Natural Balance Dog Food for French Bulldogs
Natural Balance French Bulldog food, reviewed: who makes it, what is in it, and what it costs to feed a 25 lb Frenchie.
- Dry
- Wet
- Gently Cooked
- Complete and Balanced
- Private equity owned
- Made in Mostly USA
- Since 1989
- No Red-Flag Ingredients
Natural Balance is owned by Ethos Pet Brands, which L Catterton and Nexus Capital Management own 50-50. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food is complete and balanced, with beef and brown rice listed first. For a 25 lb Frenchie it costs about $2.66 a day.
- Natural Balance was founded in 1989, by Dick Van Patten. It is based in Canyon Country, California.
- Natural Balance is owned by Ethos Pet Brands, which L Catterton and Nexus Capital Management own 50-50.
- Natural Balance food is made in Mostly USA (company-owned plant in Brownwood, Texas, plus partner plants).
- Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food carries an AAFCO complete and balanced statement.
- Its first three ingredients are beef, brown rice and brewers rice. The label lists none of our eight red-flag ingredients.
- Feeding a 25 lb adult French Bulldog costs about $2.66 a day, or about $80.92 a month.
Owned by Ethos Pet Brands
J.M. Smucker sold Natural Balance to investment firm Nexus Capital Management in late 2020. In 2023 Natural Balance merged with Canidae under a new parent, Ethos Pet Brands; investment firms L Catterton and Nexus Capital Management have 50-50 ownership of the merged company. Both brands kept their names. petfoodindustry.com
private equity
Natural Balance French Bulldog Feeding and Cost Calculator
Calories from the AAHA formula (70 × body weight in kg to the 0.75 power, times your life-stage factor). Amount from this recipe’s published calories (Calorie Content (calculated): Metabolizable Energy (ME) 3,580 kcal/kg; 395 kcal/cup). Price: $24.98 for 4-lb bag (Chewy, November 2026). Start with the bag’s feeding chart and adjust every 2 to 3 weeks by body condition.
Natural Balance French Bulldog Food: What Is in It?
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Beef
- Brown Rice
- Brewers Rice
- Beef Meal
- Brewers Dried Yeast
Full ingredient list (source: petco.com)
- No chicken on the label
- One animal protein
- None of our eight red-flag ingredients
- No peas, lentils or chickpeas
- No corn, wheat or soy
- A named meat is the first ingredient
- None of our eight red-flag ingredients found.
Natural Balance French Bulldog Food Label Facts
- AAFCO statement
- Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe dog food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
- Life stage
- Adult maintenance
- Calories
- Calorie Content (calculated): Metabolizable Energy (ME) 3,580 kcal/kg; 395 kcal/cup
- Price
- $24.98 for 4-lb bag (Chewy, read November 2026)
Is Natural Balance Good for French Bulldogs?
- A chicken-free food (chicken is a common trigger for itchy dogs)
- A single animal protein for a simple diet
- Is a puppy under 12 months (label is for adult maintenance)
Matched from the label against our Food Finder checklist. Every Frenchie is different: itching, gas, loose stool or weight changes are worth a vet visit, and food changes should be gradual over 7 to 10 days.
Where Natural Balance French Bulldog Food Is Made and Sourced
Where It Is Made
Natural Balance says most of its diets are made in the US, either at its company-owned facility in Brownwood, Texas, or by manufacturing partners it does not name. It requires all manufacturing sites to hold Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification. Pet Food Industry reported that the Brownwood plant, opened in 2012 as Canidae's facility (originally named Ethos), would manufacture products for both brands. naturalbalanceinc.com
Ingredient Sourcing
The brand says all ingredients come from vetted suppliers. It does not name the countries ingredients come from. naturalbalanceinc.com
“All ingredients are sourced from vetted suppliers”Natural Balance naturalbalanceinc.com
Natural Balance Product Lines
The Natural Balance Story
- 1989Natural Balance launches; founded by actor Dick Van Patten. just-food.com
- May 2013Dick Van Patten sells Natural Balance to Del Monte via a merger agreement; in 2014 Del Monte renamed its remaining pet food brands Big Heart Pet Products. petfoodindustry.com
- February 2015J.M. Smucker acquires Big Heart Pet Products, including Natural Balance. petfoodindustry.com
- December 2020J.M. Smucker agrees to sell Natural Balance to investment firm Nexus Capital Management. petfoodindustry.com
- August 2023Natural Balance and Canidae combine under new parent company Ethos Pet Brands. petage.com
Worth Knowing
- “Feed With Confidence” program: the brand says it tests each batch of food and shares results with customers. naturalbalanceinc.com
- Brand says it tests for nutrient content, microbiological safety (e.g., Salmonella), toxins and oxidation. naturalbalanceinc.com
- All manufacturing sites must hold SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification, per the brand. naturalbalanceinc.com
Where to Buy Natural Balance French Bulldog Food
Amazon links are affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate, BFB earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Brand and Chewy links are not paid.
Similar Brands to Compare
- Carna4Kibble · about $2.92 a day
- Bully MaxKibble · about $2.50 a day
- MerrickKibble · about $2.35 a day (estimate)
- Solid GoldKibble · about $2.34 a day
- CANIDAEKibble · about $1.88 a day
Related French Bulldog Guides
Natural Balance French Bulldog Food: Common Questions
Who owns Natural Balance?
J.M. Smucker sold Natural Balance to investment firm Nexus Capital Management in late 2020. In 2023 Natural Balance merged with Canidae under a new parent, Ethos Pet Brands; investment firms L Catterton and Nexus Capital Management have 50-50 ownership of the merged company. Both brands kept their names.
Where is Natural Balance made?
Natural Balance says most of its diets are made in the US, either at its company-owned facility in Brownwood, Texas, or by manufacturing partners it does not name. It requires all manufacturing sites to hold Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification. Pet Food Industry reported that the Brownwood plant, opened in 2012 as Canidae's facility (originally named Ethos), would manufacture products for both brands.
Is Natural Balance good for French Bulldogs?
It depends on your dog. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food is complete and balanced for adult maintenance. Its label lists none of our eight red-flag ingredients. It is chicken-free. Talk to your vet about allergies, weight or health conditions before switching.
How much Natural Balance should I feed a 25 lb French Bulldog?
About 6.8 oz of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food a day for a 25 lb spayed or neutered adult, based on about 692 calories a day and the label’s Calorie Content (calculated): Metabolizable Energy (ME) 3,580 kcal/kg; 395 kcal/cup. Start with the bag’s chart and adjust by body condition every 2 to 3 weeks.
How much does Natural Balance cost per day for a French Bulldog?
About $2.66 a day, or $80.92 a month, for a 25 lb adult. That uses $24.98 for 4-lb bag from Chewy, read November 2026.
Does Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food contain chicken?
No. We found no chicken, chicken fat, chicken meal, poultry or hen on the ingredient list.
How long has Natural Balance been in business?
Natural Balance was founded in 1989, by Dick Van Patten.
Sources
- naturalbalanceinc.com: about us
- just-food.com: the brand is back and reclaiming its roots brian connolly on bid to re
- naturalbalanceinc.com: contact us
- petfoodindustry.com: natural balance and canidae merge under ethos pet brands
- naturalbalanceinc.com: faq
- petfoodindustry.com: does natural balance saga tell pet food markets story
- petage.com: natural balance canidae join forces under ethos pet brands
- naturalbalanceinc.com: beef brown rice small breed recipe
- chewy.com:
Facts were read on the sources above in November 2026. Brands change recipes, owners and prices; tell us if something is out of date at hello@bestfrenchbulldog.com. This page is for education and is not veterinary advice. Listing a brand is not an endorsement, and no brand pays to be listed.