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General Information
What kind of quality control do you use?
We test each batch of our raw food for bacteria, salmonella and Aerobic Plate Count (APC) to ensure it is safe for your dog to eat
Are your ingredients human grade?
Our primary ingredients are not human grade due to the way our deer are processed, not because of lack of quality. Specifically, the deer are killed and gutted in the wild, and the organs we use in our recipe (the offal) are left intact to be inspected. However, since the organs and rib bones are exposed in the wild after the deer was killed, and not inside a factory, they cannot be human grade. Since our deer are wild, they are raised without any human intervention. Our supplements are human grade, and everything is processed in a human grade facility. Find more information about New Zealand venison here.
Our non-raw products (our treats & chews) are made at facilities that manufacture pet food and treats; as a result, they cannot be regarded as of human-grade quality. We are dedicated to utilising only ingredients that uphold the highest standards at Huntaway. Our top priority is providing safe, top-notch nourishment that will enable all dogs to thrive.
Are the fruit and vegetables in our Frozen & Freeze-Dried Raw Venison recipes organic and non-GMO?
We use currently use a fruit and vege blend, made up of Carrot, Apple, Tomato, Shiitake, Broccoli, Orange, Cranberry, Pumpkin, Spinach, Beet, Tart Cherry, Strawberry, and Blueberry, which are non-GMO & organic compliant. The other fruits and vegetables in our recipe are currently sourced from local farmers market so they are unable to provide non-gmo/organic status at this stage. We are continuing to work with local suppliers to establish a source for these.
What type of diet is Huntaway raw dog food suitable for?
Huntaway raw dog food can be served in rotation with other proteins or as part of a raw food or mixed food diet. It is possible to transition your dog from kibble to raw food using Huntaway raw dog food introduced slowly over four weeks.
What if my dog has food allergies or intolerances?
Food allergies are often linked to familiar protein sources, such as chicken, turkey and beef, which are common in many dog foods.
Wild New Zealand venison makes up 90% of our raw frozen & freeze-dried dog food, with the rest being natural ingredients like blueberries, carrots and beets. If your dog is struggling with a food allergy or sensitivity, then wild venison may be a great alternative protein to try.
For more information, check out our Raw Feeding blog.
My dog is allergic to ‘X’, do you have other ingredient options?
We have carefully selected all our ingredients for nutritional value and sustainable considerations but if there's something that doesn’t fit for your pup’s diet, we’d still love to hear from you. Initially we have launched just one highly nutritious frozen raw dog food but we are already working on new flavors and varieties, so please drop us a note and tell us what you’d like to see next.
Do I have to feed this along side my dog's current diet?
Huntaway Frozen and Freeze-Dried Raw dog food arecompletemeals with additional nutritional supplements for a healthy joints and shiny coats. This is considered a complete diet, which means this a perfectly balanced meal and does not require additional supplements.
How does the calculator on your website work?
Both of our feeding calculators, use some basic information about your pup, like activity level and weight to work out a recommended daily serving.
The activity levels are split into three categories, these are Lazy Bones, Hound of Habit and Bundle of Energy. Here’s a little guide to figure out which activity level, we would deem your pup.
- Lazy Bones → Less than 30mins of exercise daily
- Hound of Habit → 30 to 90 minutes of daily exercise
- Bundle of Energy → More than 90 minutes of daily exercise
Huntaway AAFCO statement
We have formulated our signature frozen raw diet to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance. We are constantly working on improving our formulation while maintaining nutritional levels. This means that with any changes to our formulation, we are testing our product to ensure we provide the very best to all of our customers and their furry friends.
Frozen Raw Venison
How much Huntaway Frozen Raw Dog Food should I feed?
Recommended daily servings are as follows:
- XS dog (5-15lbs): 1-3 cubes
- Small dog (16-25lbs): 3-5 cubes
- Medium dog (26-50lbs): 5-7 cubes
- Large dog (51-75lbs): 7-10 cubes
- XL dog (76lbs+): 10+ cubes
Use our feeding calculator to get a customised serving amount for your dog!
For puppies and pregnant/nursing dogs, feed up to 2-3 times the above adult amount.
Always consult your veterinarian as requirements vary based on the number of puppies and stage of lactation.
The recommended feeding guide is not "one size fits all." The specific needs of individual dogs will differ depending on their metabolism, age, level of daily exercise, health issues, heredity, outdoor surroundings, stress, and anxiety.
How do I serve Huntaway?
Our Huntaway signature raw food recipe is best served thawed in the refrigerator for 12 hours or more. We would recommend keeping your raw food in a separate covered container in your refrigerator to avoid cross contamination for both you and your dog(s)
What's the best way to handle Huntaway Frozen Raw food?
Keep food frozen. For your protection, keep separate from other foods, wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling and wash your pet’s bowl after each feed. Any food not eaten within 30 minutes of offering should be discarded.
How many calories are in each cube?
Current formulation → Each 3 oz cube contains 142 kcal. Which works out to be 165 kcal per 100 grams or roughly 47 kcal per oz.
Why should I try Frozen Raw Venison for my dog?
Huntaway is made from wild venison, a hypoallergenic novel protein that is great for weight control as well as for dogs with food intolerances or allergies.
Find out more about our Frozen Raw Venison now!
How much of “X” macronutrient or micronutrient is in the recipe?
If you’re ever wondering how much of a specific nutrient is in our recipes, feel free to reach out to us for this information. We’re more than happy to provide you with a nutrient panel to review.
What is the % break down of meat vs bone vs offal included in the recipe?
Our signature product is made up of 90% Wild Venison, this further breaks down into 60% Venison meat and 30% Offal/Organ meat (Heart, Liver, Kidney, Lung, Spleen & Trachea)
What does it mean that Huntaway Frozen Raw Venison is complete diet?
Complete means that Huntaway meets all of the minimum nutritional requirements your dog needs, from macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates), to micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Our recipes follow the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control officials) nutritional standards and are designed to grow with your dog from their puppy years, all the way into their golden oldies. We are constantly working to craft our recipes to help optimize your pup’s health for a longer, happier life. Huntaway recipes undergo testing through nutritional software and food laboratories to guarantee our nutritional content.
Freeze-Dried Raw Venison
How much Huntaway Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food should I feed?
Recommended daily servings for a complete meal are as follows:
- XS dog (5-15lbs): 1-2 cups
- Small dog (16-25lbs): 2-2.5 cups
- Medium dog (26-50lbs): 2.5-4 cups
- Large dog (51-75lbs): 4-5.5 cups
- XL dog (76lbs+): 5.5+ cups
How do I serve Huntaway Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Dog Food?
We’ve made feeding raw easy! To feed, just scoop > hydrate > serve. No time spent on messy preparation work to ensure your dog is served a nutritious raw diet. Even your kids can do it.
How many calories are in a cup?
Our Freeze-Dried Raw Venison dog food recipe has 248 kcal/cup
Why should I try Freeze-Dried Raw Venison for my dog?
Huntaway is made from wild venison, a hypoallergenic novel protein that is great for weight control as well as for dogs with food intolerances or allergies.
Discover more about the process of Freeze-Dried food here!
How much of “X” macronutrient or micronutrient is in the recipe?
If you’re ever wondering how much of a specific nutrient is in our recipes, feel free to reach out to us for this information. We’re more than happy to provide you with a nutrient panel to review.
What is the % break down of meat vs bone vs offal included in the recipe?
Our signature product is made up of 90% Wild Venison, this further breaks down into 60% Venison meat and 30% Organ meat (Heart, Liver, Kidney, Lung, Spleen & Trachea)
What does it mean that Huntaway Freeze-Dried Raw Venison is a complete diet?
Complete means that Huntaway meets all of the minimum nutritional requirements your dog needs, from macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates), to micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Our recipes follow the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control officials) nutritional standards and are designed to grow with your dog from their puppy years, all the way into their golden oldies. We are constantly working to craft our recipes to help optimize your pup’s health for a longer, happier life. Huntaway recipes undergo testing through nutritional software and food laboratories to guarantee our nutritional content.
What does the process of Freeze-Dried mean?
Freeze drying is the process of removing moisture through low pressure treatment and heat to turn the water content into vapor. This process allows for the nutritional content of the product to be preserved, while making it shelf stable. For more in-depth information about how we make our freeze-dried product, click here.
Treats and Chews
What if my dog has food allergies or intolerances?
All of our treats & chews are made from novel proteins, which can be a great alternative protein source, and some of our range includes single ingredient products. Using these novel proteins allows for these products to be hypoallergenic and beneficial for dogs with a food allergy or sensitivity.
Why should I try Huntaway Treats and Chews
Our treats & chews are aimed at supporting digestion, hip & joint or skin & coat. We also serve some single ingredient treats. These allow for you to pick and chose what is best suited for you and your dog.
How will the Venison Paddywacks or Goat Ears affect my dog’s mouth & teeth?
Always supervise your dog when they’re chewing on any type of toy or chew even if your dog has chewed these items before. Every once and a while, walk over and trade the Paddywack or Ear for a piece of soft treat or cheese. You can check the treat or chew for splinters, pieces, or sharp edges while playing this game with your dog. The trade game also teaches your dog proper manners and discourages resource guarding. This game also allows you to check your dog's teeth and gums throughout the break.
How are the Jerky and Chews made? / What does 'air-dried' mean?
Air drying actually allows for meat products to be heat treated with a kill step temperature to ensure food safety in the Venison treats but without evaporating all the moisture in the treat. Moisture is actually a very important component in the treat because it potentially allows for improvement in aroma, palatability and overall mouth feel in the finished product. This means that pleasant aromas can last longer in the treats, flavors can be locked in and texture can be a pleasurable experience for the dog. The meaty, soft and moist texture of your venison treats may not have been possible if we cooked them any other way such as baking, freeze drying etc.
How are the single ingredient treats made?
The process is fairly simple in that hot air flows over the products on trays and dries it out. Other than the goat ears that undergo chemical hair removal, the products are minimally processed. If cooking refers heat treating the product there isn’t much difference between air drying and cooking. One difference between normal cooking is our product doesn’t go above 85°C.
Delivery
What makes Huntaway products more convenient?
Our product is flash-frozen into individual 3 oz cube-shaped portions, which stack efficiently and are easy to thaw for your dog. Our specially-designed freezer-friendly bags have a low-profile form that take up less freezer space.
How are Huntaway products delivered?
We use FedEx and UPS to deliver our raw frozen dog food as well as our treats & chews. Each box of Huntaway raw food is packaged with dry ice in a highly insulated box to keep it frozen throughout the delivery process and for some hours after; however we do recommend unpacking Huntaway into your freezer as soon as possible when you receive it. Our treats and chews are delievered without dry ice, when purchased separately to our raw food.
When can I expect my order to arrive?
Due to Huntaway Raw Dog Food being a perishable product, we do not ship every day of the week. If your order is placed on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, your order will ship no later than Wednesday. Orders placed any other day of the week will be dispatched on the following Monday. We will notify you via email with tracking details when your order has been sent. Once your order has been shipped, you can expect to receive it within 48 hours.
Our treats & chews are shipped everyday if they are ordered by themself. If you order them along side your raw subscription then they will be shipped along with your raw food. This is done to reduce packaging and carbon emissions as we are constantly striving to be more eco-friendly.
Can I arrange a return if I have to?
Due to the perishable nature of our frozen product, Huntaway does not accept returns or exchanges for frozen products. Should you wish to return unopened treats or chews within 30 days of purchase, please contact our customer service team.
Sustainability
How are Huntaway products sustainable?
Wild deer are an invasive species in New Zealand. Wild deer numbers in New Zealand's South Island are increasing, damaging local crops and depleting young growth in native forests.
Through thoughtful harvesting of these wild deer, there are no conventional farming impacts on the environment with regards to land-use, carbon and waterway pollution.
Our ingredients solve a problem of an invasive species, whilst also providing a nutrient dense source of protein for your dog.
Is Huntaway packaging sustainable?
All of our packaging is either recyclable or compostable, even the packing tape we use to seal the cartons.
Is the Huntaway supply chain sustainable?
We ship by sea from New Zealand to the USA, which is slower but has proportionately lower carbon emissions. We are always looking for ways to make our products more sustainable. As part of this effort we are developing a carbon footprint profile for our products and supply chain.
What can I do with my packaging?
Once the dry ice has dissipated, you can recycle or compost all Huntaway packaging. If the dry ice has not dissipated when your order arrives, just let the box sit open in a well-ventilated area after removing your Huntaway products, and it should fully evaporate within 24 hours. Please make sure not to touch the dry ice (it's very cold!) and keep it away from children and pets.
How do I recycle the greencell packaging?
Our greencell packaging can be recycled or disposed of in a number of ways. We strongly advise slicing the Green Cell Plus (GC+) open and removing the foam panels. Recycle the film. The foam can be disposed of anyway you choose once the film and foam have been separated. Any residential or commercial composting system can process Green Cell Foam. When placed in a wet soil setting, the bio-based packing foam will degrade in 60 days or less. Or the foam disintegrates in the water. It even decomposes in freshwater and saltwater; just place tiny pieces in the sink to watch it "melt" safely down the drain!
Auto-delivery subscription
Can I subscribe to Huntaway?
You can sign up for auto-deliveryto have the right amount of Huntaway delivered to your door at the right time.
Just select the size box you want, and how often you want it delivered, and we'll send your order out when it suits you! You can cancel or adjust your subscription whenever you need to.
How often should I order Huntaway for my dog?
Use our feeding calculator to get a customized serving amount and suggested subscription for you and your pup! Tip: If you're running out of food you might need to increase your frequency of delivery or size up your subscription box. If you're finding your box arrives before you’re nearly empty, you might need to decrease your frequency of delivery or size down to a smaller box.
How do I cancel an order?
You can cancel an order up to 48 hours before it is set to process. Cancellations after your order has processed may incur a $15 cancellation fee. We understand that sometimes emergencies happen, so if you need to cancel an order after it’s processed, send an email to our customer service team and we can do our best to alter/stop this order from being dispatched.
Should an order already be dispatched, we are unable to stop the delivery of this order. If your order has already processed, but has not been collected by our shipping partners, a $15 cancellation fee will apply. This fee will be deducted from any refunded amount.
How do I update my subscription?
Log in to your account and you can skip a delivery, pause deliveries, adjust delivery frequency or quantity, or cancel your subscription. You can also update your payment information, shipping information, and your personal details.
I'm having trouble logging in to my account
Make sure you've activated your account – you will automatically receive an email from Huntaway inviting you to activate your account when you create a new account. If you've forgotten your password, you can use the Forgot Password link to get an email with a link to reset your password. If you're still having trouble, get in touch and we will help!
What do I do if there's a problem with my subscription?
Try logging in to your account to see if you can adjust your subscription there, or get in touch with us – we're always here to help!
When will I get my dog food delivery?
Due to Huntaway Raw Dog Food being a perishable product, we do not ship every day of the week. If your order is placed on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, your order will ship no later than Wednesday. Orders placed any other day of the week will be dispatched on the following Monday.
Need to track your order? Please track your order on our order tracking page here.