As a dog parent, the struggle is real. When I first brought Dex home as a puppy, getting him to stop eating bits of furniture and random food from the floor was hard.
Two years in, it’s the opposite.
But as a concerned pet parent, I’m always on the lookout for the best ways to spoil him. So when I first heard about Sundays For Dog, I was intrigued. After all, it’s not every day a veterinarian and an engineer come together to create the perfect alternative to kibble.
I was intrigued. But would Dex be half as enthusiastic? And could the brand really live up to its promise of providing the ultimate mealtime experience for a picky pet?
Keep reading to know more about the journey that followed.
In true dog-parent fashion, I gave Dex a good scratch before I brought out his new food. Dex responded as he usually does, by walking away, tail in the air, picky eater that he is.
Panic set in! I wondered if I’d been hasty in switching pet-food brands. Of course, I’d checked with Dex’s vet first.
However, the instructions on the packaging were precise. It said I needed to wean Dex onto this new diet. So I decided to stick with the plan and the brand.
Come day 2, I took it slow and easy. I introduced a small portion of Sunday Chicken Recipe mixed in with his regular food. And it worked. But only after 4 days could I replace his regular meal completely with Sundays.
I’d say after the initial hiccups, Dex took to Sundays for Dogs with gusto. And I was glad! The brand gets my vote for its 100% human-grade pet food.1
Their unique food prep method involves gently air-drying to dehydrate the food. This helps preserve nutrients and flavors while getting rid of germs.
The pet food strikes the right balance between protein, fats, fibers, and moisture and ticks all the right boxes if you ask me. But don’t jump the gun just yet!
My only concern was the high caloric content. But once I figured out the right portion size (with a little help from Dex’s vet), getting the calories under control was a tad easier.
Sundays food for dogs is shelf ready and requires no preparation, which for me (a very busy dog dad) is a big selling point. The preservatives it uses are tocopherols,2 generally considered natural and safe.
A quick browse through the ingredients will confirm that Sundays For Dogs is made with primarily human-grade produce. The brand does claim that Sundays is the world’s cleanest dog food. But is that just a tall claim?
PS: Click here for the ingredients section for the lowdown on the ingredients that go into both recipes.
And the rest, as they say, is history!
A family-owned brand, Sundays is the brainchild of veterinarian Tory Waxman3 and engineer Michael Waxman.
The couple admits to being obsessed with finding the best dog food after their pet got sick. They wanted something that was healthier than kibble and easier to serve than home-cooked meals.
And when they couldn’t find a brand of pet food that met all their criteria, they rolled up their sleeves and got around to making one. And Sundays for Dogs was the result. Of course, they didn’t go at it alone.
The two recipes were created after several intense brainstorming sessions with a team of experts that included food scientists and veterinary nutritionists.
Sundays For Dogs is available in two flavors – a beef recipe and a slightly more cost-effective chicken option.
Both products meet guidelines set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The beef variant has a certification of All Life Stages, and the chicken variant has an Adult Maintenance certification.
Most other dog foods are made of feed-grade ingredients with a lot of synthetic additives thrown in for good measure. They are then processed under extreme heat and pressure, destroying any nutrition left in the kibble.
And that’s where Sundays For Dogs is different.
Sundays contains over 90% fresh meat, organs, and bones, in addition to some of the finest ingredients (shiitake mushrooms, indeed!) that give the pet food a unique taste. And it’s made of 100% human-grade ingredients.
And both Tory and Michael, the founders, are firmly against including meat meals and synthetic ingredients.
I was super excited to read that all components and processing methods meet FDA safety standards for human consumption.
Sundays brings together the best of two worlds – raw food and fresh home-cooked food – and converts it into pet food that’s healthy and wholesome.
How does the brand achieve this?
By using an air-drying method that gently dehydrates the food. The process preserves nutrients and flavor while killing the germs. And according to my research, this process also gives the food a higher-than-average shelf-life.
So how does Sundays compare to other brands? Where does it succeed, and where does it fail? Let’s look at some pros and cons Dex and I have discovered so far. As the brand mentions on its website, “Only the best for our best friends. The best ingredients. The best science. The best customer experience: for humans and hounds alike. The best for the best.”
But is there more to it than meets the eye? Read on to find out.
As you can see, the pros far outweigh the cons. Sundays for Dogs is dedicated to providing high-quality and nutritious food for our pets. I also appreciate their commitment to using natural and locally sourced ingredients, which not only benefits our pets’ health but also supports the environment and local farmers.
Given the brand’s strong focus on quality and sustainability, it’s easy to see why Sundays for Dogs is a top choice for pet owners looking to provide the best for their beloved pets.
If you’ve got a picky eater on your hands, Sundays for Dogs has got you covered. Their tasty, fresh, air-dried meats are made like jerky treats, making them irresistible even to the most finicky dogs. And since the brand uses only high-quality, natural ingredients, you can feel good about what you’re feeding your pet.
With Sundays, you don’t have to let picky eating habits get in the way of your dog’s health and happiness.
The brand’s commitment to providing top-quality ingredients extends to dogs with sensitive stomachs too. Their lightly dried food is packed with digestive aids like pumpkin and ginger, making it even easier for dogs with sensitive stomachs to digest. These ingredients not only help with digestion but also provide important nutrients that support overall health and wellness.
Plus, the lightly dried texture of the food is easy on the stomach and can be an excellent option for dogs who struggle with traditional kibble or canned food. If your pup has a sensitive stomach, Sundays for Dogs may be just what you need to keep it happy and healthy.
Sundays for Dogs takes its commitment to using high-quality ingredients to the next level with its emphasis on antioxidants. Their gently air-dried pet food fruits and vegetables are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, which can help protect your dog from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Antioxidants have been shown to play a crucial role in maintaining your dog’s overall health. They can be especially beneficial for senior dogs or those with health conditions. With Sundays, you can feel good knowing you’re giving your pup a meal that not only tastes great but is also packed with all the essential nutrients.
As our pets age, joint health can become a concern. Sundays for Dogs understands this, which is why their pet food is high in natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin4 – two compounds essential for maintaining joint health. These compounds also help keep your dog’s joints feeling strong and springy.
The brand uses only the highest quality natural ingredients, including grass-fed and free-range meat, to ensure your pet’s meals satisfy all nutritional requirements for it to stay healthy. With their commitment to joint health, Sundays for Dogs is a great option for pet owners who want to give their dogs the best possible care.
Any dog parent will tell you that a shiny coat is not just a sign of beauty but also a reflection of the dog’s overall health. That’s why Sundays has created a pet food high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, all from natural sources.
These essential fatty acids play a crucial role in maintaining your dog’s skin and coat health, as well as promoting other health benefits such as reduced inflammation and improved heart health.
A dog’s digestive health is essential to its overall well-being, and Sundays for Dogs understands that. Their pet food is formulated with prebiotics, high fiber, and simple, whole ingredients that promote easy digestion. This makes it an excellent option for dogs with sensitive stomachs, digestive issues, or those prone to upset tummies.
Sundays for Dogs is free from artificial additives, preservatives, and fillers, which can be difficult for dogs to digest. With Sundays, you can rest assured that you’re giving your pet a wholesome, nutrient-packed meal to keep its digestive system happy and healthy. Whether your pet is young or old, active or a couch potato, Sundays for Dogs is a great choice for easy digestion and overall health.
Sundays For Dogs is definitely pricey compared to alternative store-bought brands. But to give you a better perspective, I’ve put together a quick breakdown of the costs:
(Note: This breakdown is on the assumption that one box of Sundays for Dogs will last your pet for a month)
| Small dogs | Medium-sized dogs | Large dogs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | $59 | $99 | $179 |
| Beef | $69 | $109 | $199 |
The brand does offer you some ways to save money, however.
Sign up for a subscription, and you get a 20% discount. Plus, you stand to save an additional $50 on your purchase when you refer a friend.
Free shipping is, of course, a part of the deal.
If you’re still not convinced about shelling out a hefty sum on a brand your dog may not take a liking to, fret not. Sundays also offers a free sample box so your pet can have a taste test first.
Don’t want to make it a regular part of your dog’s meals? You can also consider serving Sundays as a treat. Its crunchy texture and bold flavor make it perfect for training purposes or as rewards. And a little will go a long way, giving you more bang for your buck.
I have also experimented with layering bits of Sundays pet food with his regular dry food. Dex laps it up just the same.
So while Sundays is definitely not the cheapest option out there, it is still a value-for-money deal given that it is human-grade, all-natural, and shelf-stable. However, if you are in the market for a vegan alternative for your pet, check out my review on Wild Earth’s Performance Formula Dog Food.
In my experience, Sundays dog food doesn’t go bad easily.
Maybe it’s because Dex devours it faster than he should, or perhaps it’s because of the natural preservatives it uses, but I’ve had no issues with shelf life so far.
The website says the dog food will lose some of its flavor if a re-sealed bag is kept out for over 8 weeks.
Some reviews mention finding mold growing on the kibble. Mold can, of course, be just as dangerous to dogs as it is to humans, causing a host of stomach-related issues.
But there’s an easy fix for this: If you live in a humid area, the brand suggests storing the food in an air-tight container to prolong its shelf life and prevent mold.
I am pleasantly surprised by Sunday’s ingredient list. And though I’ve left you with some nuggets about some of the ingredients earlier in this review, here’s the lowdown, just as I promised.
A Word of Caution: If any of these ingredients don’t sit well with your dog or if your pet is generally prone to allergies, check with a vet before switching to Sundays.
For the most part, the Sundays team has done its best to ensure that its dog food meets safety standards and is made up of ingredients that constitute a dog’s healthy diet.
The chicken variant contains the following: chicken, chicken liver, eggs, millets, oats, pumpkins, kale, ground bone, fish oil, sea salt, flaxseed, parsley, turmeric, chicory root, kelp, mixed tocopherols (preservative), ginger, blueberries, carrots, apples, tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, oranges, cranberries, spinach, beets, tart cherries, strawberries.
That got my mouth watering. So, I can imagine what all those flavors do for Dex.
On the other hand, the beef recipe contains mostly the same, although instead of the chicken, egg, and millet, it contains beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef bone, and quinoa.
A cursory view of the ingredients shows that the founders have attempted to strike a balance between proteins and fat, as well as the vitamins and fibers from fruits and vegetables.
The inclusion of more exotic ingredients, such as shiitake mushrooms, gives the dog food a distinct flavor that Dex seems to appreciate.
I’ve also noticed the lack of low-quality ingredients, fillers, and cheaper alternatives to meat proteins in this list. And that’s comforting when compared to most other brands.
Taking the adage “An Apple a day keeps the vet away” to heart, Sundays For Dogs includes apples in its ingredient list.
Apples are a great source of antioxidants, vitamins, and potassium. They’re also filled with fiber and can help dogs maintain a healthy weight.
Beef is a great source of protein for dogs and is also rich in B vitamins and iron. Protein is crucial for maintaining muscle mass in dogs and keeps their coat healthy. In addition, the omega-3 fatty acids in beef do wonders for their skin and coat.
Sundays For Dogs sources the beef from a local family farm in the Midwest.
This organ meat is not just high in protein but is a great source of iron, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids.
Including organ meat in your pet food is like giving your dog a steak loaded with an additional punch of proteins and vitamins.
Another organ meat that’s rich in several nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and copper that contribute to the health of your pet’s eyes, skin, brain, and joints.
And its rich flavor makes it simply irresistible.
Now who would have a beef with bone? Especially since it is an amazing natural source of bioavailable calcium and phosphorus, which keep your pet’s bones and teeth strong.
And since Sundays is fortified with finely ground beef bones, it sure packs a mighty nutritional punch.
This veritable superfood is loaded with Vitamin C, fiber, folate, potassium, and magnesium, which promote healthy skin and coat and also work wonders for your dog’s digestion and immune system.
These tiny berries are rich in Vitamins C and K and support brain health, heart and gut function, and the immune system in dogs.
They are also high in cancer-fighting antioxidants.
Broccoli is an amazing source of calcium and promotes bone density in dogs.
It is also rich in Vitamins A, B, C, and K, fiber, potassium, and a long list of other essential nutrients that contribute to strengthening your dog’s immune and nervous systems.
Carrots are a rich source of Vitamin A and antioxidants and make for a healthy and safe snack for your pet.
In fact, most dogs love carrots, and their crunchiness satisfies a dog’s innate urge to chew.
Cranberries are chock full of antioxidants and other nutrients like B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and B6, as well as vitamins C and E that offer several health benefits to dogs, including preventing disease and boosting the immune system.
While whole cherries are dangerous for dogs, this stone fruit contains Vitamins A and C and has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can benefit your pet.
An effective prebiotic, dried chicory root offers several health benefits for pets.
It is increasingly being included in several dog foods for its vitamins, minerals, and fiber content.
Also called linseeds, flaxseeds pack a ton of fiber and protein in a small serving.
They are especially high in Linoleic Acid, the omega-6 fatty acid which supports skin hydration and improves healing.
This cruciferous veggie that is a superfood for humans is equally great for dogs. A powerhouse of nutrition, it is loaded with essential vitamins that contribute to improved energy levels and blood, and muscle health.
A warrior veggie, it has cancer-fighting potential.
Among the most densely nutritious plants, Kelp is rich in amino acids that contribute to a strong immune system, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, especially calcium.
It also contains bioactive molecules that combat the harmful effects of stress and balance metabolism.
According to the brand’s website, this weird sounding ingredient, technically called “Mixed Tocopherols,” is just Vitamin E distilled from vegetables, which helps preserve the freshly air-dried meat.
This flagship fruit from the citrus family is loaded with Vitamin C, potassium, fiber, folate, and thiamine that help in boosting a dog’s immune system.
This leafy green vegetable is a diuretic, helping the body flush out fluids, and aiding digestion.
It is primarily used as a spice to enhance the flavor of a meal and is rich in vitamins K, C, and iron.
Pumpkin in dog food sure makes things interesting. This superfood works as a digestive aid for dogs due to its high soluble fiber content and keeps their tummies (and poop) healthy.
Pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber, as well as vitamins A, C, and E, Potassium, iron, riboflavin, and more.
People everywhere have been raving about this superfood, and for good reasons.
As the brand’s website says – “It’s a pseudo-cereal that’s packed with fiber, amino acids, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and loads of vital vitamins and minerals.”
Sunflower Oil is a great source of omega-6 fatty acids that support skin and coat health.
It is among the few plant-based carrier oils that are non-toxic for dogs and contains healthy fats that can help dogs thrive.
Salt is an electrolyte and essential to your dog’s health.
It maintains proper sodium levels in your pet’s blood and keeps its body fluids in check while supporting muscle and nerve function.
A highly absorbable form of natural, organic selenium, this microelement is essential for proper metabolism.
It helps keep your pet healthy, reduces cancer risk, and boosts longevity.
Loaded with nutrients like selenium, Shiitake mushrooms are also high in Vitamin B5 and Copper and help in boosting your pet’s immune system making it less vulnerable to diseases.
This powerful leafy green contains high amounts of Vitamins A, B, C, and K, in addition to antioxidants, beta-carotene, and iron.
It also contains a high amount of roughage which helps stimulate your dog’s digestive tract.
Loaded with antioxidants like Vitamin C as well as Vitamin B1, B6, and K in addition to potassium, magnesium, iodine, and folic acid, this summer fruit is great for your dog’s skin and coat.
Tomatoes are high in lycopene and other nutrients, from vitamins A, B6, C, and K to potassium, manganese, and phosphorus.
They are beneficial for dogs especially since they’re also low in calories and high in fiber.
Wild Salmon Oil is a natural source of a trio of fatty acids, namely omega-3, 6, and 9. These fatty acids form a protective layer that moisturizes your dog’s skin, but that’s not all.
They also contribute to a healthier skin and coat, improve heart health, and enhance brain power, immunity, and movement.
Zucchini is an excellent source of antioxidants, potassium, vitamins A, C, B6, and K, and magnesium, all of which benefit your pet’s skin, coat, vision, and metabolism.
They also aid in the growth of bones and cartilage and enhance blood clotting.
As mentioned earlier, Sundays offers two recipes for its kibble. The choice doesn’t simply depend on your dog’s tastes, however. They both suit different nutritious requirements as well. Here’s some information that helped me pick between the two:
The Sundays website has a calculator that determines the right portion of food for your pet.
The information it asks ranges from how big your dog is, to how active it is, to whether it has any dietary restrictions. Using this information, it recommends a recipe, an appropriate serving size, and how many boxes you should order in what frequency.
I tried it for Dex, and it recommended that I feed a dog of his size (20 lbs) one box of the chicken recipe every 2-3 weeks.
I’ve noticed, and a few other Sundays Dogs food reviews have pointed this out as well – the kibble is very dense and should be served in smaller serving sizes than other dry foods.
Due to the high average cost, I’d say this kibble is ideal for a treat on – you guessed it – Sundays or as a nutritious meal for dogs recovering from illness or injuries, are under or overweight, or dealing with various stomach-related issues.
As Dex completes his first box of Sundays for Dogs, I must admit I’ve been impressed with the entire process – from the ordering and delivery to the product packaging.
Overall, Sundays for Dogs offers a premium, high-quality pet food option that goes above and beyond in terms of ingredients and health benefits. With its use of top-quality, 100% human-grade ingredients and recipes that cater to your pet’s individual requirements, Sundays for Dogs sets the bar high in the pet food industry.
The smell isn’t overpowering even though 90% of the contents are meat, including organs and liver. And its texture is perfect either as a treat or a regular meal.
Plus, the focus on transparency, sustainability, and overall health benefits makes Sundays a trustworthy brand that genuinely cares about your pet’s well-being.
While their prices may be slightly higher than other pet food brands, the quality and overall benefits make it worth the investment.
So whether you have a small, medium, or large breed of dog – and if you can afford it – we would say Sundays is well worth the investment, especially if you’re looking for a premium dog food brand that your pet will love and thrive on.
Meet Paul, a devoted dog dad to the delightful French Bulldog, Cofi. With a flair for humor and a deep understanding of Frenchie quirks, Paul brings a lighthearted touch to his writings. His relatable stories and practical insights are a blend of laughter and valuable advice and resonate with fellow dog owners.
Through his words, Paul aims to celebrate the joys and challenges of being a dedicated pet parent, reminding you that life is simply better with a four-legged, snorting sidekick by your side.