Melorich Australian Multigenerational Labradoodles

How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100:

And what we feed

Before we look at the grading scheme, below, a few things about feeding. No matter what you decide is best for your dog, it is good to either alternate with another variety, say chicken one month and lamb the next, and/or to add some pure protein source mixed in with your dog food. This is for your adults. What I do, depending on the dog, is feed him or her 1 cup in AM and one in PM (adults) and when I add some protein  I then add less dry food so I am not giving more than a cup. With dogs that don't seem to suffer from allergies that source can be some turkey, chicken, or fish mixed in. If you want to explore raw food and bones then do not mix with kibble except in very small amounts. Better to feed a meal of raw or a meal of kibble and you can alternate as well but alternate days, not meals. If you want to explore raw diets I can forward some to you as well as you Google these diets to explore whether or not its for you. One can grind in a GOOD meat grinder chicken, turkey, fish, all with bones, and make patties to freeze. These will include (follow recipes) potatoes ,carrots, other veggies, etc.

Also, Vets sell Science Diet, which consistently fails as a quality food, so keep that in mind.

If you discover that your dog has skin conditions or other allergies(see this link: food.htm) that might be food related then we recommend Pinnacle Brand (Breeders Choice is MFG.) of either Duck and potato or Venison and potato (follow link to their website Breeders Choice Website). These 2 are allergen free! No wheat, no chicken, turkey, or rice. Try this for 12 weeks and see if your dog is healthier regarding any allergies. Again, you can mix in the venison, salmon, trout, or Duck that comes frozen. Adding the frozen guarantees you that you understand the protein source your dog is getting its protein from. Dog foods that list protein as a percentage do not break it down and the majority could be coming from corn! Also, explore raw diets as well.

Pups eat 3 times a day and at 1 year of age, change to twice a day. If feeding a puppy food then change to adult food at 5 months of age.

If you live in the Cleveland area then here is a good store for food, frozen food, and other supplies as well as knowledge   A Dogs Life is located in Chesterland, Ohio

Subtract for the following:

1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points

2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points

3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points

4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points

5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers€™s rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points

6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points

7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points

8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points

9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points

10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points

11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points

12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points

13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points

14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef), subtract 1 point

15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credit:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points

2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points

3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points

4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points

5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points

6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points

7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points

8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points

9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points

10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point

11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point

12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "turkey" as 2 different sources), add 1 point

13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point

14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D

<70 = F

Dog Food scores:

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+

Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F

Canidae / Score 112 A+

Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+

Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B

Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A (Diamond makes Costco's Food)

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+

Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+

Foundations / Score 106 A+

Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 D

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D

Innova Dog / Score 114 A+

Innova Evo / Score 114 A+

Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+   (This is what we use for dogs without any allergies. Purchase at Costco for about $25 (adult) for a 40 lb bag and a 20lb bag of puppy is half that. See below for list of ingredients)

Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F

ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+

Purina Benful / Score 17 F

Purina Dog / Score 62 F

Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F

Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+

Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+

Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A

Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F

Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F

Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+

Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Kirkland Signature - Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Formula

Ingredients:
Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and Vitamin E), egg product, beet pulp, potatoes, fishmeal, flaxseed, natural flavor, brewers dried yeast, millet, carrots, peas, kelp, apples, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, rosemary extract, parsley flake, dried chicory root, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, chondroitin sulfate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 26%
Fat: 16%
Fiber: 4%
Moisture: 10%

Other Nutrient Guarantees
Calcium: min 1%