Big Country Raw vs Instinct Raw vs Stella and Chewy's: Best Raw Dog Food in Canada 2026 Compared

Raw dog food in Canada is no longer a niche choice — it's a mainstream feeding philosophy backed by thousands of devoted pet owners. But with so many formats, protein sources, and price points on the market, choosing between Big Country Raw, Instinct Raw, and Stella & Chewy's can feel overwhelming. Our team at Ashario Pets in North York fields this exact question every week, and this guide breaks down all three brands side by side so you can shop with confidence. If you're ready to get started, browse our raw dog food collection while you read.

Each of these brands represents a distinct approach to raw nutrition: Big Country Raw is a Canadian frozen raw pioneer, Instinct Raw bridges kibble and raw in convenient formats, and Stella & Chewy's leads with freeze-dried and freeze-dried raw meals. Understanding the differences in protein content, fat content, guaranteed analysis, and life-stage formulation will help you match the right product to your dog's actual needs. As of 2026, all three brands are available in-store and for same-day delivery at Ashario Pets, located at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York, ON.

Key Takeaway: Big Country Raw is the top choice for owners committed to frozen raw feeding, Instinct Raw excels as a transitional or topper option, and Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried raw meals are ideal for convenience-first households. All three meet or exceed AAFCO nutritional standards for complete and balanced adult dog diets.

What Makes a High-Quality Raw Dog Food? The Nutritional Benchmarks That Matter

A quality raw dog food must meet AAFCO minimum standards: at least 18% crude protein and 5% crude fat for adult maintenance, and 22% protein and 8% fat for puppies and pregnant or nursing females. Most premium raw brands exceed these thresholds significantly. When our nutrition experts at the North York store evaluate raw products, we look at the guaranteed analysis, ingredient sourcing, protein diversity, and whether the formula supports specific life stages or breed needs.

Technical markers worth checking on any raw food label include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid ratios, taurine levels (especially in grain-free formulas), glucosamine content for joint support, and whether probiotics or prebiotics are added for digestive health. According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), raw diets can be nutritionally appropriate when properly balanced, but owners should always consult their veterinarian before switching — particularly for immunocompromised dogs or puppies under 12 weeks.

Big Country Raw: Canada's Frozen Raw Benchmark

Big Country Raw is a Canadian-made frozen raw dog food brand that sources its proteins from Canadian and New Zealand farms, offering some of the highest crude protein percentages in the raw category. Their Chicken Blend, for example, delivers approximately 14% crude protein and 9% crude fat as fed — translating to roughly 70% protein and 22% fat on a dry matter basis, well above AAFCO adult maintenance minimums.

Big Country Raw offers single-protein proteins (chicken, turkey, duck, beef, bison, lamb, pork, rabbit, venison), which makes them an excellent choice for dogs with food sensitivities requiring a limited ingredient approach. Their Dinner Blends include ground bone, organ meat, and muscle meat — typically an 80/10/10 ratio (80% muscle meat, 10% organ, 10% bone), which mirrors the prey model raw (PMR) feeding philosophy. Patties are available in 1 lb, 2 lb, and 4 lb formats, making portioning straightforward for most dog sizes.

Pet owners tell us that Big Country Raw is often their go-to when transitioning dogs with digestive sensitivities, because the clean ingredient list makes it easy to isolate reactions. For a detailed side-by-side of Big Country Raw against another Canadian frozen raw brand, read our post on Big Country Raw vs Raw Performance Dog Food Canada 2026.

Instinct Raw: The Hybrid Raw Option for Transitioning Dogs

Instinct Raw is an American brand that specializes in raw-coated kibble, raw bites, frozen raw patties, and freeze-dried raw toppers — making it one of the most versatile raw-adjacent brands available in Canada. Instinct's frozen raw patties contain roughly 35% crude protein and 22% crude fat on a dry matter basis, with cage-free chicken or grass-fed beef as the primary protein source.

One of Instinct Raw's defining features is its inclusion of probiotics in many formulas — a meaningful benefit for dogs whose digestive systems need support during a raw transition. Their Instinct Raw Boost kibble line combines high-protein dry kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces, offering approximately 37% protein and 18% fat, which suits active adult dogs and working breeds that need higher kcal density. The brand also carries a Raw Longevity line formulated specifically for senior dogs, with adjusted fat content and added glucosamine to support aging joints.

In our store, customers who are new to raw feeding often start with Instinct Raw Boost or frozen raw patties as a gentler entry point before moving to a fully frozen raw diet. It's an excellent topper over dry dog food for owners who aren't ready to commit to 100% raw feeding.

Stella & Chewy's: Freeze-Dried Raw Convenience Without Compromise

Stella & Chewy's has built a strong reputation in Canada for its freeze-dried raw meals and meal mixers, which offer the nutritional profile of raw food in a shelf-stable, no-thaw format. Their Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties deliver approximately 42% crude protein and 32% crude fat on a dry matter basis — among the highest in the raw category — while containing no artificial preservatives, fillers, or rendered by-products.

The freeze-drying process preserves heat-sensitive nutrients, enzymes, and amino acids that are often degraded in conventional cooking. Stella & Chewy's sources cage-free poultry, grass-fed red meats, and wild-caught fish, and the formulas include omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, probiotics for gut health, and certified organic fruits and vegetables. Their Perfectly Puppy patties are AAFCO-compliant for growth and reproduction, containing 43% protein and 30% fat on a dry matter basis — appropriate for high-energy puppies needing dense nutrition.

Our team at Ashario Pets recommends Stella & Chewy's as the top pick for urban pet owners who lack freezer space or frequently travel. Rehydrating a patty takes under two minutes — a significant practical advantage over frozen raw. Explore our freeze-dried dog food collection to see the full Stella & Chewy's lineup available at our North York location.

Big Country Raw vs Instinct Raw vs Stella & Chewy's: Head-to-Head Comparison

Here is how these three brands stack up across the criteria that matter most to Canadian raw feeders, based on verified guaranteed analysis data and our in-store product knowledge as of 2026.

• Big Country Raw (Chicken Dinner Blend, Frozen)
  • Format: Frozen raw patties / rolls / chubs
  • Crude Protein (dry matter): ~70%
  • Crude Fat (dry matter): ~22%
  • Key Features: Canadian-sourced, 80/10/10 PMR ratio, single-protein options, grain-free, limited ingredient
  • Best For: Committed raw feeders, sensitive dogs, dogs needing high protein with clean ingredients
  • Requires: Freezer space, daily thawing
• Instinct Raw (Frozen Raw Patties, Chicken)
  • Format: Frozen patties, freeze-dried bites, raw-coated kibble
  • Crude Protein (dry matter): ~35–37%
  • Crude Fat (dry matter): ~18–22%
  • Key Features: Added probiotics, life-stage formulations, hybrid formats, Raw Longevity for seniors
  • Best For: Dogs transitioning to raw, owners wanting raw-kibble hybrid, senior dogs
  • Requires: Freezer space (for frozen) or pantry space (for freeze-dried bites/kibble)
• Stella & Chewy's (Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties, Chicken)
  • Format: Freeze-dried patties, meal mixers, meal toppers
  • Crude Protein (dry matter): ~42–43%
  • Crude Fat (dry matter): ~30–32%
  • Key Features: Shelf-stable, no thawing required, organic produce, omega-3 fish oil, probiotics
  • Best For: Urban owners, travelers, owners without freezer space, high-protein seekers
  • Requires: Pantry space, water for rehydration

For a broader look at how these brands compare against the wider raw dog food market in Canada, see our comprehensive guide on Best Raw Dog Food Brands in Canada 2026.

Which Raw Dog Food Brand Is Right for Your Dog in 2026?

The right brand depends on your dog's life stage, your lifestyle, and your storage capacity. Active adult dogs eating 2–3% of their body weight daily will thrive on any of the three, but the practical trade-offs differ significantly. A 50 lb dog needs roughly 1–1.5 lbs of raw food per day — that's about 30–45 lbs of frozen raw per month, which demands meaningful freezer space if you choose Big Country Raw exclusively.

When a customer comes in asking about switching from kibble to raw, we typically suggest starting with Instinct Raw Boost or Stella & Chewy's meal mixers at about 10–20% of the daily diet for the first two weeks, then gradually increasing. This supports the microbiome transition and minimizes loose stools. Customers with dogs already adapted to raw often graduate to Big Country Raw or Stella & Chewy's Dinner Patties as their primary meal. For dogs with suspected food allergies, we lean toward Big Country Raw's single-protein options — a single protein source with fewer than five ingredients makes elimination trials far more reliable. Check out the full range of dog health and wellness products at Ashario Pets to complement any raw diet with digestive support supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions: Raw Dog Food Brands Canada 2026

Is Big Country Raw available in Toronto and North York in 2026?

Yes. Big Country Raw is available in-store and for same-day delivery at Ashario Pets, located at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York, ON M3J 2P7, open 7 AM to 11 PM daily. The store carries Dinner Blends, single-protein patties, organ meat, and bone broth formats. Delivery is available via Uber Eats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes, Instacart, and Fantuan for customers across the Greater Toronto Area who need frozen raw delivered directly to their door.

How does Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried raw compare to fresh frozen raw nutritionally?

Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried raw delivers approximately 42% crude protein on a dry matter basis, which is comparable to or exceeds many frozen raw options after moisture adjustment. The freeze-drying process removes water without heat, preserving enzymes, amino acids, and heat-sensitive nutrients. The primary trade-off versus fresh frozen raw like Big Country Raw is cost-per-serving — freeze-dried tends to cost more per kilogram than frozen — but the shelf stability and convenience offset this for many urban pet owners.

Which raw dog food is best for a dog with allergies or food sensitivities?

For dogs with food sensitivities, Big Country Raw's single-protein limited ingredient formulas are the strongest starting point. Each protein variety contains just one meat source — chicken, duck, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, pork, rabbit, or venison — with ground bone and organ. This makes it straightforward to run a proper elimination diet. Always consult your veterinarian before starting an elimination trial. The American Kennel Club recommends working with a vet or veterinary dermatologist to confirm food allergy diagnoses before committing to a long-term limited ingredient diet.

How do I transition my dog to raw food safely?

A safe raw transition takes 10–14 days minimum. Start by replacing 10–20% of your dog's current food with raw, and increase by 10% every two to three days while monitoring stool consistency. Loose stools during the first week are common and typically resolve as the gut microbiome adjusts. Adding a probiotic supplement — available in our dog health and wellness collection — can ease the transition. Dogs with pre-existing health conditions should only switch diets under veterinary supervision.

Does Ashario Pets price match raw dog food brands like Big Country Raw, Instinct Raw, or Stella & Chewy's?

Yes. Ashario Pets offers a price match guarantee on qualifying products. If you find a lower advertised price on the same product at a competing retailer, bring it to our team's attention in-store or contact us through our North York store contact page. Full details are available on our price match guarantee page. Our goal is to make premium raw nutrition accessible to every dog owner in the GTA without requiring you to compromise on quality.