Clean labels for me, clean labels for my dogs

Why I started The Clean Hound

I’m genuinely careful about what I put in my own body. I try to eat real food with as few ingredients as possible — no added sugars, and none of those endless labels full of additives and words I can’t even pronounce. If I wouldn’t eat a long list of artificial chemicals, why would I feed them to my dogs?

So I hold their food to the same standard I hold my own. The problem is that dog-treat labels are confusing on purpose, and marketing words like “natural” or “premium” often mean nothing at all. I built The Clean Hound to do the label-reading for other owners who think the way I do — and to recommend only treats I would actually give my own dogs.

Meet Roxy and Mittens

I have two dogs. Roxy is a Bernese Mountain Dog and Great Pyrenees mix, and Mittens is an Australian Shepherd and Labrador mix. They’re both over eight years old now.

I feed them a raw diet, and for treats I stick to single-ingredient or genuinely human-grade options — nothing with a mystery panel. I’m not going to tell you that any treat is a health cure; it isn’t, and their good years come down to a lot of things. But I can tell you what I see living with them: two seniors who are still vital and playful, with shiny, healthy coats. That day-to-day experience — and years of reading these labels — is what I bring to every recommendation here.

How I review

I judge every treat on ingredient transparency, allergen risk, protein novelty, sourcing, processing, and value — the same label-reading standard I use for my own food. I favor short, single-protein and limited-ingredient recipes, cross-check the marketing against the actual panel, and lean on reputable veterinary-nutrition guidance.

My promise on independence

The Clean Hound earns affiliate commissions when you buy through some of my links, at no extra cost to you. That never changes my rankings — I recommend based on ingredients and value, not commission rates, and I’ll happily point you to a cleaner option even when it earns me nothing. Read the full affiliate disclosure.

Not veterinary advice

I’m a dog owner, not a veterinarian. Everything here is general information to help you read labels and shop smarter — it’s not medical advice. If your dog shows signs of a food allergy or another health issue, please see your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and plan.

Questions or a treat I should look at? Reach me any time at hello@thecleanhound.com.