Are you suggesting you tested most of the dog foods out there? what makes your top 5 so much better than worst 5? and what % is the difference? if #1 is 90% on your scale, what % is number 100?
Apparently you do. Unless you tie in a variety of other factors such as overall protein, protein content of major ingredients, mineral levels, ash levels, fiber levels and a few others, the standard presentation of the ingredients can be very misleading and purposely so in many cases.
Some companies are expert at misleading and use the rules to their advantage.
Studies show consumers are more likely to be influenced by marketing strategies of pet foods more than any other consumer product. This is one reason for the proliferation of snazzy titles for foods.
Are you suggesting you tested most of the dog foods out there? what makes your top 5 so much better than worst 5? and what % is the difference? if #1 is 90% on your scale, what % is number 100?
Your mistake is that the only factor you take into consideration is animal based protein.
While I do agree it's important for carnivores that the components in the food come mainly from animal sources, there are other things as well that one should worry about.
For example, not all dogs need the same amount of proteins. It differs from dog to dog, breed to breed, age, activity level.
I've taken randomly the "Nature's Variety ultimate protein" food from you list. I literally cringed at the 47% protein. Then I looked at the ingredients. Are you sure it's 47% animal protein? I see tapiocas, flaxseed, tomatoes and... "natural flavors". Seriously, did you read the ingredients list?
And since you made a list of 5 best and 5 worst dog foods, how come you haven't included this one: Grasslands | ACANA Pet Foods
It's superior to the one I chose to look up randomly (Ultimate protein) and it has no chemicals and additives added. Your list is completely faulty IMO.
Cookie Black Snowflake
July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.
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Seriously, who is this guy? I mean, the "I have a background in chemistry and engineering" (without specifying which particular areas of either or to what level of study—but the second is a non-sequitur at any rate; even if it's ChemEngr or BioEngy, neither field deal with canine nutrition) attempt at ...—what? Intimidation—was bad enough, but the patronizing lecture on "you don't know how to read labels... most people don't" is simply laughable. This is seriously even more ridiculous than the dentist who claims expertise with dog food brands.
We have a name for this sort of thing at my university—the naive extension of one area of expertise ("a background in chemistry and engineering") into claims of expertise well outside of one's range ("let me tell you about dog food. I added up percentages"), but it's not a very nice name, so I won't share.
But seriously, dude. It's really a good idea to know your audience—and their various specializations, levels of expertise, experience, and ability to read labels—before you jump in swinging various appendages and claiming to know things you quite frankly do not.
Hidden Content Hokule'a ("Hoku") / b. 06.08.15
There is no standard food for Iditarod teams—and frankly, taking dogs who need ~10,000 - ~12,000 calories a day as any kind of standard for the best dog food for... well, for most other dogs on the planet is rather silly—but I did find one company that sponsored several teams in 2011.
Eagle PackĀ® Named the Official Dog Food of the 2011 IditarodĀ® Trail Sled Dog Race Eagle Pack
Their "Power Adult" formula has 30% protein (most, indeed, from animal sources, which I don't believe anyone here would contest).
Hidden Content Hokule'a ("Hoku") / b. 06.08.15
Bingo. For instance, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, Hoku is not actually an Iditarod dog. Say it isn't so.
I think a lot of the protein comes from animal sources, but I also wondered if the OP had read the ingredient list.I've taken randomly the "Nature's Variety ultimate protein" food from you list. I literally cringed at the 47% protein. Then I looked at the ingredients. Are you sure it's 47% animal protein? I see tapiocas, flaxseed, tomatoes and... "natural flavors". Seriously, did you read the ingredients list?
And, apologies, but any dog food that is advertised as "gluten free" loses a few credibility points w/ me. Dogs can have gluten sensitivity, but it's fairly rare. On the topic of marketing spin, this is a red flag (not that the food isn't perfectly fine, but the protein / fat percentages seem a bit off to me; I was in the process of doing further calculations of dry weight, etc., but got bored, because this whole "best five / worst five" thing is silly).
It's just completely made up and unsupported as far as I can tell.Your list is completely faulty IMO.
Hidden Content Hokule'a ("Hoku") / b. 06.08.15
Abulafia (08-07-2016)
I have to chuckle, myself, thinking about Hoku as an Iditarod dog. Actually, a Lab Iditarod team, while clearly the best team ever, is a pretty amusing thought.
Hidden Content Hokule'a ("Hoku") / b. 06.08.15
Sandra (08-07-2016)
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