is true chews a good brand

True Acre

True Acre Information

True Acre is a relatively new dog food brand and is a private label brand of the huge pet supplies website, Chewy.

While Chewy already had several private label brands for its site, such asAmerican JourneyandTiny Tiger, it continues to expand and create new brands.

This approach allows them to offer regular promotions and discounts on their private-label brands to outcompete their competitors.

For those of you interested in learning where True Acre dog food is made, we have very limited information available.

However, we believe that True Acre is produced somewhere in the United States by one of the industrys 3rd party manufacturers.

Given that True Acre is a private label brand from Chewy, it is not available for purchase from retail stores across the United States and is only sold exclusively on their website.

True Acre Product Range

Unlike American Journey, which is Chewys largest private-label brand, True Acres product range is far smaller and focuses on dogs rather than both dogs and cats.

Moreover, True Acre has a strong focus on dog treats rather than food, and their three best-selling products are treats.

This treat range includes several types, including Dental Chews, Rolled Sticks, Knotted Bones, and Baked Biscuits.

As for dry dog food, True Acre has a moderate range of recipes that includes a solid balance between grain-free food and grain-inclusive food.

In addition, True Acre does have some specialized recipes for dogs, including two for large-breed dogs and two more for weight control.

Lastly, True Acre has a very small range of wet dog food recipes. All three of their recipes are stews and contain similar ingredients.

True Acre Nutrition

When compared to other dog food brands, True Acre dog food recipes provide nutrition that is generally average to above-average.

This includes moderate proportions of protein and fat, and large proportions of carbohydrates.

You can see an example of this below, which is the nutritional profile of one of their dry food recipes.

As you can see, the protein and fat proportion only make up 54% of the recipes nutritional content where, as carbohydrates are 46%.

If you are interested in learning more about canine nutrition, be sure to check out our Dog Food Guide, where we go in-depth on the subject.

True Acre Ingredients

High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients

True Acre uses a relatively small range of meat ingredients in its recipes which includes the above. All three of these meat ingredients are extremely popular among dog food manufacturers.

This is largely due to the fact that these ingredients are cost-effective, highly nutritious, and can easily be bought in large quantities.

However, in addition to these whole meat ingredients, True Acre also uses some by-products in some of its recipes, such asChicken By-Product MealandPoultry By-Product Meal.

While these ingredients are looked down upon by some, they can still provide some valuable nutrition to dogs in the form of protein and fat.

Sadly, a select number of True Acres recipes, including their wet food recipes, use unnamed ingredients likeMeat By-Products&Animal Liver.

While these ingredients most likely provide beneficial animal-based protein and fat, they are unaccountable and untraceable, which is a major concern for some.

Other Notable Ingredients

True Acre utilizes several grain-based ingredients in its grain-inclusive recipes, such as Corn,Wheat,Corn Gluten Meal, Pearled Barley, andRice.

Grain ingredients like these can be controversial, with many dog owners being against their use. However, there are other dog owners that are strong supporters of grain ingredients, such as those who feed larger brands likePurina Pro PlanorRoyal Canin.

Regardless of opinion, grain ingredients are dense sources of nutrition and can provide a mix of carbohydrates, fiber, plant-based protein, and select vitamins and minerals.

However, some of the grain ingredients used by True Acre are frowned upon more than others, including Corn Gluten Meal.

Processed grain ingredients like Corn Gluten Meal are generally considered to be low-quality ingredients and are extremely dense sources of carbohydrates.

However, True Acre also has some grain-free recipes, and in these, they utilize some Pea-based ingredients such asPea StarchandPeas.

Peas are the most popular plant-based ingredients found in grain-free dog food recipes, along with other legumes like Lentils and Chickpeas.

Peas are dense sources of carbohydrates and fiber, but they are best known for their high proportion of plant-based protein.

However, there has been some concern in the last few years around links between the high consumption of legumes, like Peas, in grain-free food and an increased rate of Canine Heart Disease.

You can learn more about this link in our articleBest Dog Foods Without Peas.

Another common addition to True Acre recipes isChicken Fatwhich is also seen in recipes from many other brands.

Chicken Fat is added to dog food recipes in small quantities to improve the flavor and palatability of the recipe, as well as boost the overall levels of animal-based fat.

Chicken Fat is chosen for this as it is a cost-effective solution and can be sourced in large quantities.

If youd like to learn more about Chicken Fat and information on whether it can trigger Chicken allergies, take a read of our articleChicken Fat In Dog Food.

Canola Meal is an ingredient that isnt well-known among dog owners but is seeing increased use in dog food recipes. We found Canola Meal present in 4/4 of their dry dog food recipes which is notable.

It is a by-product of the production of Canola Oil and is the remaining plant matter left over after processing.

It is used regularly in feed for livestock animals like Cows and Pigs but is also found in some dog food recipes to boost protein levels at a low cost.

To learn more about Canola Meal and why some frown upon it, read our articleCanola Meal In Pet Food.

Flaxseedis one of the most popular minor ingredients found in premium dog food recipes and is well-known for human consumption.

Flaxseed is one of the best plant-based sources of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which are known for their potential health benefits, such as an improvement in the condition of a dogs skin and coat.

However, Flaxseed can also provide several other benefits that are less well-known. You can learn about these in our articleFlaxseed In Dog Food.

Similar to Canola Meal,Dried Beet Pulpis another by-product of agricultural processing. However, unlike Canola Meal, Dried Beet Pulp is extremely commonplace in dog food recipes.

Its purpose is to boost the levels of dietary fiber in dog food recipes which can help improve a dogs digestion and stools.

However, outside of its fiber content, Dried Beet Pulp provides little to no other nutritional value. Read more about Dried Beet Pulp, including information on other similar ingredients, in our article Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.

Lastly, True Acres wet dog food recipes include small portions ofGuar Gumwhich is a common ingredient in wet pet food.

Guar Gum is a binding agent and is present to help give wet dog food a consistent texture and appearance and ensure that the ingredients do not separate.

There are many other similar ingredients that are used by other brands for the same purpose, such asCarrageenan,Xanthan Gum, andAgar-Agar.

To learn more about Guar Gum, including information on how it is produced, you can read our articleGuar Gum In Pet Food.

True Acre Animal Testing

At this time, we have no information on what type of testing or trials that True Acre participates in for its products.

Given we believe that True Acre is produced by a 3rd party manufacturer, its likely that they depend on testing and trials done by this company rather than themselves.

Moreover, many smaller or private label brands, such as True Acre, avoid disclosing detailed information around testing or trials as many of their customers would not approve.

We strongly believe that invasive or laboratory-style testing of animals in the pet food industry is a cruel and outdated practice and one which we hope will decline.

True Acre Recalls

Based on our research (FDA,AVMA,DogFoodAdvisor), we can find no evidence that True Acre dog food recipes have ever undergone a recall, which makes True Acre a recall-free dog food brand.

However, given that True Acre is an extremely young dog food brand, this lack of recalls in their history is not overly surprising.

We hope that they can continue their perfect safety record going forward and continually improve their quality and safety processes during production.

Regardless, we always advise dog owners to remain vigilant of any future recalls from True Acre or any other dog food brand to ensure that their dogs remain healthy and safe.

Best of True Acre

Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetables Review

The above Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetables recipe from True Acre is typical of their dry dog food recipes.

The recipe utilizes a portion of Chicken as its primary ingredient, which is a high-quality source of protein and fat.

This Chicken is topped up by a smaller portion of Poultry By-Product Meal and Poultry Fat which is likely made up of more Chicken or Turkey.

Outside of these meat ingredients, True Acre utilizes a mix of Peas, Pea Starch, Canola Meal, and Soybean Meal.

These plant-based ingredients provide the recipe with a mix of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.

True Acre Featured Articles

True Acre has not been featured in any of our articles to date.

Full True Acre Product Range

Dry Dog Food

Grain-Free Beef & Vegetable

Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetable

Grain-Free Large Breed Chicken & Vegetables

Grain-Free Weight Control Chicken & Vegetables

Farmhouse Blend With Chicken & Vegetables

Farmhouse Blend Large Breed With Chicken & Vegetable

Farmhouse Blend With Lamb & Vegetables

Farmhouse Blend Weight Control With Chicken & Vegetable

Farmhouse Blend With Beef & Vegetables

Wet Dog Food

Hearty Stews Lamb & Vegetable Recipe

Hearty Stews Chicken & Vegetable Recipe

Hearty Stews Beef & Vegetable Recipe

Dog Treats

All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks Original Flavor

All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks Peanut Butter Flavor

All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks Bacon Flavor

All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks Beef Flavor

All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks Mint Flavor

Mini All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks Original Flavor

All-Natural Puppy Dental Teething Treat Original Flavor

Hearty Bones Long-Lasting Peanut Butter Flavored Treats

Hearty Bones Long-Lasting Beef Flavored Treats

Hearty Bones Long-Lasting Chicken Flavored Treats

Thick Cut Strips With Real Bacon and Beef

Thick Cut Strips With Real Bacon and Peanut Butter Flavor

Thick Cut Strips With Real Bacon

Rawhide-Free Stuffed Twists Peanut Butter Flavour Treats

Rawhide-Free Rolled Sticks, Skin & Coat Chicken Flavor Treats

Rawhide-Free Rolled Sticks, Hip & Joint Chicken Flavor Treats

Rawhide-Free Rolled Sticks Chamomile & Lavender Flavor

Rawhide-Free Knotted Bones Chicken Flavor Large

Rawhide-Free Knotted Bones Peanut Butter Flavor Large

Rawhide-Free Knotted Bones Peanut Butter Flavor Mini

Rawhide-Free Knotted Bones Chicken Flavor Medium

Rawhide-Free Knotted Bones Chicken Flavor Mini

Rawhide-Free Knotted Bones Peanut Butter Flavor Medium

Chicken Recipe Mini-Training Rewards

Duck Recipe Mini-Training Rewards

Salmon Recipe Mini-Training Rewards

Mini Original Baked Biscuits

Mini Variety Baked Biscuits

Small Variety Baked Biscuits

Small Original Baked Biscuits

Medium Original Baked Biscuits

Large Original Baked Biscuits

Farmhouse Grillers Beef Recipe With Sweet Potatoes

Farmhouse Grillers Lamb Recipe With Cranberries

Farmhouse Grillers Pork Recipe With Apples

Homestyle Desserts Peanut Butter banana Pie Flavor Dessert Cup

Homestyle Desserts Carrot Cake Flavor Dessert Cup

Sweet Potato Recipe Treats With Jerky Coating

True Acre Dog Food Review (Dry)

True Acre Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: March 20, 2024

DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how

All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

Which True Acre Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

True Acre Dog Food receives the Advisors mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.

The True Acre product line includes the 5 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

True Acre Chicken and Vegetables Grain Free was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

True Acre Chicken and Vegetables Grain Free

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken, peas, pea starch, canola meal, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tapioca starch, natural flavor, dried plain beet pulp, dicalcium phosphate, salt, fish oil, flaxseed, calcium carbonate, carrots, cranberries, l-threonine, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative), vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, zinc oxide, dl-methionine, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, peas have about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The next ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

Next on the ingredients list is canola meal, a by-product of canola oil production more typically used to make feed for farm animals and to produce biodiesel.

Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. Thats because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

In any case, because canola meal also contains about 37% dry matter protein, this ingredient would be expected to notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient is poultry by-product meal, a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. Its made from whats left of slaughtered poultry after all the prime cuts have been removed.

In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.

On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.

The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.

We consider poultry by-products slightly lower in quality than a single-species ingredient (like chicken by-products).

The sixth ingredient is soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil production more commonly found in farm animal feeds.

Although soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The seventh ingredient is poultry fat. This item is obtained from rendering, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.

However, poultry fat is a relatively generic ingredient and can be considered lower in quality than a similar item from a named source animal (like chicken fat).

The eighth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this True Acre product.

With 6 notable exceptions

First, this food includes beet pulp. This is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

Next, the recipe contains flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

In addition, fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Also worth noting is the inclusion of sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Next, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, True Acre looks like an average dry dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 15% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

Which means this True Acre product line contains

Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, canola meal, soybean meal and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Our Rating of True Acre Dry Dog Food

True Acre lists both grain-free and grain-inclusive dry dog foods using a moderate amount of named by-product meal as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5 stars.

Recommended.

True Acre Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to True Acre through April.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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A Final Word

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