Verdict: For most owners, ZIWI Peak air-dried is the line that makes sense as a complete daily diet — it's shelf-stable, needs no freezer, and delivers roughly 4,500–4,700 kcal per kg, so a 20 kg dog eats only about 230 g a day. Choose the cans if your dog needs moisture or has poor teeth, and choose Provenance if you want multi-protein recipes with added superfoods for a dog that does better on rotation. The single biggest deciding factor is calorie density: that one number decides how much you buy per month and whether the line is realistic as a full diet or better as a topper. You can see the whole range in our air-dried dog food collection.
| Feature | ZIWI Peak Air-Dried | ZIWI Peak Canned | ZIWI Provenance Air-Dried |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Complete daily feeding without a freezer | Moisture support, dental limitations, toppers | Rotation feeders and picky dogs wanting multi-protein |
| Protein source | Single or paired NZ proteins (lamb, beef, venison, mackerel, tripe, chicken) | Same protein families in a 78%-moisture loaf | Three or more regional proteins per recipe plus superfoods |
| Typical protein (as fed) | ~36–40% | ~9–10% (about 43–45% dry matter) | ~38–40% |
| Energy density | ~4,500–4,700 kcal/kg | ~1,100 kcal/kg (~430 kcal per 390 g can) | ~4,500–4,800 kcal/kg |
| Daily amount, 20 kg dog | ~230 g | ~2.4 cans of 390 g | ~225 g |
| Storage | Pantry; reseal the bag | Pantry sealed, fridge 48–72 h once opened | Pantry; reseal the bag |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Available at Ashario | Shop air-dried dog food | Shop wet dog food | Browse ZIWI in dog food |
Where ZIWI Peak air-dried wins
ZIWI Peak air-dried is the most practical of the three lines because it packs roughly 4,500–4,700 kcal per kilogram into a shelf-stable form, meaning a 20 kg dog's entire daily ration fits in about one cup. No thawing, no freezer space, no 48-hour fridge window. That's the whole pitch, and for condo owners it's a real one.
The recipes are built on meat, organs, bone and New Zealand green-lipped mussel, with no grains, no potato and no pea protein padding the guaranteed analysis. Green-lipped mussel is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin plus omega-3 fatty acids, which is why we often point owners of older large-breed dogs toward it when they're already juggling joint supplements. Fat content typically sits near 28–32% as fed, so this is a calorie-dense food — overfeeding by even a quarter cup a day adds up fast on a 10 kg dog.
Air-drying uses low, steady heat rather than high-pressure extrusion, which keeps the texture soft and tearable. Pet owners tell us their dogs treat it like a treat, which makes it genuinely useful for training or for tempting a dog off a plateau. We've watched customers break 10 g pieces off a slab in the shop parking lot on the way to Earl Bales Park and get better recall than they ever did with a biscuit.
What the feeding chart looks like by body weight
Adult maintenance amounts for air-dried land near 1.1–1.6% of body weight daily, trending higher for small dogs and lower for giant breeds. Approximate starting points, assuming a moderately active neutered adult:
- 5 kg dog — about 80–90 g/day (roughly 2.5 kg per month)
- 10 kg dog — about 135–150 g/day (roughly 4.2 kg per month)
- 20 kg dog — about 225–245 g/day (roughly 7 kg per month)
- 30 kg dog — about 300–320 g/day (roughly 9.3 kg per month)
- 40 kg dog — about 370–400 g/day (roughly 11.5 kg per month)
Always cross-check against the chart printed on the bag you buy, since kcal values vary a little by recipe. Puppies, pregnant dogs and hard-working dogs need considerably more — a growing pup can need double the adult amount per kilogram of body weight, which is where life-stage formulation and AAFCO nutrient profiles matter. AAFCO republishes its dog and cat nutrient profiles each year in its Official Publication, and the 2026 edition remains the reference Canadian retailers and manufacturers point back to for minimums like 18% protein for adult maintenance and 22.5% for growth, on a dry-matter basis.
Where ZIWI Peak canned wins
The canned line wins on moisture and palatability. At roughly 78% moisture, a 390 g can delivers around 300 mL of water alongside about 430 kcal — valuable for dogs with a history of urinary issues, dogs who simply don't drink enough, and seniors with missing teeth who can't manage firmer textures.
Dry-matter protein in the cans runs in the mid-40s, which is actually higher than the air-dried line once you strip the water out. Fiber content stays low (typically around 2%), and the brand states its cans are made without gums or carrageenan, so the loaf breaks apart with a fork rather than holding its shape like jelly. That texture matters more than people expect: in our store we see owners switch to cans specifically because a dog with early dental disease stopped chewing anything firmer.
The catch is volume. To feed a 20 kg dog on cans alone, you'd need about 2.4 of the 390 g cans every day — roughly 72 to 75 cans a month, which is a lot of shelving and a lot of recycling. That's why most owners use the cans the way we recommend them: as a 20% topper. For that same 20 kg dog, 20% of daily calories is about 210 kcal, or half a 390 g can per day, which works out to around 15 cans a month. You can pair that with the air-dried line or layer it over an existing kibble, and you'll find the full range in our wet dog food selection.
Where ZIWI Provenance wins
Provenance is the rotation-feeder's line. Each recipe combines three or more regionally sourced New Zealand proteins — think beef, lamb and mackerel, or lamb, beef, venison and chicken — alongside nine whole-food additions including green-lipped mussel, kelp and chicory root, a natural source of prebiotic inulin that supports gut bacteria.
Protein typically sits around 38–40% as fed with fat in a similar band to Peak, so the macros aren't dramatically different. What changes is ingredient breadth. A dog eating one protein for three years straight gets a narrower amino acid and micronutrient exposure than a dog rotating across recipes, and multi-protein blends make rotation easier for owners who don't want to track four different bags. Our nutrition experts at the North York store usually suggest Provenance for dogs who get bored of a single flavour within a few weeks — the owners who tell us "he loved it for a month and then stopped."
Provenance sits at the top of ZIWI's pricing ladder, so it's the least likely of the three to be a full-time diet for a 35 kg dog. For dogs under about 12 kg, though, the monthly volume is modest enough — roughly 4.5 to 5 kg a month at 12 kg body weight — that the step up is manageable. One caution: if your dog has a diagnosed protein sensitivity, a multi-protein formula is the wrong direction. A limited ingredient, single-protein air-dried recipe is the safer starting point, and your veterinarian should guide any true elimination trial.
How much food you'll actually go through in a month
We don't publish prices because they move, but you can calculate your own monthly cost in under a minute using the consumption figures above: take the daily grams, multiply by 30, divide by the bag size in grams, and multiply by the current shelf price. A 20 kg dog on air-dried runs through roughly 7 kg per month; a 10 kg dog about 4.2 kg; a 5 kg dog about 2.5 kg.
Three things change that math in your favour. First, topper feeding: using air-dried or canned ZIWI as 20–25% of calories over a dry base cuts your monthly ZIWI volume to a quarter of the full-feed figure. Second, buying the largest bag format your dog will finish within six to eight weeks of opening, since resealed air-dried food is best used inside that window. Third, our price match guarantee, which applies to the premium lines we stock.
One honest caveat on calorie math: body condition score beats any chart. The American Veterinary Medical Association and most Canadian clinics use a 9-point scale, with 4–5 as ideal. Weigh your dog monthly, feel for ribs under a thin fat layer, and adjust by 10% increments rather than guessing.
Which should you pick?
Match the line to your storage, your dog's teeth, and whether you're feeding a full diet or a topper. Three common situations we see across the counter:
- The condo owner with a 9 kg terrier and no freezer room. ZIWI Peak air-dried, single protein, about 135 g a day. It stores in a cupboard, it travels, and 4.2 kg a month is a volume most people can absorb. Best fit: air-dried.
- The 13-year-old Lab mix with four extractions and a shrinking appetite. Canned, warmed slightly, either as the full diet or over a softened base. The 78% moisture also helps a senior who's quietly drinking less in winter when the building heat runs dry. Best fit: canned.
- The 11 kg spaniel who gets bored of every food by week five. Provenance, rotating between the regional recipes every bag. The multi-protein build plus kelp and chicory inulin keeps interest up without a hard transition each time. Best fit: Provenance.
Whichever you choose, transition over 7 to 10 days — 25% new food for three days, then 50%, then 75%. Air-dried is rich, and dogs coming off a 10% fat kibble sometimes loosen up if you switch overnight. If digestive upset lasts beyond a few days, stop and call your veterinarian rather than pushing through. For broader feeding guidance, our dog wellness resources and the dog blog cover transitions, supplements and portioning in more depth.
Key takeaway: ZIWI Peak air-dried is the most practical full diet at roughly 4,600 kcal/kg — about 230 g a day for a 20 kg dog, or 7 kg a month. The cans deliver more moisture and higher dry-matter protein but need about 2.4 cans daily for that same dog, which makes them better as a 20% topper. Provenance adds multi-protein rotation and superfoods at the top of the range, best suited to smaller dogs or dogs who tire of single-protein recipes.
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.
Shop the Brands Mentioned in This Article
Find ZIWI, Open Farm, and other premium pet supplies in-store or Browse air-dried dog food online →.
Questions dog owners ask about ZIWI
What's the real difference between ZIWI Peak and ZIWI Provenance?
ZIWI Peak recipes are built around one or two New Zealand proteins, while Provenance combines three or more regional proteins plus nine whole-food additions such as kelp, chicory inulin and green-lipped mussel. Protein content is similar — roughly 36–40% as fed for both. Provenance sits at a higher price tier and suits rotation feeders better.
How much ZIWI Peak air-dried should I feed my dog per day?
Adult maintenance typically falls between 1.1% and 1.6% of body weight daily. That's roughly 85 g for a 5 kg dog, 140 g for a 10 kg dog, 230 g for a 20 kg dog, and 310 g for a 30 kg dog. Puppies and working dogs need substantially more — always verify against the chart on your bag.
Can I mix ZIWI canned and air-dried in the same bowl?
Yes. Both lines are formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for their stated life stage, so combining them is straightforward — just split the calories rather than feeding full portions of each. A common split for a 20 kg dog is 180 g air-dried plus half a 390 g can, totalling roughly 1,050 kcal per day.
Is air-dried dog food more expensive per month than kibble?
Per kilogram, yes — but you feed far less of it. Air-dried runs about 4,600 kcal/kg versus 3,500–4,000 kcal/kg for most premium kibble, and the serving size is a fraction of a kibble portion. Calculate cost per 1,000 kcal rather than cost per bag to compare fairly, or feed air-dried as a 25% topper to split the difference.
Still deciding? Our team compares guaranteed analysis panels with customers daily — bring your current bag in, or contact our store team with your dog's weight and age. You can also explore food matched to specific dietary needs or browse dog treats that pair well with an air-dried diet. For medical questions — allergies, pancreatitis history, kidney values — talk to your veterinarian first; resources from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association are a good starting point for finding a clinic near you.
