The Best for Our Pets
Track and Traceable
The Best for Aotearoa
Happy stomachs, healthy coats, a natural spring in their step... our pets need the right nutrition in the right amounts to thrive. But it takes more than just high-quality animal protein to fuel their vitality.
So as well as feeding their instincts with the finest wild raw game, we use the freshest New Zealand-grown produce plus essential vitamins and minerals to deliver complete and balanced recipes that meet and exceed AAFCO standards.
And as well as clear labels and honest ingredients lists, we work with leading animal nutritionists to create the best whole-prey recipes for our pets; investing in studies along the way to prove just how premium our products are.
Here's Our Story
At first glance, starting a pet food company was never part of the plan.
With backgrounds rooted in tourism and the outdoors, launching a brand from scratch wasn’t on the radar.
But when the world went into lockdown in March 2020 and tourism ground to a halt, there was time to slow down, stay home and scratch our heads, just like everyone else.
As pet lovers, it didn’t take long for the focus to turn to our dogs and the food we were feeding them.
What started as a casual conversation about the quality of “premium” pet food soon shifted to a much bigger issue, the growing impact of wild game populations on our native environment.
Then came the lightbulb moment.
How could we reduce the environmental impact of wild game while providing our pets with a diet that will help them thrive at the same time?
And just like that, WildHQ was born.
Sustainability
We source our wild game through our Wild Animal Recovery Operations concession with the Department of Conservation and consents with private landowners.
Our Practices
By following efficient harvesting practices and removing the animal, we're already minimising the impact wild game has on our natural environment.
The Journey
Our sustainability journey focuses on practical progress rather than perfection. We still release carbon dioxide, we can't change that. But we can reduce it.
Frequently asked questions
Where are your ingredients from?
Fully traceable, we source our wild game from the tussock tops and river valleys of New Zealand's north and south islands.
For our other ingredients, we get our carrots from Greg in Methven, our kumara from Lockey in Dargaville and our sunflower oil from Dean in Central Otago.
And to make sure all our recipes are nutritionally complete and balanced we supplement with essential vitamins and minerals from Auckland.
Are your meat meals grain free?
Absolutely. We never use grain fillers in any of our products.
What are AAFCO standards?
AAFCO stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. They establish nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods. For us to sell WildHQ as complete and balanced, it must meet the AAFCO standards. So to make sure your pet is getting the very best, we get all our pet food product tested in university laboratories to make sure it meets and exceeds these standards.
Is a raw diet good for my pet?
Research shows that dogs and cats thrive on a natural diet high in quality meat and balanced with vitamins and minerals.
As for feeding your pet raw food - it's biologically appropriate - what they would be eating in the wild. Raw food also maintains its natural profiles of nutrients and enzymes because the ingredients haven't been over processed or altered.
How do I transition to raw food?
Your pet might not be used to such a rich meat diet, so we recommend introducing WildHQ meals slowly alongside their current food. Over the space of 2 weeks, increase the amount of WildHQ food - calculated on their ideal weight - until they are eating only our product.
For a feeding guide, refer to the product description. You'll find everything you need there.