Goodness Gracious
Want gently cooked dog food that actually looks like food?
Goodness Gracious is one of the fresh-food companies I like because it takes a very different approach to completing a commercial dog food.
Their current classic recipes are high-protein, low-carbohydrate, gently cooked meals built from human-grade whole foods — including meat and organs, vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish, oysters, seeds, eggshell and kelp.
And unlike most commercial complete diets, the classic formulas are currently balanced without a powdered vitamin-and-mineral premix.
That's impressive. It still doesn't mean every recipe is right for every dog.
I like the food enough to recommend it without being paid to recommend it. The question I can help with is which recipe actually fits your dog.
This is much closer to how I want commercial fresh food built.
Human grade
The meals are made from human-edible ingredients in the company's own licensed human-food facility.
Gently cooked
Proteins and whole foods are lightly cooked rather than extruded into shelf-stable kibble.
High protein
The current classic recipes derive the majority of calories from animal protein and fat rather than starch.
Low carbohydrate
These are grain-free, low-starch meals rather than fresh-looking foods built around large amounts of rice, pasta or potato.
Whole-food nutrients
Eggshell, oysters, fish, eggs, kelp, seeds, vegetables and other whole foods supply nutrients typically filled by a commercial vitamin premix.
Transparency
Goodness Gracious publishes ingredients, sourcing information, macronutrient data and detailed nutritional profiles for its foods.
The current classic recipes are for adult maintenance — not all life stages.
My older Goodness Gracious page said the foods met AAFCO guidelines for all life stages.
The company's current dog-food information says its classic gently cooked recipes are complete and balanced for canine adult maintenance.
That distinction matters.
Puppies — especially large-breed puppies — have different nutritional requirements for growth.
I would not use an adult-maintenance statement as though it automatically covers growth.
Five gently cooked choices — and the protein name does not tell you every animal ingredient.
This is particularly important if allergies or a food trial are why you're shopping.
Turkey Recipe
The current Turkey Recipe uses turkey and turkey liver as the main animal protein, with vegetables, fruit and whole-food nutrient sources.
It also contains eggs, mackerel and oysters.
Current macronutrient profile: approximately 59% of calories from protein, 35% from fat and 6% from carbohydrate.
Dana's Take: Turkey is a protein I often like for warmer, itchy or inflamed dogs when it fits the dog's history.
But this is not a turkey-only elimination diet because other animal foods are included.
Rabbit Recipe
Rabbit catches people's attention because it sounds like an ideal novel-protein food.
But the current recipe contains:
rabbit + pollock + pork liver + eggs + mackerel + fish oil + oysters.
Dana's Take: Great-looking food.
Not a rabbit-only food trial.
If we're trying to isolate one animal protein, this ingredient list changes the answer completely.
Pork & Salmon Recipe
This recipe combines pork sirloin and pork liver with wild salmon, eggs, oysters and marine omega-3.
The current formula provides approximately 55% of calories from protein, 39% from fat and 7% from carbohydrate.
Dana's Take: I like pork as a neutral protein in many dogs and I like the inclusion of marine foods.
This is still a multi-animal-protein recipe, so I use the full ingredient list when allergies are involved.
Beef Recipe
The current Beef Recipe is built around pasture-raised beef heart and liver.
It also includes eggs, oysters and marine fish oil.
Dana's Take: Beef is considered warming in TCVM food energetics.
That may fit one dog beautifully and be less appealing for another dog who already runs hot, red, itchy and inflamed.
I don't choose protein based only on whether the ingredient itself is “high quality.”
Chicken Recipe
Goodness Gracious makes a beautifully sourced chicken food with chicken, chicken liver, vegetables, fruit, eggs, oysters, mackerel, fish oil and whole-food nutrient sources.
The current formula provides approximately 50% of calories from protein, 43% from fat and 7% from carbohydrate.
Dana's Take: Quality doesn't change my general position on chicken.
For a chronically itchy, yeasty or inflamed dog, chicken would not be my first protein choice when we have good alternatives available.
Good food and elimination-diet food are not automatically the same thing.
I really like these recipes.
But part of what makes Goodness Gracious nutritionally interesting is also what makes several recipes unsuitable for a strict one-protein trial:
they use multiple whole foods from animal sources to supply nutrients.
Goodness Gracious now has condition-focused “Restorative” foods.
These are much more interesting to me than a generic “senior formula” because the nutritional profiles and functional ingredients are deliberately different.
But I would not choose one based only on the disease word in the product name.
Rejoov
Rejoov is the gut-focused Restorative recipe.
The current food is built around pork and pork liver with broccoli and mung-bean sprouts, Shiitake, mackerel, dandelion, bilberry, oyster mushroom extract, calendula, plantain and other whole-food ingredients.
It is complete and balanced for adult maintenance and may be used as a full meal, topper or mix-in.
Dana's Take: Very interesting food.
Chronic diarrhea still makes me think about food tolerance, pancreatic function, parasites, medication history and microbiome health rather than assuming “gut food” is the entire answer.
Jing
Jing is the most clinically interesting product in this line for me.
It is specifically formulated as a low-phosphorus food for adult dogs needing phosphorus restriction.
The current formula lists phosphorus at approximately 0.4% dry matter / 0.95 g per 1,000 kcal.
It uses egg whites, eggs, pork kidney, mackerel, oysters, vegetables, berries, omega-3 fish oil and kidney-supportive herbs and whole foods.
Dana's Take: I really like that this is not automatically a protein-starved “kidney diet.”
But kidney dogs still need the food chosen around the individual stage, phosphorus, creatinine, BUN, urine, blood pressure, potassium, appetite, muscle and overall lab picture.
Jive
Jive is the brain-health Restorative recipe.
The current formula uses turkey and turkey liver with mackerel, Lion's Mane, Reishi, broccoli sprouts, Skullcap, nettle, blueberries, greens and other whole foods.
It currently provides approximately 53% of calories from protein, 42% from fat and 4% from carbohydrate.
Dana's Take: This is a very interesting senior-food concept.
But pacing, nighttime waking and behavioral changes still require us to separate cognitive decline from pain, urinary problems, vision loss, hearing loss and other medical causes.
Reveal
Reveal is Goodness Gracious' metabolic-health Restorative recipe.
The current formula is based around wild pollock, pork kidney and liver, eggs, broccoli sprouts, Maitake, mackerel, okra, asparagus, berries and several herbs.
It currently provides approximately 56% of calories from protein, 40% from fat and only 3% from carbohydrate.
Dana's Take: That's a far more interesting starting point for metabolic nutrition than simply putting an overweight dog on a high-starch “weight control” kibble.
We still have to account for calories, thyroid/endocrine health, activity, pain, medications and muscle preservation.
Kidney disease = Jing is still too simplistic.
These are thoughtful foods.
They are not substitutes for understanding the dog.
For example:
two dogs can both have kidney disease and need different calories, protein quantities, potassium strategies, phosphorus targets and supportive additions.
Two senior dogs can both pace at night while one has cognitive decline and the other is painful.
Two overweight dogs may need completely different plans if one has uncontrolled hypothyroidism and the other simply eats too many calories.
A condition-focused food is a tool. It isn't the diagnosis or the complete protocol.
Rotational Creations makes homemade feeding much easier.
Goodness Gracious now sells a DIY Rotational Creations food base.
The current instructions pair the prepared whole-food mixture with:
Add 8 oz of muscle meat + 2 oz of organs, raw or lightly cooked.
The base itself currently contains collards, broccoli, okra, kale, cabbage, egg, carrot, beetroot, mackerel, oyster, broccoli sprouts, blueberries, wheat-germ oil, eggshell, omega-3 fish oil and kelp.
Goodness Gracious provides recipes for rotating proteins such as chicken, beef, turkey and pork.
Dana's Take: This might actually be the most interesting Goodness Gracious product for some of my clients.
You keep more control over the protein and get much of the difficult micronutrient foundation already handled.
But if your dog has kidney disease, pancreatitis, significant allergies, unusual calorie needs or another condition requiring customized nutrition, I would still rather formulate around the dog than assume the standard recipe is automatically appropriate.
Gently cooked is not a consolation prize.
Some dogs thrive on raw food.
Some dogs clearly prefer or tolerate gently cooked food better.
That may be particularly true for:
Sensitive digestion
Some GI dogs handle lightly cooked protein more comfortably.
Senior dogs
Warm, aromatic food may become more appealing as appetite changes.
Dog-parent preference
You do not need to feed raw to feed a dramatically better diet.
Household constraints
Gently cooked food may be a more practical fresh-food choice for some homes.
The goal is not to belong to Team Raw or Team Cooked.
The goal is to feed the dog in front of us well.
I particularly like this style of food for healthy aging.
Fresh moisture. High-quality animal protein. Low starch. Whole foods. Marine omega-3. Phytonutrients.
Those are all things I want to keep thinking about as dogs age.
But “senior” doesn't tell me which formula to choose.
Healthy senior
One of the classic foods may be perfectly appropriate.
Cognitive changes
Jive may become interesting after we understand what is causing the behavior.
Kidney changes
Jing may fit when phosphorus restriction is actually indicated.
Gut problems
Rejoov may enter the conversation, but digestion still deserves a full look.
Muscle loss
I want enough calories and high-quality protein rather than reflexively reducing food.
Multiple diagnoses
That's when a commercial condition formula may need more customization.
This is where food shopping becomes nutrition work.
If you have a healthy adult dog and you simply want an excellent gently cooked food:
buy the food.
If you're trying to choose around:
Follow the dog's problem beyond the brand.
I do not have an affiliate relationship with Goodness Gracious.
I recommend this food because I like what they're doing with the food.
That's it.
You can purchase directly through Goodness Gracious and check their current promotions, sample boxes and subscription pricing there.
If you already know which recipe works for your healthy adult dog, you do not need a consultation with me to place the order.
If you're deciding between Turkey, Rabbit, Jing, Jive, Rejoov, Rotational Creations or a truly custom diet:
that's when talking first may save you from buying the wrong food.
Goodness Gracious dog food
Does Dana recommend Goodness Gracious dog food?
Yes. I recommend Goodness Gracious because its current foods are gently cooked, human grade, high in animal protein, low in carbohydrate and formulated primarily with recognizable whole-food ingredients. I do not currently have an affiliate relationship with the company.
Is Goodness Gracious complete and balanced?
The current classic dog-food recipes are formulated as complete and balanced diets for canine adult maintenance. Some Restorative foods also meet adult-maintenance nutritional profiles, while Jing is specifically designed for dogs needing phosphorus restriction and should be selected for that purpose.
Is Goodness Gracious appropriate for puppies?
The current classic recipes are labeled for adult maintenance rather than all life stages. Puppies, particularly large-breed puppies, have different nutritional requirements for growth and should not be assumed to be covered by an adult-maintenance formulation.
Does Goodness Gracious use a vitamin and mineral premix?
Goodness Gracious currently formulates its classic complete diets using whole-food nutrient sources and states that it does not use powdered vitamin or mineral supplements in those recipes.
What Goodness Gracious dog-food recipes are currently available?
The current classic dog-food line includes Turkey, Rabbit, Pork & Salmon, Beef and Chicken gently cooked recipes.
Is Goodness Gracious Rabbit a single-protein rabbit food?
No. The current Rabbit Recipe also contains pollock, pork liver, eggs, mackerel, fish oil and oysters. It should not be treated as a rabbit-only elimination diet.
Is Goodness Gracious Turkey a single-protein food?
The primary meat is turkey and turkey liver, but the current formula also contains eggs, mackerel and oysters. That matters during a strict elimination diet.
Which Goodness Gracious food would Dana consider for an itchy dog?
I generally prefer proteins such as turkey over chicken for many chronically itchy or inflamed dogs, but the correct choice depends on the dog's complete food history. Because Goodness Gracious recipes use multiple animal-derived whole foods, they may not be appropriate for a strict single-protein elimination trial.
What is Goodness Gracious Jing?
Jing is a gently cooked low-phosphorus food designed for adult dogs needing phosphorus restriction. The current formula lists phosphorus at approximately 0.4% dry matter, or 0.95 grams per 1,000 kcal. Kidney nutrition should still be individualized around the dog's stage, labs and overall health.
What is Goodness Gracious Jive?
Jive is the company's brain-health Restorative food and currently contains turkey, mackerel, Lion's Mane, Reishi, herbs, sprouts, vegetables and other whole-food ingredients. It is formulated for adult maintenance.
What is Goodness Gracious Rejoov?
Rejoov is the gut-focused Restorative recipe. It combines pork with mushrooms, sprouts, herbs, greens, mackerel and other whole foods and is formulated for adult maintenance.
What is Goodness Gracious Reveal?
Reveal is the company's metabolic-health Restorative food. The current formula is high in protein and very low in carbohydrate and includes pollock, pork organs, eggs, mushrooms, sprouts, vegetables, berries and herbs.
What is Goodness Gracious Rotational Creations?
Rotational Creations is a newer DIY whole-food base. Current manufacturer recipes call for adding 8 ounces of muscle meat and 2 ounces of organs, raw or lightly cooked, to the prepared base to make complete adult-dog meals according to the supplied recipes.
Can Dana help me choose or customize Goodness Gracious?
Yes. I can help evaluate protein choice, food sensitivities, fat tolerance, kidney needs, senior goals, calories, supplements and whether one of the standard formulas, a Restorative food, Rotational Creations or a fully customized diet makes the most sense for your dog.
Goodness Gracious gives us some genuinely impressive food choices.
If you have a healthy adult dog and simply want high-quality gently cooked food, I am perfectly happy for this page to send you directly to Goodness Gracious.
If you're asking:
“Which protein for allergies?”
“Is Jing right for these kidney labs?”
“Would Jive help my senior?”
“Is this too much fat after pancreatitis?”
“Should I use Rotational Creations or build my own recipe?”
“Can we simplify all these supplements?”
That's where choosing a food becomes individualized nutrition.
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Nutrition & Medical Disclaimer: Dana Brigman is not a veterinarian. Information on The Well Oiled K9 is educational and supportive in nature and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease or replace veterinary diagnosis, medications, laboratory monitoring or emergency care. Condition-focused foods should still be selected around the individual dog. Dogs with kidney disease, pancreatitis, diabetes or metabolic disease, chronic GI disease, significant food sensitivities or other medical conditions may require individualized nutrition planning and veterinary monitoring.