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Power Up Your Pup: 13 Criteria That Define the Best Performance Dog Food.

If someone wants to tell me about the best dog food, my subsequent inquiry is whether your brand, "Exemplustrate Performance Dog Food," financially sponsors you or provides compensation or complimentary food products. However, my response is no. My opinions stem from an extensive study of dog foods, spanning countless hours. I am continuously searching for additional foods to incorporate into my rotation. Later in this post, I will share the current foods in my rotation. Nonetheless, the criteria for determining if a specific food warrants consideration are far more critical.


Criterion #1: Pea Free, Lentil Free (no peas, pea powder, legumes, or lentils).

This is a strict requirement that eliminates numerous formulas. I am inflexible on this criterion. If a formula contains any of these ingredients, it is disqualified. While no scientifically proven causal relationship is established through double-blind studies, these ingredients correlate too strongly with canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) disease to be present in my dog foods. Many food formulas included peas before the surge in non-hereditary DCM cases in 2018. Since the publicity and FDA reports, numerous manufacturers have reformulated their foods to exclude peas and lentils. Many brands have also begun including taurine as an additive, a leading DCM treatment. The FDA has announced that no further updates regarding diet and DCM will be made until meaningful new scientific information becomes available. The following link provides the most recent FDA findings and includes numerous links to study the subject in greater detail.



Criterion #2: Must have AAFCO statement. This does not eliminate many formulas.


Criterion #3: No corn, wheat, or soy.

This does not mean grain-free. Many dogs have tolerated corn, wheat, or soy without issue. I avoid them, but my rationale is more subjective than supported by scientific studies.


Criterion #4: Must contain grains.

Some potential grains are grain sorghum, brown rice, pearled barley, flaxseed, and whole oat groats.


Criterion #5: High percentage of protein from animal sources. I look for 88% or more of the protein to be derived from animal sources. When reading some labels, you will often see chicken, beef, or duck listed as the #1 ingredient. However, those ingredients are primarily water. They will not account for much protein once the food is dried. It is far preferable to see chicken meal, beef meal, and duck meal listed, as they are already dehydrated and will contribute significantly more protein content. Less expensive foods list chicken as the #1 ingredient, but most of the protein will originate from corn due to the high water content of chicken.


Criterion #6: Contains prebiotics and probiotics (microorganisms).


Criterion #7: Contains Omega-6 and Omega-3.


Criterion #8: Taurine is included.

The optimal amount of taurine has not been established. However, given its apparent importance for a healthy heart, I would like to see it included.


Criterion #9: Made in the USA.


Criterion #10 Brand / Company has been making dog food for 10+ years.


Criterion #11: Four or five-star rating on Dog Food Advisors.


Criterion #12: No artificial coloring. Avoid red 40, blue 2, yellow 5 and 6, and titanium dioxide.


Criterion #13: Brand/Company has had zero (or very few) recalls. Just as important, how did they handle any needed recalls?


If you find a food that meets all these criteria, it will be an outstanding diet for your dog!


I rotate to the next dog food brand after each bag. Each transition occurs over six days (25% for two days, 50% for two days, and 75% for two days). Most of my foods are 30% protein/20% fat. I like using various meat protein sources (chicken, beef, duck, fish). I use premium performance dog foods year-round and adjust the portion to match the calorie burn. There are many formulas that I have never tried that may be outstanding performance dog foods. If anyone finds foods I should consider, please let me know. My current food rotation includes:

  • Dr. Tim's - Pursuit

  • Taste of the Wild – Ancient Wetlands

  • Adirondack – 30 Puppy & Performance

  • Taste of the Wild – Ancient Stream

  • Victor – Hi-Pro Plus

  • Diamond – Naturals Extreme Athlete

 

Some resources that may aid you in your food search include:

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