FAQs
General Questions
Where can I buy Nature’s Select?
Great question! Our pet food is primarily direct to consumer, as we have distributors all over the continental US. Let's find you a Nature’s Select Distributor closest to your area. Visit our Locations Page to find your nearest supplier and they can assist you with your Nature’s Select order! Our pet food is also available in select brick and mortar stores across the USA. You can also shop Nature’s Select Premium Pet Products on Amazon!
What makes Nature’s Select the superior choice for pet food?
It’s important to remember that Nature’s Select remains family owned & operated, just as we have been since our very beginning in 1994. Our pet food is delivered to your door, offering ease and convenience above all else. We are proud to stand by our products no matter what, and offer a satisfaction guarantee always. Our Nature’s Select Distributors across the country are small businesses representing our brand across the USA - who are all family owned & operated as well. When you shop Nature’s Select, our team truly cares about the well-being of your pets and our main goal is that you are happy and your pets are healthy, period. Our product integrity remains steadfast in quality, and we remain recall free to this day. Our safety protocols, ingredient standards, and trusted suppliers are what ensure our products remain fresh and to the highest quality overall.
Do you have a full-time nutritionist on staff?
Yes, we do. Our Vice President of Nutrition and Procurement is one of 12 nutritionists currently holding a Professional Animal Scientist certification in Companion Animal from the American Registry of Professional Animal Sciences (ARPAS). We also work with third-party nutritionists to validate our work, consult with us on research, and engage in open discussions about how to make sure our products continue to meet our high standards. We are highly rooted in science and continue to use the most proven, trusted ingredients available.
What should I look for in a pet food?
Read the label! High quality ingredients are essential for a healthy food. The first ingredient should always be a meat or fish protein. Whole meats, whole grains, and natural preservatives are key components of the healthiest pet food. Pay attention to the protein ratio. A pet food with 20-30% protein is ideal. The bag should also be dated for freshness. Every bag of Nature's Select pet food has a "best buy" date stamped onto the back of the bag. It is recommended that the bag is used before that date; however, the food is perfectly safe to feed to your pets after that date, it just loses some potency after that date. It's important to remember that a "best buy" date is not the same as an "expiration date".
All Nature's Select formulas are free from corn, wheat, soy, gluten, and any other processed grain by-products. We have NEVER been challenged on nutrition! At Nature's Select, we have kept our formulas current with the latest nutritional advancements to maintain a high level of nutrition. All Nature's Select formulas are formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
What should I avoid in a pet food?
READ the label. Avoid inexpensive, less nutritional ingredients and fillers. Corn, wheat, soy, and animal by-products are fillers that lack the nutrition your pets need.
Meat by-products consist of organs and parts not desired for consumption. They can include bones, blood, intestines, lungs, heads, feet, and feathers. We think it’s important to use specific ingredients such as chicken meal or brown rice. That way, you always know exactly what you are getting. When brands use ingredients such as poultry by-products, the ingredients can change from bag to bag. You may get chicken in one bag and turkey in the next.
Changing ingredients suddenly can cause digestive upset. Most fillers can be linked to excessive waste, poor nutritional absorption, and skin problems like excessive scratching and hair loss.
Also make sure there are no chemical preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), or ethoxyquin. These preservatives are potentially cancer-causing agents. The long-term buildups of these chemicals in your pet’s body have not been thoroughly studied and may ultimately be harmful.
How do I switch from one pet food to another?
When switching your pet to Nature’s Select food or from one Nature’s Select formula to another, we always recommend a gradual transition. Normal bacteria in the intestine help your pet digest food. A sudden change in diet can result in changes to the number and type of bacteria and their ability to digest food, which can lead to intestinal upset. Therefore, a gradual transition helps your pet’s digestive system adjust to a new food without causing loose stool or an upset tummy. We recommend a transition over a period of 7-10 days. Start with a mixture of 25% new food and 75% old food for 2-3 days. Then switch to a 50/50 blend for another 2-3 days. If the transition is going well, move to 75% new food and 25% old food for another 2-3 days until you are 100% on the new food. If at any time your dog starts to vomit, has loose stool, or appears constipated, slow the rate at which you are switching food.
How often should I feed my puppy?
In general, puppies need to have more scheduled feeding times per day than an adult dog. This is because a puppy’s body is in growth mode, and needs a constant supply of nutrients in order to be healthy. Most puppies will benefit from a diet that has their daily food portion divided into three feedings per day. New puppies, in general, do not eat a lot during their first few days in a new home. This is normal. Once they settle in they will start to eat again.
Where can I go for more information about your company or products?
If you have additional questions, please reach out to our team we are always happy to help. You are welcome to send an email to info@naturesselectcorp.com or call us directly (714) 993-5500 we are available weekdays Monday through Friday from 7am – 4pm PST. We are unavailable on major holidays.
How do I store my pet food to guarantee freshness?
Store your pet food in a cool, dry place. Any dry kibble pet food product is guaranteed fresh for up to a year or 12 months if properly stored away from heat and moisture. We recommend putting your pet food in a sealed container for best results.
Nature’s Select Products
Why choose Nature’s Select Pet Food?
Click here to learn why Nature’s Select Pet Food is the best option for your dog! Dogs can't seem to get enough of our tasty Nature's Select Premium Pet Products. We have something for everyone, regardless of your pet's unique health needs. Select from a range of protein options that will surely satisfy whatever your pet is craving. Highly palpable, easily digestible, and quickly devoured by dogs all across America.
Can I get a free sample?
We understand that the best way to discover the Nature’s Select difference is for your dog to actually TRY our all-natural recipes! You can contact your local Nature’s Select Distributor to request free samples of our formulas OR you can locate a local retailer for free samples. Find your nearest location here. If you are unable to receive free samples of one of our formulas, be mindful that Nature’s Select products have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with our product, you may contact your local distributor for a replacement bag or refund. Return policies vary by location.
How long has Nature’s Select been in business?
Nature’s Select was started by Paul and Diana Cavanaugh in Orange County, CA in 1994. They began with a simple idea: to deliver all-natural pet food to your door, using the freshest and finest ingredients at prices that fit your budget. Fun Fact: Nature’s Select Pet Food was the very first pet food delivery company of its kind in Southern California! Learn more about our story.
What kind of pet food does Nature’s Select offer?
Nature’s Select Pet Food comes in a variety of dry dog food formulas. We carry our signature line of dry dog food formulas in addition to our Grain Free line of dry dog food. We also offer canned dog food, canned cat food, and dry cat food. View our Products Page now.
Who formulates Nature’s Select Pet Food recipes?
Our internal Nutrition Team works diligently with third-party nutritionists to formulate the diets, design new products, handle product registrations and ensure compliance with regulations.
Which Nature’s Select recipe should I choose?
That depends on several factors, including your dog's age, activity level and specific health needs. We encourage you to Contact Us directly for a personalized recommendation.
Where is Nature’s Select Pet Food made?
We are proud to produce all of our Nature’s Select dry kibble foods in our Texas-based manufacturing facility. All Nature’s Select products are MADE IN THE USA and have USA sourced ingredients with the exception of our lamb and green mussels which are sourced from New Zealand. All of our formulas exceed AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.
"USA Made" refers to our product being made here in the United States. "USA Safe" refers to the USA approval of processing for our New Zealand Lamb recipe which has lamb that is sourced from New Zealand. All Nature's Select Recipes are made in the great state of Texas!
Are your bags recyclable?
Our Nature's Select poly-bags are BPA Free and #7 classification for recycling; Most neighborhood areas are starting to accept these but it is dependent on where you live. Otherwise, these need to be recycled through a commercial composting facility. Our bag company is currently working on a new resin that will soon make our bags completely recyclable across the board. Most major shopping stores have recycle bins available for our poly-bags and are a certified drop-off area.
Do you participate in Feeding Trials?
As a small family owned & operated business, we currently do not participate in any feeding trials at this time; however, our pet food recipes remain recall-free since we started the company back in 1994. Often times, feeding trials are marketing ploys and paid gimmicks for large pet food companies to use to market the food.
Our Ingredients
Where do you source your ingredients?
The quality of our ingredients is extremely important to us. We source our ingredients from valued and trusted suppliers who are dedicated to providing the very highest-quality ingredients available on the market today. The majority of our ingredients are locally sourced in the state of Texas. We are one of only a few pet food manufacturers that uses the amino acid complex minerals from Zinpro Corporation, which has the research to prove its minerals are better absorbed and provide a well-documented response when being fed. Many of the big-name brands still use predominantly inorganic forms of trace minerals or less bioavailable forms of organic trace minerals.
Where can I find feeding guidelines?
You can find our feeding instructions in two places. Our feeding instructions are located on the back of every bag of kibble as well as on our website where feeding guidelines for each of our formulas are listed.
Let's keep in mind this is the suggested feeding amount for an active adult dog. The serving size may increase or decrease a bit depending on your dog's physical activity and age. If you are looking to promote weight loss, go with the lesser recommended amount according to weight. If you are looking to increase weight, go with the greater recommended amount.
What’s better as a primary ingredient, chicken or chicken meal?
Although it is a quality ingredient, chicken is about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight. Ingredients on a pet food label are listed in descending order by weight. When you see chicken as the first ingredient in pet food, this is before it’s cooked. Once cooked, the percentage of chicken in the formula is much lower due to the loss of moisture. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken. Chicken meal does not contain by-products such as beaks, feathers, or feet.
Our meals are considered a meat concentrate that contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken, lamb, beef, or salmon. They do NOT include bone or internal organs.
Are your products gluten free or GMO free?
GMO
We are GMO-free except in the formulas that contain rice. The following products are GMO-free: Select Multi Protein Recipe (Beef, Chicken, Pork), Select Cold Water Recipe (Menhaden Fish), and our Grain Free Products (Farm Fresh Recipe, Coastline Catch Recipe, Range Hearty Recipe); all other Nature's Select Products are not GMO-free. However, we do have a complex diversity of ingredients in our products and in such ratios, that the GMO aspect is really very small. As for Nature's Select, we have been and will be prudent in using the finest and safest ingredients from the best sources we have available.
Gluten Free
All our formulas are either grain free or made from gluten free grains.
Safety & Food Quality
What safety certifications does Nature’s Select Pet Food currently hold?
Food safety is our priority. Our ingredients are tested both internally and externally to ensure they meet our high standards of quality. We also extensively test our finished products to ensure the health and safety of the pets eating our products. We are proud to say that our Texas-based pet food manufacturer has earned the SQF Code for Manufacturing 8.0, the SQF Quality Code 8.0, and the FSC 36 Safe Feed/Safe Food in 2018. In addition, all our recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO regulations. We constantly analyze both raw materials and finished diets to validate AAFCO standards.
How long does your pet food stay fresh?
Any dry kibble pet food product is guaranteed fresh for up to a year or 12 months if properly stored away from heat and moisture. We recommend putting your pet food in a sealed container for best results. Store your pet food in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture.
Do you have someone on staff dedicated to food safety?
Yes. Our VP of Regulatory Affairs and Quality for Nature’s Select Pet Food is one of the leading food safety experts in the United States. He, along with everyone in our company, works hard to ensure the safety of our products every day.
What kind of quality control do you have?
Our Texas-based Manufacturer has earned the SQF Code for Manufacturing 8.0, the SQF Quality Code 8.0, and the FSC 36 Safe Feed/Safe Food in 2018. In addition, all our recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO regulations. We constantly analyze both raw materials and finished diets to validate AAFCO standards.
Shipping & Returns
What is your return policy?
Our goal is to consistently exceed our customers’ expectations and our success is dependent on your happiness. If, for any reason, you’re not satisfied with our products and home delivery service, then we’re not satisfied. Refund & Exchange policies depend upon your local Nature’s Select Distributor’s discretion. Please contact your local dealer for more information.
Where do you ship your pet food to?
At this time, Nature's Select Premium Pet Products only services the continental United States. We cannot ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico or beyond. Unfortunately we are not set up to ship outside of the continental U.S. since we are such a small brand and utilize direct to consumer distribution. We are not affiliated with any large pet food distribution networks. We apologize for any inconvenience. Should anything change in the future, we will certainly let our customers know.
I moved out of state. Can I still get Nature’s Select Pet Food delivered?
Absolutely! We are able to delivery locally or ship to the continental United States. Unfortunately at this time we are unable to deliver to Alaska or Hawaii. Let's find you a Nature’s Select Distributor closest to your area. Click here to get started.