Chippin Dog Food Review: Planet-Friendly Food & Treats

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Did you know that if they were considered their own country, U.S. pets would rank 5th in global meat consumption? That’s a lot of beef and poultry. And if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of industrial farming, or the methods used by factory farms, then it’s worth paying attention to what you feed your dog.

The biggest pet food brands don’t have a great track record when it comes to sustainability, ethical sourcing, or quality ingredients. In addition, these brands often cut their products with fillers and meat byproducts to make the food cheaper to produce and more shelf stable.

Chippin hopes to change that. Keep reading to learn how in this Chippin dog food review.

Verdict (if you’re in a hurry): Although its food options are limited, we think Chippin’s ingredient quality is among the best when it comes to dry dog food. Environmentally conscious pet owners, especially, should consider trying it out, thanks to Chippin’s intentional sourcing and carbon offsets.

In this review:

• Chippin dog food review
• Chippin dog treats
• How much does Chippin cost?
• FAQs about Chippin Pet
• How does Chippin compare to other brands
• Other Chippin reviews

Chippin dog food review

You’ve probably already determined that Chippin wants to offer high-quality dog food for environmentally conscious pet owners. But even if that’s not your primary concern when shopping for pet food, we still think Chippin is worth checking out.

Chippen uses novel proteins in its food and treats, never uses low-quality meat meals, and incorporates superfoods filled with antioxidants and prebiotics to help keep your dog healthy. These choices mean Chippin might be a good choice for dogs allergic to more traditional proteins.

>> Read more: Best Novel Protein Dog Food

“Chippin uses novel protein sources which provide excellent protein quality and digestibility while minimizing the carbon footprint.”

– Dr. Beth Hamper, Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist

Since Chippin is a relatively young company, it only offers one daily dog food option: Silver Carp Daily Dog Food. This food is formulated by vet nutritionists to meet the AAFCO standards for adult dogs, and it also provides your dog with nutritious, alternative protein that nourishes both your pup and the planet.

We expect the brand to release additional food options in the future; but for now, we think its silver carp line is a really strong option among healthy dog kibbles. We take a closer look at it lower in the review.

In addition to the food, Chippin offers seven healthy treat options that each serve a specific purpose, such as gut health, inflammation, prebiotics, and a vegan option. We’ll cover these more in-depth below as well.

Why Chippin matters

• Dogs need meat in their diet, but pets in the U.S.A. consume so much of it, they’d rank 5th globally if they were their own country. This contributes to unsustainable farming practices that are hard on animals and the environment. By sourcing healthy, low-impact ingredients from regions where they’re overpopulated, Chippin offers a more sustainable option.
• Chippin offers healthy dog treats made with planet-friendly superfood proteins, including a vegan option.
• Chippin’s science-backed recipes support your dog’s gut health and immune system.
• By choosing Chippin, you’re supporting a small, woman-owned business instead of giant industry-level corporations.
• The food is formulated by vet nutritionists to meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Adult Maintenance.

Fresh Silver Carp Daily Food

Silver carp is an overpopulated fish species that makes up as much as 90% of the biomass in parts of the Illinois and Ohio rivers. This is due, at least in part, to the overfishing of other species, which has disrupted the natural food chain. Meanwhile, these other overfished species in the Great Lakes region are still commonly fished and eaten.

By fishing this specific species, Chippin helps keep the Silver Carp population in check to balance out the entire ecosystem.

But feeding your dog Chippin’s wild-caught silver carp protein doesn’t just help improve biodiversity; it’s a healthy, whole meat that contains all 10 essential amino acids and is rich in omega oils, which promote a healthy coat and skin. In fact, you can order silver carp in many of the restaurants in the region of Kentucky where it is sourced.

The food isn’t only made from silver carp, though. It includes other healthy ingredients like pumpkin (for fiber and digestion), dried chicory root (for prebiotics and gut health), and taurine (for heart health).

These ingredients are prepared and then baked to create a crunchy, dry kibble that small and big dogs alike can enjoy. We fed it to our pup, Hobbes, and he gobbled it down right away.

The food is available in three bag sizes: 3.5 lbs., 10.5 lbs., and 21 lbs. You can make one-off orders, but if you subscribe you’ll get a subscribe & save discount of 10%. And the best part is you get to choose the frequency of your deliveries, as often as every 4 weeks to as rarely as once every 7 weeks. Ordering bigger bags less frequently helps cut down on packaging waste even further, even though Chippin has already designed its packaging to include recycled material and ensures carbon-neutral shipping on all orders.

There are no long-term commitments; you can cancel your subscription at any time.

“Save the earth. It’s the only planet with dogs”

Ingredients:

Silver Carp, Oats, Pumpkin, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Tomato Pomace, Brewers Yeast, Dried Cranberries, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Spinach, Sunflower Oil, Taurine, Rosemary Extract, Choline Chloride, Salt, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Folic Acid.

Guaranteed analysis

• Protein (min): 26%
• Fat (min): 13%
• Fiber (max): 5%
• Moisture (max): 10%
• Calorie content (Calculated): Metabolized energy= 3500 kcal/kg or 384 kcal/cup using a standard 8 oz. cup.

We’ve verified that this guaranteed analysis is in line with other healthy fish-based kibbles.

Chippin dog treats

Chippin offers seven treat options with super interesting ingredients to choose from.

• Silver Carp Jerky: Much like the Silver Carp daily food, these treats contain all 10 essential amino acids, and the alternative protein may be good for dogs allergic to beef or poultry. Each bag of treats saves over 300 gallons of water.
• Cricket Jerky: Chippin’s cricket jerky takes novel protein a step further by using healthy and super-sustainable cricket protein along with carrot and sweet potato as the base of the treat. If this is your first time hearing of cricket treats, just know that they’re a hit among dogs and a much healthier alternative to many mass-produced treats. Each bag helps save 150 gallons of water.
• Superfood Treats: Peanut butter, pumpkin, and cricket protein combine to create an allergy-friendly, Omega-3 rich treat that pups love.
• Smokehouse BBQ: These smoky, crunchy treats use oats, cricket, and tomato to create a delicious snack for your dog during summertime cookouts.
• Spirulina Dailies: This veggie-packed treat features one of the most nutrient-dense vegan proteins on the planet—spirulina. Along with kale and carrots, this vegan treat supports bone and joint health.
• Antioxidant Treats: Cricket, blueberry, and banana combine to create a healthy, antioxidant-rich treat to help keep your pup healthy. Each bag saves over 40 gallons of water.
• Cricket Food Topper: Four simple ingredients make up this food topper—cricket, sweet potato, pumpkin, and apple cider vinegar. It can be used in three ways: sprinkle it on top of food as a topper, mix it with water to form a savory broth (great for getting picky eaters to try new food); or mix it with a little water to form a paste that can be put into chew toys or lick mats.

How much does Chippin cost?

Chippin costs $5.57 per pound if you order the 21-lb. bag and subscribe for the 10% discount. Chippin claims this could work out to as little as $1.50 per day for some dogs.

However, your price will depend on the size of bag you order and how much you feed your dog per day. Chippin’s recommended feeding amounts and bag sizes are below. But even if you have a small dog, we recommend subscribing to a larger bag size and simply extending the time between each delivery. This will get you a better price.

Feeding instructions:

Dog size	Cups per day	Bag size	Frequency
2 – 7 lbs.	1/4 – 3/4	1 x 3.5 lbs.	Every 4 weeks
8 – 14 lbs.	3/4 – 1 1/4	2 x 3.5 lbs.	Every 4 weeks
15 – 29 lbs.	1 1/4 – 2	1 x 10.5 lbs.	Every 4 weeks
30 – 39 lbs.	2 – 2 1/2	1 x 21 lbs.	Every 6 weeks
40 – 49 lbs.	2 1/2 – 3	1 x 21 lbs.	Every 5 weeks
50 – 59 lbs.	3 – 3 1/2	1 x 21 lbs.	Every 4 weeks
60 – 69 lbs.	3 1/2 – 3 3/4	2 x 21 lbs.	Every 7 weeks
70 – 79 lbs.	3 3/4 – 4 1/4	2 x 21 lbs.	Every 6 weeks
80 – 89 lbs.	4 1/4 – 4 3/4	2 x 21 lbs.	Every 5 weeks
90+ lbs.	4 3/4 + 1/2 cups per 10lbs

Chippin treats start at $7.99 per bag, but the price depends on the recipe you choose, your order quantity, and whether you subscribe.

FAQs about Chippin Pet

Is silver carp good for dogs?

Chippin’s freshly caught, oven-baked silver carp is a novel, digestible protein most dogs love. It’s a human-grade meat complete with all 10 essential amino acids and Omega-3s, and it avoids accumulating toxins and heavy metals (like mercury), which other common fish meats like Tuna may include.

Is cricket protein safe for dogs?

Yes! Although it may sound strange to you, cricket is a safe and super eco-friendly source of protein for dogs. In fact, when compared pound-for-pound, crickets contain almost 3x the amount of protein as beef or chicken, and it requires about 80% less water and other resources to produce cricket protein. That’s just one of the ways your dog can “chip in” to help the environment.

Does Chippin smell fishy?

No it doesn’t! We fed our dog Chippin and personally passed it through the sniff-test, and it actually smelled much more neutral than your typical beef-based dog food. If anything, Chippin has a light grassy, tea-like scent, which didn’t bother us at all.

How are Chippin’s recipes formulated?

Chippin’s food and treats are developed by their board-certified veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Beth Hamper DVM, PhD, DACVN (Diplomate to the American College of Veterinary Nutrition).

Where does Chippin source its ingredients?

Chippin partners with small-to-medium local farms in the U.S.A. to source and prepare its food.

Is Chippin good for dogs with allergies?

Every dog’s allergies are different, so you should consult with your vet when choosing a food for dogs with advanced allergies. However, Chippin does avoid the most common canine allergens: beef, poultry, lamb, and dairy. So, there’s a good chance it will work for your dog.

In addition, Chippin uses superfoods like spirulina and chicory root, which are full of gut-healthy probiotics and fiber that may support digestion and ease some instances of IBD in dogs.

Is Chippin vegan or vegetarian?

Chippin’s daily silver carp food is not vegetarian. However, none of their products include proteins or byproducts from mammals. 

Additionally, Chippin’s spirulina treats are both vegetarian and vegan.

How is Chippin’s shipping carbon neutral?

Chippin has partnered with Pachama, an organization that offsets the carbon from your order with forest preservation and restoration in high-impact areas around the world.

What is the refund guarantee?

If your dog doesn’t like Chippin, you can reach out to their support team to get a full refund. However, they can’t process returns, so even if you get a refund, the team encourages you to share the food with another dog who may like it.

How do shipping and subscriptions work?

Chippin ships your food the same day it’s ordered if you submit it before noon. Afternoon orders are shipped the next day, and all food should arrive within 3 to 7 days. If you’re subscribed, Chippin will ship out your next delivery a few days before your requested delivery frequency to ensure it arrives on time and you never run out of food.

Chippin ships to the 48 contiguous states as well as Washington D.C.

How does Chippin compare to other brands

Most of the brands we review are fresh dog food brands, such as The Farmer’s Dog, Nom Nom Dog Food, A Pup Above, Ollie Dog Food, Pet Plate, or Just Food For Dogs. In our opinion, gently cooked fresh food is best for your pet, since it’s even less processed than dry dog food. However, fresh food is more expensive.

If you’re flexible on price, we’d suggest checking out any of those reviews linked above. However, dry dog food comes with the convenience of being shelf-stable; and if sustainability is your main priority, nobody does as good of a job as Chippin.

If you want to compare Chippin to other high-quality kibble brands, we have some thoughts. Sundays for Dogs is another top competitor. It delivers air-dried ingredients to preserve nutrients without many of the fillers found in other kibbles. It’s definitely worth considering, especially if you don’t want to feed your dog fish. However, Sundays only offers Chicken and Beef recipes, so Chippin is better from an environmental perspective. You can learn more in our Sundays Dog Food review.

Spot and Tango is another interesting competitor. Although fresh frozen food is its main product, the brand also offers UnKibble, a freeze-dried dry dog food. We think UnKibble is a pretty solid option as well, but it doesn’t meet the same environmental hurdles Chippin does. You can learn more in our Spot and Tango Dog Food review.

Another brand that offers human-grade dry food with impeccably sourced ingredients is The Honest Kitchen. The brand partners with the Global Animal Partnership and other organizations to ethically source its meat. Learn all about it in our The Honest Kitchen Dog Food Review.

Open Farm is another competitor. While Open Farm does produce high-quality fresh food options, treats, and humanely sourced ingredients (not to mention cat food), its kibbles contain whitefish meal, which isn’t as high-quality of an ingredient as Chippin’s silver carp. We think Chippin is better when it comes to dry dog food, but you can learn more in our Open Farm Dog Food review.

>> Read more: Spot and Tango vs Farmer’s Dog

Other Chippin reviews

Superior quality! Pleasantly surprised!
★★★★★

“Not only do the dogs love the clusters, digests well. No transition was necessary. Perfect stool, fresh breath and gorgeous coats. Definitely a clean food with no fowl odors. Highly recommend!!!”

Verified buyer | Review by Donna M. on 21 Feb 2022

Great quality!
★★★★★

“My dog Snoop loves this food, and I love that it’s better for the environment & healthy for him! This food is so innovative and different from other dog foods!”

Verified buyer | Review by Shannon P. on 20 Feb 2022

Uber picky puppy loves chippin
★★★★★

“My mini goldendoodle refuses all kibble but loves chippin. She also has a sensitive stomach and allergies so this food is perfect. I also use chippin for training.”

Verified buyer | Review by Sonia K. on 16 Feb 2022

Great quality but my dog
★★★★☆

“Great quality but my dog doesn’t like it by itself.”

Verified buyer | Review by dakota r. on 10 Dec 2021

Riley is a big fan of Chippin
★★★★★

“Our rescue poodle mix used to need encouragement — like me standing near the bowl — to get interested in food but with Silver Carp there’s no waiting — he dives in and licks it clean.”

Verified buyer | Review by April S. on 7 Dec 2021

Healthy coat and less shedding w no fish breath
★★★★★

“I mix Chippin with my other dog food and Maggie’s coat is shinier and she has less shedding with no fishy breath. So far so good! I also drop the cricket topper and there has been no weight gain and she seems more satisfied after meals. This has been a great “discovery”!! Thank you following a passion and bringing Chippin to the market.”

Verified buyer | Review by Kate on 26 Nov 2021

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