienced opinion that American Journey provides complete nutrition vetted by professionals.
My veterinarian also pointed out that she sees less incidents of food intolerance and allergies in pups fed American Journey. This gave me further confidence I was making a healthy choice that would avoid issues down the road. It’s reassuring that my vet approves of American Journey’s ingredients and nutritional standards. Her seal of approval confirms it’s a great choice for my furry friend.
Complete Feeding Instructions Provided
As a first-time puppy owner, I appreciated that American Journey provided clear feeding instructions and guidelines. The back of the bag gives portion sizes based on your puppy’s current weight and estimated adult size. This takes the guesswork out of how much to feed. There are also tips for transitioning your puppy gradually from old food to avoid stomach upset.
The feeding guide helped me structure my puppy’s meal schedule at different growth stages. Now at 6 months old, he eats two meals a day with the right calorie amounts tailored to his age. The instructions also advise what adjustments to make if your puppy becomes overweight or underweight. It’s been super helpful having such detailed guidelines to set my pup up for success.
My Pup Loves the Taste!
Of course, it wouldn’t matter how great the ingredients were if my picky pup didn’t like the taste! But that has not been an issue with American Journey at all. My furball gobbles up every meal with gusto. I can tell the chicken, fish, and meat flavors really appeal to his puppy palate. He licks the bowl clean every time!
I love knowing my puppy is excited to eat his nutritious food. The American Journey recipes strike the perfect balance of being both tasty and healthy. My pup’s wagging tail when he sees his filled food bowl says it all. His happy tummy and growing body are proof that American Journey provides delicious nutrition. This discerning pet parent and pup give it five out of five stars!
Worth Recommending
After months of feeding my pup American Journey, I can confidently say I recommend it to any new pet parent looking for a quality puppy food. American Journey ticks all the boxes: tailored nutrition for growth, premium proteins, zero fillers, vet-approval, affordable price, and fantastic flavor pups love. I’m thrilled I took a chance on this lesser-known brand – it’s become my pup’s longtime favorite.
We’ve bonded at mealtimes thanks to American Journey’s tasty kibble. And I have peace of mind knowing I’m giving him the best nutrition possible for his health and happiness. Every wag of his fluffy tail tells me I made the right call. I suggest pet parents everywhere give American Journey a try. Your puppy can’t help but enjoy mealtime and thrive on such high-quality ingredients. Take it from this delighted dog owner – American Journey earns our highest stamp of approval!
