Verdict: ZIWI Peak air-dried wins for small and medium dogs, picky eaters, and owners who want a 96% meat, organ, bone and seafood diet without handling frozen raw ā a 10 kg dog eats only about 120 g per day because the food runs roughly 4,500ā4,800 kcal/kg. Premium dry kibble like Orijen or Acana dry dog food wins for large dogs and multi-dog households, where daily grams (and therefore daily cost) scale up fast. The single biggest deciding factor is your dog's body weight: past roughly 25 kg, most owners we serve use air-dried dog food as a topper rather than a full meal.
| Feature | ZIWI Peak Air-Dried | Premium Dry Kibble (Orijen / Acana) |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Dogs under ~25 kg, picky eaters, sensitive tummies, raw-curious owners | Large and giant breeds, multi-dog homes, high-volume feeders |
| Protein source | Single-protein New Zealand lamb, beef, venison, mackerel or free-range chicken, plus green-lipped mussel | Multi-protein fresh and raw regional meats, poultry meals and fish meals |
| Crude protein (guaranteed analysis) | Typically 38% min | Typically 31ā38% min |
| Crude fat | Around 30ā32% min | Around 15ā20% min |
| Energy density | Roughly 4,500ā4,800 kcal/kg (about 550ā600 kcal per level cup at ~125 g) | Roughly 3,900ā4,100 kcal/kg (about 440ā470 kcal per cup at ~110 g) |
| Daily amount, 20 kg adult dog | About 205 g | About 260ā300 g |
| Moisture | 14% max (gently air-dried, shelf stable) | 10ā12% max (extruded, shelf stable) |
| Carbohydrate content | Essentially none added; no grains, potatoes or legumes | Fruit, legume or oat-based carbs, typically 20ā30% |
| Price tier | $$$$ | $$ |
| Available at Ashario | Shop ZIWI air-dried | Shop premium dry dog food |
Where ZIWI Peak air-dried wins
ZIWI Peak's advantage is nutrient density in a small volume: at roughly 38% crude protein, 30ā32% fat and 14% maximum moisture, a level cup delivers about 550ā600 kcal ā roughly 25ā30% more energy per cup than a premium grain-free kibble. That means smaller stools, smaller portions and no thawing.
The recipes are built on 96% meat, organs, bone and New Zealand seafood, including 3% green-lipped mussel, a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids. Air-drying uses low, sustained heat rather than the high-temperature extrusion that shapes kibble, so the finished food keeps a soft, jerky-like texture. In our store we see that texture matter most with two groups: dogs recovering from dental extractions who can't crunch, and small-breed dogs who have quietly refused three different bags of kibble.
Our nutrition team also points owners here when a single-protein diet is the goal. Because each ZIWI recipe centres on one primary animal protein with no grains, potatoes or legumes, it works as a clean baseline during a veterinarian-guided elimination trial. The American Veterinary Medical Association and board-certified veterinary nutritionists both stress that a true diet trial needs 8ā12 weeks with no other protein sources sneaking in ā treats included.
How much air-dried food should I feed my dog?
Most adult dogs eat roughly 1ā2% of body weight daily in air-dried food, which is far less than the 2ā3% used for frozen raw because moisture has been removed. A 10 kg dog needs about 120 g per day; a 20 kg dog about 205 g. Split into two meals and adjust to body condition.
Where premium dry kibble wins
Kibble wins on cost per calorie and on daily volume for big dogs. A 30 kg Labrador needs roughly 280 g of air-dried food per day versus about 380ā420 g of a 3,950 kcal/kg kibble ā but because kibble sells in 11.4 kg bags while air-dried comes in 1 kg and 4 kg sizes, the feeding-days math swings hard in kibble's favour.
Run the arithmetic yourself instead of guessing. Divide bag weight in grams by daily grams: a 4 kg bag of air-dried at 280 g/day lasts about 14 days, while an 11.4 kg bag of kibble at 400 g/day lasts about 28 days. That day count, multiplied by whatever you paid, is your real cost per day ā and it's the number our staff walk owners through at the counter when they're comparing formats. We ask for the dog's weight, then write the grams-per-day figure on the bag with a marker so nobody guesses at home.
Kibble also has the deeper bench for specific needs: large-breed puppy formulas with controlled calcium (AAFCO caps calcium at 1.8% dry matter for large-breed growth), senior recipes with added glucosamine, and veterinary-directed therapeutic diets. Both AAFCO nutrient profiles and the 2026 model-regulation updates require every complete diet to state a life-stage statement on the label, and kibble simply covers more of those life stages in more sizes. Dental texture is a secondary plus ā kibble's abrasion doesn't replace brushing, but crunchy food plus dental dog treats is a reasonable daily routine.
ZIWI Peak feeding amounts by body weight (grams per day)
These are starting points for a healthy, moderately active adult dog eating ZIWI Peak air-dried as a complete diet. Always confirm against the chart printed on your specific bag, since kcal/kg varies slightly between recipes.
- 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) ā about 40 g per day (roughly 1/3 cup)
- 5 kg (11 lb) ā about 70 g per day
- 10 kg (22 lb) ā about 120 g per day (just under 1 cup)
- 15 kg (33 lb) ā about 165 g per day
- 20 kg (44 lb) ā about 205 g per day
- 30 kg (66 lb) ā about 280 g per day
- 40 kg (88 lb) ā about 345 g per day
Two adjustments matter. Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs need roughly 1.5ā2Ć the adult amount, fed in three or four meals; AAFCO sets the growth minimum at 22.5% protein on a dry-matter basis, and air-dried recipes clear that comfortably. Seniors and dogs who sleep through a Toronto January instead of running the trails at Downsview Park often need 10ā20% less. Weigh portions on a kitchen scale for the first two weeks ā a "cup" scooped loosely versus packed can differ by 30 g, which is 140 kcal of error for a small dog.
Transitioning takes 7ā10 days. Replace about 25% of the current food every two to three days. Pet owners tell us the most common mistake is keeping the old portion size and adding air-dried on top; because the new food is denser, you swap by calories, not by volume. If you'd rather use it as a topper, 20ā25% of daily calories from air-dried over a base of raw dog food or kibble is a practical middle ground.
Which should you pick?
Match the format to your dog's size and your household's routine. Three situations cover most of the conversations we have on the shop floor.
Scenario 1 ā an 8 kg terrier mix who turns her nose up at every bag. Air-dried wins. At 120 g or less per day, a 1 kg bag lasts well over a week, and the meaty aroma does the persuading. This is the single most common reason customers come in asking about ZIWI by name.
Scenario 2 ā two 32 kg retrievers in a condo. Premium kibble wins as the base. Feeding both dogs fully on air-dried means roughly 560 g daily between them. Use a quality kibble from our dog food collection and reserve air-dried for training rewards or a topper on slow-appetite days.
Scenario 3 ā a 14 kg dog mid-elimination trial for suspected food sensitivity. Air-dried wins, specifically a single-protein recipe your dog has never eaten. When a customer comes in with a vet-recommended novel-protein plan, we typically suggest one air-dried protein plus matching single-ingredient treats so nothing contaminates the trial.
Key takeaway: ZIWI Peak air-dried runs about 4,500ā4,800 kcal/kg, so a 10 kg dog eats roughly 120 g daily and a 20 kg dog about 205 g ā far less volume than kibble, at a higher price per kilogram. Under about 25 kg of body weight, air-dried is a realistic complete diet; above that, most owners get better value using it as a 20ā25% topper over premium kibble.
Shop the Brands Mentioned in This Article
Find ZIWI, Orijen, and other premium pet supplies in-store or Browse air-dried dog food online ā.
Questions pet owners ask us about air-dried feeding
How many calories are in a cup of ZIWI Peak air-dried dog food?
A level cup of ZIWI Peak air-dried weighs roughly 120ā130 g and supplies about 550ā600 kcal, depending on the recipe. That's nearly a third more energy per cup than most premium grain-free kibble at 440ā470 kcal. Check the guaranteed analysis panel on your bag for the exact kcal/kg figure.
Is air-dried dog food better than kibble?
Neither format is universally better. Air-dried offers higher protein (around 38%) and fat with almost no added carbohydrate, while kibble delivers complete, AAFCO-compliant nutrition at a much lower cost per calorie and in more life-stage formulations. Both must meet the same nutrient profiles to be labelled complete and balanced.
Do I need to add water to air-dried dog food?
No ā air-dried food is ready to serve straight from the bag, unlike freeze-dried raw, which is usually rehydrated. Many owners still add a splash of warm water or bone broth to boost aroma and daily fluid intake, which our team suggests for dogs who drink very little. Keep fresh water available regardless.
How do I work out my cost per day on air-dried food?
Divide the bag weight in grams by your dog's daily grams to get feeding days, then divide what you paid by that number. A 4 kg bag fed at 200 g per day lasts 20 days; the same bag fed at 400 g lasts 10. Our price match guarantee applies once you've picked a format.
You'll find us at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York, ON M3J 2P7 (open 7 AM to 11 PM daily); most GTA addresses can get same-day delivery through SkipTheDishes or a similar app.
Feeding charts are starting points, not prescriptions. Weight loss, weight gain, chronic conditions and medication changes all shift a dog's calorie needs, so review portions with your veterinarian ā the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association can help you locate a practice near you. For more on matching diets to specific requirements, see our notes on pet food for specific needs and our broader dog wellness guidance, or read more format comparisons on the dog blog.
