Sundays Dog Food Review: Healthy, Air-Dried Food for Dogs

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If you’re reading this, then you probably already know that most commercial dog food is about as good as a daily diet of fast food. Your dog might not complain, but over the long term, it will affect their health.

Sundays dog food was created by a veterinarian and an engineer who were set on providing their dogs with a healthier and tastier alternative to kibble, but one that was just as easy to serve. We’ll unbox it and try it out in this Sundays dog food review.

In this review:

• Unboxing Sundays Food for Dogs
• Our Sundays dog food review
• How does Sundays work?
• Ingredients & meal options
• Price
• Frequently asked questions
• Other Sundays food for dogs reviews

Sundays Food for Dogs: Unboxing video

• Real, human-grade dog food that is air-dried with low heat to preserve essential nutrients, sensitive enzymes, and flavor.
• Created by veterinarian Tory Waxman to be complete and balanced, per AAFCO standards, so your dog gets all the nutrients they need. The Chicken recipe is suitable for adult maintenance, and the beef recipe works all life stages, including puppies.
• All food is sourced from local farms and human grocers in the Midwest US and prepared at a USDA-monitored, human-grade kitchen close to their Ohio headquarters. 
• Sundays ships the food to your door on a regular schedule so you never run out.

Our Sundays dog food review

As we said above, Sundays was made to provide a healthier alternative to dry dog kibble.

The meals are comprised of clean ingredients like USDA-certified beef or chicken and produce from local family farms and grocers. These ingredients are prepared in a USDA-monitored kitchen certified for human consumption, then gently air-dried with low heat to kill pathogens while preserving vital nutrients and flavor. The result is an all-natural jerky-like texture that requires no refrigeration.

What our dogs thought about Sundays

Max the Yorkie: Max turns up his nose at dry dog food, so we mixed some of the Sundays chicken recipe with his regular fresh food. We were completely surprised to find him going for pieces of the Sundays food first, and he finished the whole bowl.

Hobbes the Goldendoodle: Hobbes is slightly less picky than Max, but has been known to shun kibble as well. However, he chowed down on Sundays beef recipe without mixing it with any fresh ingredients, and he cleaned up every last bit. In fact, he has eaten his way through two full boxes of Sundays so far.

How does Sundays work?

To begin, Sundays walks you through a short questionnaire about your dog that only takes a minute or two to complete. This information is gathered to determine how many calories your dog needs and which recipe might be best, and it will also provide you with a close estimate of your weekly cost.

Enter your information

To show you how it works, we’ve set up a profile for Harley, a 12-lb., 3-year-old Shih Tzu. We’ve entered Harley’s information, such as his weight, activity level, age, and whether he’s neutered or not.

Next, you’ll enter information about your dog’s eating habits and needs, such as his current food, whether he’s a picky eater, if he is over- or under-weight, if he has a sensitive tummy, or if he needs a prescription diet. You’ll finish by entering your name and email so you can save your dog’s information. And don’t worry—by providing your email info, you aren’t obligated to purchase, and you can easily unsubscribe.

Make your selections

Once you’ve entered this information, Sundays will provide you with results. The chicken recipe was recommended to Harley. At this time, you can choose the beef recipe instead, add another pet, or take the recommendation and checkout. If you don’t see your discount at this time, you can add in your promo code, AFF20, at checkout.

At checkout, you have the option to order a one-time purchase, but subscribing saves you 20% and scores you free shipping. You can adjust this subscription at any time.

Adjusting your subscription

In my account, I can see the suggested feeding amount and I am able to edit the meal plan. I didn’t start my dog on Sundays right away, since I had some of his old food leftover, so I was able to delay the next shipment by simply adjusting the delivery dates. You can also reorder immediately, pause, skip, or cancel.

Sundays dog food ingredients and meal options

Both recipes were created by a veterinarian with the assistance of a veterinary nutritionist. The meals meet the standards set by the AAFCO for adult maintenance, and the beef recipe also meets standards for all other life stages, including large breed puppies.

Chicken recipe

• Key features: High in protein, so it’s great for active dogs who need sustainable energy. Ingredients like pumpkin and ginger aid digestion, making this a great food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It’s high in natural sources of Glucosamine and Chondroitin, so it’s great for joint health. It’s also high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that promote healthy skin and coats.
• Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Millet, Oat, Pumpkin, Kale, Ground Bone, Fish Oil, Sea Salt, Flaxseed, Parsley, Turmeric, Chicory Root, Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols, Ginger, Blueberries, Carrots, Apples, Tomatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Broccoli, Oranges, Cranberries, Spinach, Beets, Tart Cherries, Strawberries
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: min 38%, Crude Fat: min 15%, Crude Fiber: max 2%, Moisture: max 15%; 520 kcal/cup.
• Complete and balanced: Sundays Air-Dried Food for Dogs Chicken Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.

Beef recipe

• Key features: This recipe is great for growing puppies or dogs who need to add a little bit of healthy weight, as it contains more fat and calories than the chicken recipe. It’s also great for dogs deficient in folate, iron, zinc, or selenium.
• Ingredients: USDA Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Bone, Quinoa, Pumpkin, Wild Salmon Oil, Sunflower Oil, Zucchini, Kale, Flaxseed, Sea Salt, Parsley, Kelp, Chicory Root, Turmeric, Mixed Tocopherols, Ginger, Selenium Yeast, Blueberries, Carrots, Apples, Tomatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Broccoli, Oranges, Cranberries, Spinach, Beets, Tart Cherries, Strawberries.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: min 35%, Crude Fat: min 20%, Crude Fiber: max 2%, Moisture: max 15%; 550 kcal/cup.
• Complete and balanced: Sundays Air-Dried Food for Dogs Beef Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for all life stages including large breed puppies (over 70 lbs. as an adult).

Notice that all of the ingredients listed above are real, whole foods; there are no synthetic vitamins or minerals that need to be added to make the meals complete. These specific foods are added for their nutrient components, so your dog will obtain nutrition in its natural state. This is the most beneficial way for your dog to get the nutrients they need.

You will see an ingredient called mixed tocopherols—that’s Vitamin E distilled from vegetables, which helps preserve the freshly air-dried meat. It’s a common pet food ingredient.

The first two or three ingredients (depending on the recipe) are whole animal proteins providing nutritious protein as well as B vitamins and other minerals found primarily in organ meat. In fact, 90% of the recipe is made of fresh meat, organs, and bone. Legumes, potatoes, gluten, wheat, soy, rice, and corn are eliminated, as is everything that doesn’t promote good health.

The other ingredients, such as kale, kelp, flaxseed, and sunflower oil, provide a wide spectrum of nutrients that promote healthy skin, coats, and digestion. Some included fruits contain antioxidants that aid in disease prevention.

Interestingly, these recipes include chicory root, which is high in inulin. Inulin is a natural source of soluble fiber and a prebiotic that promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Therefore, Sundays may help dogs that suffer with light digestive issues like a sensitive stomach, gas, or mild IBS.

>> Read more: Best Dog Food for IBD & IBS

Jerky texture and taste

Sundays dog food is jerky-like in texture and taste. Most dogs will love it since it tastes like a treat, rather than dusty kibble. Sundays claims that in a blind taste test against the “best-tasting” super-premium kibble, all of the dogs preferred Sundays 40 to 0. 

While those results are impressive, I was still skeptical. Did they test on the super picky small dogs like our Yorkie? I was pleasantly surprised that Max immediately chowed down and cleaned his bowl—that has never happened with dry food before.

Other Sundays dog food reviews have stated that the texture is great inside puzzle toys or a snuffle mat for slowing dogs down or making eating more fun.

Treats

Sundays offers two treat options. These snacks are human, grade and air dried, so the good stuff inside remains intact. Even snacking can be healthy!

Turkey & Pumpkin: Nutrient-rich, supports digestive health

• Ingredients: Turkey, Pumpkin, Apple, Cinnamon, Mixed Tocopherols. 

Chicken & Peppermint: Supports digestive health, reduces bad breath

• Ingredients: Chicken, Brown Sugar, Spearmint Leaf Powder, Cinnamon, Ginger, Mixed Tocopherols

I recently purchased Sundays’ Turkey & Pumpkin treats to feed to Max. He loved them! These are one of his favorites, for sure.  I like that they have a pleasant, sweet scent instead of a gross meaty scent most treats have. I also like that they’re not greasy and do not upset his digestive system. They are tender jerky pieces, easily broken up for training, and vary in size from about 1″ to 2″ in length. I also like that this treat recipe doesn’t have any added sugar, since it’s naturally sweetened with apple.

The downside is the price. One snack box of Turkey & Pumpkin treats is $14.99 for a 2.5oz box. Considering that the Turkey & Pumpkin treat has a higher percentage of meat (40% crude protein, and the first ingredient is turkey), it’s understandable that the cost per ounce would be more than other lower-quality treats. However, in my opinion, it seems pricey.

Prices

While Sundays dog food prices are higher than traditional kibble, they are lower when you compare them to other human-grade dog foods, such as Nom Nom dog food or PetPlate dog food.

Sundays food comes in standard sizes and is shipped at different intervals to accommodate various sized dogs. The following prices are for the regular-sized boxes. It appears that larger boxes are also available at a lower cost per ounce.

• Beef recipe: 40oz. box for $69.00/$1.73 per ounce
• Chicken recipe: 36oz. Box for $59.00/$1.64 per ounce 

Your cost per week depends on the recipe you choose and how much food your dog eats. When Sundays gives you a price quote during onboarding, it most likely includes your discount. This discount is usually only toward your first order and your subsequent orders will cost the full price. 

For Max, a 6-lb. Yorkie, prices can be as low as $1.50 a day or $10.50 per week (without the initial discount). And for Ronan, a 100-lb. Rhodesian Ridgeback, prices could be as much as $9.42 per day or $65.95 per week. But the average pet owner will pay closer to the price quoted for Kaya, a 35-lb. Labradoodle, which is around $4.71 per day or $33.00 per week.

For comparison, fresh food from The Farmer’s Dog for a 6-lb. Yorkie costs around $2.80 a day and $5.08 per day for a 25-lb. Corgi. You can see more examples in our guide to Farmer’s Dog prices.

The most accurate way to know what your cost will be is to run a price quote for your dog. There’s no obligation to purchase and it only takes about 1 minute to complete. And don’t forget that while you can opt for a single purchase, a subscription to Sundays will save you 20% and provide you with free shipping.

Is it worth it?

The choice of how you will balance cost versus quality is up to you. Choosing a higher quality food like Sundays will cost more upfront, but since your pup will be getting better nutrition than traditional kibble, they may experience fewer health issues like food allergies or skin issues, minimizing expensive vet bills. 

Here are some other reasons why you may want to choose Sundays:

• Convenience: Sundays offers the convenience of human-grade dog food with the convenience of a shelf-stable kibble.
• Nothing but food: There are no fillers or artificial colors, and meals are complete and balanced using only whole foods—no meat meals or synthetic vitamins or minerals.
• Competitively priced: Sundays costs more than traditional kibble, yet it’s about half the cost of human-grade fresh food. The difference is, it’s all-natural and doesn’t need refrigeration. 
• Appeals to picky eaters: Hobbes loved it, and even my extremely picky Yorkie likes Sundays!

FAQs about Sundays dog food

Has Sundays dog food ever been recalled?

Sundays dog food has never been recalled by the FDA nor AVMA as of the time of this review.

Is Sundays dog food grain-free?

Sundays dog food is not grain free, but it is gluten-free. The chicken recipe contains oats and the beef recipe contains quinoa. They have used millet in previous versions of the recipe. These grains are used in small quantities and have a low-glycemic index.

Unless your vet has informed you that your dog has a sensitivity to grain, then this is a good thing. The FDA has announced a potential link between grain-free dog food and a rare heart disorder called canine dilated cardiomyopathy.

Is Sundays good for sensitive stomachs?

Sundays could be good for sensitive stomachs. Since high-quality ingredients tend to be much more digestible than low-quality products, according to Jennifer Coates, DVM, Sundays may help your dog’s sensitive stomach. Sundays states their food is one of the most digestible dog foods ever measured. It has a digestibility score of over 92%, which is great since most dog foods score between 75% to 80%.

Of course, it all depends on the cause of your dog’s digestive upset. A common cause of IBD and IBS in dogs is an allergy to beef or poultry. If this describes your dog, Sundays might not be the best option. Instead, look into a high-quality brand that offers novel proteins, such as fish, pork, or venison. To see a few options, check out our Just Food For Dogs review, our Chippin Dog Food Review, our Raised Right dog food review, or our A Pup Above dog food review.

Can Sundays dog food help with diarrhea?

Sundays dog food may help with diarrhea depending on the cause. If something in your dog’s current diet is causing diarrhea, and Sundays’ simple recipes strip it out, you may see improvement. And when you consider that Sundays is 12% to 17% more digestible than typical kibble (see above) and that it is formulated with purposeful, high-quality, human-grade ingredients, your dog may experience less diarrhea or none at all after fully transitioning to Sundays.

However, if your dog suffers from chronic diarrhea, we strongly suggest you consult your vet to determine the cause. They may require a specialty diet or a specific source of protein, and a veterinarian can help you identify this.

Also note that you should transition your dog over to their new diet over one-to-two weeks. Changing their diet more rapidly than this could cause short-term diarrhea from the change itself.

>> Read more: Best Dog Food for Colitis

Are there Sundays discounts or promotions?

Sundays is currently offering 35% off your first purchase with code MUTT35. You can also secure a permanent 20% discount by subscribing instead of placing a one-off order. Subscriptions can be paused or canceled at any time.

Where do I buy Sundays dog food?

Right now Sundays is only available through their website. Signing up is easy and only takes about two minutes.

Is Sundays a good dog food?

We think Sundays is a good dog food because it is complete and balanced and only contains real food ingredients. Most other dry food brands rely on additives, meat meals, and other low-quality ingredients to pad out their recipes.

Try Sundays and if your dog isn’t happy with it, you get your money back on your first order within 14 days of delivery.

Can my puppy eat Sundays?

Yes! Sundays’ beef recipe is a great puppy food. This recipe is formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient requirements for all life stages, including puppies; this includes large breed puppies (over 70 lbs. as an adult) who require specific amounts of calcium and phosphorous for healthy bone growth. The chicken recipe is formulated only for adult maintenance—sorry puppies!

Why is bone added to Sundays dog food?

Bone is something your dog would consume in the wild. It is added to Sundays as a natural bioavailable source of calcium and phosphorous, rather than using a synthetic supplement. The minerals from bone help maintain strong teeth and bones in your dog.

How does Sundays compare to Spot & Tango’s Unkibble?

Like Sundays, Spot & Tango offers a dry dog food made from fresh ingredients for pet owners who prioritize easy, convenient, yet healthy dog food. Read our Spot and Tango dog food review for more information.

Other Sundays food for dogs reviews    

Former picky eater is now a clean plate ranger

“Toby used to barely touch his old food, and if he did, it wasn’t till late at night. Now that we switched to Sunday’s, I can barely put the bowl down before he’s going at it. It’s such a relief that he’s excited to eat now. It also seems like he’s more energetic (in a good way!) and I swear he’s been shedding less since the switch. On top of all of that, the customer experience and service has been top-notch. Can not recommend enough. Dogs deserve to love their food, too!”

Matthew S. for Toby 

I didn’t think I could be convinced that a dog food would make such a difference, but I was definitely wrong.

“I think Sundays has created monsters out of our dogs. They wake up every day SO excited to eat their breakfast, which was a definite change! Hudson has been a bit of a nervous eater since we adopted him at 6 months old, but he gobbles down his Sundays faster than anything I’ve seen. Freddy is getting his puppy energy and back at 6 years old, and his coat is becoming super shiny and soft, thanks to Sundays.

“I didn’t think I could be convinced that a dog food would make such a difference, but I was definitely wrong. I (and the pups!) are so happy to have found this amazing product that makes them both happier and healthier.”

Katie for Freddy and Hudson 

My dogs LOVE it!!!!!

“We have three dogs who are all very picky. They have never been able to all love one food so we had multiple kinds of dog food at all times. I have tried cooking for them, and I have tried every food. What I love the most is that with three dogs ~70 lbs each, most of the “delivery” dog food companies were way too expensive and Sunday’s offers an affordable option for high quality food. Also, this company has been awesome to work with helping me get the scheduling right and the feeding amounts so we always have fresh food on hand. I highly recommend giving it a try!”

Trish W. for Bishop, Finley, Ozzy 

Finally a human grade, all natural, limitedly processed food I care about!

“We’re a raw-fed household here, but sometimes preparing fresh meals isn’t possible, so we’re always looking for a convenient (but just as nutritious) option for the pups. I was so excited to hear about Sundays for Dogs, a new, all-natural, human grade food made by a veterinarian and an engineer. It’s air-dried, so it’s easy for me (no refrigeration, prep or cleanup needed), but also healthy for them (no artificial ingredients, locking in peak nutrients). We all love the jerky-like texture which makes it easy to eat on its own or inside puzzle toys and snuffle mats. We’re on the subscription plan for additional savings and peace of mind. Highly recommend!”

Salina S. for Jedi, Tim Tam 

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