What’s Behind This Cricket-Based Dehydrated Dog Food?

Have you heard of Chippin Dog Food? They are a brand that uses crickets for protein. This emerging company has been working with novel proteins and environmentally friendly practices to help create a new trend in the pet nutrition market. What is Chippin all about? We dive into the details behind this sustainable dog food brand that is taking big steps to change the eco-friendly dog food landscape.

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Key Features

• Eco-friendly nutrition
• All-natural ingredients
• Hypoallergenic proteins
• All recipes crafted by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
• Meets Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional guidelines for adult dogs
• Offers treats and food
• Lowers the carbon footprint
• Woman-owned company
• Made in the USA

What Is Chippin Dog Food?

Chippin’s motto is “Save the earth. It’s the only planet with dogs!” It is a woman-owned sustainable company that started in 2019 with the goal of making pet nutrition that is climate-friendly and uses alternate protein sources. Co-founder and CEO Haley Russell was raised vegetarian yet watched her family pets eat kibble with traditional animal proteins like salmon, chicken, and beef. Discovering this was because no other options existed, Russell set out to find a different way.

Russell is a lifelong animal lover and environmentalist and has always taken care to source humane, sustainable ingredients for her own meals. Facing challenges to do the same for her pets, she founded Chippin and focuses on providing delicious, planet-friendly foods with all-natural ingredients, using hypoallergenic natural proteins.

Chippin stands out in the crowd of pet chow makers. The company is committed to providing high-quality, nutritious food that helps reduce the carbon footprint. Haley turned to an unconventional source of protein for her dog food: crickets. Along with cricket, treats include silver carp, a highly overpopulated fish, and spirulina (algae). These proteins are hypoallergenic and more digestible than chicken. The company’s recipes are at least 80% less resource-intensive than most mainstream pet nutrition options.

All food and treats are crafted by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, including Dr. Beth Hamper, DVM, Ph.D., Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist. Ingredients come from farms and food partners that the brand knows and trusts.

Have There Been Any Chippin Recalls?

Our research uncovered no recalls in the company’s history. No recalls are excellent news, as this chow is a wonderful option for owners looking to provide their pets with different protein sources. Additionally, it means that the brand takes the utmost care to uphold safety and quality standards.

Chippin Dog Food & Treat Ingredients

Chippin is a little different from other pet nutrition companies because they include some ingredients that most people would not think of as being ideal nutrition for dogs.

• Crickets – Cricket is a natural form of protein for dogs. It is highly digestible and acts as a prebiotic to support gut health. Cricket is also hypoallergenic, making it easier for dogs with sensitive stomachs to digest. The cricket protein source is from a family farm in Canada.
• Spirulina – Spirulina is a blue-green algae that many health-conscious people add to their diet. This algae is made up of 55% protein. It acts as a probiotic to support the microbiome in the gut and is an anti-allergen. Spirulina is helpful with sustainability as it takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere instead of putting more into it. Spirulina grows in a nutrient-dense, closed-loop cycle. It is a vegan source of high-quality protein and nutrients.
• Silver Carp – Silver carp, also called copi, is an invasive species that overpopulates fresh waters in the United States. It is estimated that the invasive fish accounts for over 90% of the biomass of the Mississippi River. The fish have the potential to get into areas like the Great Lakes and cause damage to the native species. Though invasive, silver copi is nutrient-dense, is high in omega-3 fatty acids, and contains all 10 essential amino acids.

By using silver copi, the company is working to help restore biodiversity to U.S. waterways and protect the Great Lake ecosystem. Fish are caught by local fishermen primarily in Kentucky Lake, which lies off the Ohio River near the Mississippi. The team works closely with local fishermen and eco-conscious fishing partners to catch fresh fish for their recipes.

Other ingredients include fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like flaxseed and sunflower oil, vitamins, and other nutrients.

Eco-Friendly Efforts

This brand is certified plastic neutral, meaning they remove as much plastic as possible from the environment throughout their supply chain. They also use carbon-neutral shipping. Along with helping the environment through sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly packaging, Chippin also helps save water. It takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce a single pound of dog chow. A single (1) gallon of water produces one gallon of cricket protein.

Water Saved

Chippin Dog Food Reviews

Currently, the brand offers one dehydrated dog food recipe and a variety of teats and toppers.

The dehydrated cricket option is a balanced recipe, including prebiotic fiber, omega-3s, and all 10 essential amino acids. The cricket formula includes gently dehydrated vegetables, fruits, and ancient grains. There are no beef, chicken, legumes, dairy, or eggs used in the recipe. The cricket formula needs to be mixed with warm water, creating a tasty, wet meal for dogs. It can be a complete and balanced meal or a topper. A 3.5-pound bag makes 10.5 pounds of food, a 10-pound bag makes 30 pounds, and a 20-pound bag makes 60 pounds.

Recipe	Ingredients	Crude Protein (min)	Crude Fat (min)	Crude Fiber (max)	Calories per 8 oz. cup
Cricket	Cricket, Oat Flour, Rolled Oats, Dehydrated Pumpkin, Sorghum Flour, Ground Flaxseed, Dehydrated Apple, Dried Kale, Dehydrated Carrot, Dried Cranberry, Potassium Chloride, Calcium carbonate, Brewers Yeast, Choline Chloride, Dried Sage, Kelp Meal, Rosemary Extract, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement	26%	11%	5%	373 kcal/cup

How Much To Feed Your Dog – Dehydrated Cricket Food

Dog Weight (lbs.)	Dry Cups Per Day	Cups Of Water
2-9 lbs.	1/4 – 1/3	1/4 – 1/3
10-19 lbs.	3/4 – 1 1/2	3/4 – 1 1/2
20-29 lbs.	1 1/2 – 1 3/ 4	1 1/2 – 1 3/ 4
30-39 lbs.	1 3/ 4 – 2 1/4	1 3/ 4 – 2 1/4
40-49 lbs.	2 1/4 – 2 3/4	2 1/4 – 2 3/4
50-59 lbs.	2 3/4 – 3	2 3/4 – 3
60-69 lbs.	3 – 3 1/2	3 – 3 1/2
70-79 lbs.	3 1/2 – 3 3/4	3 1/2 – 3 3/4
80-89 lbs.	3 3/4 – 4 1/4	3 3/4 – 4 1/4
90+ lbs.	4 1/4 + 1/2 per each additional 10 lbs.	4 1/4 + 1/2 per each additional 10 lbs.

Chippin Dog Treats

Below, we break down the basics of the different dog treats Chippin offers.

Recipe	Ingredients	Crude Protein (min)	Crude Fat (min)	Crude Fiber (max)	Calories
Veggie Dailies	Oats, Flaxseed, Carrots, Kale, Parsley, Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), Sunflower Oil, Molasses, Rosemary Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative)	15%	15%	3%	18 kcal/treat
Silver Copi Training Treats	Silver Carp, Sweet Potato, Molasses, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Cranberry, Carrot, Flaxseed, Chia Seed, Sunflower Meal, Natural Flavor, Natural Smoke Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract	20%	6%	4%	19 kcal/treat
Cricket Training Bites	Cricket, Sweet Potato, Cane Molasses, Glycerin, Carrot, Tapioca Starch, Flaxseed, Chia Seed, Sunflower Meal, Natural Flavor, Natural Smoke Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract	28%	9%	5%	11 kcal/treat
Wild-Caught Fish Jerky	Silver Carp, Pumpkin, Molasses, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Apple, Carrot, Flaxseed, Chia Seed, Sunflower Meal, Natural Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract	20%	6%	4%	19 kcal/treat
Superfood	Oats, Peanut Butter, Crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), Pumpkin, Flaxseed, Chopped Peanuts, Sunflower Oil, Honey, Cinnamon	20%	17%	3%	20 kcal/treat
Antioxidant	Oats, Bananas, Crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), Blueberries, Chia Seed, Sunflower Oil, Honey, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Rosemary Extract	20%	17%	3%	20 kcal/treat

How It Works

Shipping is available from the company website and select retailers. Customers can decide on a one-time purchase or set up a subscription and save 10% when purchasing through the website. Deliveries can be spaced out every 3, 4, 6, 8, or 12 weeks. Owners can add treats and add-ons as desired.

Price

Pricing varies depending on the formula selected, the products added, and the sizes purchased. For example, a 3.5-pound bag of Dehydrated Cricket Food starts at

$63.99


. Treat prices start at

$10.99 ($2.20 / Ounce)


.

Food usually ships out the next business day after you place your order. Meals and treats should arrive to customers in about 3 to 7 days. Currently, the company ships to the contiguous U.S. and the District of Columbia.

What Customers Say

Overall, Chippin has very satisfied customers. Customers rave about the recipes. Some mention being a little uneasy or not liking the smell at first but say their dogs love it. Some customers mix the jerky into their dog’s kibble as a pop of tasty protein, which is a big hit. Customers love Chippin’s portability and do not miss lugging around a giant bag of kibble. Owners appreciate limited ingredients and sustainability. The eco-friendly nature of the company appeals to many earth-conscious people. Several customers report their dogs have more energy, and even fussy eaters scarf down the food and treats. And, of course, improved stools are always a wonderful thing.

Of course, some dogs do not like the taste, which is true for any brand. The brand offers store credit to customers who reach out within 30 days of purchase for first-time customers. They will deduct the price of shipping and cannot accept returns.

There are a few things that could be improved. Some products are not available all the time. Chippin does not state specifically where most ingredients are from. They source ingredients from small, highly vetted farms within the United States.

Our Personal Experience With Chippin Dog Treats

My dog Georgie tried Chippin’s dog treats – both the Crunchy Cricket and the Silver Copi jerky. He’s typically a picky eater, but he seemed to really enjoy Chippin. Neither had a strong odor, and his bowel movements seemed to be normal after consuming them (in small quantities). The crunchy treats are on the bigger side so we would use them for a more substantial treat or break them into bites. I tore up the jerky into smaller pieces (since the training size wasn’t available at the time). While they are on the more expensive side for treats, they are made from high-quality ingredients and I love supporting a local business from the DC area.

– Sadie Cornelius, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog parent

Frequently Asked Questions

Novel proteins like these are not often seen in dog products. We understand owners have many questions and concerns about cricket-based dog food and treats, as it is a unique concept. Below, we answer a few of pet owners’ most common queries about Chippin. Don’t see yours here? Ask us in our comments.

Where is Chippin made?

All foods and treats are manufactured in the U.S. The company is based in Arlington, Virginia. Ingredients come from local, sustainable farms in the U.S.

Are crickets safe for dogs?

Yes, crickets are good for dogs. They contain plenty of nutrients, along with protein. Crickets have more protein than pork and are a complete protein source. Complete means they offer all the essential amino acids needed. Other traditional proteins used in pet foods are not complete.

Is Chippin good for dogs with allergies?

Chippin can be a very good choice for dogs who suffer from dietary allergies like chicken, beef, dairy, or egg. Using novel proteins like silver carp, crickets, and spirulina offers a hypoallergenic option that is easy to digest and supports gut health.

What’s Our Final Verdict?

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We like many things about this company. We appreciate and commend the commitment to the environment and sustainability. In many cases, eco-friendly dog food and sustainable dog food do not mean as much as it does with Chippin. They have a passion for restoring biodiversity in U.S. waterways and lessening the carbon footprint. Making tasty meals for dogs out of crickets is not something we see daily, but this company is the real deal.

We give Chippin top ratings. While the brand is on the pricey side, a little goes a long way when it comes to this brand. This company is definitely making a very positive mark on the vegetarian, sustainable, and eco-friendly dog food market.

Still Not Sure This Brand Is For You?

If you are not sure cricket-based food is for your dog, that is okay. There are plenty of fantastic options out there for every dog’s needs. For owners who want a vegan option, look at Wild Earth. We love The Farmer’s Dog for high-quality, human-grade, fresh meals. Other companies like Ollie, BARF, BARK Foods, Spot & Tango, A Pup Above, and Raised Right also offer top-quality nutrition. reach out to your vet if you have specific concerns about allergies, a sensitive stomach, or are worried your dog is not getting the proper nutrition.

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