Heritage Ranch Dog Food Review [In-depth Guide]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

I recently met up with a good friend and fellow dog lover in Texas and we had a good chat about raising our dogs.

During the conversation, he brought up Heritage Ranch dog food, a brand that I’ve heard of but not had any experience with.

Right away, I thought it would be excellent if he could help me create this Heritage Ranch dog food review so that our readers can glean some insight and decide if it is right for their dogs.

You will learn a bit about the company that makes them, key factors to consider when choosing dog food, and a bunch of important questions any dog owner should ask.

Let’s dive right in.

What is Heritage Ranch Dog Food?

Heritage Ranch Dog Food is a brand of dog food that is created and sold by a company called H-E-B.

You might find this name familiar if you are from Texas as they have over 300 stores in the state alone.

The brand carries a pretty wide range of different flavors that can cater to different breeds of dogs and are available in both wet and dry versions.

Based on the ingredients they use, we can safely grade them as above-average quality dog food.

This will be discussed further in the sections below.

Doggy says, read this too: Is Ollie Dog Food Good for Dogs? [Reviewed]

Who Makes Heritage Ranch Dog Food?

So, who manufactures Heritage Ranch dog food?

Heritage Ranch dog food is made by the company H-E-B, a privately held supermarket chain that has more than 300 stores in the state of Texas as well as in northeast Mexico.

A quick check reveals that the company has dozens of manufacturing facilities located within the United States, and it is also stated on their site that the food is produced in the USA.

Doggy says, consider reading this too: Switching from grain free dog food to regular

4 Key Factors When Choosing Dog Food

To some people, they are willing to get by simply by looking at the ingredients list, while some might want to learn more before deciding if a particular brand of dog food suits their dog.

In the following sections, I will point out the 4 key factors we think should go into the decision-making process of all dog parents.

Doggy says, you might like this too: Blue Buffalo Vs Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Comparison

1. Food allergies and sensitivities

Food allergies and sensitivities are very common in dogs, especially those with sensitive stomachs.

They can lead to health problems like skin rashes, itchy eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting.

If your dog has any of these conditions, you would need to evaluate if the dog food offers specific ingredients that make them suitable for your dog.

2. Dog breed and size

As you can imagine, a Great Dane will have significantly different requirements from a little Chihuahua.

Not only that, some dog breeds are naturally much more energetic than others, which means they will require more energy per pound from their food.

Keeping your dog’s lifestyle in mind is crucial when selecting the type of dog food it needs.

3. Nutritional values

When you’re looking for high-quality dog food, you want to make sure that it has a balance of proteins and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals.

You should also look for foods that contain Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as this help strengthen your dog’s immune system.

Protein is responsible for building muscle, which can help your dog maintain a healthy weight and feel energized throughout the day.

It also helps keep their coat shiny and healthy.

Another important ingredient in dog food is fat.

Fat helps keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy while also providing energy and keeping them feeling full longer between meals.

A third ingredient that should be included in every good quality dog food is fiber.

Fiber helps aid digestion as well as keeping your dogs’ teeth clean by helping remove plaque buildup on them over time (which could lead to gum disease).

While hunting for the right dog food, you can also refer to the guaranteed analysis table that is required by AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials).

This can give you a good indication of what’s contained inside.

Also of note is that it passes the minimum standards required by AAFCO for nutrients profile.

4. Life stage

Your dog’s life stage refers to its age and activity level, which affects the specific nutritional needs of its body at that time.

Knowing your dog’s life stage will help you determine whether it needs more calories or less as well as what types of nutrients it should be getting from its food.

For example, puppies will need a lot of protein during their growing up months to cope with their energy output, while a senior dog might have other kinds of specific needs.

Doggy says, you might be interested in reading this too: My Dog Doesn’t Like Royal Canin!

Is Heritage Ranch Bad for Dogs?

But what exactly makes dog food bad?

According to most professionals, we can generally identify bad dog food using a few criteria, including:

• excessive salt and flavor enhancers
• use of preservatives such as Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). and Propyl gallate
• ambiguous terms in ingredients, such as fish oil (not ideal) vs salmon oil (better, more specific)
• no indication of real meats
• use of MSG
• artificial coloring

That said, we can safely say that Heritage Ranch mostly avoids this negative checklist, and is well worth our consideration.

Is Heritage Ranch a Good Dog Food?

Yes, we can say that Heritage Ranch produces good dog food.

It does not contain any ingredients that are likely to cause any digestive issues or health problems for your pet.

The only slight complaint about this product is that it simply lists using fish oil in its ingredients, but does not indicate what type of fish oil exactly.

It’s not perfect, but it does avoid many of the most common pitfalls in dog food today.

I would recommend this brand to those looking for a relatively healthy option that still has quality ingredients and doesn’t break the bank.

Key nutritional values

According to guidelines from AAFCO, all pet food labels must include a guaranteed analysis of the nutrients included.

Here are the readings from one of its most popular products, the Heritage Ranch by H‑E‑B Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food (nutrients profile: Growth & Reproduction)

Ingredients

For your convenience, here is a list of the ingredients:

Heritage Ranch by H‑E‑B Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Pea Protein, Rice Bran, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Dried Peas, Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseeds, Dried Egg Product, Dried Carrots, Oatmeal, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Fish Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate), Choline Chloride, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, L-Threonine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Folic Acid), Citric Acid (Preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract.

Pricing

The Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food is currently retailing at $22.12 for a 15 lb bag.

That works out to about $1.47/lb, which is incredible value for money, especially when you compare it to larger brands such as Purina.

This is most likely down to the fact that Heritage Ranch is not as well marketed nor does it possess the scale, research, and complexity of bigger brands.

H-E-B Heritage Ranch dog food recall

There have never been any records of Heritage Ranch dog food being recalled to date.

Pros and Cons of Heritage Ranch Dog Food

Benefits

• Uses real meat
• No added wheat, corn, or soy
• No preservatives, additional colors, or flavor enhancers
• Great price

Disadvantages

• Nutritional values are not as high as some other brands
• Limited delivery areas
• Unknown reputation as a dog food brand

Is Heritage Ranch Dog Food Healthy?

Yes, Heritage Ranch dog food is generally considered to be a healthy option.

You have the option to choose grain-free food that does not contain any added wheat, corn, or soy and each of their products does not contain preservatives or additional colors, or flavor enhancers.

The brand has a variety of options for different types of dogs and comes in both wet and dry forms, using real meat as its main ingredient, which means that you can trust that it contains the nutrients your dog needs.

How Many Calories Are in Heritage Ranch Dog Food?

The amount of calories in each Heritage Ranch differs, so it is best to check out the labels of the product you are interested in.

As a reference, the Heritage Ranch by H‑E‑B Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food contains 3,495 kcal/kg.

Is Heritage Ranch Dog Food Grain Free?

Not every single product from the Heritage Ranch dog food range is grain-free, but if it is, the label clearly indicates that information.

Here are a couple of examples of grain-free and non-grain-free dog foods:

• Grain-free: Heritage Ranch by H‑E‑B Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
• Non-grain-free: Heritage Ranch by H‑E‑B Healthy Weight Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

Are Heritage Ranch Treats Good for Dogs?

Heritage ranch carries a few treat options for your dogs and they follow similar principles as their main food products too, that is real meat as the main ingredient.

Interestingly, they have a few additional options that provide more targeted needs such as antioxidant, mobility, and digestion blend.

While they are not going to replace natural supplements anytime soon, they do provide a good boost to your pet while snacking.

Is Heritage Ranch Dog Food Healthy for a Puppy?

As we examined above, Heritage Ranch is a pretty good option for most dogs, puppies included.

They do have a dedicated line that caters to puppies and offers the same popular flavors such as the Heritage Ranch by H-E-B Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Puppy Food.

Just like the adult version, the puppy version is made with the same formulas as the adult versions but fine-tuned to their specific needs.

Where to Buy Heritage Ranch Dog Food?

Currently, you can buy Heritage Ranch dry and wet dog foods only at an H-E-B supermarket or in their online store.

Also, take note that their delivery areas are limited to within the state of Texas only.

However, if you wish to try out their dog treats, you can get them from Amazon.

Doggy says, you may also like: Is YuMOVE Good for Dogs? Joint Supplement Reviewed

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In Conclusion: HEB Heritage Ranch Dog Food Review

So, if you’re looking for high-quality kibble that can keep your dog healthy and happy, then consider giving Heritage Ranch a try.

It offers many different varieties so you can find what works best for your dog’s needs.

It satisfies the key factors when choosing dog food, so you can set your mind at ease and give it a try.

Alternatively, you can also consider checking out our other articles on dog food brands such as Acana dog food vs Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo vs Fromm, Canidae vs Natural Balance, dog foods without red dye, and many more.