Skoki Dog Food Review

Firstmate’s Skoki recipe is quickly becoming one of our top-recommended Canadian-made dog foods, and for very good reason. This super premium dog food is highly palatable, easily digestible, and remarkably nutrient dense. Even better, Skoki is unbelievably affordable when compared to their competitors.

For those unfamiliar with this unique product, Skoki could very well be the best kept secret in the Canadian dog food market.

Consider that many of today’s popular super premium dog food brands cost between $2.00 – $3.00 per pound. At only $1.55 per pound, Skoki is the most affordable super premium dry dog food in Canada without compromising on quality whatsoever.

The average cost to feed a 50 lb dog this food is $1.09 per day!

Let’s dive into our review of Skoki dog food, and why we love it so much:

The Skoki Dog Food Recipe

In terms of overall quality, Skoki is an outstanding product. This super premium dry kibble contains three high quality proteins for a delicious flavour profile; chicken meal, fish meal, and lamb meal; all suitable for human consumption.

“Meals” are meat concentrates, meaning the moisture has been removed, and they contain almost 300% more protein than fresh meat. Skoki’s chicken meal comes from Free Run Canadian Chickens, and does not contain feathers, heads, feet, or entrails. Fish meal is a combination of wild caught herring, anchovies, and sardines. Skoki carefully selects smaller species of fish since they are less likely to have contamination issues compared to larger fish species like tuna and mackerel. Skoki’s lamb meal comes from grass-fed Australian free range lamb, and does not contain added hormones or antibiotics. 

An impressive 76% of the protein in Skoki comes from their meat ingredients. Skoki carefully sources the highest quality meals on the market, and does not contain by-products. 

As an ideal complement to Skoki’s impressive protein selection, healthy, wholesome grains like oatmeal and rice are also included. Oatmeal is an abundant source of complex carbohydrates for long lasting energy, and dietary fibre for improved digestive health. Oatmeal is gluten-free, cholesterol-free, low in fat, and is a great source of B-vitamins. Skoki’s rice is meticulously sourced from California to dismiss concerns regarding arsenic contamination. Like oatmeal, rice is also gluten-free, and helps to improve digestive well-being, energy levels, and heart health. Of all the protein packed in a bag of Skoki, 24% comes from their high quality digestible grains.

Skoki does not contain any high risk allergen-causing grains like wheat, corn, or soy. It is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, giving your dog a rich and distinctive skin and coat. Omega 3’s help to support brain development, reduce inflammation, boost immune system health, and more. Omega 6’s are essential for cell membrane structure and cell function, reproductive health, skin and coat quality, and immune system function, among other things.

Skoki is Veterinarian formulated, and made in their state-of-the-art Canadian manufacturing facility in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Like all of FirstMate’s recipes, Skoki is formulated to meet the nutritional guidelines established by the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except for the growth of large sized dogs (70lbs or more as an adult). This makes Skoki a perfect solution for multi-dog households, and homes with dogs at varying life stages. 

Skoki’s parent company, FirstMate, is backed by over 30 years of manufacturing excellence, and has an indisputable reputation for producing some of the finest super premium foods in the pet industry. This family owned and operated Canadian business is an industry leader in ingredient sourcing, creating innovative formulations, and impressive selection of products.

Affordability

Skoki is made right here in Canada, so it doesn’t have to travel far to reach Canadian consumers. Given the rising expenses associated with the transportation of goods, Canadian pet owners are turning towards domestic pet products now more than ever. 

Skoki is able to maintain their highly competitive price point for a few reasons:

• Grains used in pet foods are generally less expensive than potatoes or legumes.
• Grains extrude more easily, making production less costly. This means less wear and tear on manufacturing machinery.

Skoki is only offered in one size; a whopping 40 lb bag! In today’s pet food marketplace, finding super premium dog foods in bags larger than 26 pounds is becoming less and less common, so a 40lb bag is music to the ears of large breed dog owners everywhere. Offering Skoki in one bulk size helps to reduce manufacturing costs, since they do not have to factor in the costs associated with having multiple bag sizes.

Check out our list of the best affordable dog foods in Canada, and you’ll quickly see that Skoki makes the top of our list for affordability, quality, and more.

Brand Philosophy

FirstMate is a brand that we have proudly stood behind for decades. This honest, family-owned company makes all of their recipes in their cutting edge facility, where they have complete control over the entire pet food manufacturing process; from ingredient sourcing, to processing, and packaging. This commitment to quality control is reflected in the fact they have never had a single recall in their 30 year history; something very few pet food manufacturers can truthfully claim.

The ingredients used in FirstMate’s recipes come from their own fishery, as well as carefully chosen, trusted suppliers. Despite being one of the highest quality Canadian-made pet food brands, you’ll always find their products offered at highly competitive prices.

FirstMate is based in British Columbia, and has been supplying pet owners with cutting edge nutrition since 1989. You can read our complete review of the FirstMate brand here.

What Are The Cons to Buying Skoki?

There are not many drawbacks to Skoki, but there is one that does come to mind. While Skoki’s 40lb bag is impressive to many pet owners, such a large bag does pose some issues for those with smaller dogs, and those who do not have adequate storage space. It could also be difficult, if not impossible, for seniors or persons with mobility issues to handle such a heavy bag. 

If your dogs won’t be able to finish a bag of Skoki in a reasonable amount of time, you may need to invest in an airtight pet food storage container to keep the product fresh longer. If you have the space, you can consider freezing a portion of the bag to suspend its freshness for some time. 

Overall, Skoki is one of the most impressive pet foods in Canada. In today’s pet marketplace where countless pet food manufacturers attempt to make their products more affordable by reducing the quality of their ingredients, or reducing the size of their bags, Skoki demonstrates there is another way to do it without selling out purely in the name of profits. Skoki also proves that price and quality are not synonymous, and in doing so, may very well raise the eyebrows of Canadian pet lovers that want to feed their dogs an exceptionally high quality diet without breaking the bank.