Rating: 
California Natural Grain Free dry dog food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4 stars.
The California Natural Grain Free product line includes 5 dry dog foods, 4 claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and one (Salmon) for all life stages.
- California Natural Grain Free Lamb Meal Adult (3 stars)
- California Natural Grain Free Salmon Meal Adult (4 stars)
- California Natural Grain Free Venison Meal Adult (3 stars)
- California Natural Grain Free Chicken Meal Adult (5 stars)
- California Natural Grain Free Kangaroo and Red Lentils (3 stars)
California Natural Grain Free Lamb Meal Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
California Natural Grain Free Lamb Meal Adult
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Lamb meal, peas, potatoes, sunflower oil (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea fiber, natural flavors, potassium chloride, salt, taurine, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, betaine hydrochloride, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, riboflavin supplement, beta carotene, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 21% | 11% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 23% | 12% | 57% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 21% | 27% | 52% |
The first ingredient in this dog food lists lamb meal. Lamb meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh lamb.
The second ingredient includes peas. Peas are considered a quality source of carbohydrates. What’s more, peas contain about 25% protein… protein that must be counted toward the total protein content of this food.
The third ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth item lists sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is pea fiber, obtained from pea hulls. Pea hulls are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, we note this food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
And lastly, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
California Natural Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredient quality alone, California Natural Grain Free Dog Food looks to be an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s still important to estimate the amount of meat present here before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 12% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 57%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 12%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 52% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Below-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
In addition, when you consider the plant-based protein-boosting effect of the peas and pea fiber, this looks like a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
However, compared to the higher protein content of the chicken (38%) and salmon (31%) recipes, the venison, lamb and kangaroo products (23% protein) appear to include only a modest amount of animal protein.
Bottom line?
On average, California Natural Grain Free is a vegetable-based kibble using a moderate amount of named meats as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a wet grain free product from the same company may want to check out our review of EVO Canned Dog Food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
06/12/2010 Original review
01/12/2011 Review updated
01/30/2011 Review updated (no changes)
11/15/2011 Review updated, added Kangaroo and Salmon recipes
11/15/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.