Hey there, fellow dog lovers and discerning pet parents! If you‘re anything like me, finding the perfect food for your furry best friend is a top priority. We want something that‘s not only delicious and satiating, but also packed with quality nutrition to keep our pups healthy and thriving.
That‘s why I was beyond excited to try Sundays for the first time. This up-and-coming dog food brand has been making waves in the pet industry, promising human-grade, air-dried food delivered right to your doorstep. But with so many options on the market, is Sundays truly worth the hype?
I‘m here to give you my honest, unfiltered take. As a lifelong dog mom and admittedly choosy consumer, I‘ve done my research and put Sundays to the ultimate test: feeding it to my own two pups. In this comprehensive review, I‘ll dive into the brand‘s background, ingredients, nutritional value, and real-life performance to help you decide if Sundays deserves a spot in your dog‘s bowl.
So grab a treat (for yourself or your furry friend), and let‘s get into it!
What Is Sundays Dog Food?
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty details, let‘s start with the basics. Sundays is a direct-to-consumer dog food brand that specializes in air-dried, human-grade meals. The company was founded in 2020 by husband and wife duo Tory and Michael Waxman, who were inspired to create a healthier, more natural alternative to traditional kibble.
As a veterinarian and engineer, respectively, Tory and Michael bring a unique combination of scientific expertise and technical innovation to the pet food space. Their mission is simple but powerful: to help dogs live longer, healthier, and happier lives through better nutrition.
So what exactly sets Sundays apart from other brands? Here are some of the key selling points:
🍗 Human-grade ingredients: Sundays uses USDA-certified meats, organs, and bones that are fit for human consumption. No mystery meals or unpronounceable additives here!
🌿 Nutrient-dense superfoods: In addition to premium proteins, Sundays includes a variety of fruits, veggies, and whole grains like pumpkin, blueberries, zucchini, and quinoa to provide essential vitamins and minerals.
💨 Gently air-dried: Unlike traditional kibble that‘s extruded at high temperatures, Sundays gently cooks their food and then air-dries it to preserve nutrients and flavor. The result is a jerky-like texture dogs love.
🚚 Convenient subscription model: Sundays offers flexible subscriptions that deliver the perfect amount of food to your door on a recurring basis. No more last-minute trips to the pet store!
Having tried countless pet food brands over the years (occupational hazard of being a crazy dog lady), I was intrigued by Sundays‘ unique approach. I loved the emphasis on clean, natural ingredients and the air-dried format sounded both nutritious and convenient. But I knew the real test would be seeing how my own dogs reacted to the food.
Spoiler alert: they went absolutely bonkers for it. But more on that later! First, let‘s take a closer look at what‘s actually inside the bag.
Sundays Ingredients and Nutrition: A Cut Above the Rest
If you‘re a label-reader like me, the first thing you‘ll notice about Sundays is the impressively short and sweet ingredient list. Unlike many commercial dog foods that read like a chemistry textbook, Sundays keeps it simple and transparent.
The primary protein sources are USDA-certified chicken or beef, which make up 90% of the formula. The remaining 10% consists of nutrient-rich "superfoods" like:
- Pumpkin 🎃
- Blueberries 🫐
- Zucchini 🥒
- Quinoa 🌾
- Kelp 🌿
- Ginger 🌱
What you won‘t find in Sundays are any cheap fillers, artificial preservatives, or controversial ingredients like corn, wheat, soy, legumes, or potatoes. In fact, Sundays intentionally avoids using legumes and potatoes due to their potential link to heart disease in dogs (more on that below).
So what does this carefully curated ingredient lineup mean for your dog? Let‘s break it down from a nutritional standpoint.
Expert Insights on Sundays‘ Nutritional Value
To get a professional perspective on Sundays‘ ingredient quality and nutritional composition, I reached out to Dr. Jamie Richardson, Medical Chief of Staff at Small Door Veterinary.
"Sundays offers a unique and compelling nutritional profile for dogs," says Dr. Richardson. "The high proportion of animal protein is ideal for meeting dogs‘ biological needs, while the targeted superfoods provide beneficial antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients not found in conventional dog food."
Dr. Richardson also pointed out that the air-drying process used by Sundays helps to preserve the inherent nutrients in the ingredients, as opposed to high-heat extrusion which can degrade nutritional value.
"By gently dehydrating the food, Sundays is able to maintain more of the natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids found in the whole food ingredients," she explains. "This bioavailability is key for optimizing your dog‘s digestion and absorption of nutrients."
But what about the macronutrients? I wanted to see how Sundays stacked up against AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards, which provide expert-backed recommendations for canine nutrition.
Here‘s how the guaranteed analysis of Sundays‘ beef recipe compares to AAFCO minimum requirements:
| Nutrient | Sundays | AAFCO Min |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 35% | 18% |
| Fat | 28% | 5.5% |
| Fiber | 3% | N/A |
| Moisture | 10% | N/A |
As you can see, Sundays far exceeds the minimum protein and fat levels recommended by AAFCO. This aligns with the latest research showing that high-protein, meat-based diets are optimal for canine health.
What About DCM and Grain-Free Diets?
One hot topic in the pet nutrition world lately is the FDA‘s investigation into a potential link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The FDA named potatoes, lentils, peas, and other legumes as ingredients of concern.
Sundays has taken a proactive stance on this issue by completely eliminating these ingredients from their recipes. As a pup parent who has lost a dog to heart disease, I really appreciate this cautionary approach.
"While the DCM issue is still being researched, we believe it‘s prudent to avoid the most suspect ingredients until we have more conclusive scientific evidence," says Sundays co-founder Tory Waxman. "This reflects our broader philosophy of ‘less is more‘ when it comes to dog food. We‘d rather keep it simple and stick to ingredients with a proven track record of safety."
So far, we‘ve taken a deep dive into the science and theory behind Sundays. But how does the food actually perform in the real world? Keep reading to find out how it measured up in my own pups‘ bowls!
Putting Sundays to the Test: Feeding Trials With My Dogs
Alright, it‘s time for the moment of truth. As much as I appreciate the nutritional nerdery behind Sundays (and believe me, I do), none of it matters if my dogs won‘t eat the dang food. And let me tell you, I‘ve dealt with some seriously picky eaters in my day.
Enter: Olive and Bodie. Olive is my 3-year-old French bulldog who has never met a meal she didn‘t like. Bodie, on the other hand, is my 7-year-old Boston terrier who has a love-hate relationship with food. He‘s the type to sniff, lick, and then walk away from a perfectly good bowl of kibble. Needless to say, I was curious to see how they‘d react to Sundays.
Initial Impressions
The first thing I noticed when I opened the Sundays bag was the texture of the food. It looks more like jerky treats than traditional kibble, which I thought might throw off my dogs. But oh boy, was I wrong.
As soon as I poured the Sundays pieces into their bowls, Olive and Bodie came running. And when I say running, I mean full-on sprinting from the other room. They were immediately drawn to the meaty aroma wafting up from the air-dried morsels.
Olive, true to form, dove right in and started chomping away. But the real surprise was Bodie. He didn‘t hesitate for a second before gobbling up his entire portion and licking the bowl clean. I was floored!
Changes in Health, Energy, and Coat
After a few weeks of feeding Sundays consistently, I started to notice some positive changes in both dogs. Here are a few highlights:
🦴 Improved digestion: One of the first things I noticed was smaller, firmer stools from both dogs. This is a telltale sign that they‘re absorbing more nutrients and producing less waste.
💪 Increased energy: Olive has always been an energetic dog, but on Sundays she seems to have even more pep in her step. We‘ve been going on longer walks and she‘s still raring to go when we get home.
😊 Shinier coat: After about a month on Sundays, I could swear Bodie‘s coat looked shinier and softer. His fur has always been a bit coarse, but now it has a lovely luster to it.
Of course, every dog is different, and your mileage may vary. But based on my experience, I believe the high-quality ingredients and balanced nutrition in Sundays can make a noticeable difference in your dog‘s overall health and wellbeing.
What Are Other Dog Owners Saying? Real Sundays Reviews
I know what you might be thinking: "That‘s great that Sundays worked for your dogs, but what about everyone else?" Don‘t worry, I did my homework!
To get a broader sense of how Sundays performs across different dogs, I scoured online reviews from verified buyers. Here‘s a snapshot of what I found:
On the Sundays website, the brand boasts an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 500+ reviews. The most common praise was for the food‘s palatability, with many owners reporting that their picky eaters love the taste and texture.
"I have a notoriously finicky eater who has turned her nose up at every food we‘ve tried," writes one reviewer. "But with Sundays, she practically inhales her meals and always looks for more. It‘s such a relief to finally find something she enjoys!"
Other reviewers called out improvements in their dog‘s digestion, energy levels, and coat health—similar to what I observed with my own pups.
"Since starting Sundays, my dog‘s chronic diarrhea has completely cleared up," says another happy customer. "And her coat is so much shinier! I can really see the difference in her overall health."
Of course, no product is perfect, and Sundays is no exception. A few reviews mentioned that the air-dried texture can be crumbly and messy. Others noted that the subscription price is higher than traditional kibble (although on par with other fresh food options).
"Yes, Sundays is pricier than the bargain bin stuff," acknowledges one reviewer. "But in my opinion, it‘s worth every penny. You can really see and feel the quality, and my dog has never been healthier."
All in all, the vast majority of Sundays reviews are positive, with many customers reporting noticeable improvements in their dog‘s health, happiness, and mealtime excitement.
The Bottom Line: Is Sundays Dog Food Worth It?
Phew, that was a lot of information! If you‘ve stuck with me this far, you‘re probably wondering: "So, what‘s the verdict? Is Sundays actually worth the hype (and the price tag)?"
In my opinion, if you‘re looking for a high-quality, nutritionally balanced, and convenient way to upgrade your dog‘s diet, Sundays is absolutely worth considering. The human-grade ingredients, targeted superfoods, and gentle air-drying process set it apart from most kibbles on the market.
I was genuinely impressed by how much my dogs loved the taste and texture of Sundays, and I noticed tangible improvements in their digestion, energy, and coat health after the transition. The fact that Sundays is backed by veterinary expertise and avoids filler ingredients or artificial additives gives me even more confidence as a pet parent.
That being said, I recognize that Sundays may not be the right fit for every dog or budget. The subscription price is definitely an investment, although I would argue that it‘s worth it for the peace of mind and potential long-term health benefits.
I also appreciate that Sundays offers a risk-free trial period, so you can test it out with your own pup before committing to a full subscription. And if you do decide to take the plunge, the auto-ship model is super convenient for busy pet parents like myself.
My Honest Recommendation
If you have a picky eater, a dog with digestive issues, or just want to feed the best possible nutrition, I highly recommend giving Sundays a try. The proof is in the poop (smaller and firmer, remember?).
Even if your dog is currently thriving on a different diet, I think it‘s worth incorporating Sundays as a rotational option or a high-value treat. The air-dried texture and meaty flavor make it a great choice for training rewards or food puzzles.
At the end of the day, every dog is unique and there‘s no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition. But based on my research and firsthand experience, I believe Sundays is a top contender in the fresh dog food space. It ticks all the boxes for ingredient quality, nutritional balance, palatability, and convenience.
Most importantly, I feel good knowing that I‘m giving my dogs the best possible fuel to support their health and happiness. As a proud dog mom and unapologetic food snob, that‘s really what it‘s all about.
So go ahead, give Sundays a shot and see the difference for yourself. Your dog (and their taste buds) will thank you!
