FirstMate Dog Food Review From a Pet Nutritionist
FirstMate started with a fisherman and a dog, and it still builds its kibble around short, simple ingredient lists made in its own British Columbia plant. As a Certified Companion Animal Nutritionist, I looked past the limited ingredient label to see how the recipes really hold up.
FirstMate is a brand that dog owners with food-sensitive pets tend to know by name, even if most shoppers have never seen the bag.
Made by a Canadian company that runs its own kibble plant and cannery in British Columbia, FirstMate built its reputation on limited ingredient recipes: one main animal protein, a short list of carbohydrates, and a well-built vitamin and mineral pack. In 2026 the brand was acquired by Nasta Pet Food, which makes this a good moment to take a fresh look.
This review covers the company’s history, the product line, three representative recipes with their full ingredient lists, the nutrition science behind them, the price, the recall record, and my honest rating. I also point out where I think the marketing promises more than the formulas deliver.
About FirstMate
FirstMate began with a commercial fisherman who noticed that his own dog thrived on a diet built around fish. That origin is where the brand’s limited ingredient philosophy comes from: fewer ingredients, a single main animal protein, and a short list of carbohydrates.
The company is based in British Columbia. According to FirstMate, it operates its own kibble plant in Chilliwack and a cannery in Port Kells, so it controls its own production rather than handing recipes to a third-party co-packer. In a category where many brands outsource manufacturing, that is a real point in its favour.
Every dry recipe follows the same formulation pattern: one named animal protein meal, one or two carbohydrate sources, a modest amount of chicken fat, and chelated (proteinate) minerals, with mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract as natural preservatives and no artificial colours or flavours.
If you’re comparing Canadian options, my roundup of the best Canadian pet food brands gives useful context, and my Go! Solutions review covers another Canadian kibble brand.
FirstMate Product Line Overview
FirstMate’s dry dog food range is organized around a few simple ideas: limited ingredient grain free recipes, grain friendly recipes, and kibble variations by size and life stage.
| Product Line | Grain Status | Main Proteins | Carbohydrates | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited Ingredient Diet | Grain free | Pacific ocean fish meal, Australian lamb meal, others | Burbank and norkotah potato | Single animal protein, no peas, lentils or legumes |
| Grain Friendly | Grain inclusive | Free range lamb meal | Oatmeal, brown rice | Glucosamine added |
| Large Breed | Varies | Fish and lamb | Varies | Formulated for bigger dogs |
| Small Bites | Varies | Fish and lamb | Varies | Smaller kibble for smaller mouths |
| Puppy / Endurance | Grain free | Pacific ocean fish meal | Potato | Higher energy and growth support |
For most healthy dogs, this lineup covers adult maintenance well, with sensible options for bigger and smaller dogs. Where it is limited is therapeutic nutrition. FirstMate does not make a veterinary prescription range, so dogs with diagnosed kidney, urinary or other medical conditions need a different food. If your dog has suspected sensitivities, my guide to the best food for dogs with sensitive stomachs is a helpful companion read.
Recipe Breakdown
I selected three recipes that show the range of the brand: its flagship fish formula, a grain free lamb recipe, and a grain friendly lamb and oats option. Tap any recipe to expand its full ingredient list, guaranteed analysis, and my notes. Data comes from manufacturer and retailer listings and can change, so always check the bag in front of you.
| Crude Protein (min) | 23.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 10.0% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 8.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% |
| Ash (max) | 9.0% |
| Calcium (min) | 1.2% |
| Phosphorus (min) | 1.0% |
| Calcium to phosphorus | 1.2 : 1 |
| Energy | 475 kcal ME/cup |
| Dry matter protein / fat (calculated) | 25.6% / 11.1% |
A very short list with fish meal as the only protein, followed by two potato varieties. The calcium to phosphorus ratio is healthy. Protein is on the lower side for a premium kibble and fiber is on the higher side. The chicken fat is worth noting for owners choosing this food because of a suspected chicken allergy.
| Crude Protein (min) | 24% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 13% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 7.5% |
| Moisture (max) | 10% |
| Dry matter protein / fat (calculated) | 26.7% / 14.4% |
Same structure as the fish recipe, with lamb meal as the single protein. The added DL-methionine and threonine show the formulators are topping up amino acids that can run short in a meal-based recipe, which I consider good practice. The berries add antioxidants but are unlikely to change much at these inclusion levels.
| Crude Protein (min) | 25% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 12% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 7% |
| Moisture (max) | 10% |
| Ash (max) | 10% |
| Calcium (min) | 2.2% |
| Phosphorus (min) | 1.3% |
| Calcium to phosphorus | 1.7 : 1 |
| Glucosamine (min) | 100 mg/kg |
| Energy | 489 kcal ME/cup |
| Dry matter protein / fat (calculated) | 27.8% / 13.3% |
Oatmeal and brown rice are well-tolerated whole grains, and this is the recipe I would reach for first for a healthy adult dog with no need to avoid grains. Calcium at 2.2% minimum is on the higher side. That is fine for most adults, but I would confirm with the company before feeding it to a large breed puppy.
In-Depth Nutrition Review
Every dry recipe I reviewed relies on a single animal protein meal rather than fresh or deboned meat. Meals are concentrated because the water is already removed, so a meal listed first often contributes more real protein than fresh meat listed first. The trade-off is level: at roughly 26 to 28% on a dry matter basis, these foods are adequate but not high. Dogs with high energy needs may want more. You can compare any foods fairly with my dry matter calculator.
Chicken fat is the added fat in all three dry recipes. It is palatable, digestible, and a good source of energy and linoleic acid. The fish recipe gets naturally occurring marine fats from the fish meal, but I could not find a guaranteed omega-3 level on the listings, so I cannot say how much EPA and DHA a dog receives. For more on this topic, see my guide to the best omega 3 sources for dogs and cats.
The grain free recipes use burbank and norkotah potatoes along with tomato pomace for fiber. Potato is a well-digested, gluten-free starch, though it produces a faster glycemic response than oats or barley. The grain friendly recipe uses oatmeal and brown rice, which offer more fiber and a gentler response. None of the recipes use peas, lentils or other legume carbohydrates, which will matter to owners who prefer to avoid them.
Tomato pomace, a few berries, yeast extract and brewer’s yeast appear in the lists, mostly well down. At those amounts they are minor extras rather than a reason to buy the food.
This is one of FirstMate’s strongest areas. Zinc, iron, manganese and copper are supplied as proteinates, which are chelated forms that tend to be better absorbed than basic mineral salts, and selenium comes from selenium yeast. Taurine is added to every recipe I reviewed. For a kibble at this price point, that is a careful mineral program.
FirstMate does not publish digestibility figures that I could find. The ingredients themselves (meals, potato, oats, rice) are generally digestible, and the short ingredient lists make it easier to identify the cause if a dog reacts. Fiber at the higher end may firm stools for some dogs and add bulk for others.
Strengths & Limitations
- Company-owned kibble plant and cannery in British Columbia
- Short, simple ingredient lists with a single main animal protein
- Chelated (proteinate) minerals and selenium yeast
- Taurine added to every recipe reviewed
- No peas, lentils or legume carbohydrates
- Both grain free and grain friendly options
- No recalls found in available third-party records
- Glucosamine added to the lamb and oats recipe
- Protein comes only from meals, with no fresh meat
- Moderate protein and fat for dogs with high energy needs
- Chicken fat in all dry recipes matters for chicken-allergic dogs
- Grain free recipes are potato based
- No published feeding trial or digestibility data
- No detailed sustainability reporting
- Ownership changed in 2026
- No veterinary therapeutic range
Price Review
FirstMate sits in the mid to upper-mid price range. A 25 lb bag typically costs around $91.99 CAD, depending on the retailer and recipe.
Daily cost assumes typical adult energy needs and about 3,060 to 3,155 kcal per kg. Real amounts vary with age, activity and body condition, so use my dog daily feeding calculator to find your dog’s actual needs.
Given Canadian manufacturing, chelated minerals and simple formulas, I think the price is fair. Dogs that eat a lot of kibble will make it a significant monthly cost, so value is better for small and medium dogs.
Sustainability Review
Making its own food in British Columbia gives FirstMate control over its production footprint, and fish meal is by definition a use of by-products from fish processing. Beyond that, I could not find a published sustainability report, packaging recyclability data or sourcing certification. I would like to see more here.
Recalls & Safety
I found no recorded FirstMate dog food recalls in the third-party trackers I checked. Owning its own plant is a structural advantage for quality control compared with brands that spread production across co-packers.
“FirstMate is a thoughtful, well-run Canadian brand that does simple recipes properly, and I would happily recommend it for healthy adult dogs.”
The company controls its own manufacturing, the mineral program is built on chelated forms, taurine is included, and the safety record is clean. For owners who want short ingredient lists, it delivers.
I would be more cautious in three situations. High-energy, working or underweight dogs may need a more calorie and protein dense food. Dogs with a confirmed chicken allergy should check carefully because of the chicken fat. Large breed puppies should only eat a food confirmed for their growth stage, and I would verify that with the company.
Remember that limited ingredient does not mean hypoallergenic. If your dog has suspected food allergies, a veterinarian-guided elimination trial is the reliable way to find out. My guide to the best dog food for dogs with allergies explains how that works.
Final Rating
| Ingredient Quality | 8 / 10 |
| Protein Quality | 7 / 10 |
| Nutritional Balance | 8 / 10 |
| Digestibility | 8 / 10 |
| Ingredient Transparency | 9 / 10 |
| Product Variety | 8.5 / 10 |
| Safety & Quality Control | 9 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 7.5 / 10 |
| Sustainability | 7 / 10 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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