Volhard Dog Nutrition

What Volhard Dog Nutrition does

Volhard Dog Nutrition is a U.S.-based, privately held direct-to-consumer pet food manufacturer founded in 1973 and currently operated by owners Brian and Lisa Berg from Marlton, New Jersey. The company's core offering is a system of dehydrated whole-food base mixes — Natural Diet Foundation 2 (NDF2) in beef, chicken and pork variants, Rescue Diet, and a two-part AM Porridge / PM Crumble regimen — that customers rehydrate and combine with fresh protein (recommended 80/20 beef) to produce a balanced raw-style diet; the portfolio also includes TCM-inspired seasonal formulations and a supplement line (Endurance, Vitamin B Complex Powder, Veggie Pak, Krill Oil) plus resold third-party brands such as Adored Beast, Myristin and Jope. Formulations are overseen by a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and supported by more than 50 years of internal clinical testing data (annual blood, thyroid, urine and fecal analyses across breeds and life stages).

The business runs as a DTC e-commerce operation on a BigCommerce storefront, augmented by an Autoship subscription program (1-12 week cadences, 5% retail discount) and paid nutritional consultations with Certified Canine Nutrition Coaches (priced $45-$375 per session). Customers are segmented across general dog owners (including kibble-to-raw transitions), owners of dogs with allergies, sensitivities or chronic conditions, and professional breeders, trainers and rescue operators served via bulk pricing. Customer acquisition relies on content marketing, an active blog and podcast (Volhard Pack), affiliate partnerships with 5Strands Canine Testing, CBD Dog Health and Mine Pet Platter, breeder endorsements, and a free live chat with nutrition coaches. The Build-a-Bowl customization tool and Diggy AI chatbot (NLP FAQ automation, Zapier-integrated) are recent additions supporting product discovery and 24/7 support. Volhard Dog Nutrition sits inside Berg Enterprises, which also operates K9 Basics Dog Training and Boarding, Clif Wyck Kennels, and the Semper Fido nonprofit service-dog program for veterans; these adjacencies provide direct customer flow into the nutrition business but no external institutional funding is disclosed.

Name

Volhard Dog Nutrition

Legal name

Volhard Dog Nutrition

Website

https://volharddognutrition.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Volhard Dog Nutrition is a privately held, U.S. DTC pet food manufacturer founded in 1973, producing clinically tested dehydrated whole-food base mixes (NDF2, Rescue Diet, AM/PM formulas) and supplements for dog owners, breeders and trainers via its e-commerce site and Autoship subscription program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet food manufacturing

NAICS

Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111), Animal Food Manufacturing (31111)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAMAHAB

Companion Animal Maintenance & Wellness Nutrition

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Nutrition & Therapeutic Diets

SECONDARYHLAMAHAM

Gastrointestinal & Food Sensitivity/Hypoallergenic Diets

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Nutrition & Therapeutic Diets

SECONDARYHLAMALAN

Species-Specific Supplements (Dog/Cat/Other Companion Species)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Pet Supplements & Nutraceuticals

Keywords

• Dehydrated dog food
• Canine nutrition products
• Pet food manufacturing
• Raw dog diet
• Dog supplements

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - One-time Purchases: One-time purchases of dehydrated dog food products (base mixes, supplements, treats) and accessories through the e-commerce website. Products include Natural Diet Foundation 2, Rescue Diet, Endurance supplement, Vitamin B Complex, Veggie Pak, Krill Oil, and bundles.
2. Autoship Subscription Program: Recurring subscription deliveries of products on customer-defined schedules (every 1-12 weeks). Provides 5% discount to retail customers for enrollment. Enables recurring revenue and customer retention.
3. Nutritional Consultation Services: Fee-based professional consulting services provided by Certified Canine Nutrition Coaches. Includes initial consultations (30 min to 2 hours at $45-$375) and follow-up appointments for personalized feeding plans and dietary recommendations for dogs with medical conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Volhard Dog Nutrition manufactures and sells dehydrated whole-food base mixes for dogs (Natural Diet Foundation 2 in Beef/Chicken/Pork, Rescue Diet, and AM Porridge/PM Crumble) that owners combine with fresh protein to create complete raw-style meals at home. The company also offers a line of branded supplements (Endurance, Vitamin B Complex, Veggie Pak, Krill Oil), bundled bulk packs, and fee-based telephone/video nutritional consultations with Certified Canine Nutrition Coaches for personalized feeding plans. Sales occur primarily through the company's direct-to-consumer e-commerce website with an Autoship recurring delivery option.

Product overview

Volhard Dog Nutrition offers a comprehensive raw/dehydrated dog food system centered around three core diet formulas (Natural Diet Foundation 2 in Beef/Chicken/Pork, Rescue Diet, and AM Porridge/PM Crumble two-part system) that serve as dehydrated base mixes requiring fresh protein addition. The product portfolio includes Volhard-branded supplements (Endurance, Vitamin B Complex Powder, Veggie Pak, Krill Oil), bundled multi-bag offerings for bulk savings, a Nutritional Consultation service with certified canine nutrition coaches, and third-party supplement brands (Adored Beast, Myristin, Jope) sold through their e-commerce platform. The diets are positioned as clinically-tested, human-grade, non-GMO formulations developed under Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist guidance with 50+ years of testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Diggy: The official mascot of Volhard Dog Nutrition, a wirehaired Dachshund (Ch. Rivendell's Paradigma CDX) registered trademark, featured on marketing materials and product labels since the early 1980s.

Products and services

• Natural Diet Foundation 2 (NDF2) Beef Dehydrated whole-food base mix combining wholesome whole foods and beneficial herbs, designed to be combined with fresh protein (80/20 beef recommended) and water before serving to provide complete balanced nutrition. Available in 5lb and 10lb sizes for dog owners seeking natural daily nutrition.
• Natural Diet Foundation 2 (NDF2) Chicken Dehydrated whole-food base mix combining wholesome whole foods and beneficial herbs, designed to be combined with fresh protein and water before serving. Provides an alternative protein pairing option for dogs on a Volhard whole-food diet.
• Natural Diet Foundation 2 (NDF2) Pork Dehydrated whole-food base mix combining wholesome whole foods and beneficial herbs, designed to be combined with fresh protein and water before serving. Provides a third protein pairing option for the NDF2 product line.
• Rescue Diet Premium grain-free, lower-carbohydrate dehydrated base mix formulated as an alternative to NDF2 for dogs needing anti-inflammatory support or with sensitive digestion. Crafted with carefully selected whole foods and herbs, prepared by adding fresh protein and water.
• AM Porridge Morning portion of a two-part dehydrated foundation system (paired with PM Crumble) designed to optimize digestion by separating carbohydrates and protein throughout the day. Combines grains and vegetables with yogurt support.
• PM Crumble Evening portion of the two-part dehydrated foundation system paired with AM Porridge. Combines a protein-rich base with herbs supporting liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and digestive tract; designed for older dogs, sensitive digestion, or recovery.
• Endurance Dehydrated topper providing natural amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to complement home-prepared or commercial diets. Available in Chicken and Pork flavors for dogs and cats with increased nutrient needs due to activity, age, or recovery.
• Vitamin B Complex Powder Water-soluble B vitamin supplement to support nutritional balance, often lost during cooking. Helps maintain healthy levels in dogs with higher energy needs or limited dietary sources; also marketed for flea/tick defense support.
• Veggie Pak Dehydrated vegetable and herb blend available in Plain, Beef, and Pork flavors, designed to boost nutrition of home-prepared or commercially processed diets. Dehydrated at low temperatures to retain vitamins and minerals; one pound yields approximately four pounds of fresh vegetables when rehydrated.
• Krill Oil 3oz Omega-3 fatty acid supplement supporting skin, coat, joint, heart, and brain health in cats and dogs. Rich source of EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin.
• Volhard Starter Pak (NDF 1lb Beef) Starter bundle containing 1lb of Natural Diet Foundation 2 Beef base mix and a pet food scoop, designed as an affordable entry point for new customers to try the Volhard whole-food diet system before committing to larger bag sizes.
• Nutritional Consultation Sessions Telephone/video consultation service with Certified Canine Nutrition Coaches (Ariel Ritter, Livingston Schwerdt) providing personalized feeding plans for dogs using Volhard diets and supplements. Includes follow-up support for dogs with medical conditions. Sessions range from 30 minutes to 2 hours ($45-$375).

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced dog health issues including allergies, skin problems, digestive issues, and improved coat quality reported in customer reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• 5Strands Canine TestingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate partnership providing Volhard customers with 10% discount using coupon code 'Volhard'. 5Strands offers affordable at-home food intolerance testing for dogs, complementing Volhard's nutritional products.
• CBD Dog HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate partner providing Volhard customers access to CBD products for dogs with discount code.
• Mine Pet PlatterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate partnership providing Volhard customers with 5% discount using coupon code 'Volhard'. Partner company for pet products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Open Farm: Direct peer in premium, ethically-sourced pet food with a focus on human-grade, traceable ingredients. Targets the same premium pet parent willing to pay for transparency and clean ingredients as Volhard's customer base.
• Stella & Chewy's: Direct peer in raw and freeze-dried raw pet food, offering both base mixes and complete diets. Targets the same premium, natural, raw-feeding customer as Volhard with a broader product portfolio and significantly larger brand presence.
• Primal Pet Foods: Direct peer producing raw and freeze-dried raw pet foods (nuggets and patties) plus supplements. Competes with Volhard in the raw-feeding category with overlapping premium positioning and DTC distribution.
• The Honest Kitchen: Direct peer in dehydrated, human-grade dog food (and cat food). Sells dehydrated base mixes and complete diets via DTC e-commerce with a similar premium, natural positioning targeting the same raw-feeding enthusiast segment as Volhard.
• Nature's Variety (Instinct): Direct peer in raw and freeze-dried raw pet nutrition under the Instinct brand, with extensive DTC and retail distribution. Competes with Volhard on raw-feeding credibility, though at much larger scale.
• Vital Essentials: Direct peer in freeze-dried raw and frozen raw pet food, including toppers and treats. Overlaps Volhard's offering in raw protein toppers (akin to Endurance) and complete diets.
• K9 Natural: Direct peer producing frozen and freeze-dried raw dog food (and toppers) targeted at the raw-feeding enthusiast segment. Closely comparable format to Volhard's dehydrated base mixes plus fresh protein model.
• Sojos: Direct peer producing freeze-dried raw and dehydrated base mix dog foods requiring fresh protein addition. Competes head-to-head with Volhard on the same DIY raw-feeding format and DTC channel.

Emerging players

• Adored Beast Apothecary: Emerging player in pet supplements and gut-health protocols. Already distributed via Volhard's storefront as a third-party brand, signaling overlapping therapeutic-nutrition positioning with potential for direct competition.

Broad incumbents

• Orijen: Broad incumbent in premium, biologically-appropriate pet food (kibble, freeze-dried, raw) under Champion Petfoods. Competes for the same premium raw-adjacent buyer as Volhard but with vastly larger scale, retail presence, and brand awareness.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Pinterestpinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.volharddognutrition.com%2F
• Xx.com/volharddogfood

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Volhard Dog Nutrition