VICTOR Dog Food: A K9 of Mine Review

VICTOR is a small Texas-based manufacturer, who makes premium dog food, including grain-free and grain-inclusive kibbles, as well as canned options. 

But the question is: Is it right for your dog? 

We’ll help you decide, as we dig into VICTOR’s history and manufacturing principles, examine their formulas, and analyze a few recipes below. 

Just looking for some fast recommendations? Check out these great VICTOR options! 

Quick Picks: Our Favorites from VICTOR Dog Food

• #1 VICTOR Hi-Pro Plus [Best Overall]: A protein-rich recipe containing a mixture of tasty meats including beef, pork, fish, and chicken for maximum palatability.
• #2 VICTOR Yukon River Canine [Best Grain-free Kibble]: A fish-focused, all-life-stages recipe made with salmon and sweet potatoes.
• #3 VICTOR Purpose Active Dog & Puppy [Best for Puppies]: A high-protein, grain-free kibble containing the vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids a growing puppy needs for healthy development.
• #4 VICTOR Chicken & Rice Pate [Best Canned]: A wet food option made with hearty grains and real meat–including nutrient-dense liver.

VICTOR History & Background

VICTOR got its start back in the 1940s, but the brand has been owned by Mid America Pet Food since 2007.

The brand’s slogan is “Always By Your Side” — a nod to our fur kids’ loyalty and the company’s commitment to producing premium pet nutrition and remaining by your side throughout your dog’s life. 

The brand produces all of their food at their own Mount Pleasant, Texas facility and primarily utilizes ingredients sourced from within a day’s drive.

All VICTOR recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO standards and reviewed by nutritionists (both internal and external) to ensure well-rounded nutrition. All VICTOR formulas are either entirely grain-free or simply made with gluten-free grains.

Owners love VICTOR’s protein-rich recipes and made-in-the-USA status, while dogs enjoy their flavor-forward mixed protein kibbles.

VICTOR Recall History

As of February 2022, VICTOR hasn’t had any dog food recalls, according to the FDA and AVMA sites.

We don’t necessarily think that the occasional recall is always a deal-breaker (plenty of human food brands we all know and love initiate recalls all the time), but it is certainly a pretty impressive accomplishment, given the brand’s long history.

VICTOR proudly notes that they’ve earned the SQF Code of Manufacturing 8.0, the SQF Quality Code 8.0, and the FSC 36 Safe Feed/Safe Food distinctions. They test all ingredients internally and externally to ensure the utmost quality and continuously test finished products for quality and safety.

VICTOR Formula & Recipes: Options for Your Dog

VICTOR has three primary “product lines” or dry food formulas, one premium formula, and several canned food options. 

All VICTOR kibbles contain the brand’s patented VPRO ingredient blend of selenium yeast, mineral complexes, prebiotics, and probiotics to promote digestion and provide immune system support. 

We’ll dive into VICTOR’s formulas and several key recipes below. 

1. VICTOR Classic

Classic is VICTOR’s line of grain-inclusive formulas for active dogs that includes 5 recipes. 

Each VICTOR Classic recipe is high in protein and features multiple meat meals for maximum flavor and nutrition. Mixed protein recipes are excellent for palatability, though they can be a problem for dogs with food allergies. 

VICTOR Classic recipes feature labeled meat meals as opposed to whole meats. While meat meal doesn’t sound as appetizing to us humans as deboned meats, it’s denser in protein than whole meat, as it contains less water. 

That said, meat meals are often used in place of whole meats for cost-saving purposes rather than for quality’s sake. We’d prefer to see a whole protein at the top of an ingredient list, but meat meals aren’t necessarily a bad inclusion.

Meat meal is the top ingredient for all VICTOR Classic recipes except for Multi-Pro, which features grain sorghum first. While this grain is a good energy source, we’d rather see a protein such as labeled meat meal or deboned meat at the top of its ingredient list. 

After labeled meat meals, the recipes contain grains, including grain sorghum, whole grain millet, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. These gluten-free grains are tolerated by most dogs and provide lasting energy and fiber for digestion. There isn’t anything really to complain about here, as they’re quality sources without any murkiness.

VICTOR Classic recipes also feature chicken fat for omega fatty acids and flavor. It might sound gross to us, but it’s actually a quality ingredient and won’t elicit an allergic response in dogs with chicken allergies, as it contains no chicken protein (proteins are what  triggers allergic reactions.)

As with all VICTOR dry dog foods, Classic recipes contain a blend of prebiotics and probiotics for optimal digestion. These can help restore or maintain healthy bacteria levels, potentially leading to better nutrient absorption, less gas, and better stools.

When it comes to controversial ingredients, there are a few, including dried blood meal. This is a by-product obtained during animal harvest, so it’s not our favorite ingredient to see.

That said, it is a good source of protein, though we’d rather see real meat in its place. Dried tomato pomace and seaweed meal are also questionable, as they’re usually used as low-cost sources of fiber.

VICTOR Classic doesn’t contain any fresh produce, which we’re accustomed to seeing in pricier dog foods. We’d expect to see more than carrot powder and tomato pomace at this price.  

VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus has a 30% protein and 20% fat composition.

Key Features:

• Made with a tasty mix of protein-rich meat meals
• Grain-inclusive with grain sorghum and millet for sustained energy
• Taurine for heart health
• Contains prebiotics and probiotics for digestive health and regularity
• Made in the USA

VICTOR Classic’s Hi-Pro Plus Ingredients

VICTOR Classic Recipes: 

• Hi-Pro Plus
• High Energy
• Multi-Pro
• Professional
• Elite Canine

2. VICTOR Select

VICTOR’s Select line features grain-free and grain-inclusive, limited protein recipes, making it ideal for dogs with allergies. 

The Select line is a step above the Classic line, though labeled meat meals, such as Menhaden fish meal, remain at the top of the ingredient list rather than deboned meat. Again, this is a protein-rich ingredient that’s packed with nutrients, but some owners might want to see real meat here at this price.

VICTOR Select comes in grain-inclusive and grain-free options, with grain-inclusive options featuring quality grains like brown rice and grain sorghum. These grains are easily digestible and provide bulk to stool, in addition to helping your dog feel full longer. 

On the flip side, VICTOR Select grain-free recipes are a good option for dogs with grain intolerances (which are pretty rare).

However, they include peas and other legumes in place of grains – a factor that’s been correlated with DCM in recent studies. For this reason, we recommend consulting your vet before making the switch, particularly if you have a DCM-prone breed, such as a Doberman or boxer.

VICTOR Select recipes contain a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics for digestive health, which is a common area of concern for dogs with food sensitivities. This balanced mixture includes Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bacillus subtilis.  

As with the VICTOR Classic line, VICTOR Select doesn’t include much in the way of fruits and vegetables other than peas and sweet potato in the grain-free options. They do have carrot powder and tomato pomace, which aren’t necessarily bad, but they aren’t fresh produce, either.

VICTOR Select’s Yukon River Canine contains 33% protein and 16% fat.

Key Features:

• Protein-rich fish meal is the first ingredient
• Grain-free recipe for dogs with sensitivities 
• Great source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
• Contains prebiotics and probiotics for gut health
• Made in the USA

VICTOR Select’s Yukon River Canine Ingredients

VICTOR Select Recipes

• Grain Free Yukon River Canine
• Grain Free Chicken Meal & Sweet Potato
• Grain Free Lamb Meal & Sweet Potato
• Chicken Meal & Brown Rice
• Ocean Fish Formula with Salmon
• Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula
• Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula

3. VICTOR Purpose

VICTOR’s Purpose line includes recipes made for dogs with specific needs, like joint support, weight management, or increased energy levels. Both grain-free and grain-inclusive options are available in this product line.

As with other VICTOR formulas, beef meal or chicken meal are the top ingredients for all VICTOR Purpose recipes. These aren’t as desirable as deboned beef or chicken, but they’re still a rich source of protein.

Our only complaint is that, at this price point, we’d expect whole meat as the first ingredient of at least some recipes.

VICTOR Purpose grain-inclusive foods include healthy grains like whole grain brown rice, whole grain millet, and grain sorghum. These are easily digested by dogs and provide a lasting “full” feeling while still offering nutrients.

Grain-free VICTOR Purpose recipes provide energy and roughage with peas, sweet potatoes, and garbanzo beans. While these ingredients are common in grain-free foods, they have been correlated with DCM, as we mentioned previously, so you should consult your vet before switching to a grain-free, legume/potato-inclusive diet like these.

Prebiotics and probiotics remain staples in these recipes for digestive wellness, while VICTOR Purpose foods offer specialized ingredients that vary by recipe.

For example, their Senior Healthy Weight recipe is made for older, less active dogs and includes added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. Meanwhile, the Performance recipe is nutrient-dense and full of calories for active, working dogs.   

The by-product dried blood meal is included in several VICTOR Purpose recipes, and while it isn’t everyone’s favorite, it does provide protein from an animal source as opposed to artificial means. Tomato pomace and seaweed meal are featured in several recipes as well, and while they’re farther down on the ingredient list, we would’ve preferred to see fresh produce used for fiber and nutrients in their place.

VICTOR Purpose’s Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy has a 33% protein and 16% fat composition.

Key Features:

• Protein-packed beef meal is the first ingredient
• Grain-free recipe made for doggos with sensitivities
• Fish meal and chicken fat provide omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
• Features prebiotics and probiotics for belly-boosting and maximum nutrient absorption
• Made in the USA

VICTOR Purpose’s Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy Ingredients

VICTOR Purpose Recipes

• Performance
• Nutra Pro
• Senior Healthy Weight
• Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy
• Grain Free Hero Canine
• Grain Free Ultra Pro

4. VICTOR Realtree®

VICTOR Realtree® is VICTOR’s super-premium line designed specifically for working dogs.

Beef meal is the first ingredient in all of these individual recipes, followed further down the list by duck meal and fish meal to provide lasting energy and a great taste.

Just note that, while tasty, mixed-protein recipes can be an issue with dogs suffering from food allergies. We’re also surprised not to see any real or deboned meat for a line billed as “super-premium,” particularly given its premium price tag.

Featuring two grain-inclusive recipes, VICTOR Realtree® line is made to keep up with the demands of highly active dogs, whether they’re working the field during a hunt or sniffing out trouble with their handlers. Containing quality grains like grain sorghum and whole grain brown rice, it’ll keep your pup satisfied on the go.

As with other VICTOR recipes, there isn’t much produce present, with carrot powder, tomato pomace, and seaweed meal providing most of the fruit and veggie power. You’ll also find cranberry and blueberry powder further down the ingredient list, though we’d rather see the real thing in a less processed form.

Added glucosamine and chondroitin support your dog’s joints on the job, while fatty acids from fish and flaxseed meal keep her coat and skin looking their best.

VICTOR Realtree® Max-5 Pro clocks in at 30% protein and 20% fat.

Victor Realtree® Max-5 Pro Ingredients

VICTOR Realtree Recipes

• Edge Energy
• Max-5 Pro

5. VICTOR Canned Food

VICTOR canned food options are appropriate for all life stages and include grain-free stews and grain-inclusive pates, giving your doggo an array of options. 

VICTOR canned foods contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, and — unlike their kibbles — real meat is always the first ingredient. All canned recipes also include nutrient-rich chicken liver and broth for added moisture, sneaking more water into your dog’s diet to keep her hydrated. VICTOR canned recipes also feature dried eggs for added protein.

The grain-inclusive recipes contain brown rice and barley for digestibility and fiber, which can help prevent the digestive upset sometimes seen after eating canned foods. The pate style texture is also easier to mash into your dog’s kibble or licky mat than the grain-free stew version.

Grain-inclusive options feature sweet potatoes and peas for fiber, though these are controversial ingredients, as we’ve mentioned. Some grain-free VICTOR canned recipes contain carrots, providing much-needed fiber and nutrients like beta-carotene. The grain-free stews feature a soupy texture that can be more enticing than the stiffer grain-inclusive pate.

As for controversial ingredients, carrageenan is included in some VICTOR canned foods. This seaweed extract is used as a thickening agent in many wet dog foods, but it provides literally no nutritional value, so not everyone likes to see it on ingredient lists.

Similarly, dried plain beet pulp also appears in some VICTOR canned food recipes, and while it provides fiber, some view it as unnecessary fluff when other, more nutritious fiber sources could be used.

VICTOR Chicken & Rice Pate contains 9% protein and 6% fat.

VICTOR Chicken & Rice Pate Ingredients

VICTOR Canned Food Recipes

• Chicken & Rice Pate
• Lamb & Rice Pate
• Grain-free Stew With Chicken & Vegetables 
• Grain-free Stew With Beef & Vegetables 
• Grain-free Stew With Turkey & Sweet Potato 

VICTOR Advantages, Pros, & Things to Like

There is a lot to love about VICTOR dog food, primarily its stellar safety record with complete lack of recalls. While recalls are simply a fact of life and shouldn’t necessarily preclude you from considering a given food, many owners feel much better sticking to brands that haven’t suffered through many – or any at all in this case. ,  

We also love seeing a nutritionist on staff, too, along with internal and external testing for nutritional soundness and safety.

VICTOR is a made in the USA dog food, which delights many owners.

For that matter, most of the ingredients they use are sourced locally, it’s also a nice pick for the eco-conscious crowd and those concerned with ingredient safety.

With all VICTOR recipes meeting AAFCO standards and several suitable for all life stages, it’s a good pick nutritionally for most dogs. The recipes are primarily high in protein with mixed meat meal ingredient lists, making them highly palatable to most dogs.

We’re wild about the inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics in all of its kibbles. This is an overlooked bonus ingredient that can make a difference in your dog’s health from nose to tail. Having them already included in your dog’s kibble saves you time and money, as you don’t need to buy supplements and mix them in yourself. 

VICTOR Disadvantages, Cons, & Potential Problems

VICTOR is a solid dog food option, but it does have some drawbacks, namely, its reliance on meat meal protein sources for its kibbles. While a named meat meal like beef meal is a protein-rich meat source, it’s not deboned or “real” meat in its most natural form. With not even the “super-premium” line of VICTOR kibble using real meat as the first ingredient, we’re kind of bummed. 

These are pretty expensive dog foods, too.

At their price points, we’d at least expect real meat in some, if not all, recipes. If you compare the price of VICTOR Select Yukon River Canine to Wellness Complete Health Grain Free, they’re neck and neck. But Wellness uses real whitefish as the first ingredient.

Wellness also uses real produce in its recipe, while VICTOR lacks fruits and vegetables in their complete form. Yes, various powders are used, but again, at this price point, we’d like to see less processed and more whole produce used.

There’s also a lack of exotic protein options that we’re used to seeing in other premium dog foods, like venison or rabbit. The mixed protein nature of most VICTOR kibbles is a potential issue for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities too. 

VICTOR Dog Food FAQs

We’ve covered most of the basics about VICTOR Dog Food above, but we’ve tried to answer some of the most common questions dog owners have below. 

VICTOR Dog Food: Final Thoughts

We recommend VICTOR if you’re looking for quality, American-made dog food for your active four-footer.

VICTOR wowed us in the safety department, and we loved seeing prebiotics and probiotics included across the board in kibbles. We also can see the mixed protein recipes enticing pickier pups to clear their bowl. 

That said, we weren’t fans of the overreliance on named meat meals as the first ingredient and would have loved to see more real meat used. We also wanted to see more produce included. Nutritionally, the items are equivalent, but again, at that price, we’d expect to see more of the real deal and less processed “stuff.” 

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Now, that’s what we think about VICTOR, but what about you and your dog? Does your pup eat Victor Dog Food? What do you two think? Does she have a favorite formula or recipe? Let us know in the comments.